Takedown Festival 2025 – Saturday Galleries

Check out the Saturday action from Takedown Festival 2025 through the lens of Sara-Louise Bowrey...

Takedown – back up and firing on all cylinders after a year off…

After a year off, Takedown Festival came back with a vengeance — and trust me, it was so worth the wait. Taking over Portsmouth Guildhall for two full days, this year’s fest was a non-stop celebration of everything loud, heavy, and gloriously chaotic.

From the second the doors opened, the energy was unreal. Whether you were headbanging at the front, discovering new bands in the side rooms, or just soaking it all in with a beer in hand, the vibe was pure magic.

Elvana (yes, Elvis meets Nirvana – it’s as wild as it sounds) and the incredible Kris Barras Band took headline duties, and honestly? They crushed it. But it wasn’t just about the headliners — the whole lineup was stacked with talent.

Check out some of the standout acts:

Dreamstate – Welsh alt-rockers with soaring vocals and serious emotional punch.
Kid Bookie – Genre-bending MOBO-nominated artist blending rap, rock, and raw energy.
Acres – Melodic post-hardcore with cinematic vibes.
Lake Malice – High-octane experimental metalcore duo with serious stage presence.
InVisions – York-based metalcore heavyweights known for their crushing live shows.
Caskets – Melodic, emotional, and anthemic – a must-listen for fans of Architects or Holding Absence.
Ferocious Dog – Political Celtic punk with a fiercely loyal following and unmatched live energy.

Jessie from Dreamstate summed up the mood before the festival perfectly:

“Very excited to be finally playing Takedown festival. The lineup looks stacked and we are ready to shred the room to pieces. See you in the pit!”

Kris Barras shared his excitement as well:

“Takedown Festival has been one I’ve wanted to do for a while… it’ll be an honour to headline the Friday night.”

And Ferocious Dog brought their signature chaos, promising to “tear it up” with their high-octane Celtic punk.

What really stood out, though, was the sense of community. After a tough year for UK festivals (with over 60 cancelled, postponed, or lost), organisers Kai and Sarah Harris pulled off something special. In their own words,

“We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to return with a lineup we are very proud of.”

And honestly? They should be proud. Takedown 2025 wasn’t just a comeback — it was a statement. A reminder that despite all the challenges, the UK rock and metal scene is still alive, loud, and absolutely thriving.

Until next year… see you in the pit 🤘