Review: Stonedead Festival 2025

Newark Showground (August 23^rd, 2025)

Reviewer / photographer – Dan Mann

I swear Stonedead comes round faster every year. Or maybe it’s an age thing? Anyway, Stonedead 2025 arrived, straining at the leash, and ready to entertain the 5000 capacity crowd.

As with every Stonedead, a mixture of bands, although this year’s offering leaned more towards the heavy metal end of the rock spectrum.

Again there was a heathy mix of British and overseas bands, something that’s always good to see. Also the weather was a big improvement on the start of last year’s festival, so thumbs up all round.

As I’ve said before, on several occasions, festivals aren’t just about the music, it’s the gathering of musically like minded people, a chance to catch up with chums, and of course the chance to make some new ones.

A welcome moment every year is the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight flypast. This year’s aircraft being one of the BBMF‘s Spitfire’s.

I mustn’t forget to mention the festival’s suprise, slotted in after King Kraken‘s set. A tribute to The Prince Of Darkness, Mr Ozzy Ozbourne. A band made up from members of King Kraken, Florence Black and Crowley UK. A sing along moment, and a worthy inclusion in the day’s proceedings.

I’m not going to bore you with a comprehensive breakdown of each band, we all have our own musical tastes, and you’ll either agree or possibly strongly disagree with my point of view.

I’ll just lay out my personal observations of the day. Regarding the actual festival, well laid out as usual, good to see more picnic tables and a decent sized marquee in case of afore mentioned dodgy weather. The sound and lighting was excellent, and it all ran very smoothly indeed.

I always enjoy seeing the effort some people take to dress for the occasion, be it dinosaurs wacky outfits, or just something a tad different.

Music wise, not every band were my cup of tea, but that’s any festival, and it doesn’t dampen my enjoyment. Highlights for me were The Dead Daisies, who are just a damn good hard rock band, The Sweet, whose polished performance is hardly suprising considering the band members, D-A-D, who I always enjoy seeing, and The New Roses, who went down a storm.

One final word before the photos. You have to really take your hat off to a festival who sold out their 2026 tickets in less than 48 hours, without a single band being announced! They’ve got to be doing something right don’t you think? To Chris Sumby, Neil Stone and the whole Stonedead crew, thank you for doing what you do.