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The beloved Beat-Herder celebrates 20th Birthday in 2025

Reggae | Thursday 8th May 2025 | Rob

The beloved music festival Beat-Herder marks its 20th anniversary in 2025 with a massive line-up reveal. This cherished Lancashire event returns 17-20 July for another petite and unique affair, set against the gorgeous scenery of the Ribble Valley. Renowned for its friendly atmosphere, eclectic musical offerings, and hedonistic spirit, Beat-Herder has stayed true to its free-party roots for two decades, delivering awe-inspiring stages, world-class DJs, live performances, comedy, and countless surprises year after year.

Co-founder Nick Chambers said: “Like ripples on water and the rings of a tree, Beat-Herder’s reach and impact grows. Though we’ve embraced a more intimate feel, our influence stretches far beyond awards and followers: it’s about real people and real lives. With each passing year, Beat-Herder cements its place in UK festival culture, the northern music scene, and the annual migration of thousands who come together each year to celebrate with us. The gravity of Beat-Herder pulls stronger than ever. It’s a beautiful thing, and we can’t wait for many more years of it.”

Beat-Herder will throw open its doors, to those lucky enough to have a limited four-day weekend ticket, on Thursday, 17th July with a line-up of dance music icons and emerging talent, celebrating 20 joyful years that’s seen hundreds of incredible acts grace its many stages since its inception in 2006. This year, in the beating heartland of the festival, Toil Trees will kick off a stonking weekend of good times with viral TikTok sensation Fish56Octagon, renowned British-Iranian house DJ Darius Syrossian and godfather of old-skool Slipmatt. Also confirmed is disco, house, and afrobeats DJ Clara B and Leeds-based melodic house DJ Emma Forster. 

The enigmatic Ring stage hosts superstar of drum & bass, Goldie, one of the genre's most revered artists, alongside the sensational Anaïs, who has been making waves in the D&B circuit with her killer sets. Vocal maestro Doktor and jungle-infused banger specialist Benny Page join forces for a special set, whilst jungalist G-Breezy, Manchester-based selector DJ Helen, and bass-loving Dom James complete the Thursday night party.
Images left to right: HAAi, K.O.G

Heading into the main weekend, over on the main stage is one of house music's most revered DJ & producers, Armand Van Helden promising a stellar headline set. With a career spanning three decades, the global dance icon of the late '90s has a catalogue of massive club hits, including ‘My My My’ and ‘U Don’t Know Me’.  He’s joined by house music legends K-Klass (live), the creative afro-fusion 9-piece collective K.O.G and lyrical talent, MC Gardna.

Saturday’s main stage line up features drum & bass pioneers Fabio & Grooverider  who will celebrate the rich history of jungle and D&B with a groundbreaking headline performance alongside The Outlook Orchestra. Continuing the festivities, you’ll find 1994-flavoured jungle enthusiasts 4 AM Kru, original pioneer of jungle Congo Natty, and Beat-Herder favourites and jump-up party-starters  Dub Pistols.

On Sunday, one of the leading liquid drum and bass acts for well over a decade, Hybrid Minds, will bring their deft drum work, emotive vocals, and soaring synths to the Beat-Herder stage. One of the leading groups in the UK's ever-evolving jazz and soul scene, Nubiyan Twist is also confirmed, alongside beat-maker, bassist and prolific international dub & reggae collaborator and producer Manudigital, and local legends The Lancashire Hotpots. 

Back in the magical Toil Trees on Friday you’ll find LA producer Claude VonStroke who spent over 20 years shaping underground dance music and building a community via his original Dirtybird brand. Also confirmed is Tribal house innovator Melé, talented Polish duo Catz 'n Dogz, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Jaguar spinning the next wave of emerging talent, and mainstay of the UK house scene, Anish Kumar.

London-based, Australian-born HAAi, leads Saturday in the woods, known for her boundary pushing blend of psychedelia, techno and powerful beats. The compelling DJ Boring who effortlessly pays homage to dance music’s dense past, is also confirmed, alongside pioneer of electro-funk, re-edits and disco, Greg Wilson, Italian electronic dance maestro DJ Tennis, one of Ireland's breakout music stars of 2024, SHEE, and Demi Riquísimo, who is gaining world-wide recognition for his standout acid, italo-house-inspired sonic palette. Seeing the day out is electro and chill out pioneers of the 90’s, ZERO 7.

On Sunday expect exciting young DJ Woody Cook, soulful house from TV personality Gok Wan, a DJ set from house music legends K-Klass, Godfather of retro house Paul Taylor, funky turntable trickery from Shaka Loves You, and an unmissable 4-hour set from UK selector, Mr Scruff and MC Kwasi.
 
Images left to right: Silva Bumpa, Jaguar

Standing 80ft wide and 30ft tall with fire blazing from the ramparts, The Fortress hosts some of the most celebrated DJs over the Beat-Herder weekend, including breakthrough act Ammara with her high-tempo, rave-ready sound, acid house & techno outfit Posthuman, Hydraulix Records’ D.A.V.E the Drummer, acid house instigator Jon Dasilva, true techno legend Dave Clarke, as well as fiery female duo Infrared.

Joining the musical dots on Saturday are multi genre DJ/Producer Burt Cope, the formidable Tim Reaper, who's been spreading gospel jungle for over a decade via Future Retro London, rising star in the new wave of UK garage MPH, bumpy house and 4X4 Garage from DJ Jackum, grooves and speed garage from Shuffa, and hard house from rising star Carli Jayne. On Sunday catch certified drum n bass DJ Mark XTC, skilled jungle producer Dillinja, electronic duo Phibes, and Bristol-based selector Tropigyal. 

Over at the enigmatic Ring stage, two of the most exciting heavyweights in the scene go back to back on Friday night: Experience pop-infused speed garage, UKG and bass from Silva Bumpa B2B with Soul Mass Transit System. This unmissable set will be packed with a huge arsenal of unreleased dubs, and highly acclaimed releases, with both acts having sold out numerous live shows throughout 2024. Also announced is DJ/broadcaster and deeply proud music nerd Charlie Tee alongside MC Savvy B.

On Saturday the world-renowned dance music pioneers, much-loved Beat-Herder regulars, and curators of The Ring stage, Utah Saints will headline alongside DJ Rap. On Sunday the Manchester-born Morgan Seatree breathes new life into old school vocals and pumping drums, whilst one of the North East's rising stars Meg Ward will also spin a blend of house, techno, disco, garage and hip-hop.

Over at the quirky Smoky Tentacles stage in the ancient Stone Circle field, you’ll find electronic future-dub duo OMEGA NEBULA on Friday. On Saturday join the ultimate breakbeat tag team in Plump DJs and Stanton Warriors, making this a double A-side of meteoric talent for early hours revelry. A  true pioneer of vintage remix, Chris Tofu takes over dance duties on Sunday. 

Clock in for a shift of serious shenanigans at The Factory stage on Friday with leader of the new school junglists, Kelvin 373, alongside rising D&B talents Oram, and Zapya. On Saturday, revel in the breakbeats, b-lines and acid hooks of Denham Audio, alongside dynamic duo of UK hardcore & jungle Origin8a & Propa, and D&B upstart Gen-Z. On Sunday night, legends of the game, hip-hop duo The Nextmen close out a massive weekend. 

At BH&DWMSC (Beat-Herder’s own Working Men’s Club, complete with variety acts, bingo, and proper pints of bitter!) metal Bee Gees tribute band TRAGEDY will take to the stage on Saturday with reinvented anthems of palpable power and fearless fun.
Beat-Herder venues The Fortress (left) and Parish Church.

Beyond the music, Beat-Herder is renowned far and wide for its enchanting and immersive landscape. With towering sculptures, interactive installations, and whimsical creations, the festival transforms its grounds into a wonderland of imagination, where every turn reveals a new surprise. From hidden tunnels, a secret swimming pool, cars to dance on, teleporting phone boxes, and a parish church complete with stained glass windows and handmade hymn books, at Beat-Herder, creativity knows no bounds.

This meticulous attention to detail has earned Beat-Herder top honours, including Festival of the Year at the 2024 Northern Music Awards and TPD TV’s Best Festival of the Year. Past accolades include Unique Festival Arena (AIF Festival Awards) and the Extra Festival Award (UK Festival Awards) for creating unforgettable experiences. 

Ultimately, at the heart of Beat-Herder are six school pals who forged this incredible party in the fires of the 90’s free rave scene and, with hearts on sleeves, remain committed to keeping it fiercely independent, twenty years on. It's a gathering of kindred spirits united by a shared love for music. Here, strangers become friends, and the bonds forged amidst the festival's infectious energy last a lifetime. 

 

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