Mucky Weekender festival’s bassiest bash yet! 

Liz Nicholls

DJ Yoda, Fabio + Grooverider, Jaguar Skills, Dave Rodigan & more will star at magical Mucky Weekender in Micheldever, 11th-13th September 

Mucky Weekender is returning to Micheldever & this year it’s bigger, bolder, and bassier than ever! 

This year’s festival, headlined by our cover stars Fabio + Grooverider, launches with a massive Thursday night opening party, and trust us, you’re going to want to get there early. What started in 2019 as a homegrown dream by Dub Pistols frontman and all-around legend Barry Ashworth, has grown into one of the UK’s most beloved boutique festivals; intimate, immersive, and utterly infectious. 

Set in the lush, 28-acre wonderland of Vicarage Farm, our fave Mucky Weekender is back for its fourth year at its spiritual home. With a 5,000-capacity crowd, six creatively themed stages, and a “no sponsors, no suits” vibe, it’s as grassroots as festivals come, made by music lovers, for music lovers. 

2025’s festivities get under way with a Thursday night blow-out that could pass as a full festival in its own right. Headlining the opening bash is none other than David Rodigan, the iconic reggae and dancehall DJ known for crowd-hyping mic skills and legendary dubplates. Phil Hartnoll of Orbital will also be spinning euphoric electronic beats, as well as the genre-hopping wizardry of DJ Yoda. 

Expect a dubwise masterclass from the charismatic Gardna, pure fire from rising soul powerhouse Eva Lazarus, and a set from the genre-blending innovator Don Letts, who helped birth the punk-reggae crossover. Add to that Jaguar Skills with his cut-and-paste genius, and The Allergies DJ serving up fat slices of funk and soul, and you’ve got one hell of a curtain-raiser. 

But Mucky’s not just about bangers and basslines. It’s about community, creativity, and cutting loose with people who love music as much as you do. Whether go come solo or in a crew, this is the kind of festival where you’ll leave with new mates. Think of it as a boutique rave-family reunion — minus the weird uncle. 

Festival-goers will once again get the chance to dress to impress with 2025’s fancy dress theme: Dead Famous. Whether you’re resurrecting Bowie, Prince, or a disco-diva version of Shakespeare, it’s your time to bring a legend to life. Dress up and you could bag a coveted Golden Ticket to the Dead Famous After Party hosted by Barry Ashworth and the Dub Pistols. 

Mucky Weekender also wears its heart on its sleeve, working closely with Tonic Music for Mental Health to support positive mental health in the music scene. From wellbeing spaces to a line-up packed with returning artists who just can’t get enough of the Mucky magic, it’s a festival with a conscience — and  
a killer soundtrack.