Stowaway Festival, one of the UK’s fastest-growing music festivals, has announced the line-up for this summer’s 5th birthday edition. An independent, family-friendly festival, Stowaway is happening over the weekend of July 31^st – August 2^nd 2026 in idyllic surroundings near Stowe, north Buckinghamshire.

Artists and DJs confirmed to perform at the fifth Stowaway this summer include Nightmares on Wax, Kokoroko, Skream, Say She She, Emma-Jean Thackray, Hot 8 Brass Band, Calibre, Ewan McVicar, Francois K, Dr Banana, Move D, Gabriels (DJ Set), Scientist, Ishmael Ensemble (DJ Set), plus many many more. Legendary drum ‘n’ bass label Hospital Records will celebrate their 30th birthday with a takeover of the Shake Off stage on Friday evening with sets from London Elektricity, Lens, DJ Zinc and Makoto.

Performances take place over multiple stages set throughout the site’s ancient woodlands and lakes. The woods are illuminated at night with lasers, creating magical corridors of light, and there are installations across the site – plus a hidden Speakeasy bar featuring secret DJ sets and live cover bands.

As well as its eclectic musical mix, Stowaway offers wild swimming, canoeing & paddle boarding, wellness & relaxation, kid’s activities (all included in the ticket price), and a lakeside woodland spa. The artisan food & drink available on site is carefully curated, with healthy and not-so-healthy eating options and no-and-low drinks as well as craft beers and cocktails.

Founded in 2022 by Duncan Wheeler, who grew up on Blackpit Farm, Stowaway is 100% independently owned and has no corporate sponsors. The festival’s inclusive mix of eclectic dance music with family friendly vibes is proving ever more popular – in 2025 they increased their audience by over 20%, bucking the trend in a very difficult market for the festival sector.

Comments Stowaway founder Duncan Wheeler: “The live events industry has been a tough place to exist as an independent festival over the last few years, which makes us especially proud to announce our fifth edition of Stowaway. There have been many times when we’ve wondered whether it’s all worth it, whether we were simply insane to launch a festival just after the pandemic when so many established festivals seemed to be struggling. But it is testament to the incredible crowd of attendees, artists, performers, crew, family and friends, that Stowaway keeps growing from strength to strength each year. There is no better feeling than the rush of excitement as we open the gates, seeing the joy on everyone’s faces as we embark on another adventure together. Stowaway truly is the sum of all its’ contributors’ efforts and we just can’t wait to welcome you back into this little slice of countryside we call home!”

Created by friends, for friends, Stowaway is a secret world for you to discover.

For a taste of what to expect watch the Stowaway 2025 Aftermovie

Wasing Estate, one of England’s most picturesque rural estates, is delighted to announce
the return of its annual ‘Pumpkins & Woodland Trail’ event this autumn, open on
selected dates from 17th-31st October. This charming seasonal experience offers
families the perfect opportunity to embrace the beauty of autumn, with enchanting
woodland trails, delicious seasonal treats, and stunning countryside views — so get your
wellies ready!

Tickets on sale HERE

Nestled in the heart of Berkshire, Wasing Estate invites visitors to explore its magical
woodland trail—thoughtfully designed for little ones, while offering plenty of
picture-perfect moments for the whole family.

Leafy pathways lead to Wasing’s rustic pumpkin patch, where a charming fairytale
pumpkin carriage awaits. After enjoying the scenic trail with plenty to spot along the
way, guests can make their way to the pumpkin field—wheelbarrow in hand!—to choose
their very own Wasing pumpkin.

Once the pumpkin-picking is done, visitors can indulge in a variety of seasonal snacks,
including crêpes, donuts and pizzas, all served under a cosy stretch tent – the perfect way
to round off an autumnal day out before heading home to carve their perfect pumpkin.

Faith Knight, Head of Communications at Wasing, says:

“We are so excited to welcome visitors back to Wasing this October for the fifth year of
our Pumpkin event. It’s become a true seasonal highlight for local families, and we’re
delighted to see it grow into a cherished autumn tradition. There’s something truly
magical about welcoming visitors back year on year to enjoy the beauty of the estate,
pick their perfect pumpkin, and create unforgettable memories.”

Tickets are available to purchase via: https://wasing.digitickets.co.uk

2025 Ticket prices:
£6.50 for everyone aged 2 & over. Under 2s free but still require a ticket

Opening Dates:
17th, 18th, 19th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th & 31st October 2025. Please
select your chosen arrival time when booking tickets.

Further information:
Located @ Wasing Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Wasing Lane, Aldermaston, RG7 4LY

More information @ www.wasing.co.uk/pumpkins

Follow Wasing Estate on Facebook & Instagram @Wasing1759

About Wasing Estate:
Wasing sees things differently. That we are inherently part of nature and that what harms
the planet ultimately harms us. Everything is connected.

As one of the most diverse rural estates in England, Wasing is truly unique – a special
place to celebrate, connect, grow and heal. The Estate is home to one of the finest
wedding venues in the country and is a stunning space where exceptional events are
hosted, including immersive musical experiences in woodland amphitheatre, The Mount.

Wasing’s farm underpins its ‘Estate to Plate’ ethos by providing delicious organic produce
and Wasing Wellbeing offers the opportunity to connect with self, each other and nature
through rejuvenating retreats & wild swimming.

Once again, the August Bank Holiday brought tens of thousands to Reading for one of the UK’s most famous festivals, and this year’s edition could be one of the most eclectic in recent memory. Over three days, Reading Festival 2025 served up a unique combination of generational breakouts, nostalgic reunions, and experimental performances that made us all think about why this continues to be a rite of passage for music fans.

The Rise of Chappell Roan

If there was one artist who defined this year, it was Chappell Roan. Dressed like a gothic burlesque villainess, her Saturday night set on the Main Stage felt less like a performance and more like a coronation. Tracks such as “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” and “Femininomenon” had the crowd roaring in unison, while her finale of “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club” turned the field into a euphoric mass sing-along.

It wasn’t just the music — it was the sheer theatricality. Towering castle-like staging, dancers in vampiric costumes, and a confidence that suggested she’s not only pop’s brightest rising star but also a future headliner. Many left convinced the festival had its next Glastonbury-sized icon.

Hozier and the Art of Intimacy

Where Roan and BMTH went big, Hozier turned inward. His Saturday evening slot brought an almost spiritual calm to the site. Songs such as “Take Me to Church” and “Eat Your Young” had a haunting resonance, reminding us all that sometimes the best sets at a festival are the ones that silence a crowd into reverence rather than stirring them into frenzy.
While playing at Reading, Hozier stopped his music and brought a powerful perspective. In front of a sold-out crowd, he spoke candidly about Gaza, calling for “a meaningful political solution” instead of what he called “lip service”. They were political words, but more importantly, they were words of compassion.

He praised artists to are ready to tell the truth, reminding the audience that free speech and honesty in music is what makes festivals like Reading worthwhile.

The Irish singer urged unity, stressing that what people ultimately want is harmony:

“People want their neighbours to live in peace and safety. They don’t want anyone — Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ+, whoever they are — to live in fear of hatred, racism, antisemitism or Islamophobia. What people want is respect, dignity… and peace.”
He concluded by stating that true safety and security means “seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation and ‘free to move towards meaningful self-determination and statehood.”

The audience responded with cheers, which echoed back to him, and the field was transformed into something more than just a concert — into a place of common ground for compassion.

But despite the power of his message, the BBC hasn’t shown any of Hozier’s performance — much to the dissatisfaction of many of his fans who took to social media. One mom even posted that her daughter was looking forward to seeing the show online and was disappointed when nothing was shown.

And finally, when it sunk in for him, the audience gave him what he deserved — a raucous round of applause that rang across the field in this moment of Reading Festival history.

Bring Me the Horizon: A Cinematic Headline

On Saturday, Bring Me the Horizon proved why they’re one of Britain’s most inventive heavy bands. Their headline set fused metalcore ferocity with video-game inspired visuals and a sci-fi storyline that played out on massive LED screens.
Circle pits exploded during “Happy Song” and “Shadow Moses”, while the surprise of the night came with an emotional cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall”, sung by tens of thousands under the Berkshire sky. With pyrotechnics, confetti, and even a political edge as Palestinian flags were waved on stage, BMTH’s performance was both spectacular and poignant — the kind of show Reading headlines are made of.

Nostalgia and Chaos: Limp Bizkit Bring the Party

For many, the most raucous moment of the weekend came courtesy of Limp Bizkit. Fred Durst and Wes Borland rolled back the years with nu-metal anthems “Nookie” and “Break Stuff”, turning the pit into pure mayhem. Their cheeky mix of covers — from Metallica to George Michael — kept fans guessing, while the communal scream of “Behind Blue Eyes” created an unlikely moment of tenderness amid the chaos.

Travis Scott Wraps Up Reading Sunday with Earth Shattering Performance

Travis Scott transformed Reading into his own planet. As soon as he burst onto the Main Stage, the energy was insane — pyro, lasers and a tidal wave of bass to shake the field. Each beat hit like tectonic plates shifting as he raced through “Sicko Mode“, “Goosebumps” and selections from Utopia with the audience bouncing like it was a human wave and mosh pits popping up across the field as if fireworks had been popped off like firecrackers. What made it emotional was the connectedness: thousands of voices screaming every word back at him, strangers on strangers’ shoulders, arms flung to the sky, swept up in his world. For one hour Reading wasn’t a festival site — it was Astroworld reincarnated with Scott’s genius as its ringleader.

Rising Stars and Surprises

Aside from the headliners, Reading 2025 upheld its tradition of breaking new talent, as Wunderhorse moved up from last year’s BBC Introducing Stage to commandeering the Chevron Stage with grunge-sounding rock that was both raw and ageless.
Bloc Party brought some early 2000s nostalgia to their loyal fans, as well as some new material, reminding everyone just why they are indie legends.

Caity Baser pulled off a packed secret set moments later, which mushroomed over social media, while Wallows managed to shake off technical gremlins to win over a packed crowd.

A Festival of Contrasts

For many years Reading Festival 2025 will be remembered for the weekend’s many contrasts — pop theatre and metal mayhem, an unbridled nostalgia coexisting with genuine rising talent, and sublime moments amid uncontrollable chaos. One moment punters were focused on a Lim Bizkit pit, only to be quieted with Hozier’s stunningly soulful voice, before throwing glitter at Chappell Roan’s pop fairytale; and before we knew it was Sunday night, Travis Scott had made the site his universe, an explosive conclusion that shook our soles! Weekend 2025 was so diverse that it showed Reading giganted in this variety, where the origin of a fan’s moment made their subsequent moment possible; and just as the weekend where unpredictability became unforgettable.

When the last firework pops in Sunday night, it is very clear that Reading Festival is not just keeping up with changing times, it is leading the charge on what new festivals can be.