11th/12th/13th September 2026
Whitwell Festival
whitwell festival of music 2026
FRIDAY
The Hoplites. Nottingham's newest contribution to the Ska & reggae scene, this 9 piece super group bring together decades of experience. With a deep passion for first wave Ska, rock steady and the twotone movement; The Hoplites are delivering you original tunes & skanking rhythms, along with deep & soulful lyricism
Death of the High Street (DOTHS)
They went down a storm in 2024 and we can't wait to have them back. Death of the High Street headlined at The Hairy Dog in Derby in April and have just released a new single 'The Age of Bonze'.
Ten Eighty Trees, the turquoise-clad alt rockers will be bringing you big rock riffs, grunge attitude, and hard-hitting energy. With a sound drawing heavy inspiration from icons of the genre like Weezer, Foo Fighters, Dinosaur Pile-Up, and all the emotionally charged rock anthems that defined a generation - The Trees are the cathartic rock release you’ve been looking for.
Mixing fuzzed-out guitars with catchy hooks and raw, honest lyrics about everything from self-doubt and mental health to the chaos of modern life. It’s all about the grit and the grind, with a big focus on hard graft and self-improvement. Fresh off the back of a UK tour and a festival season that saw the band perform at the likes of Kendal Calling and Tramlines Fringe, Ten Eighty Trees are poised to make waves on the alternative rock scene. Their unique blend of anthemic rock is not just about the music; it's an experience that invites audiences to lose themselves in the moment.
Verbal Warning continue to delight festival audiences and have a new album in the making.
The old school punk band celebrated the 45th anniversary of their debut gig in December and released a new EP – 45 Revolutions – to mark the occasion with four brand new tracks.
2026 is another busy year for the band, who have played such prestigious festivals as Bearded Theory and Rebellion in the past.
Bass player Paul Warning has been there since day one while vocalist John Warning is in his 21st year with the band, drummer Ant Warning in his 11th year and young Sam Warning on guitar the most recent recruit to the ranks.
Verbal Warning want to make you think, smile and jump up and down - and the highlight of their show is always the avalanche of yellow plastic punk rock ducks from the crowd during A Ploy Named Sue.
SATURDAY INDOORS
Headsticks
You’ve seen them at Whitwell before and we’re very happy to have them back, headlining our indoor stage on Saturday evening.
Where Folk and Punk collide to provide a passion infused commentary that is as raw and honest as it gets.
With members from Coalville and Southampton, Kid Klumsy are a noisy fun machine that bring their unique brand of pop punk ska metal to the masses.
River Drive are a local three piece Indie-Rock band, they have a new single out, The Man That Nobody Knows (available on all platforms). Take a look, we're sure you'll love them.
Yorkshire-dwelling singer-songwriter Carol Hodge is a wonderful musical dichotomy. Carol is also a uniquely gifted songwriter and as able to conjure up beautiful pop-infused, heart-wrenching melodies as she is screaming into the face of authority and injustice.
Described by Maximum Volume Music as "one of the most innovative solo artists around right now", Carol describes herself as a ‘seven-fingered pianist’. She was born with a rare condition called cleft type symbrachydactyly, which means Carol has just two fingers on her left hand. This hasn't held her back as her impressive CV is testament to. Carol also performs as a keyboardist/backing vocalist with various established artists, including The Wildhearts and Steve Ignorant's Slice Of Life.
Since 2022, Carol has toured the UK relentlessly, clocking up over 250 gigs. Playing solo, Carol recently completed an extended 40 date UK tour opening up for Ginger Wildheart, as well as joining him for songs in the encore each gig. She has supported the likes of TV Smith, Bar Stool Preachers, Dan Sealey (Ocean Colour Scene), Marc Valentine, Headsticks and Jess Silk, and played Rebellion, Glastonwick, Settle Down, Gig In A Field, Sun Down and Levy Punk Weekender festivals.
As well as popping up all over the British Isles with a mic and piano, Carol also tours with the inventively named The Carol Hodge Band, who were recently described by Classic Rock as "combin(ing) fat, fuzzy guitar grooves with splashes of synths...clever pop rock bursts and almost Alice In Chains-y shadows...eccentric and unpredictable, in a way that feels totally natural." The band have also opened for Jesus Jones, The Primitives, Space and Spear Of Destiny, and appeared at numerous UK festivals, including Bearded Theory, Off The Tracks, Strummercamp and Manchester Punk Festival.
The Two Step Goodbyes are a psychobilly/ garage-punk/ rock'n'roll band from Stoke-on- Trent. Fusing classic psychobilly style with raucous riffs and pounding tribal drums, the result is a gumbo of rock 'n' roll noise with twang and bang!
Given one word to describe his music, Sam Draisey will always choose 'honest'. Whether it's politics, family, solidarity or heartache, Sam's folk-punk style will leave you in no doubt as to where he stands on the subject. Influenced by the likes of Billy Bragg, Damien Rice and Cat Stevens, Sam has been plying his trade all over the country on the independent festival circuit and beyond. Audiences have been known to laugh, cry, sing and nod along (sometimes in time with the music, sometimes in agreement with the subject matter!).
Inhabiting the scabby underbelly of the beast, Get the F outta Dodge are here to cover you in the life of grime from their swamp degenerate Rock N Roll shenanigans. Let them be the scratch to the itch you just can’t reach.
Joel Fox is a singer-songwriter whose shows have won over audiences in venues and festivals all over the land. His heartfelt, meaningful lyrics combined with his Folk / Folk-punk style, delivered with passion and wit, have caught the ears of many in recent years. His songs have taken him everywhere from up in Scotland to down in Brighton and everything in-between. Joel loves the road and travelling meaning he's racked up quite some miles to bring his music to people and is always itching to get back out again. While having many headline shows under his belt (like his Xmas show that he has sold out the last few years), he has also shared the stage with artists such as Mark Chadwick (The Levellers), Gaz Brookfield, Guns2Roses and many more. Joel's persistence to be out playing is why his following is only growing, especially in the grassroots music scene. He is not one to be missed.
SATURDAY OUTDOORS
Marblehead Britpop - The Original Britpop Experience / Britpop Tribute.
THE tribute to the biggest bands of Britpop, The Ultimate Britpop Experience bring the classics back to life with a show crammed full of hits that will have you up and singing your favourite timeless anthems from the giants of the era including Oasis, Blur, Ocean Colour Scene, Pulp and Supergrass. With a wealth of experience, including support slots for Mark Morriss (The Bluetones), SPACE, The Icicle Works & Razorlight.
His new song released in October has already reached over 1 million streams. Take a look below at his video.
Dubbed the ‘South Yorkshire Springsteen’ Hook laden, Epic and Energetic Songs, all delivered with his trademark growl. soulful songwriter Sam Scherdel has been penning songs since his early teens, finally releasing them with the world in 2022. With his gravelly voice contributing to his unique blueprint; his music is never too far strayed from Rock and Alternative resonances that were the background of his youth.
Major festival appearances including Glastonbury 2024, Tramlines, Rock n Roll Circus and also support slots with Ocean Colour Scene, Cast, Embrace Reverend and the Makers and Two Door Cinema Club.
North Ska are Sheffield’s newest ska band, playing the hits of The Specials, Madness, Toots and more.
Highway Child are a Soul & Funk review/covers band from Sheffield.
The band were formed in 2004 and over the subsequent 21 years have become a mainstay of the Yorkshire music scene, playing many festivals and gigs across the region and the UK including headline slots on the Tramlines Fringe Main Stage, Y Not Festival, Barrow Hill Rail Ale and the prestigious Festival Too in Kings Lynn. A band not to be missed if you love Soul, Funk, Blues, dancing and generally having a good time!
Boasting a classic rhythm section and a dynamic brass ensemble, the band’s sound is as big and as polished as the songs they play. With an extensive repertoire of classic songs from artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and James Brown to mention but a few, Highway Child will get you dancing and keep you having fun all day and night.
The Fragz are a punk band travelling all the way from the North East of Scotland.
They have festival experience from playing at ButeFest and MacMoray in 2023 aswell as playing Rebellion Punk Festival in Blackpool in 2024 aswell as hosting their own ‘FragzFest’ with some of the best up and coming bands in Scotland.
The Endings A Shropshire based five piece band playing energetic Celtic/Folk/Punk original music. This band is sure to get even the non dancers dancing.
Concrete Rose last played Whitwell in 2022 and everyone loved them, we've been trying to get them back every year since. They're back, giving the classic Jamaican roots reggae sound a modern twist.
Brude are a high energy, hard rocking, force of nature based in Chesterfield. Brude have played the massive local festival Rail Ale at Barrow hill two years on the trot, upteen biker rallys and beer and food type festivals as well as all the live music venues and pubs. They provide an exciting and feelgood rock show, play all the rock hits people know and a few surprise pop hits we given the BRUDE treatment.
SUNDAY
Folde (formerly Leftychris band) originated as the solo project of Derbyshire based singer songwriter Chris Carr in 2017. The first Leftychris release was ‘Humble Moon’ (available online) and features an album of original songs performed, in the raw form, by just Chris on guitar and vocal.In early 2020 Chris released his second studio album (self-titled) featuring guest musicians. It’s this foray into extending the lineup that laid the foundation for the ‘Leftychris Band’.These days the solo project is no more, as the band has settled into the preferred outlet for Chris’ songs. The band is - Alex Ivanov on drums, Annie Botham on violin, Simon Ball on bass and Rosana Coll with co-vocal.Since the expansion The Leftychris Band's emphasis is the live performance of the songs with the band applying a more ‘in the moment’ style to the structure of the songs. The interplay of instrumentation and genuine listening jammy feel make every gig different and every version of the same song variable.The style has been said to be reminiscent of Tim Buckley’s in the 60s but with a lighter instrumental feel.
Broken Flowers are a Leeds based band playing predominantly original songs. Their music could be loosely classed as Americana / Country Rock influenced - but it also draws on their individuality and musical influences which in turn creates a unique blending of styles.
Hailing from Lincolnshire, duo The Rye Sisters perform a heady mix of country, old time and bluegrassy numbers from upbeat dancing tunes to mournful ballads all in close harmony to guitar and fiddle. They pull from broadly American influences, including the likes of James Taylor, Buddy and Julie Miller, The Civil Wars and The Chicks and also write their own songs including ‘song-for-Lincolnshire’ winner ‘White Mercury’. In December 2023, they released their latest album ‘Distant Light’ hailed by Fatea Records as a ‘terrific discovery’ and by Americana UK as ‘full of intrigue and satire, heartache and resilience’. With a brand-new clutch of originals they can’t wait to take 2026, their 10th anniversary year, by the horns and wow audiences with a perfect combination of soulful story-telling and that signature, sweet vocal blend.
BIG JOE BONE(A.K.A. Danny Wilson) plays what he calls "Blues-Grass" music.....a mix of Delta Blues, Bluegrass, Oldtime, Gospel and Hillbilly music utilizing his raspy vocals, hard driving harmonica rhythms, sublime bottleneck slide guitar playing (on steel bodied resonator guitars) and lightning finger-picking skills on 5 string banjos.....all held together by a very heavy stomping boot!
Originally from London and now living on the Mid-Wales coast, Danny started playing guitar as a schoolboy and has now been travelling all around the UK playing his fast, furious Roots music to eager audiences since 2012.
As well as playing songs from great Roots musicians like Son House, Dock Boggs, Bukka White, Flatt and Scruggs, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Charlie Parr, Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Robert Johnson .....the list goes on and on!, Danny also plays his own songs, which fit right in to his eclectic set.....which shows that when it comes to roots music, he really "gets it".
Although "Big Joe Bone" is a relatively young act compared to some, Danny has a lifetime of music behind him and has thrown himself into what has become a very busy schedule of gigs since he hit the road in 2012.
"Big Joe Bone" is an act not to be missed!
