Celebrating 20 Years of Live Music, Community Spirit, and Grassroots Giving

Nottingham’s much-loved Waterfront Festival is set to make waves once again on Saturday 2 August 2025, bringing an explosive mix of live music, community spirit, and charitable fundraising to The Canalhouse, Nottingham. Now in its 15th year, the festival is a flagship event for local independent music champions I’m Not From London, who are also celebrating 20 years of supporting Nottingham’s music scene.

This year’s event promises to be the biggest and boldest yet, featuring over 40 bands and performers across four main stages, and spotlighting a mix of local legends, national talent, and international guests. More than just a celebration of Nottingham’s thriving music culture, the Waterfront Festival is also a major grassroots fundraiser. Since its inception, the event has raised over £43,000 for important causes, with this year’s proceeds going to Mermaids – the UK’s leading charity supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse young people – and Emmanuel House, a Nottingham-based organisation that provides essential services for people at risk of homelessness.

A heartfelt addition to this year’s festival is the launch of the “Darren Blair Stage,” dedicated to the memory of the much-missed Nottingham promoter and I’m Not From London crew member Darren Blair, who tragically passed away last year while travelling in Vietnam. Darren managed several of the bands featured at this year’s event, and his energy and spirit will be celebrated throughout the day.

The 2025 edition also comes with an optional “Hawaiian Dreams” dress code, encouraging festivalgoers to don their brightest shirts, hula skirts and tropical garlands – with prizes on offer for the most flamboyant outfits. Expect a high-energy, feel-good atmosphere that channels the summer festival spirit, rain or shine.

The live music line-up spans indie, post-punk, electro-pop, garage rock, gothic choir and riot grrrl, with a bold and eclectic programme that champions raw creativity, underground energy and diverse voices. Highlights include headline performances from Bad Milk Blood Robot, Tranks (Nottingham’s electro-indie supergroup), and out-of-town favourites like POUNDLAND and City Flowers. Other standout names include punk outfit Sunk, the raw and raucous Blind Eye and Soaper, Sheffield’s haunting all-female acapella gothic choir The Midsommars, and Mexican riot girls Los Fockin Biches, stopping in Nottingham as part of their first European tour. DJs from AXIS, KARMA, and Stiff Kittens will keep the energy up between sets and into the night, with Filter Sequence closing out the festival from midnight to 1am.

Running from 12pm to 12am, this all-day music marathon will take place at The Canalhouse, one of Nottingham’s most iconic waterside venues who also took home the Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards 2025 Silver award this year!

Tickets are available HERE

For interviews, press access, and media enquiries, please contact Will Robinson at will@imnotfromlondon.com.

Proudly sponsored by Madri, Heineken, Gigantic Tickets, Diamond Press, and Castle Rock Brewery, and supported by Visit Nottinghamshire and Marketing Nottingham – championing the people, places and passion that make our city and county shine.

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