Summer 2025’s Biggest Gigs
Published on 15 May 2025
Are you enjoying this phenomenal weather here in the UK?
I suppose it depends on when you happen to be reading this, but right now, it’s shaping up to be a wonderful Summer! And how better to enjoy those rare rays of light than in attendance of a huge music show?
Gigantic gigs are amazing events: shared experiences with a transient community, all with the same shared interest. That special sense of ‘happening’ is always palpable at such events, and 2025 looks to be chock-a-block with them!
Today, I’ll share with you some of the forthcoming Summer events in the UK that are getting the guitarguitar staff excited…
The Gigs at a Glance
Black Sabbath - Back to the Beginning (Birmingham)
AC/DC Power Up Tour (Edinburgh and Europe)
Lana Del Rey UK Tour (Various locations)
Sex Pistols, Stranglers etc at Punk All-Dayer (Glasgow)
Neil Young at Hyde Park (London)
Guns ‘n’ Roses (Birmingham & London)
Summer Sessions (Bedford, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Plymouth and Southampton)
Black Sabbath - Back to the Beginning (Birmingham)
This is the big one, isn’t it? The band who invented metal music, bringing the curtain down on their career in their hometown, surrounded by a few of their closest friends.
And when I say ‘closest friends’, I mean this lot:
- Metallica
- Tool
- Slayer
- Pantera
- Gojira
- Alice in Chains
- Halestorm
- Guns ‘n’ Roses
- Anthrax
- Billy Corgan
- Corey Taylor
- Zakk Wylde
And that’s just a few! Ozzy plans to perform a set with both his solo band and with Sabbath. Pretty much everybody who is involved in metal will be here, and whoever managed to get a ticket will be in mosh heaven. Jealous!
Slayer are Back!
Loads of the bands booked for that Sabbath event are making the most of their trip to the UK by playing some more shows around the country. It makes sense, and allows more of their fanbase to catch at least some of the metal magic. Here is my favourite example of one of these ‘Sabbath-adjacent’ enormo-gigs…
Slayer will play London (July 6th) and Cardiff (July 3rd), supported by Anthrax, Mastodon, Amon Amarth, Hatebreed and Neckbreaker. So much for retiring, Slayer! Definitely glad to have them back though.
Oasis (Various locations)
The internet went into a frenzy earlier in the year when news broke about Oasis reuniting (sort of) for a huge tour, playing the hits. However you feel about the Gallagher bros, there’s no denying that they have a setlist’s worth of unarguably great tunes, and this Summer, you’ll have the chance to witness them being performed in the flesh by Oasis, who seem to actually be Noel Gallagher’s band with the addition of brother Liam.
Rumours abound that Kasabian will be the support, so that’s extra value to Britpop worshippers of all generations.
AC/DC Power Up Tour (Edinburgh and Europe)
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘ roll, but acka-dacka have been firmly nestled in that pole position for decades now.
Sadly, Malcolm has passed on but brother Angus will be out with all his schoolboy rock fury intact! The only place to see these rock behemoths on UK soil is in Edinburgh's Murrayfield stadium. Head through to Scotland’s capital on 21st August, and if you are about to rock…we salute you!
Lana Del Rey UK Tour (Various locations)
Los Angeles chanteuse Lana Del Rey is playing some very large venues this summer, including Principality Stadium Cardiff (23rd June), Hampden Park in Glasgow (26th June), Annfield Liverpool (28th June), Aviva Stadium in Dublin (30th June) and two nights at London’s Wembley Stadium (3rd & 4th July).
It’ll be interesting to see how Lana translates her more intimate, romantic music to such huge venues!
Sex Pistols, Stranglers etc at Punk All-Dayer (Glasgow)
As part of several big day events at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park, the newly reformed (sort of) Sex Pistols will headline a day of full-on punk attitude.
Yes, Johnny Rotten is no longer in the picture (though his band Pil are very much on tour throughout the Summer too), but ex-Gallows frontman Frank Carter has stepped up to the plate admirably.
There will be quite a lot of legendary acts playing on the day alongside the Sex Pistols. Check this list out…
- The Stranglers
- The Undertones
- The Buzzcocks
- The Skids
- The Rezillos
Not bad! Dig out your red tartan bondage trousers and head to Bellahouston Park on Saturday 21st June.
Forever Now (Milton Keynes)
Now this is a pretty special lineup! Forever Now is a one day festival at the National Bowl, Milton Keynes on 22nd June. It seems to be aimed at a post-punk audience, and it features some pretty legendary bands. Check this out:
- Kraftwerk (!!)
- Billy Idol
- The The
- Peter Murphy from Bauhaus
- The Jesus & Mary Chain
- Johnny Marr
- The Damned
- The Happy Mondays
- Death Cult
- Psychedelic Furs
- Pil
- The Chameleons
All on the same bill, in one day? Sign us up!
Neil Young at Hyde Park (London)
From Punk’s OG artists to the Godfather of Grunge: Neil Young is bringing his latest band The Chrome Hearts to the centre of London this Summer.
You never know what to expect with Neil Young, an artist as likely to play a set of new material as he is to give the fans an airing of the non-stop hit songs he undoubtedly has. Either way, you’re in the hands of a living legend here, and right in the middle of one of the most famous parks in the world. Friday 11th July for this one, and there will be performances from other living legends in the form of Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Van Morrison too!
Smashing Pumpkins (England)
Alt-rock legends The Smashing Pumpkins follow up last year’s arena tour with more English dates in some relatively less-travelled areas, which is great to see.
London is hardly a stranger to gigs, but the location of Gunnersby Park isn’t something you see too often. After that, Billy Corgan and his crew will hit up Halifax (12th Aug), Scarborough (13th Aug) and Colchester (14th Aug) before moving into mainland Europe. If the world is indeed a vampire, then the Smashing Pumpkins are proving to supply an appropriate soundtrack!
Guns ‘n’ Roses (Birmingham & London)
Axl, Duff, Slash and co are heading across the pond for a pair of huge shows this summer. June 23rd sees G’n’R play at Villa Park in Birmingham (the same venue as the huuuge Black Sabbath show), followed by a show at Wembley Stadium on the 26th. Welcome to the Jungle, boys!
Summer Sessions (Bedford, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Plymouth and Southampton)
Summer Sessions is a bunch of specially curated gig events in different UK cities. Each city has its own gigs with different artists, and it’s a great mix of current megastars, established acts and more heritage/household names.
For example, the Edinburgh Summer Sessions have Sam Fender (22nd Aug) and Chappell Roan (26th Aug).
Glasgow has the Punk All-Dayer (see above), Sting (25th June), Simple Minds (27th June) and the Stereophonics (28th June).
Bedford has Simple Minds (3rd July) and also has Rag’n’Bone Man on the 5th July.
Derby is hosting no less than 6 events:
The Human League (4th July), Blossoms (5th July), Rag’n’Bone Man (6th July), Simple Minds (8th July), Faithless (11th July), Jess Glynne (12th July)
Plymouth has 4 shows, including James (12th June), Pendulum (13th June), The Corrs (14th June) and Snow Patrol (15th June)
Finally, Southampton is getting absolutely loads of acts showing up for big gigs! Here they are: Rag’n’Bone Man (13th June), The Stranglers (14th June), UB40 (15th June), Craig David Presents TS5 (21st June), McFly (22nd June), The Human League (26th June), Ocean Colour Scene (27th June), Train (28th June), Simple Minds (29th)
Phew! That’s some collection of gigs! Squeeze some of these into your summer diary for some unforgettable live music experiences.
Reading/Leeds Festival
This famous bill-swapping festival (Saturday acts at Reading will be Sunday acts at Leeds and vice versa) is hitting a particularly strong pose this year with its lineup. All tastes are catered for here, from pop to hip-hop to metal. Check this smattering of acts out:
- Chappell Roan
- Limp Bizkit
- Travis Scott
- Hozier
- Bring Me the Horizon
- Amyl and the Sniffers
- Wallows
- Soft Play
If you can’t find something to like there, then I’d politely suggest that you are maybe a little bit too picky for your own good! Reading/Leeds is one of the classic festivals, and it's great to see it in such strong shape in 2025.
Glastonbury 2025
Talking about classic festivals, there is none more iconic or influential than good old Glasto. If you actually managed to get tickets (and it’s never easy) then you could be enjoying a weekend filled with the following:
- Neil Young
- Rod Stewart
- Charli XCX
- The Prodigy
- Olivia Rodrigo
- The 1975
- Loyle Carner
- Alanis Morissette
- Deftones
- Biffy Clyro
Of course, Glastonbury offers so much more than simply live music, but it's still one of the best lineups the UK has to offer. It’s June 25th-29th this year. Pack your wellies!
TRNSMT 2025
T in the Park sadly no longer exists, but TRNSMT is its successor to some degree. No camping with this festival, but three days of dancing and music in the centre of Glasgow is still something to get excited by. Here are some of the performers this year:
- 50 Cent
- Underworld
- The Script
- Confidence Man
- Biffy Clyro
- Snow Patrol
- Kneecap
- Sigrid
- Gracie Abrams
Let’s hope the weather in Glasgow stays good until at least the weekend of 11-13th July for this one! I mean, it’s unlikely, but they do deserve more sun there!
The Tip of the Iceberg
That’s just a small handful of selected events that are occurring in the UK this summer. There are absolutely tons, from small independent festivals (the Kelburn Garden Party always looks like an awesome weekend) to gigs and performances up and down the country, in every town and city.
Why not spend more of your summer outside and away from the TV? There is nothing on earth quite like live performance, and you’ll remember the experience far more than another Netflix series!
Whatever you end up doing, stay safe, have fun and make new friends!
