For the second time running, Bludfest made its comeback to Milton Keynes’ The National Bowl, and it was a roaring success. Festival season this year has had a good run when it came to the weather. No muddy puddles, no missing shoes and no sad faces were in sight at Bludfest. Created by YUNGBLUD himself, this was a chance to give back to his fans, who form a strong and dedicated community. As the years go on, no doubt will this festival go from strength to strength. It is evident that with this once starting as a passion project, to now potentially being one of the new exciting festivals, there’s no slowing down for YUNGBLUD and Bludfest.
Here’s who we checked out at Bludfest this year!
Denzel Curry
There were murmurs in the crowd of some people not having heard of Denzel Curry before. But once he took to the stage, the faces of uncertainty quickly changed as he had the crowd hooked from the very second. Denzel brought out a different kind of energy. But that’s the appeal of Bludfest, no two artists are the same which makes for an exciting and unpredictable festival. Commanding the crowd with tracks like “Ultimate”, and “Walkin”, he knew how to gain the crowd’s attention and keep it throughout. Bringing the angst that rap and rock hold, he definitely had one of the best sets of the day.
Blackbear
Making his return to live performance after a long break, there were cheers all around as he made his way to the stage. Blackbear’s set felt like an open wound—in a good way. Songs that he hadn’t performed in a very long time felt like a special moment for both him and the fans. It was tracks like “idfc” and “deadroses” that had the crowd in their emo bag, but he balanced it with charisma and cheeky banter. He even threw in a mash-up of fan favorites that left the whole crowd singing in unison. As a comeback to the UK after so long, it was refreshing to see him back on stage and enjoying every moment.
Peach PRC
Artists like Peach PRC, Rachel Chinouriri, and Master Peace had real breakout moments.
Peach’s set was energetic, and heartfelt. Her vocals were strong even as she powered through the high heat. Her crowd engagement was noticeable too, as she made her fans feel a part of something special. Her set was filled with a whirlwind of vulnerability, and pure connection with her fans. Playing on the second stage of the festival and looking out at the sea of people there to see her perform, she was still able to make her set feel intimate. Peach PRC didn’t just win over the people of Bludfest, she turned the stage into her own pink world and everyone there was glad to be a part of it.
Rachel Chinouriri
Rachel Chinouriri proved herself worthy of her slot at Bludfest. This will definitely be one to remember for Rachel, as this was her first time headlining a stage at a festival! With her adoring fans watching her with awe behind the barrier, and the interaction between fans and artist being so wholesome, this was definitely a set we were excited about watching. With her infectiously catchy indie hits, to her stage presence and energetic personality, Rachel bought something different to Bludfest. Hits after hits, from “We Need to talk about Isaac”, “All I Ever Asked”and “The Hills”, she is definitely an artist worthy of her time up on stage amongst this year’s lineup.
Nxdia
Bringing their energy to the main stage, mixed with a fierce blend of alternative pop and slick attitude, Nxdia was one of the day’s most exciting surprises. They stomped onto the stage with confidence, and instantly had the crowd moving. Blending catchy hooks with darker lyrical undertones, their set felt like the soundtrack to a coming-of-age film that ends in chaos (in the best way). The crowd were excited about their performance since the very second they said hello to the people of Bludfest. The audience grew louder with every track, whether they were recording parts of their set or were just watching with a smile on their faces, as Nxdia looked out to the sea of people in front of them, a smile beamed on their face and that must have felt like a proud moment. Nxdia didn’t just perform—they claimed their space at Bludfest this year.
Erin Halls
Elin Halls brought a moment of calm to Bludfest’s chaos with a set that was delicate, raw, and deeply moving. Opening the main stage didn’t stop her from commanding attention — her soft, ethereal vocals had the crowd slowly gathering, pulled in by the quiet intensity of her songs. With her guitar and minimal backing, her set felt almost confessional, like pages torn straight from a diary. Between songs, she spoke gently about self-discovery and mental health, which only made her connection to the crowd feel more personal. It was a set that didn’t need fireworks — just honesty and emotion, and Erin delivered both effortlessly.
Yungblud
As the sun set, and the anticipation was finally over, it was time for YUNGBLUD to take the stage. Opening with the explosive “Hello, Heaven Hello,” the crowd sang back every
word from start to finish. He delivered the energy from start to finish and that didn’t go unnoticed. With a setlist of songs consisting of older tracks, to material from his latest album IDOLS, there were songs in the set for newer and older fans. Throughout the set, he addressed the audience which made his set a lot more intimate despite playing on the main stage and with thousands of people standing in front of him.
He tore through hits like “The Funeral,” “Parents,” and “Change,” which was a live debut. A surprise appearance from punk icon Billy Idol, who joined him for a blazing duet of “White Wedding,” felt like the ultimate passing of the torch and sent the crowd into total frenzy. If YUNGBLUD wasn’t already a generational voice, this sealed it.
He also paused to speak openly about mental health, encouraging fans to support War Child, and performed “Monday Murder” with raw emotion. With fireworks lighting up the sky and thousands of voices shouting the final chorus of “Lullaby,” YUNGBLUD didn’t just close the festival—he brought it to life.
Bludfest 2025 wasn’t just a showcase of great music—it was a blueprint for how modern festivals should feel: accessible, expressive, safe, and unforgettable. The energy in the Bowl wasn’t just about who was on stage—it was also about who was in the crowd. A mixture of people who just want to belong. YUNGBLUD didn’t just build a festival. He built a family. Until next year’s Bludfest!
