Ezra Collective, Mogwai and Kae Tempest to Headline 2025 BBC 6 Music Festival
Ezra Collective, Kae Tempest, Mogwai and English Teacher are among the names that will play the 2025 BBC 6 Music Festival – see the lineup in full below.
The weekender, which is the station’s flagship festival, will take place between March 26-29 at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Greater Manchester. Tickets for each event are sold separately and will be available beginning at 10 a.m. (GMT) on Thursday (Feb. 6) here.
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On March 26, a BBC Introducing event at the city’s YES venue will kick off proceedings, featuring rising acts Adult DVD, Renee Stormz, and Jasmine 4.t.
The following evening (March 27), Ezra Collective will herald in 6 Music’s three-night residency at O2 Victoria Warehouse. The jazz five-piece will be joined by Fat Dog, before a DJ set from 6 Music host Jamz Supernova. There will also be a New Music Fix night at YES with DJs 1-800 GIRLS, Florentino, Marie Davidson and NAINA.
March 28, meanwhile, will see a headline performance from Scottish rockers Mogwai, with support from Leeds band English Teacher, winners of the 2024 Mercury Prize. Elsewhere in Greater Manchester on March 28, there will be DJ sets from Sports Team, Lava La Rue, Steve Lamacq, Viagra Boys and Nathan Shepherd at Band On The Wall. 6 Music will also team up with The Warehouse to present a Rave Forever event at Amber’s nightclub.
March 29 will see spoken-word artist Kae Tempest debut new material for the first time during a headline show at O2 Victoria Warehouse. They will be joined by Perfume Genius and SHERELLE.
“It’s amazing, it’s so exciting,” Tempest said of the festival, speaking to presenter Nemone on Tuesday morning’s (Feb. 4) 6 Music breakfast show. “I can’t wait for people to hear what I have been working on. We’re still working it out in terms of what people will hear first, and we’ve got a new live set-up coming together – all the pieces are in place.”
They continued: “This gig will be the first time I have performed my new songs, which are very different to the stuff I have made before. The creative process has been akin to being caught in a strong current… I can’t wait to see what happens on stage.”
Throughout the festival, the 6 Music team will be broadcasting live from MediaCity U.K. in Salford. Current presenters include: Nick Grimshaw, Iggy Pop, Huw Stephens, and Mary Anne Hobbs.
The 6 Music Festival is aired across a number of BBC radio, television, and online channels. Since 2023, it has found a home in Greater Manchester, while previous iterations of the festival were hosted in different cities annually across the U.K. including Cardiff, London, Glasgow, Liverpool and Newcastle.
In January 2014, the BBC launched the 6 Music Festival in Manchester with headliner Damon Albarn. In the years that have followed, the event has seen sets from world-renowned acts including Depeche Mode, Fontaines D.C., Father John Misty and Neneh Cherry.
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