EXPLORE THE LOVE TRAILS
2025 LINE-UP

Fronted by Nigerian singer Eno Williams, Ibibio Sound Machine is a clash of African and electronic elements inspired in equal measure by the golden era of West-African funk & disco and modern post-punk & electro.

Ibibio Sound Machine is Eno Williams (vocals), Alfred Kari Bannerman (guitar), Anselmo Netto (percussion), Jose Joyette (drums), Derrick McIntyre (bass), Tony Hayden (trombone, synth), Scott Baylis (trumpet, synth), and Max Grunhard (saxophone, synth).

Pull the Rope, the new record by Ibibio Sound Machine, casts the Eno Williams and Max Grunhard-led outfit in a new light. 

The hope, joy, and sexiness of their music remains, but, further honing the edge of their acclaimed 2022 album Electricity, the connection they aim to foster has shifted venues, from the sunny buoyancy of a sunlit festival to a sweat-soaked, all-night dance club. The atmosphere has changed, but you’re still having the time of your life.

Dynamic French duo, Jersey, comprised of brothers Carl and Renaud, have been making waves with their exuberant, high energy synth-based sets. 

They have quickly become known for their contagious energy, conveyed through their video content, whether filmed in their Parisian bedroom or during live sessions where synths are smashed and lamps are shaken with frenzy, making it hard to resist joining the party they bring.

From their DIY shows going viral across Instagram and TikTok, recent US, Canadian and European tours have seen them perform shows to frenzied crowds across the globe. 

Their recent release, Over & Over, is an immersive listening experience that draws from their eclectic musical influences, tracing back to their childhood in Normandy, facing the island of Jersey. 

Inspired by the French Touch and the indie rock waves of BBC radio that they tuned into during their youth, they have managed to extract the best of these sounds to create an innovative and playful tone throughout their EP. With Jersey, they affirm their unique position within the global electronic scene.

___

"Reaching one million streams and getting co-signed by Fred Again... Jersey is France’s next up in electronica."
OnesToWatch

Seun Kuti is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. He has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father’s political and musical legacy as the leader of his father’s former band Egypt 80.

Kuti was born in early 1983. He showed interest in his father’s music from the age of five, and at nine began opening Fela’s shows, singing a select group of songs with Egypt 80 before his dad took the stage. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. Fela passed in 1997, and Seun, in fulfillment of his father’s wishes, assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80; he has run it ever since.

During his teens, Kuti divided his time between the band and school, participating in African Football. From the time he was 18, he pursued music full-time. His shows were always a mix of his father’s tunes and his own. Although the elder Kuti never performed his recorded work on-stage, Seun felt it important that these compositions get a live hearing and added them to his own set.

Along the way, Seun began to add his own twist to the music, digging deep into various African traditions to reflect the continent’s struggles and cultures. His debut recording, Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80, was initially issued by WM Recordings in 2008, and later picked up for distribution by Mr. Bongo. While many outside Africa criticized it for using the Egypt 80 name, critics embraced its musical drive and improvisational fervor. Mr. Bongo also released his Many Things set later that year, which drew more praise than criticism.

Seun toured globally and played for enthusiastically receptive audiences in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, London, Tokyo, and especially Lagos. In 2011, He cut From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records. It was co-produced with Brian Eno and John Reynolds. The set proved to be his breakthrough; it landed on both Billboard and digital International Charts. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 — the band still retained three-quarters of the group that played, protested, and were arrested with his father — toured the globe relentlessly, often playing multi-hour shows that were as heavy on group improvisation as they were on composition. The music never deviated from the overtly political. The younger Kuti continued to state that “Fela will always be number one,” despite the fact that he was shifting and transforming Afrobeat with his own growing, evolving musical signature.

“As the son of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti carries a torch for infectious grooves and political songwriting.”

Hak Baker’s story begins on the Isle of Dogs where his working class community became his muse and inspired an unconventional, rebellious career that has seen the East End troubadour become one of the most respected and reverent British artists of his generation. 

Hak’s tales of inner city London life climb a spectrum between youthful nihilism and male vulnerability, to understanding that within the personal lives the political, as Hak paints a picture of a country in turmoil through his poetic lyricism. With fans spanning culture and genre, from Celeste to Mike Skinner, Fontaines DC to Skepta, Slowthai to Pete Doherty to Joy Crookes and Reuben Dangoor, Hak’s fanbase identify as “MisFits”, like-minded individuals who question the status quo and celebrate Hak’s anti-genre, “G-Folk” sound. 

Over the past few years Hak has become one of the most prominent black artists in the alternative music scene, with Vice stating “Baker subverts what a British folk singer can be”. Culturally sitting as comfortably beside the likes of Madness, The Specials and Benjamin Zephaniah, as he does The Streets, Kano, Akala and Greentea Peng, Hak’s repertoire truly transcends genre, with his raw, unfiltered and authentic voice at the core of everything he does. And now, Hak Baker’s forthcoming progression as an artist, an extraordinary creative leap tailor-made for an era of social inequity, internet addiction and post-pandemic disillusionment, arrives shaped by his belief that (figuratively, at least) only societal collapse can pave the way for a better, brighter tomorrow.

The result of this urge is the fittingly revolutionary World’s End FM: a debut album of staggering scope, ambition and scuffed melodic gorgeousness that introduces the wider world to Baker’s singular, mercurial folk-poetry in the manner of a molotov cocktail being ‘introduced’ to a window. Its premise alone is hard to resist. Building on the street-level stories and bruised geezer confessionals of his output since 2017’s career-launching Misfits EP, World’s End FM takes the form of a pirate radio broadcast from the edge of armageddon. 

Hak Baker’s debut broadcasts a message of unity, protest and collective power loud and clear, while also announcing him as a vital, inimitable voice for those often denied one. Rip it up and start again. The end of the world has never sounded so bold, so imaginative, or so thrillingly full of the glorious, chaotic wonder of life.

26-year old British producer Duskus is a DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist fast on-the-rise. He spent over a decade playing both piano and the guitar – first classical and later acoustic – after picking up his first at just seven years old; training that helped foster a life-long passion for music-making.

Heavily influenced by visual outdoor elements – “it could be just a view from a field or a photo of a plant I’ve seen on Instagram”, Duskus’ vision is grounded in the world around him; the here and now. His sound meshes together elements of classic 4x4 house, blood-and-thunder kicks and rich melodies. He credits electronic artists like Floating Points, Ross From Friends, Tom VR and Joy Orbison with playing into those ideas, but also looks further afield to folk and country music, too. “I listen to an artist called Arthur Russell religiously”, he says. “It’s nothing to do with electronic music, but it’s nice to listen to music outside of the lane I’m working in sometimes.”

His single "Let Go'' landed him on the Spotify Viral 50 in The UK, Ireland, Australia & New Zealand and laid the foundation for latest EP, ‘Healers Vol.1’, – music inspired by his love for the outdoors that he hopes will “help take people away from their four walls” and into nature – Duskus feels on the cusp of something big. “It’s a concept that’s gonna take time to fully figure out”, he explains, “but I feel like it’ll be at the heart of the evolution of each EP, and how I connect those dots."

Brian d’Souza is an award-winning DJ, music producer and live performer that is ‘taking World Music into the future’ (The Guardian) and who DJs under the alias Auntie Flo (an homage to his late Goan Auntie Florie).

Over a career spanning ten years, he’s played everywhere from Panorama Bar to Glastonbury, making his name as one of the most adventurous DJs around: performing in Cuba, Latin America, Asia, Africa and even the Arctic Circle. He has DJ’d extensively in Europe and shared stages with the biggest names in the industry, with memorable back to back sets with the likes of Bradley Zero, Axel Boman, Daniel Avery, Optimo and many more. He has featured on five Boiler Room’s and multiple times on BBC radio, with mixes and sessions for the likes of Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft and Rob Da Bank. He has held residencies at the likes of Sub Club and Plastic People.

He has released music on labels such as Brownswood, Disco Halal, Kompakt, Philomena/Innervisions, Permanent Vacation, Sofrito, Huntleys and Palmers and his own label’s Highlife and A State of Flo. He has remixed various musical legends such as Oumou Sangare and Baba Maal, and a variety of contemporary bands and artists including Sarathy Korwar, Crystal Fighters and Chvrches.

Festival appearances have included Glastonbury, T in the Park, MoMA PS1, Dimensions, Latitude, Montreaux Jazz, Havana World Music and many more. DJ appearances include Panorama Bar, Good Room, Trouw, Fabric, D-Edge, Corsica Studios, Le Sucre, Razzmatazz, etc. He has released a variety of DJ mixes for the likes of Resident Advisor, Dekmantel, BBC 6 Music and Beats in Space.

Buffo’s Wake formed in Brighton, UK, in the winter of 2009, with the idea of combining traditional Eastern European folk music and instrumentation, with the modern aesthetics of Punk and Rock. They have been developing their sound ever since, incorporating elements of dark cabaret, 30’s Swing and even drum and bass, as well as extending and furthering their understanding and experience of the traditional folk music that inspires their song writing.

This unique sound has developed alongside a frenetic live show, incorporating circus performances, audience interaction, natural showmanship and a fair few stage invasions! During a typical Buffo’s Wake performance, you can expect to hear traditional Ukrainian folk music, jump up DNB, and even Norwegian classical excerpts, whilst hearing lyrics inspired by Russian folk-tales updated for the modern day and dancing to Big Band bangers – all played with the raw visceral energy of a Punk band.

Due to their wildly interactive (and sometimes chaotic) live shows, Buffo’s Wake have built a strong and dedicated cult following around the world. Tours throughout Europe and America over the previous 10 years have cemented this following, along with regular appearances at Glastonbury Festival (2015, 2017), and various other UK and European festivals. 

The band has taken its show on the road through 22 different countries and 15 states of America, and its not unusual for them to play up to 100 concerts a year!

__

‘Hailing from Brighton, Buffo’s Wake assault your ears like a musical hurricane. Destined to make you dance with wild abandon or ‘like someone being attacked by bees’ (Richard Cadence of egigs.co.uk) this six piece ensemble fuse punk and gypsy rhythms with the sounds of the funfair’

Mojo Hobo

‘You can expect them to be jumping, screaming, climbing, wandering around the audience, throwing instruments around and everything else, in their spooky musical punk circus’

Muzika.hr

‘THE band to watch out for at Glastonbury 2015’

Marc Radcliffe (BBC 6 Music)

‘You may recall a desolate band of misfits in Tim Burton’s ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ that popped up every now and then with musical interludes of damp and haunting melodies that were, in their own way, quite captivating. Well Buffo’s Wake have a very similar allure; that is intriguing violins and erratic accordions, both utterly besmirched with wonderfully gloomy undertones and lingering vocals.’

Boomtown Fair

A collection of talented musicians from the heart of Bristol's music scene featuring calling from Olivia, founder of the Bristol Ceilidh Collective, are here to present the Saturday night Ceilidh at Love Trails. 

Get ready for rowdy moves and celtic-bangers in high energy group dance from the traditional to the not so traditional. You will be called through every dance so all you need do is show up and we'll take care of the rest.

"Dancing is a form of expression at the best of times but dancing in the dark to loud music can be liberating, life changing and primal in ways you could never imagine" 

When not out running the streets with his urban run collective Run Dem Crew, teaching Yoga or advocating mental health and wellness amongst his peers Charlie Dark can be found playing records to dance floors across the globe. Raised in South London on a diet of pirate radio and warehouses parties Charlie has been spinning records and igniting dance floors since the early eighties. 

From his time on Mo Wax records with Attica Blues in the 90’s, a major label deal on Sony Records and the plethora of remixes and productions Deejaying and bringing people together has been at the heart of everything he’s gone onto achieve. If you ever caught his Blacktronica Parties, sets at the legendary Plastic People or listened to his Worldwide FM or NTS radio shows then you’ll know that 'All forms of music in one room the way it used to be’ has always been his motto and his record crates run deep. 

With a vast record collection spanning various genres his predominately vinyl sets are known for their eclecticism spanning Dub to Disco to House, Funk, Soul Reggae, African gems and beyond. Uplifting energy filled genre jumping sets, hosted by a selector who always brings the joyful vibes.

Dr Meaker are the most exciting live soulful drum and bass in the World. The 8 piece line up, featuring Bristol’s finest musicians and vocalists, brings incredible energy to the stage every time they play. From nightclubs to muddy fields the band have torn up venues around the World, earning them many accolades and awards, including winning Glastonbury Festival’s emerging artists Live Act Competition.

Following on the release of their chart topping album ‘Dirt & Soul’ on Circus Records they will release their 3rd studio album “Distorted Sun” last year and are continuing to take to the road to deliver their unique strain of the World-renowned Bristol sound.

London-based daytime-teevee loves watching people sing and dance, which is what led her to become a DJ in 2023. 

From Pop to EDM to RnB, whether it be through her Mixcloud or monthly "Fuck This, Let's Dance" events, daytime-teevee always aims to take the audience on a seamless journey, bringing you bangers that fill your feet with fizz and heart with nostalgia.

Shooting up through Cardiff’s flourishing music scene is Half Happy. The four-piece bounce around the walls of dream-pop, indie-rock and post punk but don't stay in one place for too long. These 90’s babies mould their influences with fresh force, creating engaging melody-stuffed storytelling. Honest observations melt into day-dream lyrics that stick close to tight indie drums. The bass lines strut while the guitar riffs walk the line of heavy and heavenly. ‘Say This Twice’ and ‘Runaway Girl’ have found praise from Huw Stephens on BBC 6Music and earned them a place on Spotfiy’s ‘Hot New Bands’. Over 10 years of best-friendship between the band is palpable from their live performance. It’s a running joke that isn’t getting old yet, the band is way more than Half Happy.

____

Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales DJ, BBC Introducing:

"Your new favourite band." "It's delicious".

Huw Stephens, BBC Radio Wales and Radio 6 Music DJ:

"We want everyone to hear this because it is so good".

Bill Cummings, Editor of God is in the TV Zine:

"Self reflective, bittersweet and bloody glorious, Half Happy have captured my heart".

Alternative R&B and Rap artist L E M F R E C K’S unique blend of introspective lyrics and elegant, emotionally charged beats have cemented as an artist to watch in UK music.

2023 saw the release of his Welsh music prize winning album Blood, Sweat & Fears, hailed as an incredibly bold and honest reflection on his Welsh community. It saw widespread support from the likes of Jack Saunders, BenjiB & Sian Eleri on BBC Radio 1, Casskid at BBC 1Xtra, 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales, Clash, Dummy, Notion, WhyNow, The Line Of Best Fit & more.

His forthcoming EP We’ve been here released on 2 May 2025 via The Orchard delves into the recurring patterns of life, exploring the tension between growth and regression. Through introspective lyrics, it reflects on past mistakes and the struggle to break free from them, whether in love or the pull of past behaviours. With production collaborations from talents like Harry Edwards (Beyoncé, Travis Scott) and Peter Miles (Daughter, Nina Nesbit, Fizz). This project marks L E M F R E C K’s most ambitious sonic venture yet, blending powerful storytelling with innovative soundscapes.

Natty Lou is an international Drum and Bass DJ & Producer from the U.K and has graced the stages of renowned clubs and festivals worldwide. From legendary venues such as Ministry of Sound to the sun-soaked party paradise of Eden Ibiza, she has left an indelible mark on the Drum and Bass scene. Her unique blends & energetic switches create an atmosphere that is both invigorating and unforgettable.

Natty has showcased her sound throughout various clubs such as Drumshed, Printworks, Ministry of Sound & Fabric London, Motion Bristol, The Warehouse Project Manchester, Eden Ibiza, Melkweg Amsterdam and more.

She has played at major festivals such as Tomorrowland Festival & Rampage Open Air in Belgium, Glastonbury, Boomtown, Boardmasters Festival and Love Saves the Day in the UK, Snowboxx Festival in the Alps, ADE Amsterdam and much more. 

Natty has successfully completed two international tours in Asia, covering; China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.  

Natty Lou has released music on renowned labels within the Drum and Bass scene including Liquicity, Ridmic, Bassrush (Insomniac), NCS and more. In 2025, Natty has a stellar line-up of forthcoming releases on Hexagon, DeVice, Dark Machine Records, so keep an ear out for her future releases and performances as she remains a beacon on energy and excitement within the scene. 

The Nextmen could offer you a musical masterclass in people pleasing but you'd be too busy dancing your ass off to take notes. Ask Richard Branson who he calls to smash a party, or MTV, or Sophie Dahl, or the Cannes Film Festival, or any stage on any festival from Glastonbury to Bestival, Lovebox, every Notting Hill Carnival since forever, Big Chill, T In The Park, or Let Them Eat Cake. Or a club, any club, from Fabric to The Warehouse Project to Black Dog Ballroom, YoYo, Space Ibiza, Electric Ballroom, Womb Tokyo, Egg, Lux, or The Prince in Melbourne - and these boys have happily crushed said dancefloors into oblivion.

Having written multi-platinum releases for artists including Plan B, Wilkinson, Etherwood, Sam Smith, Maverick Sabre, Becky Hill, Anne Marie (Rudimental), Paul Epworth, Paulo Nutini, Kiko Bun, Eliza Doolittle, Louis Mattrs, Slo, Karen Harding, Little Mix, Tommy Trash and so many others. This keeps their diaries pretty hectic. Historically they've released critically and commercially acclaimed The Nextmen albums on 75 Ark, Scenario, Antidote, Universal, and have worked with too many to mention - Rizzle Kicks, Plan B, Public Enemy, Blackalicious, Roni Size, Daddy G, Rodney P, The Pharcyde and Morcheeba, Groove Armada, Sway, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Alice Russell, Dynamite MC, Kidz In The Hall, Jamaican legends Cutty Ranks, Niney The Observer and Demolition Man, Faithless etc etc etc.

Their ongoing podcast series has had hundreds of thousands of downloads and continues as a much devoured gift to the globe and spikes up to number 1 on the iTunes chart with every instalment.

Recent reggae-infused album with Gentleman’s Dub Club entitled ‘Pound for Pound’, their pop-up party tour, the resurrection of their beloved bootleg mixtapes and much more sees them as busy as ever. Get your ears open and ready. Enjoy.

The luck of the Irish is no coincidence when it comes to David Sheerin aka SHEE.

Playing his first DJ set aged 16, SHEE has spent near 10 years grafting and developing a fanbase on the Emerald Isle. Though these days, his sound is travelling much farther than that...

Barry Can’t Swim, Fred again, Disclosure, salute and Mochakk are just a few names on the long list of SHEE’s supporters. His tracks have aired on Boiler Room, Cercle, Mixmag and more. While SHEE himself has gone from playing the Irish pubs in his local town, to packing out a 5k+ tent at All Together Now (Aug 2024), as well as supporting the likes of Bicep, Sofia Kourtesis, and Sally C.

Outside of Ireland, SHEE has avid fans in Vancouver, London, Berlin and beyond, with recent appearances at Lost Village, Warehouse Project, Drumsheds and Amsterdam Dance Event. He heads into 2025 with big plans already - an Australian Tour in February (including plays at Lost Sundays and xe54 Club), a headline show at NTs Loft (London), a set with FLY in Edinburgh; plus support plays for Barry Can’t Swim in Sydney, Kettama at DEPOT Cardiff, and Laurence Guy at Lakota, Bristol.

His productions are also causing waves... ‘Win You Love’ (July 23) tallies over 4.4mil streams on Spotify and features in the EA Formula 1 video game. But this momentum suggests that SHEE’s next releases will set new levels. All his releases in 2024 featured in New Music Friday UK, and his most recent single ‘LEAVES’ landed with playlist cover of Breakthrough Electronic on Amazon Music. More works in progress with Denis Sulta, Sam Alfred, Laurence Guy mean that SHEE’s sound will become ever more unavoidable.

Do you love a good ol' sing-song? 

Are you partial to an after-hours karaoke sesh?

Want to let it all out with a raucous group of Love Trails legends?

For the third year running (pun intended), the sing-a-long crew are back, and we need every one of you for the biggest party of Friday night!

Join seasoned serenader Sarah Weiler and her bootylicious backing babes for an after-hours musical extravaganza. Reconnect to your inner Boy Band during a Backstreet Boys Medley; fall apart during Bonnie Tyler; and scream along to the Sugababes. It's all the tunes you forgot you loved, and still know all the lyrics to. Bring your friends, or come solo and make new ones. It's gonna be emosh.

About Sarah:

Sarah Weiler (Project Awesome) is a seasoned accompanist, music facilitator, comedy performer and DJ (Sarah Tonin) who spends her days bringing people together and spreading joy through music. She's been running group singing and music making since 2012 and has taken workshops, performances and DJ sets to Glastonbury, Wilderness and Camp Wildfire. She's also the Founder of Power of Uke, bringing ukulele and songwriting to the likes of Google & PwC.

Theatrical-feminist-punk-pop 6 piece known for their wild, immersive gigs and trademark provocative humour. The Twats don’t shy away from topics including thigh chafe, urinary tract infections and people assuming you don’t know how to tune a guitar because you’re a woman. 

Part punk gig, part comedy show, their shows are a chaos punk experience unlike any other.