Festpod

Rich has finally made it to RADAR Festival! After years of hearing Neill bang on about the place, he's getting to see what all the fuss is about. We're at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester for day one of RADAR 2026, and there's plenty to get excited about. Two stages, incredible sound, loads of guitars, arcade games and a crowd that makes you feel at home. We chat about Northlane, Gh...

InMe on Saturday, LASTELLE on Sunday, and no set clashes all weekend. Reading Rising returns to The Facebar on the 7th and 8th of November 2026, with Employed To Serve and plenty more on the bill. Neill and Rich catch up with Joe Conneely, Connor Shortt and Aaron Iley, who organise Reading Rising and also play together in InAir. We talk about the bands they've booked, the ones people kept aski...

There’s still a day of Download left, but finding the energy for it is another matter. Neill Wilkinson, Arran Prime and Rob Hemingway settle onto the grass in the guest area for Festpod 92, recorded on Sunday at Download Festival 2026. Rob’s been out for Modestep and a late-night trip to the fun house. Now we’re weighing up the bands we want to see against the very tempting thought of our own beds...

A bit more space, a shower and a proper toilet. At a festival, those things can start sounding dangerously appealing. For Festpod episode 91, Neill, Arran and Rob catch up in the guest area on day two of Download Festival 2026. We talk about the appeal of R.I.P. and guest camping, whether we’d pay extra, and why a little taste of comfort can make ordinary camping harder to return to. There’s also...

Missing Download already? Come back to the field with us - no tent to put up this time. For Festpod episode 90, Neill Wilkinson, Arran Prime and Rob Hemingway catch up with Paleface Swiss, Return To Dust, Self Deception, Rockin’1000 founder Fabio Zaffagnini and the RockFit crew at Download Festival 2026. There are reactions to a first-UK-show, album ideas born on tour, a plan involving 500 musicia...

Every band dreams of playing Download Festival. For six unsigned bands, that dream became reality at  The Takeover 2026 . In this special episode, FestPod follows the emotional journey of six bands as they step off the Download stage and reflect on achieving a lifelong ambition. Hear from  40,000 Leagues, CELAVI, Pryma, DeadWax, RXPTRS  and  Black Water County  just moment...

Right then! Welcome back to Festpod, the Unofficial Rock Festival Guide. For Episode 88, we are getting stuck into one of the absolute best weekends on the entire music calendar - Radar Festival! We’re looking back at all the brilliant madness from the 2025 edition and looking forward to what’s coming up for 2026. Neill Wilkinson is joined by the amazing Arran Prime from the band Crushed By Waves...

In episode 87 of Festpod: The Unofficial Rock Festival Guide, Neill, Rich, and Arran talk about this year's Download Festival - what's coming up, what's changed, and what we're looking forward to. Topics this episode: - Railway bans bins. We discuss East Midlands Railway's decision to ban festival-goers from bringing wheelie bins full of beer and camping gear onto their trains. - RIP Park Farm gla...

The Download Community Takeover is your shot at playing the festival. It happens every year in District X, what used to be known as the Village, on the Doghouse stage. Bands submit videos of themselves playing and a panel whittles them down to six bands who will play on the first day of Download Festival. This episode reveals the final six bands. Trish and John, two members of the deciding panel,...

Festpod heads to Bloodstock Open Air 2025! 🤘 In this episode, we dive deep into the chaos, community, and unforgettable moments of one of the UK’s biggest heavy metal festivals. From wild crowd moments to exclusive interviews, this is your all-access pass to Bloodstock Festival. We meet the fans (aka the Bloodstockers), we watch a ridiculous dinosaur fancy dress mosh pit, and sit down with rising...

Welcome back to Festpod, the unofficial rock festival guide!  In Episode 84, Neill and Rich are diving deep into the massive Download Festival 2026 lineup. We’re talking the return of Linkin Park (with Emily Armstrong), the "lengthy" Guns N' Roses sets, and why on earth Scooter is on the main billing!  We’re also breaking down the latest Bloodstock Open Air news from their recent Q&A...

In episode 83 of Festpod, hosts Neill Wilkinson, Rich Holmes, and Arran Prime meet: -  @allearsavowband  -  @CollapseTheSky  -  @changepersonaband  -  @DACARAUK  -  @TWOYEARBREAK  -  @ExistImmortal  and Hevs, the organiser of the Takeover at Download. with our sponsor: Fat Frank's Camping Shop  @fatfrankscamping1991  https://fat...

In episode 82 of Festpod - the Unofficial Rock Festival Guide, with hosts Neill Wilkinson & Rich Holmes: We discuss ‪Mediterranea Metal Cruise‬. It's a metal holiday! The value for money compared to other fests Varied activities onboard Passengers were from varied backgrounds around the world. with our sponsor: Fat Frank's Camping Shop https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Video playlist:  &nb...

In episode 81 of Festpod - the Unofficial Rock Festival Guide, with hosts Neill Wilkinson & Rich Holmes: As heavy metal music fans, we've been going to rock festivals for a long time - but never outside of the UK, and certainly not on a cruise ship! That's exactly what Mediterranea Metal Cruise is! And we're talking LUXURY. Amazing food, beautiful views of Greece and incredible metal acts make...

In episode 80 of Festpod, hosts Neill Wilkinson, Rich Holmes, and Arran Prime discuss: - Download Festival lineup teased and a commemorative coin is available. - Bloodstock lineup additions. - Live Nation is investigated over monopoly fears. - Reading Rising creators are interviewed about this year's event. with our sponsor: Fat Frank's Camping Shop https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Find all our vi...

In episode 79 of Festpod, hosts Neill Wilkinson and Rich Holmes discuss: - The branding and merchandise updates from Download Festival; - Bloodstock announces that a 4th headliner will appear on Thursday night; - Mediterranea Metal Cruise is sold out for this year - we take a deeper look at what to expect onboard. with our sponsor: Fat Frank's Camping Shop https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Find all...

in Episode 78, Neill, Rich, and Arran take a walk around the main arena for a guided tour of Bloodstock Festival 2025, discovering what's on offer at the stages and stalls, and meeting many happy people along the way. with Fat Frank's Camping Shop https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Find all our video podcast episodes in this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlfyhNTZm6HBHjHm4kSORo_HykWXf0...

In this episode of Festpod, hosts Neill Wilkinson and Rich Holmes chat to Joe Hammond - the guitarist from the metalcore band Assurance, and also the creator of a new festival - The Sanctum festival in Digbeth, Birmingham. Get your tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/assurance-band-uk/t-rpvzmko with our sponsor: Fat Frank's Camping Shop https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Find all our video...

In this episode of Festpod, hosts Neill Wilkinson and Rich Holmes interview the six bands chosen to perform at the 2025 Takeover at Download. All Ears Avow, Collapse The Sky, Change Persona, Dacara, Two Year Break, and Exist Immortal all talk about their upcoming appearance on the Doghouse stage in June. Every year, six unsigned bands get picked to play on the first day of Download Festival at Don...

In this episode of Festpod, hosts Neill Wilkinson and Rich Holmes discuss the latest updates from Download Festival 2025, including improvements to facilities, new camping options, and insights into the festival experience. They also introduce new sponsors and merchandise, while sharing personal anecdotes and humorous commentary on festival life. In this conversation, they discuss the evolution of...

Festival season 2025 is upon us and we're ready for action! We have two interviews in this, Episode 74. Firstly, we'll chat to Bleed Again who update us about their lives since headlining the Takeover at Download 2024, lineup changes, and their new track out Friday the 16th May - Obsession! Then, we get Harry White on the line from Hammerdown Festival, who gives us some backstory on its humble beg...

This episode reveals the final six bands. Hevs, the organiser, joins us to discuss them and gives us her thoughts on the band's music, journey so far and potential reaction by the Download crowd. with our sponsor, Fat Frank's Camping Shop https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Find all our video podcast episodes in this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl... Please support us on Patreon! htt...

It’s almost time for festival season, and we’ve got all the latest updates! The Download Takeover is open for band submissions—so if you’re in an unsigned band, this is your shot at playing the festival. We also discuss the secret sets confirmed for this year, the latest lineup details, and some truly bizarre festival facts (yes, the Download Dog is throwing 200 horns this year). Beyond Download,...

In the 71st episode of Festpod: The Unofficial Rock Festival Guide... Our hosts are: Neill Wilkinson and Rich Holmes - from Richard Holmes Photography,  There are some big updates to Download & Bloodstock this time! with https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Timestamps ⏱: 0:00 - Pre Titles 0:47 - Fat Frank's Camping Shop - 1st sponsor spot 01:28 - Title sequence 01:55 - Welcome -- Festival New...

In the 70th episode of Festpod: This episode, we're out at Lion's Den bar in Manchester to enjoy the Defences gig, with support from Crushed By Waves. By this point, we've already drunk a lot. Sorry. with https://fatfrankscampingshop.com Please support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/festpod If you'd like to buy our merch, visit our merch store here: https://etsy.com/uk/shop/Festpod All our...