Big Special made a splash last week (4th July 2025), unexpectedly releasing “National Average”, their highly-anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed 2024 album, “Postindustrial Hometown Blues.” In classic Big Special style, the album arrived without fanfare or prior announcement, instantly creating buzz among fans and music critics alike.

Faetooth gathered probably the most packed crowd I’ve ever seen in the Arts Centre before, with their support acts ‘Kulk’ and ‘Cwfen’ doing more than just filling time - they were getting the crowd going, ready, and warming everyone up for a brilliant evening (or cooling seeing as there was many fans placed around the venue to keep the temperatures down!).

The UK festival season is rapidly approaching, and with the weather picking up, we’re getting ourselves ready for an absolute belter of festivals this year. Sure, the big names will always pull the headlines, but we’re here for the acts bubbling under — the ones playing tucked-away tents and early-afternoon slots, bringing the real magic.

Reading’s back for another August Bank Holiday blowout, and the 2025 line-up is coming in strong. It’s loud, it’s loaded, and it’s got the kind of energy that turns muddy fields into chaos in the best possible way.