News / Shindig
Award-winning festival moves to renowned location for 2025
After announcing its tenth edition as its last, the Bristol-born festival that comes recommended by Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has not only announced its surprise return, but also that it will move to a location well known by festival fans.
Shindig, which intended to go out with a bang last year after saying it was forced to fold due to economic pressures, announced at the end of 2024 that it would, in fact, return.
The 2025 edition will be held at Charlton Park, the Malmesbury site famed for hosting WOMAD festival since 2007.
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The world music festival founded by Peter Gabriel is taking a breather in 2025 and Shindig has jumped in, saying the site – that is 40 minutes from Bristol and offers flat camping grounds, wooded areas and plenty of space for the planned healing fields, kids area and new venues – provides the opportunity for an exciting new start.
The Brand New Heavies performed at last year’s Shindig, which the festival had said would be its last – photo: Lee Niel
“Charlton Park marks a new era for Shindig,” said the festival’s co-founder Simon Clarke. “This renowned site allows us to introduce new stages, a broader live music line up and fresh immersive experiences – the foundation for a solid future!
It is a remarkable story of survival for the event which was awarded Best Boutique Festival by the Guardian in 2019 and was voted Best For Family Rave by Festival Kidz.
Shindig initially made the decision to fold after the 2024 event due to the challenges of rising costs, tighter regulations and corporate competition that has seen 72 UK festivals cancelled or postponed in 2024 – twice the number of 2023.
Ongoing financial pressures and an increasingly difficult economic climate for the grassroots music industry has seen 204 events disappear from the calendar since 2019.
The festival prides itself on offering a quality alternative to mainstream corporate events – photo: Boomstudio
But after having second thoughts, the team were able to strike a deal with a new ticket agent that enabled them to plan for a 2025 festival and, in a turn of events that has inspired optimism, the first tier of tickets sold out in record time.
Taking place from May 22-25, this year’s festival will feature TC and the Groove Family, Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Ibibio Sound Machine and Beacon musician-in-residence GROVE.
Mr Scruff, Gilles Peterson, Leeroy Thornhill, Coco Maria and Channel One are some of the DJs that have been announced.
Shindig was voted Best for a Family Rave by Festival Kidz – photo: Alex Moy
The Kids’ Queendom will provide a multitude of activities for children, while the craft area has been expanded and the healing area offers hot tubs, saunas and massages. Mutoid Waste Company and Rockaway Park artists will be decorating the site with giant welded artwork, interactive diversions and fire-breathing sculptures.
Trading mainstream lineups for an array of smaller curated stages and secret venues, the festival is set to continue building on its reputation for offering a quality boutique alternative to corporate events.
For more information visit www.shindigfestival.co.uk
Main image: Boomstudio
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