Bearded Theory Festival 2025

How do we even begin to try and put across just how good this closely guarded secret of a festival, a place that oozes inclusiveness, a place that gathers bands from across genres, and most of all a festival that has family, friends, couples, sustainability, independence, and making of memories at its core, well here goes……

After a pretty long journey down from the North East of England it was with open arms that we were greeted by the on site team, it took all of 10 mins to be led to our spot and then, with a beer already in hand, set up.  This is a festival that caters for all types of festival goers, from straight forward camping, to live in vehicles with electric hook up or not, then there’s the camping extras like tents already set up and ready to go, accessibility sections for ease of use needs, and of course you can even take advantage of daily tickets with the option to come and go as you please.

Wednesday is a pretty chilled affair at Bearded Theory, gives yourself and others time to take in the site and its facilities, then along with wristband exchange and a few bars open to enjoy, the Woodland Stage opens up for the night. This year the line up for the night consisted of UJAHM who opened the festival with their soulful dub reggae, Headsticks dropped some social political folk, Stick In The Wheel wowed with some deadpan synth folk, Independent Country I sadly had to miss, played indie covers in a country style, and then Deadletter gave up some dark but fun indie. To finish off the night in style though, Jess Silk popped up with an impromptu set in the renowned Tea Tent.

One day down and still four great days still to come, it was with a weird self imposed sense of challenge that Thursday started.  This is a festival that can be tough on the legs and feet, purely because there is so much going on the you don’t want to miss, but the pleasure of music and joy is worth it. Today with more going on is where the choices start becoming more and more difficult, who to see, what to get up to?.  So with this in mind we headed off to the Woodlands Stage to catch The Brandy Thieves and Eighty Eight Miles first, both lived up to the festival philosophy of music for everyone.  

For today though, being at the main Pallet Stage was going to be a must for most of the day, Jess Silk kicking off this stage was never going to be a missable event, and we weren’t disappointed, music for revolution and inclusion all the way. Beyond this, we witnessed The Meffs who could pretty much headline any stage at the moment, with their punk rock energy just overflowing. W.I.T.C.H pulsed in with some Zamrock, a Zambian band who are just as listenable as they were back in the 70’s.  A break to take in some of the wide choose of food and drink meant we missed the full set of Molotov Jukebox, but could listen as we wandered and took in the sights and smells. Then a much anticipated Fat Dog took to the stage, full on musical energy and madness ensued, but then thetas what they do best.  An early night was now needed to ready for an even busier day Friday, so the causality in this was English Teacher, who again we could still listen to as we meandered back to our digs.

Day 3. Friday has come around, its time to get serious now, or maybe not, as this is a not so serious festival, fun is always at the forefront here. Think what I need to do is point out the bands/artists I got to catch and some of the shenanigans that might or might not of gone on, and then let some photo’s do the talking. The Vaselines superb set was first up for us, late risers as we can be. This was followed by a walk over to the Meadow Stage for Du Blonde who featured many more north eastern artists within her band, including Courtney Dixon and members of the great Big Fat Big, this gave off a love between them that oozed into the set brilliantly.  After this it was that lovely stroll back to the main stage for some wild and wonderful Ezra Furman, then off over to the Convoy Cabaret tent to witness The Menstrual Cramps deliver their DIY queer punk music with venom, and huge dollop of love too, I might add. Just to give some image of Convoy Cabaret, this being the first time here this weekend, it’s a tent full of like minded musical, cultural and artistic people, delivering punk rock to the masses.

Now this is where things become a little difficult, so many bands, so many things to do, where to next!, well this is what we did, but if and when you get there, you will be able to make your own choices.  The Pallet Stage for Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and the totally brilliant Dreadzone, Food!, Split Dogs who came into the Convoy Cabaret like a typhoon of the punk variety, Grade 2 in the Woodlands, then to finish off a long day, an unwind with Paul Heaton on the main stage.  I’d like to add though, this was all sporadically mixed with meeting new and old friends and chatting about how great this festival was.

Day 4. The Weekend is now fully upon us.  More bands/artists, more food, more drink, more amazing people to see and chat with. I have to point out here, that normally at other festival my time is not normally given up much to the main stage, I spend most of it in the side stages, the dens of iniquity, but Bearded Theory is so good at bringing legends and alternative music to the the Main Stage its hard not to be there often. Alt Blk Era were just part war through their set when we arrived, and this was another tick in the Bearded Theory box for new and diverse music.  Then the change for the day, as Man/Women/Chainsaw were running late, so Pan Amsterdam dropped onto the main platform instead with there Jazz/Hip Hop/Spoken Word blend throwing mellow vibes all over the crowd. Lovely Eggs were up next, what can I say about this band that hasn’t already been said?, let’s just put this quote that I heard a member of the audience spout, “damn they were fucking crazy, but bloody brilliant with it”.  After another wander around taking in the vibes and refreshments, we dropped into Meadow to catch some of Lime Garden set, some of the Comedy Tent, Convoy for Lacertilia, Pallet for the outstanding Mannequin Pussy, back to Convoy for Twat Union, then back around to Pallet to witness The Nova Twins, the fully wonderful The Mary Wallopers, Iggy Pop who raised the bar so damn high for everyone else they’d be getting nose bleeds trying to top him, he also left his soul right there on the stage by the end. But to finish the night it had to be a trip back to the Woodlands for The Sugarhill Gang and The Furious Five, this wasn’t a tribute by the way, this was the real deal, the iconic Master G, Scorpio, and Melle Mel, to name a few, in the house no less.  Batteries on almost empty now, but the buzz of what just happened all day was gonna take some winding down from.

Day 5, we made it in one piece, not sure about the head, legs or feet, but here we go again!.  I did say this festival catered just about for everyone didn’t I, bare this in mind when I tell you I witnessed The Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Doonican do some pretty dubious comedy covers to start the day, but the crowd loved em. The legends that are Shonen Knife came next, and they also did an Osaka Ramones set in Meadow later on in the afternoon, pop-punk Japanese style, stripped back and just damn good.  

The walks aren’t long at Bearded Theory, but 5 days in and so many miles done already, getting over to the Woodlands stage had to be broken up with refreshments and yes more chat, but we got there nicely in time for the bone crunching sounds of GANS, followed by the straight up Punk Rock chaos of Bruise Control, a band you’ll regret not seeing if you get the chance, like getting your batteries charged by a lightening bolt! Perfect to carry on the day now.

Pallet got the most of us again today, what with Nadine Shah, The Selecter, The Lottery Winners, Public Service Broadcasting, and Manic Street Preachers, how do you top all that, oh yeah, you get your ass one to the Woodlands for Millie Manders And The Shutup that’s what you do.

Job done!!  Bearded Theory is “one of the best kept secrets of the music festival year, wish we could keep it that way” according to a guy I met who said he was known as the King Of Glastonbury.

I’d also like to add a note to say, every single member of staff from the security and stage managers who were like your best mates, the cleaning staff who worked relentlessly to make this the best and safest event, the back stage crews who had things running like a well oiled machine, and every single one of the organisers who you don’t get to see, you deserve my enormous thanks and everyone else’s too. Well done!!  Looking forward to next year already.

All photo’s by myself and Julie Swan

For next years massive event tickets visit Bearded Theory