HEADLINE PERFORMANCES FROM: JANE’S ADDICTION (UK FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE), AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, FUTURE ISLANDS, SLEAFORD MODS, ORBITAL AND DINOSAUR JR. (UK EXCLUSIVE SHOW)
CATTON HALL, DERBYSHIRE, 23-26TH MAY 2024
“Proudly independent and with absolutely no sponsorship or branding anywhere on site… Bearded Theory offers a true getaway from modern capitalism” – The Guardian
“Bearded Theory puts a spring in the step of festival season with sets from the world’s most beloved indie musicians” – The Telegraph
“Year upon year Bearded Theory simply gets better.” – Louder Than War
“What all festivals should strive to be.” – Loudwomen.org
“A spectacular weekend.” – Record Collector
“Bearded Theory festival has always been the perfect event to ease yourself into festival season.” – Gourmet Gigs
Multi-award winning independent alternative festival Bearded Theory returns to Derbyshire’s Catton Hall to celebrate its 15th year on 23-26th May 2024. Rooted in community and bolstering an intrinsic punk ethos, the highly-coveted festival has become synonymous with championing powerhouse household acts in an intimate, quirky and inspiring utopia/ atmosphere. A true ode to its talents, the festival has recently been shortlisted for Best Medium Sized Festival at the UK Festival Awards. Bordering three counties of West Midlands, South Derbyshire and Staffordshire and only two hours away for 50% of the UK’s population, it’s the perfect place to kickstart your festival season.
The festival welcomes an electrifying selection of artists to the site, including a UK exclusive performance from iconic rock band, Los Angeles quartet Jane’s Addiction. Comprised of enigmatic frontman Perry Farrell, guitar hero Dave Navarro, and powerhouse rhythm section drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery, the band are one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and will make Bearded Theory their only UK festival performance of 2024.
Alongside this exciting exclusive comes headline performances from raucous and rowdy Australian punks Amyl and The Sniffers, sleek synth-pop ensemble Future Islands, Nottingham post-punk duo Sleaford Mods, influential electronica brothers Orbital, and a further UK exclusive performance with the addition of alternative indie rockers Dinosaur Jr..
Speaking on the exclusive performances and first line-up release, festival organiser Ben Ryles says, “We’re very excited to have two of our favourite alt-rock heroes choosing Bearded Theory as their only UK festival for the year. We also can’t wait to welcome Amyl and the Sniffers and Future Islands who are both so widely renowned for their incredible live shows, as well as festival favourites Sleaford Mods and electronic icons Orbital. Across this first batch of almost 50 acts there are fast-rising artists at the forefront of their scenes, legendary performers, and plenty of Bearded Theory crowd-pleasers, we’re really pleased to finally reveal them and get the countdown on to the start of the festival season!”
Keeping spirits high across the enthralling weekend are the likes of grime-punk duo Bob Vylan, influential British rock band New Model Army, boundary-pushing electronic rock duo Wargasm, larger-than-life ska nonet Gentleman’s Dub Club, celtic-folk rockers Ferocious Dog, brashly ear-crunching Panic Shack, highly-hyped post-punkers English Teacher, fast risers HotWax and Sprints, Ibibio Sound Machine, Jane Weaver, Pip Blom, and many more.
Last year inaugurated two new areas into Bearded Theory – The Meadow, a fresh big top stage made to house class rising and iconic acts, and Big Ed, a striking dance district pushing out reverberating bangers til the early hours of the morning, quite literally acting as the face of the festival in the shape of a mammoth wicker-built, greenery-adorned head. 2023 saw The Meadow host Echo & The Bunnymen, Viagra Boys, Public Service Broadcasting, Kid Kapichi, Witch Fever and many more. The festival is ecstatic to announce that both stages will be making a glorious return to the field.
Dance and electronic music holds a huge and vital role in alternative communities. Bearded Theory embraces this beyond Big Ed not only through the galvanising appearance from main stage headliners, Orbital, but with their dedicated dance stage. Ravers galore are in for a treat, with an abundance of remarkable acts set to grace the stage, such as Mercury Award winning junglist Roni Size, ambient house pioneers The Orb, acid house phenomenons 808 State, psychedelic dance influencers System 7, and Utah Saints who have been DJing around the globe since the birth of House Music.
Bearded Theory firmly believes that an education shouldn’t only exist within the boundaries of a traditional indoor space. For parents attending with little ones and teenagers, the festival is pleased to announce that the innovative and cherished Festival School initiative returns to the Children’s Village yet again. The school requires official enrolment and permission from the children’s respective schools, runs from 9am-3pm for years Reception through till Year 10 on the Friday of the festival, and provides a huge itinerary of educational classes. Previous years have featured Maths (how to budget a music festival), PE classes by Derby County FC and Mr Motivator, Design & Technology (giving students the opportunity to create their own souvenir to take home!), Slime making, English, Mindfulness, Healthy Eating and First Aid.
Bearded Theory festival presents attendees with monthly payment instalment plans, enabling buyers to spread the cost of purchase up until May 2024. Tickets are on sale now. For more info on the payment plans, camping options and facilities please go HERE.
Announced on the line-up so far:
JANE’S ADDICTION • AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
FUTURE ISLANDS • SLEAFORD MODS
ORBITAL • DINOSAUR JR
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BOB VYLAN • NEW MODEL ARMY
WARGASM • GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB
FEROCIOUS DOG • PUNK ROCK FACTORY
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IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE • JANE WEAVER • PIP BLOM • PANIC SHACK
JIM BOB • PEAT & DIESEL • BEANS ON TOAST • HIS LORDSHIP • DIVORCE
SPRINTS • GREEN LUNG • ENGLISH TEACHER • BDRMM • BIG SPECIAL • BIS
RONI SIZE • THE ORB • 808 STATE • SYSTEM 7 • UTAH SAINTS • THE MARCH VIOLETS
THE BAR STOOL PREACHERS • HOTWAX • TROUT • KATIE MALCO • GIRL SCOUT
LIINES • PROBLEM PATTERNS • 3 DAFT MONKEYS • [SPUNGE] • SONIC BOOM SIX
