Bludfest 2025: Music, Mayhem & Magic in Milton Keynes

photo: Cydnee Brook

On Saturday, June 21st, I headed to Bludfest at the Milton Keynes Bowl for the first time. Now in its second year, the festival already feels like it's found its voice, and it's a loud, joyful, genre-bending one.

Aside from a few opening-day hiccups (WiFi issues that made ticket scanning a bit of a mess), the event was impressively well-organised. You could feel the love and care that had gone into building this experience.

Vibe Check: Family, Freedom & a Sea of Black

One of the biggest surprises was the vibe of the crowd. I was expecting the usual alt-festival energy dyed hair, fishnets, combat boots, but I wasn’t ready for how wholesome it all felt. There were loads of families, with parents and even grandparents genuinely enjoying the music alongside teens and kids. It didn’t feel forced. It felt like a shared love of music had brought generations together.

The heat was real (25°C by early afternoon), with occasional spits of rain, but the energy stayed high. Being the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, added a magical quality to it all, especially as the Bowl’s natural shape created a feeling of intimacy, even in the crowd's far corners.

A Note on Accessibility

Though I didn’t personally use any of the accessibility features, I noticed real effort had been made, particularly with a well-maintained path connecting the two stages. It's clear the organisers are trying to make this a festival for everyone.

The Lineup: Diverse, Dynamic & Ready to Explode

The lineup was one of Bludfest’s strongest suits. In a space traditionally dominated by white cis male acts, it was refreshing and honestly thrilling to see a bill that included trans, non-binary, female artists, people of colour, and international names from the U.S. and Australia. Genres spanned alt-pop, emo, goth, punk, and rock & roll, and somehow it all worked together seamlessly.

Here are some standout performances:

Rachel Chinouriri – A Million out of 10

Let’s start with Rachel. Coming off a run of sold-out stadium dates supporting Sabrina Carpenter, she delivered a performance that was nothing short of spectacular. Her stage presence, vocals, and emotional depth were next level. This was her first time headlining a festival stage, which blows my mind considering how polished it all was. Honestly, she should have been on the main stage; the second stage didn’t do justice to her talent or status. But this felt like the beginning of a whole new era for her. And ye,s we need that next album, ASAP.

Yungblud – A Theatrical Masterclass

For the headline set, I chose to stand mid-crowd, closer to the back, just to absorb the full experience. And WOW, every detail had been thought through, from the staging to the crowd energy. The Bowl’s layout created an almost otherworldly feeling, like we were all in our own sonic bubble. There was no sense of separation between artist and audience; everyone just felt like fans of music and chaos. Highlighted with YungBlud appearing in a makeshift pub in the middle of the field to give away a guitar. It triggered full-on Beatlemania-style fever. I nearly got pulled off my feet by desperate fans. It was pure, unhinged festival magic.

Then came the ultimate moment: Yungblud when Billy Idol come out to perform white wedding. Yes, THE Billy Idol, Epic Ionic!! Also

Photo credit: @_alannageorgett

Master Peace – 100000/10

WHY this wasn’t a main stage set is beyond me. It was pure energy and fun, everyone dancing, smiling, vibing. For a moment, it felt like we were in Ibiza, not sweating in a field in Milton Keynes.

NXDIA – 10/10

They played Boy Clothes, and I could’ve cried. There’s no doubt in my mind they’re destined for arena shows. Give it three years. Max. The set was confident, cool, and completely captivating.

Nieve Ella – 9/10

She gave me “Stevie Nicks in 2025”. Despite some technical issues (thanks to the heat), she handled it like a pro. Her raw, rock-influenced energy was magnetic.

Luvcat – 8.5/10

This set gave everyone a breather in the best way. Dreamy, romantic, a little mysterious, like a gentle sway in the middle of a chaotic day. For their first time on the main stage, they brought a truly special atmosphere.

Reece Young – 8/10

Cool, confident, and incredibly polished. Wearing a Red Bull tee, he somehow gave the set a tiny splash of F1 energy. His crowd was massive, and he owned the space.

Blackbear – 7/10

Running 10 minutes late knocked off some momentum, but once he hit the stage, he won the crowd back with charm and solid use of the extended stage. You could tell he thrives on live interaction.

Chase Atlantic – 8/10

A high-octane warm-up before Yungblud. It's a blend of rap and alt-rock, but they brought the movement and crowd engagement. Their use of the T-stage was a highlight.

Final Thoughts: A Festival with Heart

Bludfest 2025 wasn’t just a music festival; it was a statement. A celebration of identity, connection, chaos, and above all, music that means something. The diverse lineup, the multi-generational crowd, and the unexpected tenderness all came together to create something unique and unforgettable.

Sure, there were things to improve (WiFi, better signage for the second stage, please), but the soul of this festival? It’s solid. And growing.

Final Rating: 8.5/10
And next year? Need a better or easier layout with a larger second stage? Please and thank you. And I really would like the Idols slot back please, Billy was lovely/cool/amazing surprise, but lwts make it a surprise and someone who's not on tour that time and make it exciting and bridge the gap to new fans and older fans because the crowd is so deivrese it htink it would really work.