An in-depth survey entitled Music Fans Voice has provided a unique insight into the behaviours, perceptions, concerns, motivations and opinions of the UK’s live music concert goers. This wide ranging initiative builds on recommendations from the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for a fan led review of live and electronic music, and was designed & implemented by CGA with NIQ. It was commissioned by local authorities in eight UK cities including, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, The Mayor of London, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, Cardiff City Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Belfast City…
Author: James Robertson
Kendal Calling’s 20th anniversary is just months away, and to mark two revelrous decades in the fields, the festival has revealed its annual theme. Cumbria’s biggest party, on its momentous anniversary, celebrates Good Times and invites attendees to join in the fun, too. For this milestone year, the festival’s home at Lowther Deer Park in the heart of the Lake District will be transformed into an immersive homage to some of the biggest celebrations of the year. As festivalgoers wander around the arena, they’ll be treated to a whirlwind tour of the greatest parties on earth. Each area of the…
Love to be… is back for an all-day celebration of house music at The Stray in Harrogate on Saturday, 6 September 2025. Building on the success of last year’s sellout debut, this edition returns with a bold line-up, spectacular production and 11 hours of non-stop music across two stages and a VIP area from legends and pioneers including Armand Van Helden, The Shapeshifters, Ultra Nate (Live), Gok Wan, Marshall Jefferson, K-Klass, Trimtone, Juliet Roberts, Jon Pleased Wimmin and many more. Love to be… is an influential and long-running house music brand that first formed in Sheffield in 1994. Over three…
Cornish musician, Jon Stafford of Haunt the Woods, is set to bring a new festival to his local region along with some rather ambitious goals. Not only is the event’s line-up populated with many local artists, he and his team have put in motion several sustainability efforts in a bid to decrease the environmental impact on the area. Speaking exclusively to Festival Insights, Stafford retraces the origin of the event and previews what to expect for the inaugural showcase. “Cornish artists are finding it increasingly difficult to get booked on a festival in the region – especially those playing original,…
As festival season approaches SafeSite Facilities takes a look at how event organisers can ensure revellers have a safe and joyful experience. With festival goers in 2024 reporting overcrowding and sky-high ticket prices, along with sets cut short at Glastonbury and a crowd surge at Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall, Sandra Howey at Safe Site Facilities gives her approach to a successful 2025 season below: There are so many moving parts to organising a successful festival – including the crucial aspects of crowd barriers, fencing, lighting, walkways and signage. Get these wrong and the festival experience can sour very quickly. Get…
Glasgow Jazz Festival returns for its 39th edition from 18 – 22 June 2025, the city’s longest-running music festival will swing into summer, showcasing the breadth of Scottish, UK and international jazz music. Over 100 musicians will take part in more than 25 performances, sessions and pop-ups, showcasing everything from soul and fusion to funk and classic jazz. Tickets for the festival, which is supported by Creative Scotland, are on sale now at www.jazzfest.co.uk. Headline international talent this year comes in the form of American keyboardist, flautist and singer Brian Jackson, who plays Saint Luke’s on Friday 20th June. Half…
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…
As April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, Test Fest has announced its 2025 edition. Organised by It’s in the Bag Cancer Support (IITB) Test Fest takes place Saturday 21 June 2025 at Taunton RFC, Somerset, with headliners The Hoosiers and Woody Cook. Test Fest is a music festival that promotes men’s health and raises awareness of testicular cancer, with the aim of saving lives. This award winning Music Festival is the only one of its kind in the UK and probably the only festival where it is absolutely normal for people to routinely wear orange pants on the outside. Not…
Flow Festival Helsinki has added more acts to its 2025 programme, revealing the lineups for two of the festival sites’ most unique and celebrated stages, Balloon 360° and Backyard stages. The Balloon 360° stage, with its sphere-shaped form, became an instant landmark for Flow Festival when it was introduced in 2012 as a result of an international architecture competition hosted by EASA. The venue has since gained fame for its stellar program that exhibits top artists from genres around the world. This year continues that story. Detroit techno pioneer Jeff Mills will bring his Tommorow Comes The Harvest project to…
Skiddle has released its most comprehensive Festival Report, produced in partnership with the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), the report analyses key trends, insights and behaviours from the 2024 season, offering festival organisers actionable data to help maximise success in 2025. Drawing on platform data and third-party studies, the report explores shifts in consumer behaviour, the rising popularity of experience-led and wellness-focused events, the impact of early festival launches, and the growing demand for flexible payment options. It also spotlights case studies like Reggae Land and Pavilion Festival, highlighting how independent festivals are adapting and thriving despite industry-wide challenges. With…