Day Two of Takedown Festival was even larger than Day One. Mayhem and Mosh Pits were in full force.

Day Two – Saturday 4th April

Artio

Artio opened the Kerrang! Stage on Saturday with a bright, modern alt-rock sound that felt instantly engaging. Their set had a sense of movement to it with dynamic shifts, strong vocal delivery, and enough energy to wake the room back up after the previous night. They struck a good balance between polish and personality.

Zetra

Zetra followed with a more immersive and atmospheric approach. Their sound leaned into synth-driven textures and a darker aesthetic, creating a set that felt almost cinematic at times. It wasn’t the most high-energy performance of the weekend, but it didn’t need to be it carved out its own space and held it.

Vexed

Vexed brought things back to sheer intensity. Their set was aggressive, precise, and unrelenting, with breakdowns that hit hard and stayed there. There was a clear confidence in how they delivered everything, and it translated into one of the most physically engaging crowd reactions of the weekend.

Lastelle

Lastelle offered a more emotional and textured performance, blending heaviness with vulnerability. Their set built gradually, layering softer moments with heavier bursts in a way that kept things interesting throughout. It felt thoughtful without losing impact.

Vower

Vower continued the upward trajectory with a confident and focused set. There’s a clarity to their sound that works well live everything feels intentional, from the pacing to the delivery. They didn’t overreach, but what they did, they did well, and it left a strong impression.

Saint Agnes

Saint Agnes had one of the toughest slots of the weekend due to a long delay caused by technical issues. It could have easily drained the energy from the room, but they flipped it completely. Once they got going, their performance was intense, commanding, and fully locked in. They didn’t just recover the moment they turned it into one of the standout sets of the festival.

As It Is

As It Is brought a more anthemic, crowd-focused energy. Their set leaned heavily into connection, with big choruses and a clear sense of purpose behind each track. It was one of the more accessible performances of the weekend, but it still carried enough weight to keep things from feeling too light.

BEX

Bex followed with a performance that felt fresh and self-assured. There’s a genre-blurring quality to their sound that keeps things unpredictable, and it translated well live. It felt modern without trying too hard, and the confidence in the delivery made it land.

Wargasm

Wargasm injected chaos in the most deliberate way possible. Their set was loud, confrontational, and packed with attitude. It’s the kind of performance that doesn’t aim to please everyone but for those in the room who connected with it, it hit hard. There was no mistaking their presence.

The Hara

The Hara kept the momentum going despite a delayed start caused by further technical hiccups. Rather than letting it stall the atmosphere, they leaned into the moment, using crowd interaction to rebuild and elevate the energy in the room. There was a constant back-and-forth throughout their set, with the band clearly feeding off the audience and vice versa. Once fully underway, their performance balanced attitude with strong, hook-driven songwriting that translated effortlessly live. It turned what could have been a setback into a genuinely engaging and memorable set.

President

President closed the festival with a set that felt appropriately big and the turnout reflected that. The room was packed, with a noticeable surge of people clearly there specifically for them, giving their set a sense of occasion from the outset. The masked band aesthetic continues to hold real appeal, and while there’s been plenty of speculation around who’s behind the project, it ultimately takes a back seat once they’re on stage. What matters is how it translates live, and in this case, it translated extremely well. Their performance was tight, dynamic, and full of intent, balancing mystery with genuine musical weight. Rather than relying on image alone, they backed it up with a wicked set that felt like a true closing statement for the weekend.

Takedown 2026 proved once again why it holds a firm place in the UK’s alternative festival calendar. While technical issues cropped up more than once, they never fully derailed the experience. The lineup struck a strong balance between established acts and newer voices, and the expanded performances across both days showed just how much depth there is in the scene right now.

A huge thank you to everyone involved, letting us be a part of this amazing weekend.

Words and photography by Rebecca Bush (Unless stated)