Returning this year with an eclectic lineup and unique atmosphere, Shambala Festival 2025 promises a technicolour celebration of creativity and discovery. Nestled in the Northamptonshire countryside, this legendary four-day gathering is known for its eco-conscious ethos, flamboyant fancy dress, and varied programming that spans everything from circus and cabaret to workshops and wellness. But at its heart, Shambala is a festival for music lovers- curated with care and brimming with people passionate about music.
Each year, Shambala’s lineup offers a heady blend of genre-defying brilliance, and 2025 is serving up some serious gems. From the deeply political to the wildly danceable, here are the artists we’re most excited to experience live in the wonderland of Shambala.
Nubiyan Twist Soundsystem ft. Aziza Jaye
If Nubiyan Twist’s full-band shows are a soulful jazz journey, their new NT Soundsystem project is the gritty afterparty. Launching alongside their remix album "Dubplate Inferno" (out June 2025), this stripped-back trio is a deep dive into UK bass culture. With Aziza Jaye on vocals, Tom Excell handling electronics and guitar, and that unmistakable horn sound, expect dub, D&B, garage, and amapiano soaked in soul and uplift. It's the sound of the underground, but made for the open air.
Afriquoi
Few bands can light up a field like Afriquoi. Blending West African instrumentation with UK electronic flair, their live sets are an ecstatic meeting of tradition and innovation. Expect driving percussion, soaring melodies from the kora, and hypnotic grooves that pull dancers into a collective rhythm. It’s music that feels ancient and futuristic all at once- rooted in community, lifted by joy.
Beans on Toast
There’s something deeply comforting about catching Beans on Toast at a festival- like bumping into an old mate who brought his guitar and some solid advice. With songs that swing between the political and the personal, the absurd and the heartfelt, his charm lies in the authenticity he brings to the stage. Whether he’s singing about fatherhood, climate change, or just having a pint, it always feels real, and that’s why we love him.
Matters Unknown
Led by trumpet player and composer Jonathan Enser, this shape-shifting collective channels everything from Afrobeat to cosmic jazz, blending improvisation with deep, danceable grooves. Their music feels alive- always shifting, always searching, and their live sets unfold like spiritual journeys. One moment you're in a smoky jazz basement, the next you’re airborne on synth waves and brass fire.
Amy True
If you’re after lyrical power swirled in soul-drenched beats, don’t miss Amy True. A fierce, grounded voice in UK hip hop, she brings an uncompromising blend of poetic fire, and emotional depth. Her presence commands attention- not just through words, but through a sound that stretches across jazz, soul, and boom-bap beats with clarity and courage.
Aries
Jungle veteran Aries brings the kind of bass-heavy energy that can turn a dance tent into a full-blown revival. With decades behind the decks and a reputation as both innovator and educator in the DnB scene, he delivers sets that are as rootsy as they are relentless. Whether you’re a junglist die-hard or just ready to get your heart racing, Aries is the man for the job.
From sunrise sets to late-night floor-shakers, these artists are just a slice of the magic waiting at Shambala this year. Whether you're there for the lyrical wisdom, the global rhythms, or the straight-up bangers, the music at Shambala 2025 is shaping up to be unforgettable. We’ll see you down the front.
Buy tickets: Here
