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Jul 08, 2025 By Dom Gourlay Web Exclusive

After taking an enforced year out in 2024, Splendour Festival returns later this month (Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July) for its 15th edition. Situated in the idyllic grounds of Wollaton Park in Nottingham, this year’s event is headlined by Bloc Party on the Saturday then Kaiser Chiefs on the Sunday, both of whom will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut albums (Silent Alarm and Employment respectively) by playing them in full.

Other notable names across the star-studded line-up include Echo & The Bunnymen, Travis, Jake Bugg, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Starsailor. While this year’s Splendour also sees the introduction of two new stages; the Dance Stage headlined by Radio 1 DJ Trevor Nelson and the Bodega New Music Stage which features some of Nottingham’s finest artists including Under the Radar favourites Bloodworm, Bored Marsh and Swallowtail alongside acts from further afield such as the hotly tipped TTSSFU, Cardinals and Tom A. Smith.

For our preview, Under the Radar spoke to one of Splendour’s main bookers and organisers Joe Patten from DHP about this year’s event, the newly introduced features and longevity of the festival now its lease has been secured with Nottingham City Council for 5 more years.

Dom Gourlay (Under the Radar): Splendour returns this year for its 15th (live) edition after taking a year out last summer. What are you most looking forward to at Splendour 2025?

Joe Patten (DHP): I think for me it will be being back at Wollaton Park for a big music festival. The line up is really strong this year with a bit of something for everyone, most musical tastes are well catered for and now we have the dance tent, I think it’ll be a great party.

After problems with Nottingham City Council’s tendering agreement last year, DHP managed to secure a five-year contract with the council ensuring its long term security. Did that help you breathe a sigh of relief while also reassuring artists and their representatives that Splendour is here to stay?

Having that security is massive, especially looking into 2026 and further along, there’s a lot of acts that might not be in cycle for the year that we are booking but are aiming for the year after so it’s good to just be able to put a pin in a certain act for the following year or the year after. Artist touring plans are done so far in advance these days being able to commit to something over a year in advance without worrying about contracts is a great advantage.

There are some new features this year, most notably the Bodega New Music stage. How did that come about? ..

In 2023 we started to get a few more national touring acts as well as having full bands play on the stage. Years prior it tended to be more stripped back acoustic acts which were great but being able to offer a full festival show to new and upcoming acts on the festival circuit, it just adds another dimension to the festival offer for customers. In terms of the Bodega collaboration, with them being the home of new up and coming music in Nottingham and also having recently been awarded the Spirit of the Scene for Grassroots Venues at the Music Week awards, it just seemed the perfect fit! I’m looking forward to having a pint of Bodega lager at Splendour, though it might feel strange drinking it and not watching a band upstairs.

With so much talent to choose from in Nottingham right now, was it difficult choosing which acts should play?

Very difficult, in all honesty we could have probably filled two stages worth of acts for both days. When booking locals we want to get the balance right as a reflection of the wider Notts scene.

Similarly there’s a wealth of talent from outside the area such as TTSSFU, Girl Group and Cardinals. Were they always at the top of your wish list?

Definitely, there isn’t exactly a wealth of outdoor festival opportunities for national acts in Nottingham, the agents and acts all have to be really excited to be joining the line up, and we have booked a very wide range of artists. I think traditionally Splendour might not have always been home to emerging artists, so we want to change that. Nottingham has good taste so I think they will all go down really well. I watched TTSSFU recently in Brighton and it blew me away, I can’t wait for their show.

If you had to choose 3 acts you’re most looking forward to seeing this year, who would it be and why?

Too hard to pick! So, I will pick one act from each stage then at least it’s a bit fairer.

Bloc Party – Silent Alarm came out when I was about 14 or 15 and was a very formative album, listening to it recently it has aged so well so that will be amazing. (special mention – Travis)

Echo and the Bunnymen – just the coolest band ever, I have a lot of family in Liverpool and Ian McCulloch is like a god in our house, so I’ll be there front and centre with my mum. (special mention – Brooke Combe)

TTSSFU – just a really well put together sound, if you haven’t listened you should check them out. And obviously come and see them at Splendour. (special mention – Bloodworm)

Splendour has established itself as one of the UK’s major family friendly events. Do you think more festivals should follow suit and aim for a similar kind of market?

I think what’s great about Splendour is that it’s grown organically over the 15+ years it’s been around. Obviously the more niche specialist festivals might not work to cater for more families but these days people want to take their kids places and share the experience with them.

At Splendour, we do cater for families really well. The first Splendour I went to, I was too young to go on my own so reluctantly went with mum/aunties/uncles/cousins. Now my cousins all bring their kids!

Looking back at previous editions of Splendour, which one stands out for you as a personal favourite and why?

Being selfish I’d have to say 2023 – it was the first one I’d been heavily involved with in booking, and that was really special, it was also clear of *most* covid related drama which was a big relief, and people were ready for a big party. Also, I’m a big Noel Gallagher and Madness fan, but it did rain quite a lot.

The Nottingham music scene is as good if not better than it’s ever been right now - or certainly since I moved here in 1998. Why do you think that is? What makes our city’s scene so special and vibrant?

It is very strong and has been for a while now, there are loads of reasons, some quite surface level things and a few deeper seated. Firstly, we’re a city with an amazing infrastructure for its size. Venues, pubs, festivals, practice rooms, creative spaces and organisations, big promoters, DIY promoters, media colleges, plus two large universities. All these things just drive the culture in any direction it needs to grow.

A bit of a deeper reason is Nottingham itself, for me I think we’ve always been happy to tread our own path, we’re obviously not London or Manchester. But don’t try to be Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds or Liverpool. I think there’s a certain humour and warmth in a lot of what we do culturally. You look at some examples of artists that have come through to national acclaim, I kind of think none of them really should work on paper. Jake Bugg – Dylan/Donovan blues vibe singer songwriter, but he never felt like he was a pastiche or a cover act, Radio 1 plays and a very young audience. Sleaford Mods – post punk poetry/shouting and quite abrasive, but the energy, sadness and joy is so infectious. Divorce – alt country/grunge/folk, poignant and emotional lyrics set to their own signature sound. None of those acts are straight forward and easy to put in a box which I think is their strength. All those acts have worked up from small shows at the Chameleon and The Maze up to selling out Rock City and then onto the Arena (except for Divorce.. for now)

I think outside of music too, you look at the Television Workshop or Broadway, Nottingham Contemporary, there’s so many opportunities on the doorstep to get stuck into.

If you could choose any 2 acts to headline Splendour (past or present - one for Saturday, the other Sunday) who would it be and why?

I think for range and buzz I’d have to go for Charli XCX and Oasis. Both acts with huge followings and we’d be able to build a great line up around them. It would be so much fun and diverse across the weekend too.

For more information on Splendour including how and where to purchase tickets, visit the Official Website