A Magical Place for some Peak Indie: Y Not? Festival 2025 Review

Words: Darci Jackson

Photography: Izzi Glover

Taking a breath of fresh Peak District air, surrounded by indistinct chatter, the slamming of car doors and the faint electronic notes of The Prodigy’s Breathe floating across from the Big Gin during a soundcheck, it was only then that something clicked. Summer was no longer coming.

Summer had come, and Y Not? Festival 2025 was about to begin.

With the rolling hills of Pikehall, Derbyshire as the backdrop, surrounded by its idyllic fields of cows and stone walls, it almost feels like an oxymoron happening in front of your eyes when the contrast of brightly coloured tents and festival goers start to trickle in. The ability to crack a slightly warm beer at 10am whilst still coming out of a slumber is a skill you won’t find anywhere else but the UK, and it’s extremely admirable every time it happens.

Y Not? Festival is a magical place, full of special indescribable moments that don’t happen anywhere else. It’s about seeing bands and artists make their way through the ranks, stage to stage year upon year, and that’s something not possible without the support from This Feeling and Scruff of the Neck, once again hosting their own stages at the festival to support that talent.

Blackpool’s indie rock newcomers Alright spoke about how much their support means.

‘Bands like us wouldn’t get on festivals initially without the likes of This Feeling and Scruff of the Neck. What they do for us is golden, the community is unbelievable.’

With the Giant Squid having a makeover this year to include gargantuan squid tentacles entwining their way around the side of the stage and the tent being right next to the arena gates allowed punters to be hit square in the face with new music as soon as they enter the arena.

Abi White from Manchester indie pop quartet Foxglove described their Friday afternoon slot as ‘insane,’ with their sparkly, dance infused guitar music lighting up the Giant Squid.

‘It’s the biggest crowd we’ve ever had. We peeked out a bit before and we were like ‘oh my God.’

‘Some of our songs are about me maybe giving up music and then I’m singing the songs and I’m like this is crazy!’

A welcome sight was seeing a full crowd for hard life, especially after the hardships the band have recently faced, with their easygoing, hip-hop-esque beats. Combining their old material with the new (an onion was spotted being held up by a fan), frontman Murray Matravers described how this was the first festival he came to 15 years ago.

Y Not? gets extra points from us this year, with the easiness of access and straightforward map. Set in a circular motion, it’s so easy to navigate, and the shortcut between the Big Gin and The Quarry has been a welcome addition.

Coming off a stellar year with her debut album Dancing At The Edge Of The World, Scottish singer songwriter Brooke Combe cast a spell over The Quarry stage with her soul hugging rich tones, opening with This Town, taken from the LP.

‘We all anticipated the album was going to be good in terms of defining who I am as an artist, but what came after that I would never have imagined.

‘Jools Holland, another Glastonbury slot, Lionel Richie. Thank you to that album!’

Combe also featured on Saturday headliners Courteeners recent offering Pink Cactus Café, laying down vocals on the funky Stone Roses-esque number Sweet Surrender.

‘Bless though, Liam from day dot, my pal, I’ve supported Courteeners now how many times I don’t know. And not only that, he actually put me as a feature on that song and I didn’t even feel like I deserved it. He’s a star.’

From taking the tone down with Combe to ramping it straight back up again with The Prodigy, a simply indescribable aura offering an experience unmatched by any other band. They’re brutal, raw and unrestrained with a vehement intent on making your bones rattle with the thumping bass. Having just the instrumental for Firestarter, a posthumous sentiment in honour of former frontman Keith Flint, only made the mob hungrier, as the pack of festival goers moved as one. There’s only one act I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at a burst eardrum for, and that has to be The Prodigy. At no point was there any let up, vocalist Maxim powering through spectacularly with songs such as Omen and Take Me To The Hospital. But they also did Light Up The Sky, with a light show fit only for an act such as theirs.

Y Not? Festival consistently gives a home away from home feeling, with its community and friendly feel, and something for everyone to enjoy. From the Nighthawk Cinema, to Strawberry Fields, family camping to the wide range of food (shoutout to The Mac Shac by the Giant Squid), clothing and accessories vendors, the festival caters for every kind of person and their families, never leaving you short of something to do. And not to mention the huge upgrade of the toilets this year. It’s all people have been talking about!

Special mention to the gigantic googly eyes peeking out of the trees by the family camping area. We saw you!

One thing that really brought that community feeling together was a 5k run on Saturday morning, organised by fellow festival goer Laura Armstrong. Attended by a strong crowd, the fresh Peak air and sights of cows and foliage did wonders for those feeling a little bit fragile! A highly recommended cure that hopefully continues year upon year.

As the sun broke its way through the clouds, we’re sure this was helped infinitely by special guests The Twang’s sunshine fuelled riffs and easygoing tunes. Frontman Phil Etheridge admitted the band hadn’t been back to the festival for over 10 years, and if the size of the crowd they drew early on Saturday afternoon is anything to go by, it seems they were a appreciative addition.The Big Gin certainly had something for everybody this year, as Lime Garden’s wonky disco pop followed.

Now, if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed in life, it has to be that Red Rum Club playing Y Not? In the early evening always brings the party, but with a touch of warmth and joy too.

’This is one of the first festivals where we’ve felt like there was people there for us,’ admitted frontman Fran Doran.

‘We walk out on the main stage, just thought we were making the numbers up, just entertainers until the big bands come on. And then there’s people singing songs and inflatable trumpets.’

Seamlessly creating a singalong set, fuelled by a spaghetti Western feel, the Liverpudlian six-piece also sprinkled a taste of what to expect from their forthcoming album ‘BUCK’. And it sounds nothing short of spectacular.

Fellow Scouser Luvcat followed on The Quarry with a mysterious allure, seducing us with her romantic gothic ballads. Combined with the thick, hazy smoke furling its way off the stage, her whimsical presence shot us straight into a balmy Parisian evening. She debuts her first album ‘Vicious Delicious’ this Halloween, which couldn’t be more fitting.

Another act catapulting us straight into a different era, bringing their regality and art-rock to the Peaks was The Last Dinner Party. Dressed as if they’ve glided straight out of a historical painting, with Greek marble style columns and painted clouds, the band created an ambience of wonder against the backdrop of a picturesque sunset.

And on the other side of the spectrum came Saturday’s headline act Courteeners; nostalgia ridden, high energy, and enough flares to temporarily blind you. If there was ever a headline festival set on paper, theirs would be it. The band, led effortlessly by Liam Fray, delivered a pinpoint accurate gig, one to leave you smiling and humming the gorgeous acoustic version of Bide Your Time.

Saturday nights certainly don’t stop at Y Not?, and with plenty of nighttime entertainment to go round, it seemed every tent was spilling out with those ready to party.

The Watchtower was a particular highlight with The Oktoberfest Band playing brass covers of nearly every song you can think of. But, it would’ve definitely been fun if the party had kept going, and the nighttime entertainment didn’t stop at 1:45am, as the campsites were still full of music, excitement and chatter well into the early hours.

As Britpop summer nears its conclusion, it’s apparent that nobody is ready to say goodbye just yet. And with Oasis tribute band Noasis being moved to the 1pm slot on the Big Gin, it must be the most packed out the main stage has ever been at that time on a Sunday. There’s nothing quite like the pull of singing some absolute classics in tandem with your mates to get people out of bed.

Despite being tucked away in the far corner of the festival, The Allotment stage (hosted by This Feeling) introduces the stars of tomorrow, one of those being Brighton based scuzz-pop band Canned Pineapple. So much charisma and pure confidence oozed from each song, not leaving a sour taste at any point during the set. After the release of their 6 track EP ‘Big Break,’ this Spring, it seems it’s only a matter of time before they get their big break.

Now, if Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos comes to watch you side of stage, you must be onto something, right?

And Bristol based six-piece Home Counties, are very extremely definitely on to something.

Full of relatable British metaphors about running out of Red Stripe, (Dizzy Magazine actually gifted them a can of Red Stripe to make up for their loss, head to our Instagram see the moment), Bethnal Green tube station and watching the sun set in Middle England, Home Counties’ vibrant and vivacious synth pop on the commentary offers a gratifying distraction from daily life.

Kapranos also shouted out the Bristol sextet on stage, as Glasgow’s Franz Ferdinand began to close the curtains on the Sunday evening. Weary, yet full of joy, the Y Not? crowd gave just as much as if it were Thursday afternoon, ready to do it all over again.

And with the ease of getting round the festival, Dizzy Magazine went on a mission to catch all three headliners; Madness, Circa Waves and The Academic, which we did and passed with flying colours.

The disco balls spun on stage in time to Circa Waves’ feel good tunes, casting a magical glow on The Quarry stage, with indie classic T-Shirt Weather closing out our weekend.

With such a cordial and well- organised environment, Y Not? Festival never fails to remind us that a slice of Peak indie is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. And Shed Seven’s Rick Witter summed up the importance of festivals and platforms like this:

‘As long as young kids are learning to play guitar and strapping it on and playing it for their mates, the world is good.’