Wake Up Festival 2025

Launching in Wakefield in 2025, Wake Up Festival champions fresh, original talent while keeping live music accessible to all. With affordable tickets and a focus on revitalising underserved music scenes, it’s more than just a festival—it’s a movement.

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Do Nothing

“All hail my dog,” That’s the surreal mantra that animates Do Nothing on their debut album, Snake Sideways. On the long-awaited release, frontman Chris Bailey finds frustration and fear closing in on him with deadlines creeping closer and little to show for it. The meta-adventure of the album is him writing his way out of writer's block and coming out the other side with the band’s most vulnerable and revealing moments so far. Described by Bailey as Do Nothing’s’ most experimental work to date, it’s an anxious and introverted album that offers an arch message of hope through some of the band’s most melodic songs yet. All without losing the absurdist, deadpan lyrics and frenetic energy that endeared them to fans in the first place.

The band started making music as teenagers living in Nottingham, eventually taking a year off to regroup and reset with a more honed style. A pair of EPs, 2020’s Zero Dollar Bill and the following year’s Glueland, established Do Nothing among an exciting crop of new British bands huddled loosely under the post-punk banner. Bailey had big ambitions for the first Do Nothing album, though, and even in early interviews was stressing the importance of always evolving. This desire to change, twinned with the time-freezing pandemic that impacted early stages of writing, raised more questions than it elicited answers for the singer and chief songwriter. The resulting feeling was that of a creative stutter; a disconnection between intention and end product.

Like any good writer, Bailey found a way through the weeds and began putting it all down on paper. Snake Sideways isn’t merely an album about being unable to write an album, though. Across its ten tracks it interrogates feelings of tying identity to a vocation, the sense of letting others down, precarity of dreams, and the inescapable prison of self-criticism. These themes are perhaps most evident on “Happy Feet,” a devilishly pretty moment built around guitarist Kasper Sandstrom’s delicately strummed acoustic and more jagged electric switches. Bailey describes his lyrics on the song as being “super unglamorous” and there is something stark about hearing him admit, “I’m not gonna dress it up, today didn’t go so well.” In the past he might have hidden behind metaphor or a deep-cut Simpsons reference but the album steers unashamedly towards naked honesty.

Bailey jokes that he felt like “a little rat man” while writing the album as he and the band found themselves unable to use the rehearsal space they worked from. While waiting for work to begin on the premises, he snuck in at night to chisel away at the lyrics. As this task grew ever larger in his mind, he began to wrestle with the idea that the album would simply not happen and that the band would end as a result of his creative impasse. That tension is felt on songs such as “Nerve,” a woozy ballad that begins with Bailey crooning the line “They’re gonna fire you in the morning.” It’s also there in “Amoeba,” an anxious creep of a song delivered from between “England’s teeth,” chewed up and ready to be spat out.

The bigger picture to this cards-on-the-table thinking is that Snake Sideways is shot through with a message of hope and acceptance. There’s no cheap self-help sloganeering but a greater sense that perseverance and a little kindness can go a long way. It’s right there in that “All hail my dog” line, taken from “Hollywood Learn.” The idea of a canine deity might be amusing to think about but to Do Nothing it represents something more profound - celebrating the everyday realities and not judging yourself based on dream scenarios.

Snake Sideways stays grounded throughout and avoids straying into myopic territory, with songs including “Fine” and “Sunshine State” touching on themes of gambling and America’s response to the AIDS crisis respectively. The latter, one of the first songs Do Nothing wrote when they started the band in its current form, references the artist Keith Haring in its depiction of an anger that leaves you shaking. The elephant in the room is that all this fear, self-loathing, and inability to create, plays out on an album that very much exists. Every second of Snake Sideways is, therefore, a celebration of triumph over this paradox. It’s also a mark of the friendship in the band, rounded out by bassist Charlie Howarth and drummer Andy Harrison, and their decades-long bond. Nothing in life ever turns out quite how we imagine it and Do Nothing capture that journey in its totality here. It’s a bumpy ride but one that finds a band finally at peace with their own imperfections.

Ellur

Yorkshire artist Ellur writes soaring indie guitar songs about growing up and acceptance. Every word counts in each Ellur song, the Halifax artist is a storyteller and lets listeners further into her world with every track.

Having already spawned lead singles including its title-track, ‘God Help Me Now’ and latest single ‘Yellow Light’ (BBC Radio 1’s Track Of The Week), Ellur’s new EP (produced by Joel Johnston of Far Caspian) showcases her anthemic sensibilities to perfection, taking influences from contemporaries including Sharon Van Etten, Sam Fender and Dora Jar.

Over the past year, Ellur has certainly established herself as a strong force within the emerging indie landscape with festival appearances at SXSW in Austin Texas, Reading & Leeds Festivals and shows with Robbie Williams and Blossoms. The gifted songwriter has also drawn plaudits throughout the press community (NME, Consequence of Sound, Dork, DIY, The Line of Best Fit, Clash), BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music with plays from Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Emily Pilbeam, Sian Eleri, Ellur and her fantastic live band are not ones to miss!

“Her sound is majestically taking shape with every new release” NME

“A mastery of personal storytelling through song” DIY

“A swooning vocal you can almost wallow in” The Line Of Best Fit

Keo

“Led by brothers Finn (vocals, guitar) and Conor Keogh (bass) and completed by drummer Oli Spackman and guitarist Jimmy Lanwern. Keo’s origins trace back to Plymouth, Portugal, Ireland and the US with the Keogh brothers spending their youth touring much of the UK, Ireland and the US in their father’s traditional Irish folk project. Bridging the gap between 90’s grunge, shoegaze and alternative rock, the band note the influence of Jeff Buckley, Radiohead and The Smashing Pumpkins on their work, with further contemporary inspiration coming from acts including Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C.”

L' Objectif

L’objectif, described by NME as “one of Britain’s most intriguing young bands,” 

The Leeds-based alt-rock quartet is releasing their first new material since their acclaimed 2024 EP, The Left Side. Their latest single highlights their trailblazing energy and anthemic sensibilities, marking a new chapter in their evolution. Teaming up with a revered indie label, L’objectif is preparing for the next phase of their career, including work on their debut album. 

Praised widely across the press (The Observer, The Sunday Times, NME, DIY, Dork, The Line Of Best Fit), the band has also secured a BBC 6 Music playlist spot and received support from key radio figures such as Steve Lamacq, Amy Lamé, Iggy Pop, Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1), and Matt Wilkinson (Apple Music). Their rise over the past few years has been monumental, with this headline show further cementing their status as one of the UK’s most exciting young bands. 

Speaking about their upcoming single, the band said: “‘Goth Kids’ is the longest amount of time we’ve spent on a song – we’ve been working on it for over a year. It’s been a difficult process to get right, but we believed in it the whole way through. Lyrically, it’s a song that almost wrote itself. I don’t want to overthink the music anymore; it just felt natural. Although if it is about anything, I suppose it’s about figuring out how you fit into the world. It’s a pretty important song to us and has brought us through into a new chapter for the band.” 

The Kites

THE KITES are an electrifying young indie rock band from Leeds capturing attention with their raw, guitar-driven sound and high-energy performances. Known for delivering infectious, high-octane anthems, THE KITES craft music that is equally at home on the airwaves as it is reverberating through festival grounds and intimate venues. Having opened Leeds Festival in 2024, summer 2025 will see the band take to the main stages of Truck Festival and Y Not Festival, as well as appearances at Kendal Calling, Big Feastival, and more.

Oliver Pinder

Starting his artistic journey afresh after an artistic hiatus, Oliver Pinder has since transformed his sound from its dark, indie-folk roots into an eclectic mix of guitar-driven alternative anthems. Encompassing the earnest lyricism of artists like Matilda Mann and Jeremy Zucker, as well as the driven guitar layers akin to Wunderhorse and Bleachers, Pinder’s music captures the anxieties of today’s younger generation.

Following his return to the music industry, the 24-year-old Wakefield-based artist unleashed his debut EP, Potential, I Guess?, in May 2023. Focusing on the struggles of twentysomethings navigating adulthood, each song of his first record details Pinder’s attempt to explore new sonic territory while staying true to his songwriter roots. Featuring singles Stressed, Beautiful Second, and Late July, the EP received critical acclaim, earning support from BBC Radio 6 and BBC Introducing. The release also marked the start of a UK tour, which saw Pinder and his full-band lineup—lead guitarist Morgan Lindley, drummer Harry Stobart, and later, bassist Michael Tuck—bring his music to life on stage.

Building on the success of his first headline shows, Pinder and his band have played major festivals, including The Great Escape, Barn on the Farm, Humber Street Sesh, and Long Division. February 2024 saw him embark on his biggest headline tour yet, culminating in a sold-out show at Leeds’ 350-capacity Belgrave Music Hall. A year later, in February 2025, he headlined the legendary Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, selling over 370 tickets.

Now, Pinder is gearing up to release his highly anticipated new EP, too late to tell you, in Summer 2025. Featuring the single haunted, which was selected as BBC Introducing’s Track of the Week, the EP will be his first release on vinyl. To celebrate, he will embark on an 18-date record store tour, bringing his music directly to fans in a more intimate setting.

With a widely celebrated first EP, a series of sell-out shows, and a rapidly growing fanbase, Oliver Pinder continues to carve out his place as one of the most exciting rising names in indie music.

Gravy

Formed in 2021 when they were just 14 and 15, Gravy have fast become a staple of the West Yorkshire music scene. With packed-out shows at The Brudenell, Stylus, and The Wardrobe, they’ve built a loyal following who know every word.

Ben O’Halloran (guitar), Louis Tuxworth (drums), Joe Griffiths (bass), and Harrison Bailey (vocals/guitar) deliver post-punk indie anthems packed with dance-worthy riffs and sing-along hooks. With a sound that nods to the golden era of early 2000s Leeds, Gravy are bringing that raw energy to Wakefield — and you won’t want to miss it.

Long Island

Bright indie production, punchy pop guitars and hook-laden heartfelt lyrics carve a sound unique to Huddersfield based LONG ISLAND. With packed-out headline shows in the north, a headline tour, and slots at festivals including 2025's Tramlines, Truck and Y Not, LONG ISLAND are paving their way into the strong indie scene of the north. Inspired by the likes of Sea Girls, Corella and The 1975, a melting-pot of their wide-ranging influences forges their distinctive sound. Elevated from headline shows to festivals, their unrelenting live sets will be sure to get you dancing and screaming along to every word