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2025 festivals: Roskilde, Rock Werchter, Jazzopen

The 2025 festival calendar is starting to take shape with a number of major events releasing their lineups.

Northern Europe’s largest festival, Denmark’s Roskilde, has unveiled the first wave of artists for its 53rd edition next summer, including headliner Stormzy.

Arca, Fontaines D.C., Magdalena Bay, Beth Gibbons, Electric Callboy, Jessica Pratt, Geordie Greep, Sanam, Esy Tadesse, MØ and Faye Webster are also among the first 28 acts to be confirmed for the 28 June to 5 July event.

“At Roskilde Festival, we aim to lay the groundwork for a brighter future by inspiring hope and action for new generations,” says CEO Signe Lopdrup. “We combine big utopian visions with tangible, everyday solutions that point towards new paths. Art plays a crucial role as a catalyst for change, and in 2025, participants at Roskilde Festival will experience an engaging and progressive lineup across music, performances, art installations, and activism.”

For the first time, two-day tickets are being introduced, allowing participants to choose any two of the festival’s final four days for DKK 2,070 (€278). Full festival tickets are priced DKK2,520.

Belgium’s Rock Werchter (3-6 July), meanwhile, has confirmed Sam Fender as its second headliner. The British singer-songwriter, who first performed on the festival’s discovery stage Slope in 2018, will close the main stage on 5 July, joining Green Day (4 July) at the top of the bill.

Following a record year, Germany’s Jazzopen (2-13 July) is expanding its 7,500-cap main stage lineup to seven days. The Stuttgart festival will host the likes of Kylie Minogue, Raye, Jacob Collier, Jean-Michel Jarre and Lionel Richie, while Joe Bonamassa will play at the Blues Night on 10 July..

“We are going all in with this lineup,” says promoter Jürgen Schlensog. “The programme couldn’t be more colourful. We are looking forward to three generations on stage and in the audience.”

Also in Germany, MS Dockville, which will take place in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg on 15-16 August, will announce one act per day this week, with The Last Dinner Party the first to be unveiled, while Simple Minds (24 July) and Thirty Seconds to Mars (5 July) are the first artists announced for Italy’s Lucca Summer Festival.

Elsewhere, Deftones have announced their first UK performance since 2022, with their biggest UK show to date set for London’s Crystal Palace Park on 29 June, alongside special guests Weezer and High Vis. The park will also host a sold-out headline show from Rüfüs Du Sol on 5 July.

American folk-pop star Noah Kahan will also play his biggest UK concert yet when he headlines BST Hyde Park in London on 4 July.

South Wales’ In It Together (23-25 May) will be headlined by Kaiser Chiefs, Becky Hill and Ronan Keating. Also on the bill are acts including Myles Smith, James Morrison, Daniel Bedingfield, Peter Doherty, Bru-C, Josh Baker, SHY FX, Nova Twins, David Rodigan, Jason Donovan, Sugarhill Gang and Vengaboys, among others. Tickets are already 75% sold out, according to organiser Escape.

Mexico’s Tecate Pa’l Norte returns to Monterrey, Nuevo León, between 4-6 April, featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Charli XCX, 
Kings of Leon, Massive Attack, Seventeen, Fall Out Boy, Gesaffelstein, Black Keys, Caifanes, Benson Boone, Parcels, 
The Chainsmokers, and Garbage, among others.

And in the US, Las Vegas Festival Grounds will once again welcome When We Were Young on 18 October, topped by Panic! at the Disco and Blink-182. Other names include Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, All Time Low, The Used, Knocked Loose and The Gaslight Anthem.

The second annual Montreux Jazz Festival Miami will run from February 28 to March 2, with headliners including Jon Batiste & Friends, Janelle Monáe and an Afro-Cuban La Descarga (improvised jam session) hosted by Batiste and Cimafunk, with Alfredo Rodriguez, Cimafunk & La Tribu, Pedrito Martinez, Robe L Ninho, Wampi, Yissy Garcia and Monsieur Periné.

The intimate 1,500-cap festival, which will be staged at The Hangar at Regatta Cove in Coconut Grove, also includes the return of the Legendary Montreux Jam Session each night of the festival, curated by Batiste and featuring his band Stay Human, as well as a series of masterclasses available to VIP ticket holders.

Fall Out Boy and The Killers will headline the seventh annual Innings Festival (21-22 February) at Arizona’s Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park. Bringing together 18 artists across two stages for no overlapping sets, thelineup includes Incubus, The Black Keys, Slightly Stoopid, The All-American Rejects, eck, Gary Clark Jr., Boyz II Men and Jack’s Mannequin, among others.

Plus, The Lumineers and Kacey Musgraves will headline the second Extra Innings Festival at the same venue on 28 February and 1 March. The 2025 lineup brings 20 artists to two stages for no overlapping sets from Kings of Leon, Megan Moroney, The Red Clay Strays, Maren Morris, Grace Potter, O.A.R., Wyatt Flores, Sam Barber, Trampled by Turtles and more.

 


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2025 festival bills: Afro Nation, C2C, Ultra Music

The smattering of festival lineup announcements has continued with Afro Nation Portugal, Ultra Music Festival and Country to Country the latest to show their hands for 2025.

Burna Boy and Tems will headline the fifth anniversary of The Malachite Group’s Afro Nation Portugal, which is set for Portimao from 9-11 July. The first wave of artists also includes Ayra Starr, Franglish, Tiakola, Gabzy, Innoss’B, Piano People, Scorpion Kings, DBN Gogo, Oskido, Rosey Gold, Vigro Deep, Mörda, Shakes & Les and KMAT.

Elsewhere, electronic music spectacular Ultra Music Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary in Miami at Bayfront Park between 28-30 March. The bill features the likes of Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Chase & Status, Carl Cox, Tiesto, Zedd, Deadmau5 B2B Pendulum, Armin van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, Nero and Four Tet.

In addition, country music festival Country to Country (C2C) heads back to the UK from 14-16 March, headlined by Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Cody Johnson. Presented by SJM Concerts, AEG Presents, DFC and MCD in association with the Country Music Association (CMA), the event will run concurrently at The O2 in London, Glasgow’s OVO Hydro and SSE Arena Belfast.

They will be joined by C2C debutants Dylan Gossett, Tyler Hubbard, Chayce Beckham, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Niko Moon and The Castellows, as well as the returning Nate Smith, 49 Winchester and Avery Anna, Wyatt Flores and Tanner Adell.

“We are more grateful than ever for the valuable role C2C has continued to play in developing audiences in the territory”

Since debuting at The O2 in 2013 with headliners Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood, C2C has grown to a three-day multi-arena festival.

“As country music continues to reach more fans around the world and achieve mainstream success in the UK, we are more grateful than ever for the valuable role C2C has continued to play in developing audiences in the territory,” says Milly Olykan, CMA VP, international relations and development. “The festival continues to be an unforgettable moment in the year for fans, as well as a key opportunity for artists to gain exposure in the UK market. We are incredibly proud of our continued partnership with C2C, and of the success to date of country music in the UK.”

The week prior (7-9 March), AEG and Semmel Concerts will present C2C Germany at Berlin’s Uber Eats Music Hall. Topped by Dylan Gossett, Midland and Lainey Wilson, it will also feature acts such as 49 Winchester, Dasha, Nate Smith, Wyatt Flores, Tucker Wetmore, Sam Barber, Chase Matthew and Shaboozey.

Meanwhile, Clockenflap has announced its first wave of names for 2024. The festival returns between 29 November to 1 December this year at Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront, headlined by Jack White – who will be making his debut performance in Hong Kong – and Air.

Also confirmed are St Vincent, Jamie xx, Glass Animals, Mother Mother, Fat Dog, Porter Robinson and A-Trak, alongside talent from across the East Asian music scene such as Creepy Nuts, Yama, Deca Joins, Sakurazaka46 and Toe, among others.

 


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