Bearded Theory Blazes Into Its 16th Year

(21-25th May)

Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers, Paul Heaton with Rianne Downey, English Teacher, Yard Act, The Sisters of Mercy, Mannequin Pussy, Nova Twins and more storm Catton Park for the beloved independent festival’s sweet sixteenth celebrations

Press credit: Izzy Challoner

This bank holiday weekend saw 12,000 alternative music lovers descend upon the award-winning independent festival Bearded Theory, buzzing with anticipation for the five day long extravaganza. The Derbyshire event bolstered an eclectic mix of genres, spanning across rock, ska, indie, punk, electronic and so many more - fiercely driven by a clear sense of community, close-knit spirit and grassroots values.

Those who were eager to get the party started at Wednesday evening’s early entry party were treated to a handful of sets from Ujahm, Headsticks and Independent Country in the Woodland, finished by a hypnotising headline set from Yorkshire art-punks DEADLETTER.

Thursday kicked off with a bang, boasting powerful sets from the likes of The Meffs and CLT DRP, whose raucous energy whipped attendees into shape. Adwaith wowed in the Woodland, their immersive and shimmering performance lingering on everyone’s lips for the remainder of the day. On the Pallet stage, Fat Dog’s whirlwind set was pure, unfiltered punk chaos, followed by a mystifying set from Mercury award winning English Teacher, showcasing their exemplary musicianship in all its glory, setting the tone for a magical weekend ahead.

The innovative, award-winning festival school also took place on Friday from 9am to 3pm and delivered a remarkably engaging curriculum. Key stage objectives were met through creative and unconventional approaches that reflected the spirit of the weekend. Activities included applying mathematical skills through festival planning, practicing mindfulness with yoga for a lesson in physical education, and learning the art of drumming in a music lesson.

Over on the Meadow Stage, Dream State’s Friday performance had shirts swinging above heads, Jessie Powell’s guttural screams fuelled circle pits in abundance. Later on the same stage, hotly-tipped wordsmith Antony Szmierek oozed charisma, effortlessly bringing the crowd together with his sharp wit and undeniable stage presence. With adrenaline still buzzing in the air from Szmierek’s set, The Sisters of Mercy were met with a jam packed tent as they floated onto a neon gallow propped stage to perform a breathtaking recap of their iconic catalogue.

Elsewhere, Bess Atwell stunned the audience with her exquisitely poignant melodies, Swim Deep delivered a performance of charming indie anthems, Billy Nomates beguiled with her unique textures and tones, and Yard Act brought the exuberance through blistering post-punk deviousness. The day came to a close with Friday’s headliner, 80’s chart topping Paul Heaton with special guest singer Rianne Downey, displaying a truly magic mix of old and new tunes from a range of his revered musical projects The Housemartins and The Beautiful South.

Saturday was a contagious frenzy of energy from start to finish. The sun blazed as The Pill made their festival debut over on the Meadow stage with their distinctive brand of self proclaimed "jank" punk music, whilst Philadelphia indie punk-rock group Mannequin Pussy electrified the Pallet with their intoxicating mix of captivating seductive charm and political rawness. They were followed by Nova Twins, who captivated the audience with their genre-shattering, bass-heavy, attitude laden grooves.

Beans On Toast returned with his Woodland curated Foolhardy takeover, featuring an array of his talented comrades such as She Drew The Gun, Bare Jams, Ruby J, Nick Parker, Nuala and comedian Stewart Lee, whose set was in such high demand that queues stretched down the Woodland Walk.

Hip-hop paragons The Sugarhill Gang & The Furious Five got the packed out crowd jumping over on the Woodland stage, whilst professional legendary punk provocateur Iggy Pop was met with an overwhelming roar of admiration from a swarm of adoring fans for his headline set. The afterparty rolled on as revellers of all ages packed into CODA and Big Ed’s to dance into the dawn to Phil Hartnoll’s DJ set.

The final day began with the annual fancy dress competition on the Pallet stage, this year’s theme being ‘Teenage Dreams’. The winner was chosen by a crowd vote, and saw them collect free tickets to next year’s festivities. The Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Doonican jumpstarted the main stage by surfing over the crowd on a dingy and were followed by Shonen Knife, who took over the Pallet stage with their raging pop-punk riffs, before dashing over to the Meadow stage swiftly after to perform a set of Ramones covers under the moniker Osaka Ramones.

The crowd were moving in perfect synchronicity during The Lottery Winners’ performance of ‘Turn Around’, energy that continued on through Public Service Broadcasting’s set. As the final notes of Manic Street Preachers echoed into the night, the sky above the Pallet Stage erupted in a blaze of fireworks - an electrifying finale to the weekend’s mainstage magic. For those not ready to call it a night, Leftfield's thumping set carried partygoers into the early hours, delivering one last bang for the dance-hungry faithful.

Photo credit: Louisa Tomson | Nova Twins Meet & Greet

The Rough Trade tent was a haven for merchandise, records, CDs, books and meet & greets across the weekend. Fans bubbled with excitement whilst lining up to meet the likes of Antony Szmierek, Nova Twins, The Lottery Winners, Katy J Pearson, Lime Garden and more.

Meanwhile, The Knockerdown became the home for the brand new Speakers’ Corner, where friends and billed artists were invited to host interviews, screenings, Q&As and more. Names included were Irvine Welsh, Stewart Lee, Chris Hawkins with Yard Act, Bentley Rhythm Ace, The Lovely Eggs, Miki Berenyi in conversation with Natalie from Loose Articles, Silverback Tarzan and more. By night, the space transformed into a lively karaoke tent where festivalgoers belted out classics to a packed crowd. Elsewhere in the Woodland the silent disco saw revellers dancing and singing along into the early hours, while in the Meadow, open-air cinema screenings of Trainspotting, Grease, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off offered chill-out alternatives after the music.

At the heart of it all, Bearded Theory's community spirit shone through. For those looking to step away from the noise, the Earth Area offered a peaceful retreat - home to eco-friendly, hands-on experiences like pottery painting, sauna sessions, basket weaving, wooden pipe whittling, and more. The area featured a rich programme of performances, workshops, and meaningful discussions, making it a vibrant hub of creativity, connection, and calm - an unmissable highlight of the weekend.

With hearts full, ears ringing, and spirits high, Bearded Theory proved once again why it remains one of the UK’s most beloved alternative festivals.

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