The festival that is strictly a hipster-free zone and has none of that X Factor schmaltz either…
The 2025 gig line-up is now complete and confirmed. Undercover Festival a small, independent music festival of alternative, punk, ska and post-punk music has been running at various southern, London and coastal locations for the past twelve years, but its organisers have now decided to bring it to South Essex.
This year the music will fill The Showground at Battlesbridge Antiques Centre near Wickford on 26th and 27th September.
“We are a hipster-free zone, an X Factor-free zone, thank goodness, and we have a no-nonsense approach to any pretentious clicky musical garbage, just a great vibe and ensemble of alternative bands on such a wide range and selection that you won’t find anywhere else in September..” – festival organiser Mick.
This year Mick believes the event has most bases covered; with recent changes to the line-up now complete. Undercover boasts a packed offering for 2025 including …
SKIDS – Skids are a Scottish punk rock and new wave band, formed in Dunfermline in 1977 including ever present Richard Jobson, with a string of hits to their name. Richard Jobson – Skids: “Can’t wait to be part of the Undercover Festival. Heard great things about it. The Skids will unleash a new set as we start to prepare for the Absolute Game tour. We’re ready! Are you!”.
SUBHUMANS – Legendary punk band from the South West will be back in the UK in September for Undercover after another long tour of the USA and Europe. Dick Lucas – Subhumans: “Undercover festivals are always a good crack, and Mick always gets a great lineup sorted, the September one will be no exception!”
POPES OF CHILLITOWN – London’s finest Ska Punk favourites packing them in all over the UK. Arvin – Popes Of Chillitown: “We’re really looking forward to playing Undercover Festival in Essex this year. The line-up is pure vibes, and we’re pleased to finally be a part of it.”
EDDIE & THE HOT RODS (definitely not hipsters)! Essex’s finest sons originally best known for their 1977 UK top ten hit Do Anything You Wanna Do – keeping the spirit of the Hot Rods alive. Simon Bowley – Eddie & The Hotrods:“Eddie and the HotRods are excited to be playing Undercover Fest in Battlesbridge on Sept 26th / 27th. So many great bands playing a great festival on our home turf and we cannot wait!!”
Plus a strong line up of supporting acts many hailing from Essex including Destroy The Idols, Monumental, Dharma Hounds, Rat Hole, Stereotypes, Hinge, Fraser Morgan, Assasination Bureau, Cherry and Peesg.
“At Undercover many arrive as strangers and leave as friends – its easy to say but it’s true, such is the unique and friendly atmosphere you get at an Undercover Festival” – Mick
Tickets (£79) include camping, showers, parking and novel attractions found at no other UK festival, such as a museum, record shops and vintage sellers. An on-site guest house and campervan access are also available. Merchandise stalls, a reasonably priced festival bar and food will also be on-site.
Day tickets have now been released, but they are expected to sell out soon as they are on sale in limited numbers. Tickets are available online from Gigantic or in-person (face value) at Undercover gigs (Guildford), Intense Records (Chelmsford), Sounds of the Suburbs Records (Ruislip) and Dirt (Norwich).
While Undercover Festival is hitting the road after a run at Guildford’s The Suburbs at the Holroyd, the venue remains home to Undercover’s regular gigs, with at least 20 booked in for 2025 and more for 2026.
www.undercoverfest.com
