Held at the Portsmouth Guildhall, Takedown Festival has become a key event in the UK’s alternative music calendar, celebrating the best in rock, metal and heavier genres.

Originally launched in 2009 as a small scale event, it has grown into a multi stage indoor festival featuring dozens of bands and attracting fans from across the country.

Known for its high energy atmosphere, a mixture of musical line ups and the commitment to supporting emerging talent, Takedown not only showcases established acts but also provides a platform for up and coming smaller bands, helping to sustain and develop the UK’s live music scene

Here are just a few bands that are appearing on the 2026 line up, and why we think you need to see them

THE HARA

The Hara are a three piece band from Manchester and are taking the rock scene by storm with their loud tunes and even harder live performances. Josh Taylor (Vocals), Zack Breen (Guitar) and Jack Kennedy (Drums) have just come off their headline UK tour and are ready to wow the crowd at Takedown.

Instagram – @theharaband

PAVÉ

Manchester band PAVÉ sit comfortably in that space between modern rock and heavier alternative, pulling in elements of metal without ever losing their sense of melody. Their sound is built around strong, clean vocals and big hooks, but there’s always weight underneath it. Guitars feel full and purposeful, with just enough edge to keep things from drifting too far into straight-up radio rock.

They don’t lean too far in one direction. There’s a clear focus on writing songs that connect, but they still leave room for heavier moments to land properly. It gives them a sound that feels current without chasing trends, and one that translates well live, where the energy and the more melodic side of the band sit comfortably alongside each other.

Instagram – @pavebandofficial

BEX

BEX is a fairly new on the punk rock scene but she is making a big impact. She is an artist known for her blend of alternative pop with emotionally honest lyrics. Her music often explores themes like identity, relationships, and self-reflection, delivered through a mix of soft vocals and edgy sound. With a growing presence on streaming platforms and social media, BEX has been building a loyal fanbase drawn to her relatable storytelling and distinctive sound.

Instagram – @bex.b.e.x

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Bottom Line are a UK based pop punk band known for their energetic sound and relatable lyrics about youth, relationships, and growing up. Formed on the south coast, they gained attention through catchy hooks and a modern take on classic pop-punk influences, often drawing comparisons to bands like Sum 41 and Blink 182. They have been performing since 2010 but with recent touring as support and one off performances, they are developing a growing fanbase and a reputation, especially for their high-energy sound and lyrics. The Bottom Line are establishing themselves as an act to watch in the contemporary pop punk scene.

Instagram – @thebottomlineuk

MOUTH CULTURE

Mouth Culture have quietly become one of the more exciting names coming through the UK alternative scene. Originally from Leicester, the trio have spent the last few years building things the old-fashioned way, through touring, word of mouth, and a run of singles and EPs that have steadily sharpened their identity. Their rise has picked up real momentum recently too, with support slots alongside You Me At Six and praise from outlets like Kerrang!, as well as festival appearances at events including Slam Dunk Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals and even the revived Warped Tour.

What makes Mouth Culture land is that they don’t feel boxed into one lane. Their sound pulls from alternative rock, indie, pop-punk, and heavier modern influences, but it all comes through in a way that still feels cohesive. There are big choruses, clean melodic hooks, and plenty of energy, but also enough grit and emotional honesty underneath it to stop things and feel too polished. They’ve got that kind of live sound that feels built to connect quickly, and that’s probably why they’ve been winning people over so easily. On record, they can sound slick and ambitious, but live there’s still a rougher, more instinctive edge to them that suits the songs well.

Instagram – @mouthculture

INME

InMe are an English alternative rock band formed in Brentwood, Essex, in 1996. The group gained recognition in the early 2000s with their debut album “Overgrown Eden”, which featured energetic, emotionally driven tracks blending elements of alternative rock, post-hardcore, and metal. Led by vocalist and guitarist Dave McPherson, InMe became known for their intense live performances and evolving sound, experimenting with heavier and more progressive styles in later releases such as “White Butterfly” and “The Pride”. Despite lineup changes and shifts in the music industry, the band has maintained a dedicated fanbase and continued to produce music independently, showing resilience and creative growth over the years.

InMe have built a reputation for constantly evolving their sound rather than sticking to a single style, moving from the polished alternative rock of their early work into heavier, more experimental territory. Albums like “Daydream Anonymous”, “Trilogy: Dawn” and their most recent album “Jumpstart Hope”,  showcase their willingness to explore complex song structures, introspective lyrics, and a darker tone. Dave McPherson has remained the creative core of the band, guiding its direction through changing musical trends and industry challenges. Over time, InMe have become admired not just for their music, but for their independence and commitment to artistic authenticity.

Instagram – @inmeofficial

LASTELLE

Oxfordshire band Lastelle has quietly become one of the more interesting names bubbling up in the UK heavier scene. Formed in 2018, they’ve built a strong reputation through a run of emotionally heavy releases and consistent touring, including dates with bands like Holding Absence, Caskets and Dream State. Their recent two-part EP project, Exist vol I and Exist vol II, has helped push them further into view, with the band earning praise for both their songwriting and the emotional honesty running through it. They’ve also built a solid live reputation, with festival appearances and support slots steadily putting them in front of the right crowds.

What makes Lastelle stand out is the way they handle heaviness. Their sound sits broadly within post-hardcore, but it pulls in a lot more than that. There are shoegaze textures, post-rock atmosphere, clean melodic passages, and heavier bursts that hit when they need to. They write with patience, too, which gives the emotional side of the band room to land properly. Lyrically, they tend to deal with grief, love, loss, and mental health in a way that feels personal without becoming vague or overly dramatic. On record, they can sound expansive and cinematic, but live there’s still a rawness to them that keeps everything grounded.

Instagram – @lastelleband

VOWER

Vower are an emerging force in the alternative music scene, crafting a sound that fuses atmospheric rock with electronic textures and emotive, introspective songwriting. Formed by experienced musicians from across the UK scene, with the likes of Josh McKeown (Palm Reader), Rabea Massaad (Toska) and Rory McClean, join Joe Gosney and Liam Kearley (Black Peaks) to make up the ensemble. The band channel a powerful intensity into their music, balancing haunting melodies with hard, driving rhythms. Their work often explores themes of connection, isolation, and transformation, delivered through dynamic arrangements that shift between delicate vulnerability and explosive release. With a growing reputation for immersive live performances and a polished yet deeply expressive sound, Vower are quickly establishing themselves as a band to watch.

Instagram – @vowerband

SAINT AGNES

Saint Agnes are a fierce and independent British band known for their explosive blend of gothic rock, post-punk, and alternative metal. Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Kitty A. Austen, their music is driven by raw emotion, dark lyricism, and an uncompromising DIY ethos that has earned them a dedicated cult following. Emerging from the UK underground scene, the band has built a reputation for intense live performances and a rebellious spirit, often exploring themes of identity, power, and defiance. Their album “Bloodsuckers”, released in 2023, really pushed them mainstream, showing their gritty, visceral edge. Saint Agnes continue to stand out as one of the most compelling modern acts in alternative music and fans are excited for their new album, “The God Fearing Days Are About To Begin”, releasing 29th May 2026.

Instagram – @wearesaintagnes

PROFILER

Profiler is a progressive metal band.from Bristol, known for blending heavy riffs with atmospheric electronics and emotionally driven songwriting. Emerging from the UK underground scene, they’ve built a reputation for combining elements of metalcore, nu metal, and ambient electric sounds into a modern style. Their music often explores themes of identity, mental health, and technology’s impact on human connection, giving their songs both intensity and depth. With releases like their album “A Digital Nowhere” and their newly released single “Late Again”, Profiler has gained attention for their dynamic shifting from crushing heaviness to melodic, calming moment, making them a standout act in the contemporary alternative metal scene.

Instagram – @profilerband

PRESIDENT

President have had one of the fastest rises in the UK heavy scene in recent memory. Emerging in 2025 with almost no background information and a deliberately mysterious image, they quickly became one of the most talked-about new names in alternative music. What could have easily come off as pure gimmick has instead been backed up by genuine momentum, from a much-hyped debut at Download Festival to sold-out headline shows and a debut EP, King of Terrors, that racked up serious streaming numbers in a very short space of time. They’ve also picked up support slots with major names and signed to Atlantic Records, which says a lot about how quickly they’ve gone from curiosity to a proper force.

What’s helped President stick is that the music has actually lived up to the hype. Their sound pulls from modern metal, alternative rock and electronic influences, but it doesn’t feel too boxed in by any of it. There’s weight to the heavier moments, but also a cleaner, more controlled side that gives the songs a lot of shape. They clearly know how to build atmosphere without losing impact, and that balance is a big part of why they’ve connected so quickly. Beneath all the mystery and presentation, there’s a band writing songs that people are genuinely latching onto.

Instagram – @presidentband

You can still grab tickets for Takedown Festival. Follow the link to the website

takedownfestival.com

Words and pictures by Amy Showell and Haylea Allison unless stated