Wide Awake Festival has changed. It has moved from a Saturday in its now-historic Brockwell Park to make room for Field Day; the electronic festival – on the same venue, meaning that you could now potentially go indie/leftfield, electronic and then jazz/soul over the course of one weekend and experience the best that London has to offer if you wanted to. The Friday marks a rapid shift in headliner status – last year had King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, the prolific Australian math rockers. This year, you have Irish mavericks Kneecap – one of the staunchest supports of Palestine in the music scene and a fierce voice for discovering and promoting their own culture. Expect lots of chants of “Get Your Brits Out” and a politically charged protest album that’s full of bangers – Parful is a modern classic.
The history of headliners in Wide Awake has made it a lively, bustling community. It’s my third year here and it’s the most welcoming festival in London, everywhere I go at whatever stage there’ll always be an act I want to see and there’ll always at least be three or four people I know in the crowd somewhere. The Friday shift change may even increase that, with only the hardcore fans of the festival’s superb curation able to book the day off – this is a lineup that has had Caroline Polacheck, IDLES and Slowdive along with early Fat Dog and Lambrini Girls in the past, capable of capturing the buzziest of names just as they hit the zeitgeist. Just below Kneecap you have the sub-headliners of CMAT, Mercury Award Winners English Teacher, and Peaches – all excellent in their own right.
CMAT is terrific – her vocals inspired and her comedy electric – at End of the Road festival she had a ready-made bit about how she’d lost something valuable to her for the entire festival only to find it underneath her tent when packing up. English Teacher’s This Could Be Texas album is a triumphant success for the self-made icons of the British scene – and Peaches bring a degree of Canadian electroclash to proceedings.
Further down the bill and the next batch operate a just eclectic mix of talent. Fcukers are vibrant rock getting their warm-up set in before they cross to Spain and Primavera Sound, Barcelona. Sprints are the most fun act in the rock scene at the moment, Shadow of a Doubt is creates an instant degree of heightened expectation and stage presence worthy of the big time. Mannequin Pussy are a riot – punk firecrackers with pulsating energy enough to rival Amyl and the Sniffers, and if it’s funny names you want, it’s funny names you get – Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are there with a name that’s probably best not googled on your work laptop but are known for their brilliant live sets. They too draw King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard comparisons, creating shadows of yesteryear at Wide Awake but with enough voice to remain eye-catchingly distinctive.
Nadine Shah gave a mesmerising performance at 02 Kentish Town last year – she earns her Greatest Dancer pitch and is another strong advocate for the freedom of Palestine, as are most of the bands here – united in one voice to fester in a community of forward-thinking and inventive music that’s the heart of the zeitgeist. If you want to see an act before they blow up this might be your last chance.
Sextile are a big new favourite of mine, their brand of synth guitar and electronic party music made me an instant fan. If you’ve been to End of the Road last year you’ll have seen a lot of these acts before, as punk firecrackers Gurriers, who named their album after Come and See. Their songs include music about dipping out and leaving Ireland, making them a natural companion piece to Kneecap. Yes a lot of these acts have been at festivals you may have been at before but they’re a reason why they crop up so much lately – they’re good, and they’re the future of music – a leftfield turn away from your Gracie Abramses, Noah Kahans and Sabrina Carpenters – and god forbid, your Benson Boones. Wide Awake’s curation highlights the best of independent music and where your efforts should be aimed if you want to discover what’s hot. There’s not a bad name on the list – to get this low and not mention Martin Rev – one half of influential 80s Suicide feels almost sinful – as would Jasmine 4.T, recently signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ label; the ever prolific Luvcat, and the always riotous Getdown Services – really compliment an amazing lineup.
Wide Awake’s best kept secret is not only does the festival sell its tickets for the same price as a single mid-tier gig – the cost that you’d pay to see Kneecap on its own; for example, but also if you buy the following day you can pay early birds – £3-ish in installments for half the price of its final fee in total. Yes you’re taking a risk on the lineup, but it’s the best and most well-curated festival in London, and arguably – in the whole of the UK. Get yourself down to Brockwell Park on 23 May and join in the fun – it might just change your life.
Wide Awake Festival will take place on May 23, 2025.
Learn more about Wide Awake, including how to get tickets, at the festival’s official website.
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