Bearded Theory Festival, Catton Hall, Catton Park, Walton upon Trent, Derbyshire, DE12 8LN
21st-25th May 2025
Gatherings like Bearded Theory are becoming more important than ever.
Many of us spend too much of our time year-round on social media, perhaps working from home and getting everything delivered, not going to the pub as much as we used to etc.
With all that toxic divisive negativity drip-fed to us on social media every day, amplifying the most extreme voices, it’s all too easy to feel despondent and that the world has become full of the very worst people.
Bearded Theory is a utopia of like-minded people who understand that getting through lives challenges doesn’t come from extreme views or demonising groups of people in some vain hope of making ourselves feel better about ourselves, but by finding things we enjoy.
It’s such a tonic to spend a weekend surrounded by the very best people, who will jump in and help if you have a problem.
Some festival lineups look like the CEO has tasked the work-experience junior with emailing booking agencies to get some random bands.
Bearded lineups feel like they’ve been lovingly crafted by music fans for music fans. A great mix of bands I listened to back in the day, with the best of today’s bands who carry forward the baton. And always a few “punch-the-air” surprises when the lineup comes out.
A festival big enough to have global stars like Iggy Pop headlining, but small enough to get between stages without trekking distances that would have Usain Bolt stopping for breath.
When it comes down to it, there are 3 things I look for in a festival – a) the people who go – doesn’t matter how good the bands are, if some little oik sets fire to your tent! b) the lineup – whilst music is often the icing on the cake at a festival – sometimes just sitting in a field with good people enjoying a chat and a drink away from the outside world is all you really need – music is what makes us go in the first place!, and c) the organisation – even small oversights can put a dent in your enjoyment. For example, something that annoys me at Glastonbury is that they put bands on the Park stage who are way too popular for the capacity, so you end up having to stand so far back that you get sound bleed from about 6 stages, there are no screens so you can’t see anything, no doubt just so that the bands PR can send out press releases about how they had to stop people coming in they are so popular. No such problems at Bearded.
Indeed, Bearded Theory get a massive tick for all 3 criteria!
Highlights
Really, there are too many highlights to do them all justice, but here are just a few…
ALT BLK ERA
Rave Immortal, the recently released debut album from Nottingham’s ALT BLK ERA is one of my favourite British albums of the past few years. It effortlessly cuts through genres to make a stunning album that never loses momentum.
I caught the band live at a sold out show at the Deaf Institute in Manchester a few weeks ago so I already knew they are great live, but often new bands who grow quickly get a bit lost on big festival stages – no such worries here, they ignited the main stage with a set packed full of energy, passion and amazing stage presence, unusual for a band this early in their careers.
Having been on the covers of Kerrang and Metal Hammer (to the annoyance of narrow-minded purists with a narrow view of what constitutes metal), won a Mobo for best alternative act, made their TV debut on Jools this weekend, I reckon their star will grow-and-grow. I suspect a festival headline slot is only a couple of years away. If you get the chance to catch them in a small club then take it whilst you can!
Millie Manders & The Shutup
OK, so full disclosure! I’ve booked Millie Manders & The Shutup to join Skating Polly in a show I’m co-promoting at Rough Trade Liverpool in October. So I have a bit of a vested interest in making you want to go and see them!
But as I always say, I don’t rave about bands because I’ve booked them, I book bands because I rave about them! I mean it’s not as if there’s any money to be made in promoting at the more underground end of things, breaking even often seems an alien concept.
From the moment Millie comes on the stage, the energy levels are ramped up to 11 and never waver.
A tight band who are probably banned from playing graveyards as even the dead would probably get up and dance.
But they aren’t just catchy tunes, Millie pulls no punches when she speaks her mind on the important issues, that many bands shy away from, who stick to safer topics such as “Fuck the tories”.
On the Sunday night when the festival is drawing to a close, and you know it’s all packing up the tent and post-festival blues the next day, you need someone a bit special to squeeze that last bit of fun out of the festival, and Millie Manders and The Shutup were the perfect band to do just that.
You can catch them at Summer festivals including Rebellion, or on tour with Annabella’s Bow Wow Wow in late October, and have I mentioned their are joining Skating Polly at Rough Trade Liverpool? Or that tickets are on sale now… 😉
Manic Street Preachers
This is what’s great about festivals. A chance to see bands that you’d never normally go and see.
It’s not that I didn’t like the band before, I remember when Generation Terrorists came out, my boss of the time used to play it constantly in his car, and I enjoyed it. I bought Everything Must Go on CD.
But for some reason, I never thought I’d like them live.
In fact, I seem to recall I went to see Shirley Bassey instead of the Manic’s at Glastonbury one year (to be fair she did a surprisingly amazing set, my highlight of that year).
But finally seeing them live they were bloody brilliant! Hearing “Motorcycle Emptiness” in the photo pit had me fair emotional – which is unusual as I tend to be able to zone out and focus on taking photographs.
NOW I see why so many people rave about them live!
ARXX
I have a good friend who’s band recommendations are always top-notch. So when he said I need to catch ARXX I made a point of prioritising them on my “must-see” list.
Seeing a band cold without knowing any of their songs can be a challenge to get into, but no such worries here, from the start of the first song they had me (and the rest of the tent) hooked.
Make a point of seeing them if you get the chance!
The Bar-steward Sons of Val Doonican
If you’ve never seen the Bearded Theory staple Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican then just imagine Weird Al’ Yankovic but from Barnsley.
So Iggy Pop played “Lust for Life” on Saturday night, The Doonican’s played “There was shock horror at the check-out / Forgot the Bag for Life / Forgot the Bag for Life …. You forgetful chuff – they’re 5 pence a bag / I said 5 PENCE A BAG! – I said 5 PENCE A BAG!”
You get the picture!
Great fun on a Sunday morning, no wonder loads of people got out of bed to catch them.
Nova Twins
The Guardian described Nova Twins as “bass-heavy duo fusing grime and punk” if you like genres mixed up as I do, and want a high energy set then you really can’t go wrong!
The Vaselines
It’s funny looking back, on how the internet has changed things.
I remember loads of posters in alternative Edinburgh record shops for The Vaselines back in the day, but I had no idea what they sounded like – none of my friends had any of their records they could lend to me, I listened to the likes of Peel and local equivalents, but not religiously, so AFAIK the first time I heard them was live at Bearded Theory!
I wish I’d heard them sooner, but better late than never!
Seemingly one of Kurt Cobain’s favourite bands.
Shonen Knife
Another of Kurt Cobain’s favourite bands seemingly, Shonen Knife a Japanese pop-punk band formed in Osaka in 1981. Known for their energetic, upbeat music and the happiest drummer I’ve ever seen!
They did an additional set of Ramones covers under the name Osaka Ramones. All great fun!
Paul Heaton & Rianne Downey
It’s 40 years since The Housemartin’s debut single Flag Day was released – yet Paul Heaton’s unmistakable voice hasn’t changed a bit.
Country Singer Rianne Downey does all the female parts from The Beautiful South back catalogue as good as, if not better than the originals – what a voice!
A crowd-pleasing back catalogue of hits to round off the Friday night.
Lovely Eggs
First time I saw The Lovely Eggs must have been around 2009 at Bumper in Liverpool. I was impressed the first time I saw them, and every time I see them they are superb.
Throwing Muses
I loved Throwing Muses back in the day, and yet I never quite got around to seeing them live, until now. It was worth the wait!
Public Service Broadcasting
Not everyone “get’s” Public Service Broadcasting on first listen, but bear with it because they are one of the most exciting live bands out there.
Stewart Lee
One of the first rules of comedy clubs is don’t go down the front unless you want to be picked on.
So, being in the photo pit – what could possibly go wrong?
Sure enough, I’d barely took this photo when he told all the photographers to piss off!
He did have a point to be fair – he doesn’t rely on visual gags, and how does the 3 song rule work with comedy? 3 Gag rule?
I didn’t stay for his set, not because I was mortally offended, but because there was an absolutely huge queue waiting to get in and I didn’t want to abuse my photo pass to skip the queue.
I suspect his routine was bloody funny though because, well he always is!
Anyway, I could go on, I didn’t see a duff set all weekend, but you get the picture 🙂
If you love great music, good people and a buzzing atmosphere then you really need to pay a visit to Bearded Theory in 2026.
See you there?
More band-by-band photos on the Live Music Pix Facebook Page
Words + Photos by John King / Live Music Pix & Sound Night Out Promotions.
