The well-loved, multi-award winning independent festival Bearded Theory returns to its idyllic homeland of Catton Park, Derbyshire on the 21-25th May for yet another year of inspirational, community driven, grassroots festivities. Over the festive period in December, the festival unveiled a series of exciting new acts confirmed for the weekend each day on Instagram, following the theme of a virtual advent calendar. Amongst the highlights were Mercury Award winners English Teacher, who will headline Thursday’s festivities, and Paul Heaton, joined by special guest singer Rianne Downey, rounding off the Pallet Stage’s impressive lineup of headliners.
Additional exciting names added include highly acclaimed British singer-songwriter Nadine Shah, Bristonian unique indie songstress Katy J Pearson, Chicago’s genre-defying experimentalist Ezra Furman, Philadelphia punk rock force of nature Mannequin Pussy, Bradford coveted alt-rockers Terrorvision, Manchester four piece indie poppers The Lottery Winners, indie hip-hop poet Antony Szmierek, Welsh alternative rock/new wave icons The Alarm, Glaswegian naïve-cum-abrasive rockers The Vaselines, high-energy Irish post-punk quintet Gurriers, renowned BBC 6Music presenter Chris Hawkins (DJ set), self-proclaimed frantic britpunkers The Meffs, theatrical grunge-pop musician Du Blonde, ska-adjacent punk quad Millie Manders & The Shutup and others. Full list below.
Previously announced headliners include punk rock pioneer Iggy Pop, celebrated legendary band Manic Street Preachers, English rock institution The Sisters of Mercy, electronic innovators Leftfield, post-punk quartet Yard Act, unique Irish trailblazers The Mary Wallopers, Northern Irish vibrant virtuosos Ash, pop-country phenomenon CMAT, devilishly bass heavy duo Nova Twins and genre-spanning Fat Dog. Joining them is a selection of the hottest acts of the year, including alt-country grungers Divorce, indie-electro Lime Garden, lo-fi psychedelic rockers The Lovely Eggs, dreamy folk composer Bess Atwell, post-hardcore quad Dream State, electro-punk CLT DRP, introspective indie rock band Slaney Bay, unique fusion activists Asian Dub Foundation and so many more.
Last year saw the launch of a brand new dance-oriented area, CODA. The tent was welcomed with open arms by attendees, with class acts like Orbital (DJ Set), Leeroy Thornhill (ex-The Prodigy), Roni Size, 808 State, Utah Saints, The Orb and many more. This year, Bearded Theory is proud to share that Phil Hartnoll of Orbital is not only returning to the festival after last year’s tremendous DJ set and stunning headline performance in the Meadow stage, but will be headlining the dance tent, alongside carefully curating his own night of electronic debauchery in CODA on the Saturday night.
Bearded Theory firmly believes that an education should not only exist within the boundaries of a traditional indoor space. For parents attending with children and teenagers, the festival is home to the UK’s first on site Festival School, which resides in the award-winning Children’s Area. The school requires official enrollment and permission from the children’s respective schools, runs from 9am-3pm for years Reception through till Year 10 on the Friday of the festival, and provides a huge itinerary of educational classes. Previous years have featured Maths (how to budget a music festival), PE classes by Derby County FC and Mr Motivator, Design & Technology (giving students the opportunity to create their own souvenir to take home!), Yoga, Parkour, Puppet Making, DJ workshops, Circus Skills & Acrobalance, English, Mindfulness, Healthy Eating and First Aid. We have even had BSL classes.
Bearded Theory’s wondrously compact site punches above its weight with eight unique stages and areas full of music, dancing and good times. While the main Pallet and Meadow stages showcase some of the biggest sets throughout the weekend, the magical Woodland stage provides an intimate and idyllic setting for folkier sounds and rock sets alike.
Bearded Theory festival presents attendees with monthly payment instalment plans, enabling buyers to spread the cost of purchase up until May 2025. Tickets are on sale now. For more info on the payment plans, camping options and facilities please go HERE.
Just announced:
Paul Heaton with special guest singer Rianne Downey, English Teacher, Lottery Winners, Ezra Furman, Nadine Shah, Antony Szmierek, Mannequin Pussy, Katy J Pearson, Terrorvision, Deadletter*, Du Blonde, Gurriers, Millie Manders and the Shutup, Phil Hartnoll, The Alarm, The Meffs, The Vaselines, Chris Hawkins (BBC 6music) DJ set, Eighty Eight Miles, Headsticks*, Stick In The Wheel*, Ujahm*
Convoy Cabaret: Culture Shock; P.A.I.N.; The Sporadics; Split Dogs; Dissident Noize Factory; Carsick; Gallus; Rupcha Farms; Anthrax UK; Last Tree Squad; Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies; Papa Gumbo; The Vegetable Collective; Lacertilia; & Twat Union
Maui Waui: Nogood Boyo; The Mighty Flux; Mr Tea and the Minions; Turner Brothers; Junkoactive Wasteman and the Tin Can Twins; Dumbfoundus; Chrome & Illinspired; The Scribes; Krin; Monkeyfist; Dynamite & The Dinosaurs; & Eat Your Own Head
Funhouse Comedy: Scott Bennett; Sean Heydon; Tony Law; Andrew Bird; Kate Smurthwaite; Andrew O’Neill.
*performing on Wednesday (ticket sold separately)
Previously announced on the line-up so far:
IGGY POP • MANIC STREET PREACHERS • THE SISTERS OF MERCY • YARD ACT • LEFTFIELD • THE MARY WALLOPERS • CMAT • NOVA TWINS • ASH • FAT DOG
THROWING MUSES • DIVORCE • THE SELECTER • NED’S ATOMIC DUSTBIN • THE LOVELY EGGS • ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION • SHONEN KNIFE • BESS ATWELL • BEANS ON TOAST • STEWART LEE • LIME GARDEN • DREAM STATE • GIRLBAND! • MOLOTOV JUKEBOX* • ZION TRAIN
ANGELINE MORRISON • MAN/WOMAN/CHAINSAW • TRUPA TRUPA • MIKI BERENYI TRIO • GETDOWN SERVICES • THE DEEP BLUE • THE NONE • GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES • AUDIOWEB • CLT DRP* • BENTLEY RHYTHM ACE • POPES OF CHILLITOWN • CASTLE RAT* • MERRY HELL • DAKKA SKANKS • SLANEY BAY* • SLAY DUGGEE • JESS SILK TRIO* • 3 DAFT MONKEYS • MIDNIGHT RODEO* • THE BRANDY THIEVES* • THE BAR-STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONICAN
*Performing on Thursday
