Manchester Psych Fest charges into its twelfth edition with a lineup built to impress.
Now entering its second decade, Manchester Psych Fest continues to thrive as one of the UK’s most eclectic and exciting celebrations of left-field music. The festival sprawls across a patchwork of Manchester’s legendary backstreets and beloved venues, showcasing a spectrum of sonic expression: from experimental rock and shoegaze to post-punk and modern psychedelia.
With over 70 artists across 8+ venues, the 2025 edition promises to be its most ambitious yet. Here are six must-see acts (plus a few bonus picks) that should be on your radar before even more names join the already stacked lineup.
Pale Blue Eyes
Devon-born, Sheffield-based Pale Blue Eyes are a trio already beloved, blending emotional clarity with pulsating rhythms. Their astute “modernist pop” is a force to be reckoned with. Their latest album New House sees the band – fronted by Matt and Lucy Board with bassist Aubrey Simpson – push their signature sound into more dynamic, hopeful territory. Expect shimmering synths, tightly woven harmonies, and pulsating beats that’ll have you floating beneath the city’s illustrious skyline. With a number of massive gigs under their belt, courtesy of support runs alongside Slowdive, Editors, and Public Service Broadcasting, Pale Blue Eyes are no strangers to putting on a fantastic show.
Adult DVD
Fresh off the back of their killer debut EP Next Day Shipping and, with an upcoming slot on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury, Adult DVD are quickly becoming one of the UK’s most buzzworthy new bands. Fusing tongue-in-cheek lyricism, northern swagger and glitchy machine-made beats, Adult DVD are connoisseurs in the art of dance-punk. Equal parts chaotic and captivating, they’re the kind of band that makes you forget you’ve been on your feet for 10 hours. Don’t miss it.
Westside Cowboy
Despite the perhaps overwhelming motivation of the avid gig-goer, it would be a great challenge to see all the great bands on display at this year’s lineup. Yet if you were to only see one, make it Westside Cowboy. Only two singles deep and already tipped as one of Manchester’s finest, Westside Cowboy are the definition of a breakout band. Their signature sound – dubbed Britainicana – fuses modern folk rock with raw emotional weight and poetic tenderness. If you’re chasing a set that feels both intimate and anthemic, Westside Cowboy are your new obsession.
YAANG
With a name as noisy as their sound, Manchester’s YAANG have shaken the underground scene with sheer sonic force. Their furious blend of punk, post-punk and outsider rock is underpinned by clattering guitars and militant drumwork, creating a riotous atmosphere wherever they play. They’re unpredictable, unfiltered, and utterly magnetic – if there’s one band that might actually tear the roof off, it’s this one. Yet, erupting from their musical bravado, is an equally potent silliness.
YUUF
Looking to lose yourself for a moment? YUUF are your escape route. Echoing the sun-drenched grooves of Khruangbin and the intricacies of Glass Beams, this London-based outfit crafts expansive, meditative psych laced with tight musicianship and homely atmosphere. It’s a blissful counterpoint to the heavier noise that defines much of the weekend – and a must for anyone craving a deep sonic cleanse.
Getdown Services
Equal parts satire and spectacle, Getdown Services are once again here to disrupt the norm. Their blend of punk energy, DIY theatre, and tongue-in-cheek sociopolitical commentary is loud, brash, and utterly unforgettable. With barking vocals, thudding bass, and an aesthetic that blends absurdity with sharp observation, they bring something wildly different to the table – a party you won’t want to leave.
Bonus Picks
Dove Ellis
A quiet storm with no official releases (yet), this artist’s haunting vocals and beautifully sparse guitar melodies have already earned a cult following. Get in early and say you saw them first.
Fuzz Lightyear
From the heart of Leeds’ live circuit, this group channels the untamed spirit of noise rock into something gloriously ambitious. Gritty, chaotic, and propelled by youthful fire, they’re building something big from the ground up.
Dutch Interior
A six-piece out of Los Angeles, proudly born from the depths of lifelong friendship, Dutch Interior deliver the very best of alternative country-infused rock, siphoned into a collection of songs that sound miles beyond their age.
Manchester Psych Fest has always been about more than just music. Now entering its 11th year, it continues to be a place where genre lines blur, scenes collide, and future headliners cut their teeth. Whether you’re there to support bands you’re already determined to witness again or there to find something new, this year’s festival is bound to offer something loud, beautiful, and altogether brilliant for another year.
featured image: Westside Cowboy by Joe Moss
