Night Currents festival 2025

By Tegan 19/5/25

Night Currents 2025 is putting the rest of the grassroots indie festival scene to shame; coming back for its third year, somehow beating last year's lineup. This festival is returning to Portsmouth on Saturday 4th October, taking place in Wedgewood Rooms, spreading across two stages, which never once clash.

If that doesn’t convince you enough, let's look into the artists. Headlining are Scottish indie rockers swim school, who have taken a seat, very comfortably, at the top of most indie alternative’s must-see list. The band currently consists of Alice Johnson (vocals and guitar), Lewis Bunting (guitar), and Billy McMahon (drums). They're known for their energetic, shoegaze and slacker grunge, which always wins the audience over. These Edinburgh-born rockers are dueto release an album the day before the festival, on October 3rd. Expect a variety of fresh tunes, and all-round bangers.

Venturing further into the lineup, co-headlining are a London based trio known for their distinctive blend of post-punk revival, and fits of rage. Their sound is characterised by hypotonic beats and rhythms, angular guitar, and deadpan vocals. Honeyglaze has taken the music industry by storm, with their album “Real Deal”, which garnered critical acclaim. Showcasing their ability to take complex ideas like modern life, and put them into context. Their stage presence captivates the audience, making them a must-see act at this year's festival;the best news being, they're hard to miss as this festival is completely clashless, making sure you can't miss any of your favourite acts.

Bringing the diverse and vibrant energies to Portsmouth this October, is Home Counties, their witty lyrics and distinct melodies are sure to get your feet moving and head rocking. Their music takes inspiration from the likes of Talking Heads, and an amazing description from Ben Heath, one of the festival's organisers, is “welly if they couldn't hack P.E.” which is more accurate, because Home Counties are simply incomparable.

Grandma's House are not one to miss if you're a fan of tracks which ooze emotion and gritty earthiness. Their lockdown-made single “Always Happy” stands out because of its sheer power. From the opening guitar riffs to the meaningful topics it broaches, listeners are instantly engaged, with instruments perfectly built to surround the vocals within the music.

Following on, the next name on the line up so far, is the energetic, tireless Alien Chicks. The secret to their music is the raw element of it, the listener can actually feel the stamina that the band brings to their live shows. Take their song “Steve Buscemi” - a crowd favourite, which perfectly encapsulates the aggression that is channelled through the songwriting process.

Finally (for now), is shtepi, who according to their Spotify about, are “a five-piece, art-punk band with a chaotic live show. The chaos is seemingly a common theme for this year's NIght Currents, how exciting! personal favourite that I would definitely recommend listening to, is their 2022 single “slaughterhouse motion”.

This festival is a great opportunity to see some of the UK’s best up and coming indie bands. With a diverse lineup of artists there's something for everyone. If you are looking for a weekend of discovery and good times, then Night Currents is for you.