BLUDFEST 2025
Review by Sophie Jones // Photo by Ruby Boland
Well, hello BLUDFEST! I don’t even know where to start—this year’s festival was on a whole new level. The improvements were impossible to ignore and really made the whole experience smoother, more enjoyable, and bursting with energy from start to finish.
Right away, it was clear that the organisers took on board last year’s feedback. The site was used to its full potential, with new entertainment areas and photo ops scattered across the grounds. More gates and entry points meant less waiting around in the heat and quicker access—meaning even the opening acts pulled massive crowds this time.
Both stages featured raised viewing platforms this year for better accessibility, and the entire festival just felt bigger and better. Alongside returning features like The Hawley Arms pub, B.R.A.T. pop-up shop, and the YUNGBLUD exhibition, this year’s YUNGBLUD Village included a skate park that fans were loving. There were also new immersive experiences, like a behind-the-scenes look at the stage setup and lighting/sound production with Future Productions—something that particularly captivated the younger crowd.
One highlight for collectors was the ‘Idols’ truck, which sold limited edition BLUDFEST vinyl and CD copies of Idols. On top of that, there were more food stalls, a bigger merch tent, and a lot more shaded seating around the site. The beloved ‘Make a Friend’ tent returned, too, now larger and packed with even more crafts and activities. Everything was clearly scaled up with care.
Another major upgrade was the second stage, which moved from a truck setup to a proper stage build. The expanded crowd space meant everyone could enjoy the artists without feeling squashed, and it genuinely elevated the experience.
NXDIA
First on my list was NXDIA on the main stage, and wow—they killed it. Their alt-rock vibes, dynamic stage presence, and the way they interacted with the crowd had everyone singing and dancing. They explained some songs were in Arabic and joked, “Just so you know I’m not singing gibberish.” They debuted tracks from their new EP I Promise No One Is Watching, with ‘Boo, Nevermind’ hitting especially hard live. A stellar way to kick off the day.
HAWLEY ARMS
Around 2:30 YUNGBLUD dropped into his channel chat on instgram he would be making an appreance at the Hawley Arms, “Imma be at HAWLEY ARMS AT THREE, see you there” which seen a huge turn out surround the make shift pub. Come three o’clock another message drops into the chat ” Be there 3:30 delayed, I’m watching LUVCAT” who was performing on the main stage just behind the pub. Then he shows up sending fans into a screaming frenzy as they all tried to get a glimpse of him before he gave away a signature guitar to a member of the auidence.
Blackbear
Over on the main stage, Blackbear returned for his first live show in over three years and didn’t disappoint. He hit all the fan-favourites like ‘hot girl bummer’ and ‘idfc’ and surprised us with a mash-up of collaborations including ‘gfy’ with MGK and ‘Love It When You Hate Me’ with Avril Lavigne. It kept the crowd engaged and hyped the whole way through.
Peach PRC
On my way back toward the YUNGBLUD Village, I got caught by the magnetic energy of Peach PRC over on the second stage. Her pastel-pink pop aesthetic, playful crowd banter, and choreographed set with backup dancers made for a visually fun and musically engaging performance. You could tell the crowd was absolutely loving it.
Chase Atlantic
Next up was Chase Atlantic, who fully embraced their co-headliner status. They praised the crowd’s energy, especially considering the heat, and they gave it right back with flawless musicianship. Walking the catwalk, delivering powerhouse guitar solos and passionate vocals, they kept the momentum sky-high. With hits like ‘Swim’, ‘Church’, and a surprise unreleased track ‘Facedown’, they showed why they’re a must-see live act. The visuals, pyro, and stage presence were next-level.
YUNGBLUD
Then came the moment thousands were waiting for—YUNGBLUD. The side screens lit up with “hello” in multiple languages before he burst onto the stage with Hello Heaven, Hello and a confetti explosion. He ran straight down the runway to meet the fans, and the energy never dropped for a second.
He followed with Lovesick Lullaby, The Funeral, and Strawberry Lipstick, even shouting out, “My clan! I’ve missed you.” During I’m Just a Fleabag Nobody Loves Me, it felt like every single person there was belting out the anthem of teen angst together.
Debuting a number of tracks from his newest album Idols, YUNGBLUD shared how nervous he was to release it: “It’s been four years in the making, but to see the amount of love you’re giving it… I love you all so much.” He also gave the crowd favourites like parents, Lowlife, and Tin Pan Boy.
Before Monday Murder, he played a video highlighting the work of Warchild. In a heartfelt moment, he asked the audience to donate if they could: “Please take a picture of that number. If you can spare £5, donate on the way home. The world’s in turmoil—we have to protect the future.”
Then came the surprise of the night—Billy Idol joined him on stage for White Wedding. YUNGBLUD grinned, “Every year I’ll bring an icon to this festival…” A clear nod to last year’s murmurs about a missing special guest—he definitelymade up for it.
He closed the show with Ghosts, which featured a stunning live string section, and finally Zombie—the song that’s been making waves since its music video dropped featuring Florence Pugh. As he left the stage, he shouted: “I’ll remember this night forever,” and you could see how much it meant.
