NEXT SET OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE WAKE FESTIVAL 2025
HELEN GANYA, THE MEMORY BAND, BRYONY DUNN & THE FOREST, BLUETRAIN
AND THE EQUATORIAL GROUP JOIN KING CREOSOTE AT THIS YEAR’S EVENT
Saturday 23 August 2025
In the wake of what’s gone before …
The Wake, the new festival set up by Green Man founders, Jo Bartlett and Danny Hagan is returning in 2025. This time though, over the bank holiday weekend in August, where the festival will remain moving forward. The Wake will once again be for one day, but in 2025 there will also be camping.
Five more artists have just been announced for the event. Helen Ganya, The Memory Band, Bryony Dunn & The Forest,Bluetrain and The Equatorial Group will all play the festival, headlined by King Creosote.
Jo Bartlett says ‘We are delighted to add these five artists to the fabulous growing line up for our second Wake festival. Once again, it’s a combination of new artists along with musicians Danny and I have a rich history with. The day is really shaping up and we cannot wait to share great music, talks, food, drink and vibes with you! All in the glorious Sussex countryside.’
In the summer of 2021, Brighton-based, Scottish-Thai songwriter Helen Ganya’s grandmother passed away. Her Bella Union released album, the kaleidoscopic ‘Share Your Care’, is woven through with plaintive sadness and verdant rushes of euphoria. Helen Ganya is singing of the losses of people and places, of our movement and our ancestry; but in doing so, encourages us to embrace life and hold one another through it all.
Since the release of their first EP in 2003 The Memory Band has been navigating its own path through the folk music landscape of the digital age. Led by producer Stephen Cracknell with a fluid cast of collaborators The Memory Band blend songs and instrumentals, the traditional with the modern and the sacred with the profane. In 2024 The Memory Band released ‘Never The Same Way Twice and ‘A Common Treasury’ two volumes of unreleased archive recordings on their own Hungry Hill label and in 2025 make their return to live performance. We are excited to have The Wake included!
Inspired by the earth and shaped like a river which babbles over rocky friendships, cascades into pools of love, and eddies at the anxieties of modern life, Bryony Dunn & The Forest will bring their brand of folk rock to the Woodland Stage. In 2024, Bryony Dunn & The Forest brought their evocative sound to festivals including Black Deer, Pub In The Park, and Weyfest, along with a record store tour at Bella Union, Next Door Records, and Dayglo. They recently supported Sylvie and Sandi Thom at The Boileroom and were Caffè Nero artist of the month for September.
Bluetrain features The Wake organisers, Jo Bartlett and Danny Hagan. They released their ‘Land of Gold’ ep on Dan Treacy’s (of The Television Personalities), Dreamworld Records in 1987, when they played Glastonbury, toured Scotland and supported such indie legends as The Pastels, The Mighty Lemon Drops and The Bodines. Bluetrain reformed to perform five songs at a one off Buzz Club (where Jo and Danny put on such bands as The Stone Roses, Blur and Primal Scream) organised to celebrate the West End Centre in Aldershot’s 50th anniversary in February. The gig went so well they have decided to remind themselves how to play a few more songs and play The Wake.
Finally, hailing from Eastbourne on England’s Sussex coast, The Equatorial Group is formed of five old friends from very differing musical backgrounds. This musical tug-of-war has succeeded in “merging American roots music with timeless pop.” Some listeners hear the shadows of Neil Young or the colours of Fleetwood Mac, and with five part harmonies, pedal steel guitar, and soaring improvisations they create “delicate soundscapes delivered with restrained panache.” (Lonesome Highway)
These five music acts will be joining previously announced King Creosote, Chris Brain and Raingblue.
above photo of Helen Ganya
D.J.s appearing in 2025 include the return of Richard Norris (The Grid) who performed last year with a wonderful mix of dub, psychedelia and folk.
Making her debut at The Wake in 2025 will be Emma Anderson formerly of ‘90s shoegazers, Lush. Emma will be joining Richard D.J.ing on the Meadow Stage.
More D.J.s still to be announced.
Once again John Andrews will be hosting the Talks on the Meadow stage, where this August, he will be in conversation with Simon Raymonde. ‘In One Ear’, Simon’s new memoir is published by Nine Eight, and charts his extraordinary life and times in music from Cocteau Twins to Bella Union and more.
Also joining John and Simon on the Talks stage is Will Burns. (Caught By The River / Rough Trade Books) with more to be announced.
The first edition of The Wake, in July 2024, sold out just three months after it was announced and six weeks before it took place.
In 2025, there will once again be three stages of music, Talks, DJs and a Children’s Area, more acts to be announced.
The beautiful woodland site is near Billingshurst in West Sussex RH14 0AL
Tickets are £37.50 adult, £10 for 7–13 years old and free to under 7-year-old children.
Camping tickets can only be purchased with a festival ticket and cost a further £20 per pitch (up to 4 people).
Event information and travel details
above photo of King Creosote
Indie Through The Looking Glass 