PHOTOS: Y Not Festival 2025

For another year, Pikehall in Derbyshire welcomes Y Not Festival, easily one of the most beloved of the late-summer’s indie festivals. It might be true that a lot of these mid-sized events seem to handball chunks of lineup between each other, but Y Not has always rung louder than others. Friday certainly puts forth a good case for that, headlined by The Prodigy for whom their legend status in electronic and rave music remains as nailed-on as ever. Deeper in the indie contingent of fan faves, Primal Scream and The Futureheads are still going strong at a main stage level.

But it’s naturally the current crop who’ll draw the most attention, of which Y Not is fit to burst with as always. Panic Shack’s punk is enjoying a healthy bout of new-album-driven uptick; Willie J Healey’s soulful indie overflows with crowd-pleasing vibes; and She’s In Parties prove a fine addition to the current gauzy indie-pop canon. Alongside equally buoyant showings from hard life and The Hunna, it’s another roaring start for the year, as Dean Cavanagh headed down to catch.

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The Futureheads

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Panic Shack

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She’s In Parties

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The Hunna

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hard life

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Willie J Healey

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Primal Scream

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The Prodigy

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Saturday finds the Courteeners headlining, The Twang enjoying a main stage slot for themselves, and a pretty solid upper-level billing for The Subways, all showcasing the hold that 2000s British indie has on this festival circuit to this day. You can’t fault it too much, though, given that a sunny field is arguably the optimum environment for it, and there’s still plenty of oxygen offered to the names who’ll ultimately take the baton in the years to come. Red Rum Club have practically guaranteed that with their brassy indie, while Brògeal, though still just getting their feet wet by comparison, bring a Celtic flavour that Y Not almost certainly appreciates.

Alongside them, The Last Dinner Party’s baroque glamour sets them up for a new album later this year, with today’s taste being as rich and flavourful as ever. Luvcat looks set to meet some similar standards, with this being just the next stop for her theatrical indie domination. Topped off by firebrand singer-songwriter Chloe Slater and an appearance from post-punks October Drift ahead of this winter’s farewell dates, Dean Cavanagh took to the fields once again to check it all out.

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The Twang

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Brògeal

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Red Rum Club

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Chloe Slater

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Luvcat

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October Drift

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The Last Dinner Party

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The Subways

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Courteeners

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The spate of Oasis Fever sweeping the UK has arrived at Y Not…through a tribute band getting bumped up to the main stage. Yes, it’s unorthodox, but Noasis are unquestionably a great Sunday warmup. After all, there’s a lot of energy required today, when the throwbacks consist of 2000s indie stalwarts like The Pigeon Detectives and Franz Ferdinand; Britpop lifers Shed Seven celebrating their 35th birthday; and, to close out the weekend, the perennial faves of British ska-pop, Madness.

On top of all that, The K’s take to the main stage, also in a celebratory mood following their new album Pretty On The Internet’s debut at Number One. Rising singer-songwriters Cat Ryan and Siobhan Winifred also deliver sets worth keeping an eye on, and Home Counties continue to peddle their post-punk / dance-pop blend to phenomenal effect. So, for the final time, Dean Cavanagh headed out for us to catch it all.

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Noasis

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The Pigeon Detectives

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Cat Ryan

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Siobhan Winifred

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The K’s

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Home Counties

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Shed Seven

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Franz Ferdinand

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Madness

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Photos by Dean Cavanagh (Instagram)