Bearded Theory 2025

[Kurosagi]

1 hour ago, Gnomicide said:

Same thing with the tea tent, I used to spent loads of time in there but haven't in recent years.

Still haven’t made it there yet. Went and had a look-see on weds but nothing on and then forgot. I’m in the Campervan field so I never go past that little area. 
 

For next year, is music there an all day or evening thing?

[Gnomicide]

1 minute ago, Kurosagi said:

Still haven’t made it there yet. Went and had a look-see on weds but nothing on and then forgot. I’m in the Campervan field so I never go past that little area. 
 

For next year, is music there an all day or evening thing?

 

All day until pretty late. 

[Kurosagi]

…and is it folky or a varied open mic type thing?

[Paul ™]

1 hour ago, Gnomicide said:

 

Not what I was thinking then. I thought it was a fair bit skinnier.

Looked smaller due to it not having the overhang section on the outside. 

[Gnomicide]

17 minutes ago, Kurosagi said:

…and is it folky or a varied open mic type thing?

 

Bit of a mixture, but basically yes. A lot of folky type stuff. It does seem to have quite a few repeat acts each year. 

 

9 minutes ago, Paul ™ said:

Looked smaller due to it not having the overhang section on the outside. 

 

👍

[Kurosagi]

39 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

Bit of a mixture, but basically yes. A lot of folky type stuff. It does seem to have quite a few repeat acts each year. 

Cheers, sounds good, I’ll defo make an effort to pop in next year.

 

….assuming that I get a ticket and it doesn’t sell out because it was so bloody good this year and everyone who didn’t come is SUPER jealous 😂

[onemoresolo]

Spent a bit more time in the tea tent this year, always a lovely vibe. Jess Silk in there on Wednesday was a real highlight. Every year I say I’ll spend a bit of time in Coda and Convoy Cabaret but the weekend gets away from me.

[DORAYME]

Long shot, but I hope someone can help.  Sometime between midnight Thursday and 1:00am Friday I heard some really loud music kick in, sounded like it was from the meadow but god knows.  It was thumpng dance with an aggressive female vocal,  really buzzed me.  Any ideas will be gratefully received and researched.

My 3rd BT on the bounce, and can not wait for next year.  Highlights.... Iggy, English Teacher,  Fat Dog, M Pussy, Sisters of Mercy, Lime Garden, Du Blonde, Grade 2, Get Down Services.

Manics....oh boy.  The Nicky Wire vocal bit was like shocking,  great way to snap the crowd out of any connection they may have made to the performance.  

 

 

[FrogStupid]

Were Fat Dog the band on before English Teacher? Because whoever that was, I was in my tent at the time and they got me hurrying down to the arena only for their set to finish about 30 seconds before I got there. But they sounded great.

 

2 hours ago, DORAYME said:

 

Manics....oh boy.  The Nicky Wire vocal bit was like shocking,  great way to snap the crowd out of any connection they may have made to the performance.  

 

 

 

I thought it was an odd setlist from them. And I felt as though Nicky wasn't into it at all, or he just didn't get along with the crowd. And they didn't play any tunes to warm up with - it was just 45 minutes of what sounded to me like muzak*; I thought it killed the vibe for a lot of the crowd. (Although not for me; I was on the rum, so I was pretty much rocking through all of it.)

 

 

* - cue someone telling me it's actually some minimalist opus by Redgren Grumbholdt or someone like that...

[FrogStupid]

3 hours ago, DORAYME said:

Long shot, but I hope someone can help.  Sometime between midnight Thursday and 1:00am Friday I heard some really loud music kick in, sounded like it was from the meadow but god knows.  It was thumpng dance with an aggressive female vocal,  really buzzed me.  Any ideas will be gratefully received and researched.

 

 

I don't think there was a Thursday set at the Meadow. It might have been something coming from the Coda tent?

[Paul ™]

3 hours ago, DORAYME said:

Long shot, but I hope someone can help.  Sometime between midnight Thursday and 1:00am Friday I heard some really loud music kick in, sounded like it was from the meadow but god knows.  It was thumpng dance with an aggressive female vocal,  really buzzed me.  Any ideas will be gratefully received and researched.

My 3rd BT on the bounce, and can not wait for next year.  Highlights.... Iggy, English Teacher,  Fat Dog, M Pussy, Sisters of Mercy, Lime Garden, Du Blonde, Grade 2, Get Down Services.

Manics....oh boy.  The Nicky Wire vocal bit was like shocking,  great way to snap the crowd out of any connection they may have made to the performance.  

 

 

I thought it was Tea Tent as they were still open, but I now believe it was coming from the Crew Bar 

[Bags73]

As a BT first timer I really enjoyed it.  It was nice to be able to see more bands without miles of traipsing between stages like at Glasto.  There was a really friendly vibe.  The demographic is much older - I'd say average age is somewhere in the late 50s.  Couldn't believe the toilets were regularly topped up with toilet roll - such luxury!  

 

 

[Paul ™]

On 27/05/2025 at 13:28, incident said:

 

For what it's worth - construction has finally (only taken 50 years) started on the replacement permanent bridge at Walton which should help things massively. It's possible that it's open in time for next years festival, though probably the 2027 event is more likely.

Not 100% on what the plan will be next year, but they won't want all festival traffic going via Walton, so perhaps larger vehicles to use the new bridge and smaller cars/motorbikes etc to still use Chetwynd.... 
 

 

On 27/05/2025 at 14:56, sadimmock said:

The Bad

-My usual whinge about not getting day/stage spits until very late. 

-Bit of an odd one.... The crowd were 99% excellent but there was a bit of nasty vibe at the front for Yard Act. I suspect that there were a few younger people who had suddenly discovered spirits and/or Class As, but there was a real edge. After a (mild) altercation I just left and watched from the back.

 

A great festival; thanks to all of those who made it happen! 

 

This was late I'd guess due to late changes due to Mike Peters sadly passing and other bits to get shuffled. 
You're not the only one to notice a slight shift towards that behaviour, hopefully it won't repeat next year! 

 

On 27/05/2025 at 17:53, Kurosagi said:

Still haven’t made it there yet. Went and had a look-see on weds but nothing on and then forgot. I’m in the Campervan field so I never go past that little area. 

Don't you ever go to the Woodlands? You walk past the Tea Tent to get there! 

[Kurosagi]

9 hours ago, Paul ™ said:

Don't you ever go to the Woodlands? You walk past the Tea Tent to get there!

 

Oh I thought the footage on the video was the inside of Magic Teapot...perhaps I've been talking at cross purposes 😆

 

Didn't get into the Something Else tent as much as last year. Missed Blyth Power cos I forgot to look at the board on Friday. Caught Mark Thomas and Attila on the Saturday though.

[gorfield]

On 27/05/2025 at 16:18, Gnomicide said:

 

Love the karaoke tent (probably one of the reasons I spend less time at the tea tent, tbf). Friday had some excellent song choices, the fella doing My Way and young lad doing Rasputin were highlights.

 

What song did you do? I may have witnessed the spectacle 😁

 

hope not!! ha ha

My husband did Rebel Yell on Friday and I did Chas and Dave on Saturday!!

 

I saw Rasputin too, it was hilarious i took a video of it

Edited May 29, 2025 by gorfield

[Gnomicide]

1 hour ago, gorfield said:

 

hope not!! ha ha

My husband did Rebel Yell on Friday and I did Chas and Dave on Saturday!!

 

I saw those, both inspired choices. I was guilty of murdering Twist and Shout.

 

[kerplunk]

Photos up

 

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/beardedtheory/2025/galleries.shtml

 

[Purple aki squat]

First time and absolutely loved it.

Reminded me of a large Avalon area.

Excellent line up, lovely atmosphere and people, no queues really for anything.

 People made it though, such a good laugh, no arsiness at all.

It certainly made up for missing out on Glastonbury tickets. Whoever organises this festival really knows what they’re doing. Great festival.

[shoptildrop]

On 27/05/2025 at 16:18, Gnomicide said:

 

Love the karaoke tent (probably one of the reasons I spend less time at the tea tent, tbf). Friday had some excellent song choices, the fella doing My Way and young lad doing Rasputin were highlights.

 

What song did you do? I may have witnessed the spectacle 😁

oh my word I was there on the Friday too and so many good Hip hop tracks being sang but that kid singing Rasputin was something else!! When I finally murdered Bon Jovi Wanted Dead or Alive did feel pretty sh*t in comparison 😂 

Silent disco on both Thursday and during downpour on Friday night was super fun too!

Edited May 29, 2025 by shoptildrop

[shoptildrop]

On 27/05/2025 at 10:45, Gnomicide said:

Another fantastic Bearded, the weather was mostly good, looked like we missed a few downpours close to the site. 

The people were great, the staff were great and I enjoyed every set I saw.

 

Lots of highlights, but special mentions for Yard Act, Ezra Furman, Mary Wallopers, Muireanne Bradley, Eighty Eight Miles, Katy J Pearson and the phenomenal Iggy Pop. Iggy was unbelievable, so much better than I'd hoped he'd be.

 

Obligatory Sights & Sounds video:

 

 

 

I made the video lol you couldn't see me during that kid singing Rasputin but you can defo see my fairy lit chair when I was watching Ferris Bueller in the meadow 

[Gnomicide]

27 minutes ago, shoptildrop said:

oh my word I was there on the Friday too and so many good Hip hop tracks being sang but that kid singing Rasputin was something else!! When I finally murdered Bon Jovi Wanted Dead or Alive did feel pretty sh*t in comparison 😂 

Silent disco on both Thursday and during downpour on Friday night was super fun too!

 

Your Wanted was magnificent, such a good karaoke song. I think I recognised you from previous years.

[Paul ™]

Didn't step in the Knockerdown once all weekend, as mentioned people have so many options that a lot of us have a very varied weekend from others.

My last night on site tonight, fields are pretty much empty and most of the remaining will go tomorrow.... 

 

 

[Paul ™]

Bearded Theory Festival 2025 Survey

[ciderbus]

12 hours ago, Paul ™ said:

Bearded Theory Festival 2025 Survey

Cheers for sharing.  Plenty of food for thought re improvements, highlights, bands you'd like to see etc.

Gave a very positive overall review.

[sadimmock]

15 hours ago, Paul ™ said:

Bearded Theory Festival 2025 Survey

Thanks for sharing that Paul. Was good to fill out a really positive survey response!