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…
Author: James Robertson
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…
Arts Trust, producer of King’s Cross Summer Sounds, has announced that Summer in the Park, the free festivals in the beautiful parks and squares of Greenwich and Bexley, will return this year following a hugely impactful 2024 edition. Last year saw Arts Trust take full creative control of Summer in the Park for the very first time following the closure of long-time collaborator Greenwich Dance; new event partners and a fresh vision inspired a season of free performances and cultural experiences that captured the hearts of local people, brought communities together, and boosted local economies. Through events that draw national…
The Purple Guide Grants Scheme celebrates a decade supporting 24 diverse outdoor event projects with £318,000 of funding, April 2025. The Purple Guide Grants scheme is managed by The Events Industry Forum (EIF), which brings together 32 trade associations involved in the outdoor event sector, committed to supporting, development and wellbeing. The Forum operates as a not-for-profit organisation, allocating money raised from Purple Guide subscriptions into the Grants programme, to promote and fund projects that help to improve good practice and advancement across the outdoor events industry. E.I.F. Chair, Steve Heap, stated: “We’re very proud that the Purple Guide Grants…
FOCUS Wales, the nation’s flagship music industry event, returns to Wrexham from 8 to 10 May 2025, bringing together over 400 industry professionals and more than 250 showcasing artists from across the globe. Celebrating its 15th edition, the festival continues to be a vital platform for new voices and ideas shaping the future of the music industry. With support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales, the FOCUS Wales Conference will include the participation of music industry professionals from around the world, including organisations such as PRS Foundation, PPL, PRS for Music, British Council, Arts councils and export agencies. This…
In 2015 the former Paralympic gold medallist took his talents from the saddle to become a disability advocate and created Mobiloo. The company looks to give those with disabilities a greater chance of inclusivity at live events with their custom accessible toilets and changing facilities. Brown spoke to Festival Insights about the origin of the company and his hopes for greater inclusion during this year’s Festival Season. Can you tell us about the origin of Mobiloo? Mobiloo was born out of lived experience and a refusal to accept exclusion as inevitable. While volunteering on an inclusive activities programme, I encountered…
NIBIRII Festival, promoted by Bootshaus Cologne, is returning on August 22–24 2025. With 60,000 people and over 100 acts, it will take place on over four stages across three days at the stunning Dürener Badesee in Düren. NIBIRII is for electronic music lovers who want to experience a unique open-air festival at the swimming lake in Western Germany, next to cities like Aachen and Cologne (Köln). It takes place over three days. Each day can be booked individually from 6 March 2025 on, allowing visitors to tailor their experience. Guests are welcome to bring their camping equipment to fully embrace…
The Southbank Centre has announced more artists performing at Little Simz’ Meltdown. Taking place this summer from Thursday 12 – Sunday 22 June, Little Simz has curated an electrifying programme of internationally acclaimed artists that celebrate fearless expression and defy musical genre. The GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Mahalia will play a simmering set in the Royal Festival Hall on the first Friday night of the festival, 13 June, encapsulating self-confidence and embracing her new music era with her signature ‘luvergirl’ energy. The queen of afrobeats and MTV EMA-winning Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage will continue the party atmosphere on Saturday 14 June,…
With the theme We are Collective for its 2025 edition, Noisily Festival has announced its wider events program for its return to Barkestone Woods, just outside Grantham, Leicestershire from 10 to 13 July 2025. Headlining the Mind Body Soul programme is a festival exclusive, pioneering collaboration with acclaimed futurist Adah Parris, who brings The Presence Lab to the woods this summer. Parris will co-create this immersive experience with Noisily MBS programme curators Hely Cameron and Heather Gordon Athie for a festival-long takeover of the main Mind Stage, that will take you on a journey. The Presence Lab, Parris’ playfully rigorous…
Launched in 2021, City Splash has become the world’s largest one-day celebration of Caribbean and African music and youth culture. City Splash attracts over 30,000 people, with over 60 international and UK-based artists performing. Today, they announce Ghanaian-American rising star MOLIY to their 2025 lineup, taking place May 26 in London’s Brockwell Park. MOLIY is the stage name of Molly Ama Montgomery, a talented Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter. She is an Afro-fusion artist known for her distinctive fusion of West African highlife, afrobeats rhythms, vibrant melodies, and an eclectic mix of global influences. MOLIY crafts music that not only resonates…