LIVE REVIEW: BLUDFEST 2025 (YUNGBLUD, CHASE ATLANTIC, BLACKBEAR AND MORE)
Somewhere between fan-club and cult is the space that YUNGBLUD’S BLUDFEST sits. A hazy fever dream of summer fun, riotous music acts and a community of dedicated followers of Dominic Harrison.
Curated by YUNGBLUD himself and held at Milton Keynes Bowl on June 21, BLUDFEST returned with even bigger scale and ambition than its debut. The day bristled with inclusivity, affordable pricing, and inventive activations - from a skate park to the return of the “Make‑A‑Friend” tent - creating a tight-knit community vibe that mirrored the ethos of its creator.
The festival’s second edition offered refined accessibility - shorter lines, raised viewing platforms, and expanded vendor areas, including a revamped merch village - creating an enjoyable and inclusive atmosphere for all attendees.
Early on in the day, Luvcat battled blustery weather to wend her way through a sultry set of gothic romance inspired tunes. ‘Matador’, about a magic man she repeatedly spotted at a venue she frequented demonstrated her smooth and silky sound, comfortingly vintage and chilled.
Denzel Curry provided a change of pace to the world of hard hitting rap. The Floridian whipped the crowd into a frenzy early on and maintained the energy throughout his set. The dark and relentless ‘Hit the Floor’, a show highlight.
Nieve Ella lit up BLUDFEST with a confident and emotionally charged set that proved she’s more than just one to watch. Gliding through fan favourites like ‘Sweet Nothings’ and ‘Blu Shirt Boy’, her set balanced indie-pop shimmer with raw, rock-driven energy.
blackbear has an impressive roster of collaborations under his belt with everyone from Avril Lavigne, MGK, All Time Low and Demi Lovato linking up with the emo hip-popper. Many of those smash hit tracks featured within blackbear's set, the multi-talented artist confidently commanding the catwalk, sporting a pair of headphones and a sleeveless Britney Spears tshirt all the while streaming live on Instagram. ‘Make up Sex’ and ‘my ex's best friend’ both MGK collabs, went down a storm with the enthusiastic crowd.
Over on the second stage, Rachel Chinouriri rounded off the bill with big vocals that retain the cutest of tones and a bouncy performance that delighted the gathered fans. ‘All I ever asked', a quintessential demonstration of Chinouriri's ability to funk up a love song in an utterly irresistible way.
Rachel Chinouriri
Sharing the spotlight with YUNGBLUD at Milton Keynes Bowl, Chase Atlantic delivered a dark, electrifying performance that cemented their reputation as festival heavyweights. BLUDFEST’s second edition placed the Aussie trio as main support - no surprise given their explosive chemistry and loyal fanbase.
Known for fusing alternative R&B, trap, rock, and synth, Chase Atlantic brought that signature “dark alternative pop” to full force. Tracks like ‘Swim’, ‘Friends’, ‘OHMAMI’, and ‘Disconnected’ had the audience singing back every lyric with passion - a strong indicator of their growing cultural impact. Their live show didn’t disappoint: a full-band setup, live saxophone, layered vocals - all performed without auto-tune. Trippy visuals and tight transitions kept momentum high throughout their 90-minute set, echoing their standout O2 Arena performance earlier this year.
YUNGBLUD kicked things off with a nine‑minute opener, ‘Hello Heaven, Hello,’ complete with glitter cannons and towering stage presence. He bared his chest to the sweltering heat, effortlessly blending acoustic intimacy (‘Lovesick Lullaby’) with high-octane anthems like ‘The Funeral’ and ‘Fleabag,’ the latter allowing fan Thomas to get on stage and perform on the guitar.
Halfway through, YUNGBLUD paused to reflect on the release of his new album Idols, confessing to his nervousness and gratitude: “This has been the biggest change of my life and I was so terrified to put this out. I was so f**ing nervous… but to see the amount of love, I love you all so much,” forging a powerful emotional bond with his “clan”.
The crowd erupted during performances of ‘Parents,’ ‘California’, and ‘Lowlife,’ while ‘Change’ transformed into a communal moment as the audience held up lighters in unison, moments after Harrison further expressed his love for his fans ‘‘You are my heartbeat, my spirit, my fucking soul’’. A stirring charity plea preceded ‘Monday Murder,’ and an unexpected, fiery duet of Billy Idol’s ‘White Wedding’ - brought down by none other than Billy Idol himself - capped off the set with electric surprise. The night came to a powerful close with anthems like ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Zombie.’
YUNGBLUD didn’t just headline - he led - it was his own festival after all. His unfiltered energy, candid speeches, and magnetic stagecraft made BLUDFEST feel like an intimate rebellion rather than a large-scale festival.
From the earliest sets to the final encore, there was a tangible sense of unity and celebration - a true testament to the festival’s mission. With genre-hopping performances and heartfelt fan engagement, it’s clear this is more than just a musical gathering - it’s a movement. A riot of passion, inclusivity, and pure punk heart - BLUDFEST 2025 was, in YUNGBLUD’s words, a night “we will remember forever.”
Words: Imogen Bird, Florelle Servageon
Photos: Florelle Servageon