A plethora of top quality artists, creative activities and unique educational content… Bearded Theory really does have it all. The festival takes place over the late Bank Holiday weekend in the beautiful setting of Catton Park, under an hour from our Nottingham doorsteps. Here are five reasons you can’t afford to miss the 2025 edition…
1. A line-up that punches well above its weight
Bearded Theory is hosted on a beautiful but compact site, yet manages to cram in eight stages and performance areas. That allows for an incredibly diverse line-up, and countless opportunities to watch smaller artists, rising stars and some impressively big names. This festival’s curators know what they’re doing!
In 2025, Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers and Paul Heaton top the bill, and lower down you’ll find names such as English Teacher, Yard Act, Lottery Winners, Katy J Pearson, Public Service Broadcasting, Swim Deep, Nova Twins, Billy Nomates, Muireann Bradley and Adwaith (the latest full line-up is here).
The more established acts perform on the main Pallet and Meadow stages, while the Woodland stage provides an intimate and idyllic setting for folkier sounds and rock sets.
2. Something for everyone
Literally. Adults are, of course, spoilt for choice – but so are the younger attendees. There’s the Children’s Village of course, centred around a Village Green and offering a space for carers and children to relax, have fun and learn. The Creative Intentions Café offers plenty of child friendly prices and portions; there’s a Toddler Tent with soft play and baby changing; and teenagers get their own space, too.
While many festivals claim to be family-friendly, Bearded Theory takes it one stage further, offering an on-site school for children from Reception up to Year 10. The Festival School (open on the Friday) cleverly weaves accredited educational content with fascinating and relevant topics: previous years have featured classes in Maths (how to budget a music festival), Design & Technology (creating a festival souvenir), English, First Aid, PE (yoga, parkour, circus skills), Music (DJ workshops) and Healthy Eating, among much more.
Meanwhile, as well as the music, adults can enjoy comedy sets, the Karaoke bus, a pub quiz, silent discos every night, a late night film screening, an epic fancy dress competition (the prize: free tickets to next year's festival), and plenty of real ale.
3. Support for local talent
Here at LeftLion, we’re all about supporting new and established Notts artists and bands, and we’ve always got time for events like Bearded Theory which provide a superb platform for local talent, too.
This year, Catton Park will be hosting ALT BLK ERA, Nottingham’s breakthrough alternative duo who just keep on rising. Their debut album Rave Immortal is still making waves and this year the sisters have been recognised by music tastemakers such as Kerrang! and the NME.
Another huge Nottingham band to breakthrough this year are Divorce (featured in Rolling Stone and DORK, and on the cover of NME), and they’ve been given a prominent place on the Bearded Theory bill. Elsewhere on the line-up you’ll find Nottingham’s alt three-piece GIRLBAND!, “woozy surf pop sextet” Midnight Rodeo, and honorary local (and Foolhardy Folk Festival curator) Beans On Toast.
4. Exercise your creative side
If it all gets a bit much, head for The Earth Area, a tranquil craft and healing space. Here, you can immerse yourself in eco-friendly craft workshops and take part in performances, workshops and thought-provoking discussions. Past editions of the festival have seen a Lego tent, wooden pipe whittling, willow weaving, basket making, macrame and string crafts.
In this area, you’re also likely to find yoga sessions, meditations, poetry circles, and healing practitioners – both physical and emotional.
5. Dedicated to dance
It’s not all about the guitars. The dance-oriented CODA Stage was introduced to Bearded Theory last year, and was a huge success. The stage provides a custom-built environment which allows electronic artists and DJs to perform at their best. It complements the Big Ed area ensuring that Bearded Theory appeals to fans of all genres.
In 2025, Phil Hartnoll of Orbital will be headlining the festival’s dance tent and curating Saturday night’s at CODA. There will also be appearances from the likes of Irvine Welsh, junglist L.T.J Bukem, Dub Pistols, Leeroy Thornhill, Utah Saints and countless more.
Bearded Theory Festival takes place at Catton Park, Derbyshire, from 21st to 25th May 2025. Latest info and final tickets are available here.
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