It’s time to get officially excited as Splendour is less than a month away! With preparations in full swing, here’s what’s in store for the Wollaton Park weekend (19-20 July).
Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Travis and Nottingham’s own Jake Bugg headline along with Clean Bandit, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natasha Bedingfield, Echo & The Bunnymen, Seasick Steve, The Levellers and The Fratellis. Performances span six stages across Wollaton Park, including the daytime disco Day Fever for the very first time, with day tickets just £69 and kids under 11 getting in free.
For the chance to discover some of the hot acts coming through now, The Bodega New Music Stage is a must visit this year. Whether it’s Nectar Woode, the rising UK soul star loved by Elton John on Saturday, or Cork five-piece Cardinals fresh from opening for Fontaines DC at Finsbury Park on Sunday, the stage is bursting with the next gen talent.
Alongside the national acts, Splendour is remaining true to tradition in nurturing the city’s buoyant grassroots music scene with many of the artists handpicked by the Bodega team – recently crowned Music Week’s Grassroots Venue of the Year. So whether it’s the mesmerising shoegaze of Swallowtail or the dark goth punk of Bloodworm on Saturday or one of Nottingham’s fastest rising bands Bored Marsh and the distinctive sound of Commons reminiscent of headliners Bloc Party on Sunday, there’s a feast of raw talent on show.
DHP Family booker Joseph Patten said: “Bodega is the perfect collaboration for our new music stage, the venue has always been at the forefront of emerging talent and that’s something we’re keen to bring out at Splendour as well. We’re really excited by the line-up that’s been pulled together, mixing some of the hottest new UK artists right now with some amazing local talent that we’re very proud to support.”
The final of the Future Sound of Nottingham at Rock City on 6 July will reveal the local artists set to take the honour of opening the main stage. With previous FSN winners and now MOBO award winners Alt Blk Era opening in 2022, it’s a chance to get in on early buzz for the newest on the scene.
Of course, there’s plenty of the homegrown heavyweights appearing on the biggest stages including Clifton’s Jake Bugg, returning for his third Splendour appearance, and fast rising star LYVIA, The Publics and Set in Motion making it a fab four for the home city.
Nottingham royalty Vicky McClure is going to be busy at Splendour bringing her daytime clubbing phenomenon Day Fever to the festival for the first time, and appearing on stage for a performance with Our Dementia Choir for the third time. The choir’s performance at Splendour is part of their ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the positive impact of music on people living with dementia. Vicky started the choir after her grandmother passed away from dementia in 2015.
Vicky said: “I’m so excited Splendour is back this year for two very exciting reasons, Our Dementia Choir’s third performance and Day Fever’s debut!! It’s going to be a weekend of pure fun, music, dance, great people, great vibes and all happening in my favourite spot on earth, Wollaton Park! Let’s dance Nottingham!”
This could be one of the most ‘dancetastic’ Splendours ever with Day Fever spinning the epic tunes through the afternoon with a few special guests in store, before Trevor Nelson’s Soul Nation on Saturday, and iconic dance label Hedkandi DJs, Live PA, Sax & Percussion take on the Sunday evening, and not forgetting the always popular Silent Disco.
Trent Rockets are coming back to Splendour as they gear up for another thrilling summer of world-class cricket when The Hundred returns to Trent Bridge in August. With a dedicated activation zone on site, It’s a chance to meet the players, take on cricket challenges, pick up new skills and a chance to get their hands on exclusive merchandise too!
Splendour is always a firm favourite with families thanks to its safe welcoming atmosphere, free child admission for under 11s and Little Splendours, the dedicated kids’ area bursting with fun for children aged 0–11. Designed to captivate curious minds and creative spirits, this year features sensory and messy play zones for the tiniest festivalgoers and magical interactive theatre shows and the chance to get hands-on with music-making, sculpture-building, and quirky installations. Add in circus skills, face painting, crafts, and even a go at graffiti art for a jam-packed haven for little ones to explore all day long, not forgetting all the fun of the fair with rides for all ages.
Big Tops and Tall Tales will bring a delicious mix of frozen cocktails served by stiltwalkers at its Vintage Circus themed Bar. It’s a heady mix of circus silliness, face painting , festival hair stalls , frozen cocktails and comfy chill out space too.
The Comedy stage is once again the place to kick back and enjoy all the laughs from 2pm each day, with Saturday featuring comedy musician Frizz Frizzle, whose work has been on Radio 4 and Sunday welcoming the delightfully saucy Karen Bayley, the first ever female winner of the prestigious Comedy Store King Gong award.
For all the all important food and drink offer, there will be Brooklyn Pilsner, Stonewall IPA, Thatchers Juicy Apple poured in the Main Arena, with an Ale Tent serving a tasty selection of indie faves from Black Iris, Castle Rock, Lenton Lane, Blue Monkey, Shipstones and Hollow Stone. Canned cocktails, wines, sparkling drinks, and a dedicated Guinness bar (including zero cans) will be served along with canned Bodega Lager over at their stage.
Food wise, there’s everything under the sun from traditional fish and chips, woodfired pizza and free range burgers from festival faves Holy Cow to authentic Malaysian street food from Syiok-Lah and Indian classics from Nottingham’s MemSaab and Leicester’s Mirch Masala.
After a year away, it’s time to give a warm welcome back to one of the biggest summer events of the East Midlands.
DHP Family’s George Akins said: ““Everyone at DHP has been working hard to bring Splendour back after a year out and we couldn’t be happier to see in its return, providing an affordable, top-quality weekend of entertainment for families and people of all ages. I’m particularly looking forward to the new addition of Day Fever, with longtime Splendour supporter Vicky McClure, which is sure to add to the party atmosphere at Wollaton Park, plus the yet to be announced Future Sound of Nottingham winners – a real celebration of our hometown.”
It’s not too late to get a ticket, with day tickets £69 + booking fee plus the lower priced Youth tickets for 11-17 and free entry for children under 11, and City Resident discounts all available. For all the latest ticket information, go to www.splendourfestival.com
Posted on 26 June 2025
