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Appetite On The Farm 2025: How Bristol's Underground Movement Became a Premier UK Festival
House | Thursday 31st July 2025 | Ramon
This August Bank Holiday weekend, a sprawling field in Essex will once again become the epicenter of one of the UK’s most beloved grassroots dance festivals: Appetite On The Farm. Taking place on 23rd and 24th August at Kelvedon Hall in Brentwood, the event returns for its fourth year—bigger, bolder, and more musically ambitious than ever before. It’s not just a party in a field; it’s a full-circle story of underground culture, community spirit, and visionary collaboration.
The story of Appetite starts humbly in the depths of Bristol nightlife. Co-founders and best friends Elliot Schooling and Liam Palmer began hosting intimate parties aimed at celebrating underground sounds and forging a sense of togetherness. What started as sweaty basement sessions gradually evolved into a full-fledged movement, powered by their sharp curatorial sense and a genuine passion for dance music in its many forms.
Appetite quickly built a cult following, bridging genres and cities—from London to Manchester, and even Ibiza, where the duo held a six-week residency at the iconic Chinois nightclub in 2024. Each step reinforced their commitment to future-facing talent and meaningful experiences over commercial hype. Appetite On The Farm became the natural next chapter: a chance to bring their values to scale without sacrificing authenticity.
This year’s lineup reads like a love letter to dance music’s roots and forward-thinking edge. Headlining acts include Seth Troxler going back-to-back with Skream—a pairing that blends Detroit techno pedigree with dubstep legacy in one explosive set. Groove Armada returns with a DJ set that promises emotional highs and rave nostalgia. Live performances from Sweely, MJ Cole, Children of Zeus, and Prospa offer texture and sonic diversity, with TSHA and Dan Shake rounding out a bill that’s rich in talent and full of possibility.
Joining these artists are newcomers and underground legends alike: James Lavelle, Tom Da Silva, Lewis Carroll, and dozens more will perform across multiple stages, each curated to maintain Appetite’s signature vibe. Expect lush visuals, immersive lighting, and art installations that complement the music and spark connection.
What makes Appetite On The Farm stand out isn’t just the music—it’s the approach. With a capacity capped at 7,000, the festival is intentionally intimate. It’s large enough to feel like a celebration yet small enough to retain a sense of collective magic. The organizers have built the event around values of sustainability, inclusivity, and locality. Local residents of Kelvedon Hatch and Brentwood are offered free or discounted tickets, acknowledging their support and reducing friction between festivalgoers and neighbors.
Onsite recycling programs, a curated selection of independent food vendors, and community-led art installations demonstrate that this isn’t just a place to rave—it's a place to belong.
Appetite On The Farm 2025 runs from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday, with last entry at 6:00 PM. The site is located at Kelvedon Hall, an estate that balances pastoral charm with logistical convenience. Free shuttle buses will operate throughout the weekend from nearby train stations (Brentwood, Shenfield) and neighboring towns like Ongar and Kelvedon Hatch.
Tickets are available through Resident Advisor, offering flexible payment options including PayPal’s “Pay in Three.” On-site parking is available, but pedestrian access is restricted, so attendees are advised to use shuttle services. The festival is strictly 18+ and will operate under Challenge 25 protocols.
In a time when many festivals struggle to balance commercial viability with cultural authenticity, Appetite On The Farm strikes a rare equilibrium. It celebrates underground sounds while embracing scale. It welcomes diverse audiences while preserving a local heart. And crucially, it offers something increasingly hard to come by: a sense of being part of a movement rather than just a crowd.
For dance music fans, it’s a weekend of sonic discovery. For industry insiders, it’s a blueprint for sustainable festival planning. And for Elliot Schooling and Liam Palmer, it’s proof that a basement party—with the right vision and heart—can become a cultural institution.
Link to RA event: https://ra.co/events/1978555]
