LOOPFEST 2025 Programme

the west midlands’ biggest multi-venue music festival Now in its fourth year, LOOPFEST has grown into something truly special—a celebration of diverse talents from the West Midlands and beyond. In 2025, we’ll host 250 acts across Shrewsbury at over 40 venues.

There’s something for everyone—from live bands and children’s entertainment to DJs and street performances. The event is super affordable, with tickets for Saturday 3rd May to Sunday 4th May costing just £12 for adults, £6 for under 18s and U5s go free!

WANT TO EXTEND THE PARTY? On Friday 2nd May 2025, we’re hosting four massive events in Shrewsbury, with tickets priced at £20–£26 plus booking fee. Acts include: - Jon & Alex from Everything Everything - Acoustic & In Conversation with BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins followed by Sean Gaffney - Coach Party, Girlband! and Boom Boom Womb - Goldie Lookin’ Chain, Trademark Blud & Miss Ink - Subvert x LOOPFEST (DNB) with headliners Mandidextrous, Dillinja & Benny L The great news is when you buy a ticket for one of the Friday 2nd May 2025 events you’ll receive a free LOOPFEST ticket, giving you access to all the events held on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 2025.

GOLDIE LOOKIN’ CHAIN

SHREWSBURY CASTLE - 6PM WITH TRADEMARK BLUD + MISS INK Forget the Wu-Tang Clan; everyone knows that if you’re after the biggest and bestest rap collective this side of Merthyr Tydfil, then it’s the Goldie Lookin’ Chain that bring the ultimate beats and rhymes.

They’ve released over 20 albums/mix-tapes, always mixing their lyrical comedic nous with

squelchy, filthy beats that implore you to forget you’re a mild-mannered civil servant with ongoing back pain, and instead focus on buying a soapbar, some quality tracksuit threads, and relocating to the Chain’s hometown of Newport.

Tickets are £27 + B/F and are available from Fatsoma, Skiddle & our ticket sales platform TicketLoop.

COACH PARTY

ALBERT’S SHED - 7PM WITH GIRLBAND! + BOOM BOOM WOMB It’s weird, innit, the Isle of Wight was always seen as lovely lil holiday destination, somewhere to enjoy the donkey rides and quiet beaches, but somewhere along the way it has also become synonymous with producing kick-ass musicians and bands.

Coach Party’s debut album, ‘Killjoy,’ delighted fans and critics and has become a modern-day

punk-pop (but not pop-punk!) masterpiece.

The lead-off single, ‘What’s the point in life?’ summarises the band perfectly: loud, funny, and thoughtful, with big, beefy guitars and a melody that embeds itself in your brain like a parasite. But, you know, a nice one.

Tickets are £20 + B/F and are available from Fatsoma, Skiddle & our ticket sales platform TicketLoop.

JONATHAN & ALEX FROM

EVERYTHING EVERYTHING ACOUSTIC & IN CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS HAWKINS

ST. MARY’S CHURCH - 7PM FOLLOWED BY SEAN GAFFNEY - 10PM Nominated for the Ivor Novello award an incredible five times, their latest release, ‘Fountainhead,’ described as the band’s ‘synthetic pop album,’ is much more than that; it’s an aural delight that expands on their existential, rave-infused influences.

Join Jonathan and Alex from Everything Everything at LOOPFEST for a stripped-back acoustic affair as well as in conversation with LOOPFEST’s own ambassador, BBC Radio 6 Music’s finest, Chris Hawkins, where the band will discuss their career and music in an intimate setting.

Tickets are £26 + B/F and are available from Fatsoma, Skiddle & our ticket sales platform TicketLoop.

SUBVERT DNB

FEAT. MANDIDIDEXTROUS, DILLINJA & BENNY L THE BUTTERMARKET - 8PM

Subvert are Shropshire’s premier D’n’B collective. Hosting the best of our local talented emcees and djs, as well as bringing in up and coming stars from across the country, Subvert are dedicated dnb heads who always ensure the floor is full, the bass is thicc and the beats are downright filthy af.

Guaranteed to keep you dancing until the early hours, we’re letting them take over the Buttermarket at this year’s LOOPFEST. Let’s get seshing.

Tickets are £20 + B/F and are available from Fatsoma, Skiddle & our ticket sales platform TicketLoop.

Miles Hunt, the acclaimed frontman of indie rock band The Wonder Stuff.

Known for his captivating stage presence and soulful vocals, Hunt will bring a unique, stripped-down performance to the stage, showcasing his musical versatility and timeless songwriting.

You may know him as the one from Gomez with the gravelly voice. You may know him as one of the finest musicians the UK has produced with a knack for writing perfectly peculiar pop songs. Both descriptions work.

Don Letts is officially a national treasure.

Well, maybe not officially, we’re unsure how these things work. But he is to Loop!

Community minded to his core, Don is one of the UKs finest DJs and filmmakers working today. Let’s have a punky reggae party.

THE BEATLES DUB CLUB SHREWSBURY CASTLE

Forget the Wu-Tang Clan; everyone knows that if you’re after the biggest and bestest rap collective this side of Merthyr Tydfil, then it’s the Goldie Looking Chain that bring the ultimate beats and rhymes.

THE CHEAP THRILLS SHREWSBURY CASTLE

Forget the Wu-Tang Clan; everyone knows that if you’re after the biggest and bestest rap collective this side of Merthyr Tydfil, then it’s the Goldie Looking Chain that bring the ultimate beats and rhymes.

A festival DJ set showcasing the Fab Four like you’ve never heard them before, DJ Chris Arnold takes you on a magical mystery tour of his collection of covers, remixes and surprise re-interpretations from most probably most influential band that ever walked this earth – The Beatles.

THE SPITFIRES

SHREWSBURY COLLEGE WELSH BRIDGE CAMPUS Everything Everything is one of the greatest bands Britain has produced — a scintillating cocktail of jerky rhythms, bombastic percussion, and, most importantly, astonishing songwriting

Hailing from Liverpool, The Cheap Thrills are well known on the festival circuit having been quietly building a buzz over their shotgun riffs and blues-infused indie melodies for quite some time. For fans of Britpop and 60s psychedelia.

Punk influenced mod choons with a stage show that is both energetic and revitalising.

The Spitfires bring old school 70s vibes with a backline that is tighter than a government endorsed winter payments scheme.

ONES TO WATCH

FUNKE & THE TWO TONE BABY CAPTAIN ACCIDENT A one man sonic explosion. Jammed halfway between frenzied alt-blues and metronomic dance beats.

DIE TWICE Eclectic, energetic and unique blend of rock and roll with a modern twist for the next generation.

It’s Ska Jim, but not as we know it. Using two tone as a building block, our beloved Captain Accident and his Disasters fashion themselves a unique live show that will have you hollering in the aisles and dancing like you’ve already knocked back two pints of home grown scrumpy.

ADULT PLAY

ANNA SILVERS

They supported The Futureheads last time round and started a mini dancing pit in the middle of Shrewsbury Castle. Not many bands can say that. Saying that, not many bands are as wonderfully genre-jumping as these beauts.

Melodic and harmonious, with songwriting chops that would fell a McCartney tree, Anna is a Telford-born, Liverpool-based singer-songwriter who is well known to BBC Introducing, who ruddy love her. You will too.

YUR MUM Great name, even better band. Yur Mum hail from Brazil but are now based in Blighty and have supported the likes of UK Subs whilst blowing them off stage. Punky, funky, LOUD duo who are going to blow your tiny little mind.

BORN NEXT DOOR Another incredible Shropshire based indie rock’n’roll band. These guys have wowed festivals across the country with their deliciously melodic bouncy upbeat sounds, and we can’t wait to host them at Loopfest.

THE SCRIBES

SLANEY BAY Dreamy, atmospheric and with hauntingly beautiful vocals, Slaney Bay have been wowing audiences across the country since their formation in 2022. They have a quiet swag and know how to enchant an audience.

JUNIOR JUNGLE Let’s be honest, most kids events are shite.

Boring, bland, but hey the kids are having fun, right? Well, why can’t you have a bit of joy too Mom and Dad? A couple of hours with Junior Jungle will have both you and your nippers smiling for the rest of the day.

CHINA BEAR

The Scribes Boombox is a brand new project born of the multi-award winning act The Scribes with a blend of live instrumentation and sampling set against a block-rocking backdrop of booming beatboxing.

Releasing their debut album ‘Participating Trophy’ (on much loved indie label ‘Fierce Panda’) to critical acclaim, we can’t wait to see what these bears bring to proceedings.

Melodic, autumnal, tunes washed down with a uplifting intimate live show.

LITTLE JUKE

miss ink

Fast-rising, high-octane, indieeeeh rock’n’roll shenanigans from this West Midlands-based foursome. Twinged with The Streets-style energy, their live shows are becoming legendary.

We ADORE Miss Ink at Loopfest, she is one of the UK’s brightest and promising rappers.

Her beats are crisps, her rhymes are class, she exudes confidence and she can roast as good as anyone. One to watch.

drave

WEEKEND DAD

Big, boomy, goth vibes with our fave graveyard dwellers Drave (coz that’s where the goths still chill innit?) They’ve been releasing banger after banger since their debut gig this year as well - mine’s a cider and black.

It’s difficult this, because y’see this is my band. As in the writer who’s writing all these words. I think we’re quite good. My mother prefers my old band, so mixed reviews. If you like Pixies, Pulp and Queens of the Stone Age then come and have a listen.

stivals of its kind One of the top UK fe

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West Mid Showground

Headliners include: Levellers Oysterband Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Skerryvore Martha Wainwright El Pony Pisador Dougie MacLean Judie Tzuke Blazin’ Fiddles

Four music stages more than 100 hour s of folk, Americana, blue s & world music

and many, many more!

Family & dog friendly Camping & glamping Artisan shopping village Fabulous food Real ale, wine & cocktail bars Scan for more Photo: Steve Oliv

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