TAKEDOWN FESTIVAL 2026: DON’T SLEEP ON THESE BANDS!
It’s time to head to Pompey and start festival season with a good-old fashioned south coast mosh pit. If you are spending your Easter weekend at Portsmouth Guildhall here are the bands that are not to be missed.
Kill The Lights
Supergroup Kill The Lights bring together band members from Bullet For My Valentine, Throw The Fight and Threat Signal. The experience and variety of styles this Welsh collective brings to the table creates a brilliant, skilled and somewhat beautiful sound. With their years of experience performing in some of the UK’s most exciting rock outfits, expect an electric performance.
Gnome
Get ready for the off-the-wall with Gnome. Travelling all the way for Belgium to grace the stage in Portsmouth, the unique trio will be taking fans on a journey through bizarre fairytale of riffs, twists and groovy stoner rock. If you are looking for ‘different’ Gnome is where you want to be heading.
Therapy?
Your Friday Kerrang! stage headliner, seasoned Northern Irish trio Therapy? will be bringing their rumbling brand of rock to the guildhall to end the first day of the festival on a high. With iconic album Troublegum sure to be front and centre, stick around to watch a masterclass in classic, grungy vibes.
Carsick
Somewhere between The Streets, Kneecap and The Clash are Carsick. With ruckus performances down to a t, a don’t give a fuck attitude nailed down and bangers for days, the Salisbury punk rockers may just be one of the craziest sets of the weekend. Our advice- don’t risk the fomo.
Tropic Gold
For something more on the electronic end of the rock spectrum, Tropic Gold are making waves and gaining attention for their unique brand of sensuous, slick and measured sounds- ranging from heavy hitters to serene, emotionally intelligent tracks. For a journey of epic proportions, Tropic Gold have you covered.
St Agnes
A band that certainly demands attention on a stacked line up is St Agnes. Driving force behind the project- Kitty Austen’s growling vocals and electric stage presence, along with an inherent determination to grab you by the balls, means this will definitely be a set not to be missed. The London outfit are tipped as a ‘one to watch’ constantly. So you’d better be paying attention.
Graphic Nature
For those in the mood for something heavier, Graphic Nature have you covered. The Kent Nu-Metalers are a relentless storm of screams, breakdowns and general chaos. Headlining the Metal For Good stage on Saturday, this will be a cracking way to see out the weekend with a headbang, a mosh and general disorder.
Wargasm
London duo Wargasm have graced stages big and small over the last few years, bringing their enigmatic electronic riot grrrl style to the masses. With countless notable collaborations and a constantly evolving sound, Wargasm’s live show is an electric riot of boundless energy. Hop aboard the Wargasm train at your own risk.
President
Bringing Takedown 2026 to a close, President will be presenting their growing catalog of tracks to a curious Portsmouth crowd. This is a band that have been working hard to feed the machine, with constant drip feeding songs since their emergence just last year. There is a magnetism to President, the mystery of the band itself mixed with soul bearing lyricism and skillful electronic rock, this is not only a not to be missed set, but a moment where a few years down the line you will be able to say “Yeah, I was there”.
Photo: VICE
Returning to the Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday, April 3rd, and Saturday, April 4th, the festival is set to deliver another heavyweight weekend of alternative, rock, and metal talent to the south coast.