Shangri-La, a radical area in the South East corner of Glastonbury Festival, has shared its line up for 2025, focusing on moments of joy, community and togetherness, along with news of The Wilding, a complete redesign of the legendary field that will be kept completely secret until the festival opens.
Each year, Shangri-La reveals a new chapter of its ever-evolving narrative. In 2023 and 2024 it explored the theme Everything Must Go, challenging consumerism, and exploring different currencies, exchanges and values.
Now, everything has gone. This year, Shangri-La is re-wilding. The field is starting again from the ground up with a renewed focus on growing community and connectedness.
Creative director, Kaye Dunnings, commented: “When we said Everything Must Go, we meant it; everything has gone. The Wilding is a complete reset. We want to return to the feeling of experiencing collective real life joy, of being present, and discovering something new with wonderment and awe.
“We’ve reset our communications too, and we want to celebrate one on one, real life and analogue connections. This year we have hand made our line up announcement and hand posted or delivered it to the press, and for all future announcements, line up additions, and other secrets, we have launched a newsletter, Sign Up For Joy, which you can join via weareshangrila.com/signupforjoy.”
As ever the field will host some glorious moments including Fatboy Slim’s 100th Glastonbury show, a celebration of jungle pioneer DJ Randall for which his son, Rio Tashan, will go back to back with his godfather, Goldie, and his uncle, GQ, and the return of the serotonin filled Joy (Anonymous) with a Joyous People takeover. More highlights include a Pacifika showcase from Lady Shaka and friends, and a takeover from London’s alternative queer Bollywood movement Hungama.
Robin Collings, director, commented: “Shangri-La’s music programme has always been led by the artists and communities who take over our stages, bringing people together for truly beautiful moments. This year’s line up is possibly our best yet, and we’re over the moon to have some of our long time friends like Fatboy Slim and Roni Size returning, but the magic of Shangri-La is in the discovery; we want people to come with open hearts and find something completely new.”
There will be four new music stages, Shangri-la Main Stage, Lore, Luna, and Azaadi; the only returning area will be Nomad, which is a space for the underrepresented to unite, and take up space.
The Shangri-La stage celebrates the eclectic magic that is Shangri-La, hosting performances from Gambian-British rapper and singer Pa Salieu, experimental hip hop, electronic, and pop duo from Buenos Aires, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, and the triumphant return of NI rappers, Kneecap, whose electrifying 2024 set was a festival highlight.
Also playing are brat pop pioneer So Good, DJ, producer and rapper Example, Bristol drum and bass DJ APH, singer-songwriter Katy B, French artist, DJ and producer OKO, the unmistakable Dogshow, mesmerising afro-psychedelic act BCUC and Manchester drum and bass artist, Bou, will host a take over with some very special guests.
Nomad will once again host takeovers from Booty Bass, London Trans+ Pride and The Chateau, Popola, Pxssy Palace, Lady Shaka and friends and Shiv and Lagoona. This year SWANA collective presents Naf Space, and London rave collective centring Queer POC artists, Bumpah, joins the Nomad family.
Luna is welcoming DJ, MC and producer collective Brighter Days Family, London label and community Ochi, Skepta’s Mas Tiempo, the first ever performance from MAJ!C (Maya Jane Coles, Alex Jones, Jammer and Chloé Robinson), and multi-genre DJ Arthi. Takeovers come from Defected Records featuring Sam Divine and Kitty Amor, rave, fashion and activist collective, Sports Banger, and underground event organisers, Appetite.
Lore will showcase experimental cumbia from Frente Cumbiero, futuristic hip-hop, grime, punk and trap with MC Yallah and Debmaster, jazz from the Mercury nominated composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist corto.alto, Crass co-founder, singer-songwriter Steve Ignorant, and a DJ set from legendary musician, producer & DJ, Quantic.
Also playing is artist, actor, musician, composer, humorist, philosopher and phone psychotherapist Marc Rebillet, global bass DJ and producer Killabeatmaker from Medellin, Colombia, and Desta French presents a line-up of independent Latina artists making a stamp on the London music scene and beyond.
This year’s South Asian space is Azaadi, a collaboration between Going South and Lila Music. Highlights include Bally Sagoo, playing his first UK set in decades. Known as the godfather of British Asian DJs, he was the first DJ, producer and mixtaper to push the British Asian sound on a global level. Going South’s Bobby Friction will also play alongside his fellow BBC Asian Network DJs Panjabi Hit Squad, Manara, and Kizzi.
Chris ‘Tofu’ Macmeikan, director said: “This is a truly epic time in Shangri-La’s history. It feels incredibly special to be growing a completely new field for people to discover for the first time together.
“Of course we’re retaining the essence of Shangri-La and Lore will host the sounds from across the globe that we will always champion. Arrivals was a vital moment for South Asian music at the festival, so retaining a South Asian space in Shangri-La was a top priority and we’re excited with the plans for Azaadi. That’s all I can say. For the rest, you’ll have to wait and see.”
