Portals Festival 2025 – The Final Transmission This Weekend At EartH, Hackney

So, as another day opens out, so too does the unfortunate news that Portals Festival 2025 will be the final time that the event, as it is now, will be happening.

With the state of the industry, and people’s financial commitments lying more and more frequently elsewhere, the decision has been made to draw a line under the two-day event, and for the organisers to focus their gaze towards other possibilities instead.

Although it will be the end of the road for the festival, it is in no way the end for the Portals team, and as is with the modern world, things will be adapting, ahead of the curve, and on to different ventures instead.

For me, this is a bittersweet announcement, Portals Festival has, over the last few years, become my spiritual second home, and without its impact on my life, I would never have discovered half of the incredible talent that’s out there on the musical landscape.

Acts such as Hundred Year Old Man, Jambinai, Jo Quail and Human Pyramids, along with many many others that are now vital parts of my musical listening, would have almost certainly flown under my radar and remained elusive to me. Add to that the huge entities I’ve seen, Mono, VLMV, Midas Fall, PG Lost, Bossk, Ohhms, and so many more, the list could go on and on, but I would be here for the next few hours.

For me, it was sad news to read. Portals Festival came into my life in 2020, just as the pandemic started, and over the years I’ve seen it grow and grow, and with it, watched the organisers bring more and more incredible acts into the family.

So, it’s with a heavy heart that I’m having to share this news, but, as one final hurrah hopefully it will ensure that Portals Festival 2025 will be a phenomenal send off, one filled with love and respect for a truly remarkable scene, and especially for the Portals team, who have been incredible, and pushed the envelope with just how special an event really can be. All embracing, all equal, and all respected, without judgement.

Also, with Julie Christmas, CLT DRP, Kalandra, Black Aleph, World Coda, and so many more heavyweight bands attending, 2025 is just going to be an epic event anyway, it will be an incredible send off, and something that memories will be made of for sure.

Portals Festival 2025 takes place this weekend over the 24th and 25th May at EartH, Hackney with last, with last-minute tickets still available. As always, a full review will follow on The Sleeping Shaman, but for now, it will be looking back at just how wonderful my experience has been over the last five years, and the promise of one final weekend of incredibleness for sure.

Scribed by: Lee Beamish