RADAR Festival 2026 – The Review

I experienced a lot of firsts at RADAR Festival, and most of them were good. Starting with the obvious, this was my first time attending the festival, having heard many wonderful things about it, and it did not disappoint. Immaculately organised, delivering top bands across a wide spectrum of genres with good sound all round, and making me feel so very welcome. Not just as press, but as a general attendee. I felt safe, and with likeminded people, who were determined to have a good time.

This was even more important as I attended on my own, which was another first. I’m in my early forties and I’ve never been to a festival on my own. Gigs, yes, but a full weekend festival and a new one too? Five years ago, this would have been impossible, and RADAR has to take some credit for making me feel so at ease.

In fact, on Sunday I got so relaxed, I did something I’ve never done before… twice! I crowd surfed. First, to Employed to Serve (big up the dudes in the pit who were shifting everyone up and over the barrier), then to ten56. Having had a few head injuries in my youth, being deaf in one ear, and needing glasses, that part of my body has already had enough damage done to it. I guess I finally got caught up in the moment and it was exhilarating. Thanks for not dropping me, security!

This was also the first time I interviewed alone. Which isn’t as easy as it seems, even though I do it all the time from home. Thankfully, the most incredible bands and their teams (PR, management, etc.) made it so much better. The imposter syndrome kicked in early on Saturday, but by Sunday, I was vibing. Something helped by tons of free coffee.

It was nice to drink something that didn’t make me consider remortgaging though. Which brings me to another first, but not a good one. Being charged £8.50 for a pint of Camden Hells. £3.95 for half a pint of lemonade that came from a bottle. Shocking prices and the O2 venue/it’s a festival excuse isn’t good enough. When will it simply be too much? When we finally break the £10 a pint barrier? £12? When does the gouging stop? At least I didn’t have to wait long for a drink and the staff were friendly.

On the food front, the outdoor space had three options, and across the weekend, I tried each and only one proved to be value for money. I had the luxury of being able to leave and come back, so after a rough rice bowl (£12 for very little) and a £12 cheeseburger that would have shamed a truck stop greasy spoon café, I left the venue for my dinner. Not everyone could do this though as I believe there was no re-entry. The only food place that seemed to be worth it (just about) was the pizza place where you could get a full-sized pizza (oven-cooked) for around £15. I had a ham and mushroom one late Sunday evening, and it was nice and filling.

Enough about food and drink though, how about the extra stuff that was going on around bands? That is an area that makes RADAR so unique, especially when you take into account how they use the warehouse space. The market had plenty to see and plenty to enjoy and while I mostly just looked around, the chilled vibe was welcome. The coffee place up there was great too, and while I didn’t spend tons of time seeing workshops, the ones I popped into were insightful and in the case of Pintglass’s live construction demo, hilarious.

Elsewhere, the section near the Shure stage with the arcade machines was great, and it was nice to see so many old-school games on offer. It was constantly busy around there too. Putting it simply, if you weren’t interested in a band playing, needed to sit down for a bit, or just wanted to do something a bit different, you could and for an indoor festival, that’s not that common.

Nor is the fact that RADAR has zero band clashes. There are two stages, the Obscure Clothing Stage, which is the big one, and the Shure stage. When one band ends, the other begins, until later in the day when a ten-minute gap between bands appears. So, should you be willing or capable, you can see every band playing.

Did I? Not a bloody chance, but I tried to make sure I caught at least a few tracks from as many bands as I could, and while I didn’t love everyone, I did see some amazing bands.

Let’s start with Friday. A day with no interviews, so I was free to really explore the festival, get my bearings, and see as many bands as I could. Unfortunately, train delays, tram engineering work, and having to check into my hotel meant I wasn’t able to get to the venue for the first couple of bands, but one expensive pint in hand later, I was thoroughly enjoying Sixth Wonder, who are so much heavier live. I was really impressed by how confident they came across. I’m already a fan of their record output, but now I’m a fan of their live show too.

I really enjoyed the hell out of Bound in Fear too, but for me, having Graphic Nature and Cage Fight one after another was what made Friday so special. The former always deliver, creating some nu-hardcore carnage that had the pit looking quite dangerous. The latter were one of my favourite bands of the weekend. Crushingly intense, wild and chaotic, it was so much fun, and there’s no doubt in my mind now that the newest album has pushed them to a whole new level. I think it’s stating the obvious these days, but vocalist Rachael is one of the world’s best.

I’ve never really been a SikTh fan, so they weren’t high on my list, but I did enjoy their show nonetheless. They’re a band made for big stages, although based off how packed the Shure stage was for Hacktivist, a lot of people were just as hyped for them, and for good reason, as their grime/rap/metal crossover sound is so good. I don’t always gel with them on record, but I always enjoy them live.

They left me buzzing, and those good vibes rolled into Volumes, who were one of my big surprises of the weekend. I did not expect to enjoy them as much as I did. Whereas I had massive expectations for Pintglass, and happily, they did not disappoint. Tongue in cheek ‘geezercore’ that goes so f**king hard, they ended up being one of my favourite bands of the entire weekend. The pit was chaos, and the constant cry of ‘GEEZER’ was downright deafening. Yet, for all the aggression and intensity, it was a show with wholesome moments too.

Finally, it was Friday night’s headliner, Thy Art is Murder. Ending the night with some solid, but uninteresting, deathcore. I can’t fault their sound, but they’re a band I really don’t care that much about, and when you’re coming off the back of a series of shows like I had just been through, they really come across quite mid.

On to Saturday then, where laden with interview equipment, I made my way to the venue to see what was going on with Dacara and came away really happy. Opening up the Shure stage on, what would turn out to be the busiest day of the weekend, they pulled in a sizeable crowd, and rose to the challenge by performing a medley of high-powered heavy metalcore, anthemic rock, and likable pop with gusto. They looked like a main stage band.

Directly following this, Seething Akira then opened up the Obscure Clothing stage and were absolutely brilliant. It’s no easy task to get a room that size bouncing at 1:30pm, but they managed it with ease. They know how to bring a show, have the strongest of catalogues now, and always look like they’re having the best time. One of my favourite shows of the weekend.

It was then back to the Shure stage to catch a bit of Eville, a band I’ve been wanting to see for a while now, and whose ‘brat’ metal sound is made for events like this. I thought they were great, whereas I already knew The HARA were great. For such a young band, they hold themselves with such a confidence, it’s hard not to be impressed. They are the future of the alternative scene, and I came away just as convinced as ever. Although, to my shame, I did have to leave early as I had an interview booked right at the end of their set.

The curse of having to arrange interviews when you don’t know set times. Good thing it was the mighty Seething Akira though.

I then raced over the Shure stage to catch some of Glass Bridges and was so glad I made the effort. Not only because I was interviewing them later in the day, but because I found their alternative rock sound to be quite touching, and found myself connected to them, unexpectedly. I like them on record, but I really like them live now.

I found myself less keen about Heart of a Coward though, who are one of those mainstay metalcore bands that I respect, but don’t really listen to anymore. A solid set, but nothing that memorable, especially when compared to who came before, and who came after. Over on the Shure stage, it was Royal Sorrow, and the prog-infused alternative rock band were on fine form. Making layered music feel accessible.

It was round about here, that I started to really notice how much busier the festival felt. It never got uncomfortable, and there was still plenty of room to enjoy Protest the Hero on the big stage, but moving about was a little harder and a little slower.

With a couple more interviews out of the way, a quick trip back to the hotel room to drop off the gear, and some much-needed food, it was back to the venue for a few more bands. I will admit to not quite having the energy levels to really enjoy Northlane on the Obscure Clothing stage, but unpeople were quite special on the Shure stage. The busiest I had seen that stage all weekend. It was wild, and they performed like their lives depended on it. It was the perfect way for me to wrap up my Saturday, as I had almost no interest in seeing Skindred and was feeling quite tired by this point. I know I am in the minority here, and the proof is in the videos RADAR have published, but I’ve seen Skindred enough times to not feel like I missed out.

Anyway! On to Sunday where this time, I started my day off with an interview (and feeling quite fresh thanks to my early night) and then ran over the Obscure Clothing stage to watch the excellent Ihlo and then to the Shure stage for the phenomenal Benthos. The latter being my band of the entire weekend. The energy, the electricity, the experimentation, it’s not even a perfect show, sound wise, but it simply didn’t matter. It was hypnotic and I am glad I got to experience it.

Likewise, I am glad I checked out some of Elwood Stray, whose energy and anthemic qualities took me by surprise.

Following another series of interviews, and much better day in the press area (my imposter syndrome had passed and I felt at ease), I dropped off my gear, sped ate a couple of wraps, and then got back in time to watch the end of Voyager. A band who I find to be quite ‘so so’ on record, but excellent live. They have a vibrancy on stage that is lacking on record, and I really enjoyed them.

Employed to Serve though, now that was special, and even though I don’t think it was the best show I’ve seen them do, I reflect on it so positively. Not just because of my aforementioned first-time crowd surf, but because the new stuff the band is bringing is sounding heavier and more anthemic.

It was very hard to go from that to The Pineapple Thief, who may be so technically proficient, but are quite dull. Thankfully, my energy levels (and drunk levels) were back to a high place for ten56. Another highlight of the entire festival, and one that I found I could happily have watched another thirty minutes or so and not felt bored. They were on it, and it was the perfect end to my RADAR experience.

I did watch a bit of Animals as Leaders but they weren’t doing much for me, so I called it a night, grabbed a pizza, chilled out, and then headed back to get some sleep so I was fresh for my trip back to London the next morning.

I left thoroughly satisfied by my first RADAR experience, not just because of the bands booked or the fact that I was there as press, but because of how well setup and well organised the entire thing is. More festivals need to treat the weekend like an event, and not just a place to host bands, and that is what RADAR does so well. Food and drink quality/prices aside, it was a class weekend and with Doom composer Mick Gordon performing live next year, it’s almost definite that I will be back again!