Takedown Festival returned to Portsmouth Guildhall with a stacked, genre-spanning lineup that leaned hard into the UK’s alternative scene, balancing rising names with seasoned heavyweights. Across two days, the event delivered a mix of chaos, catharsis, and a few technical hiccups but the energy in the room rarely dipped for long.

Day One – Friday 3rd April

Stone Soup

Stone Soup opened the festival with a set that felt raw in the best way. There was a looseness to their performance that worked in their favour, giving the early crowd something immediate to latch onto. Their sound leaned into gritty alt-rock with flashes of heavier influence, and while it wasn’t overly polished it didn’t need to be, this was about setting a tone and they did that confidently.

Kill The Lights

Kill The Lights followed with a much more refined delivery. Built on tight musicianship and well-structured songs, their set hit that sweet spot between heaviness and melody. The breakdowns landed cleanly, the choruses had weight, and they carried themselves like a band completely in control of their space. It felt like a step up in intensity without losing accessibility.

Devere

Devere brought a completely different energy, acting as an injection of fun and flamboyance into the lineup. With big hair, big riffs, and an unapologetically bold stage presence, their set leaned fully into a larger-than-life aesthetic. It added a sense of unpredictability to the day and gave the crowd something visually and musically distinct, breaking up the heavier tones elsewhere on the bill.

South Of Salem

South Of Salem had to contend with technical issues that could have easily thrown things off. Instead, they handled it with professionalism, keeping the momentum going between interruptions. When everything clicked, their horror-tinged edge really came through with dark theatrics, driving riffs, and a sense of identity that set them apart from the rest of the bill. It’s also worth noting that the band are currently navigating a lineup change, following the recent departure of guitarist Denis Sherriff, with Callum Downing of Awake By Design stepping in for the performance. Any potential disruption that might have caused wasn’t visible on stage. The set felt tight, assured, and fully realised. By the end of their set, they’d firmly established themselves as one of the standout highlights of the day, this band knows how to pull a crowd and put on a show!

The Wildhearts

The Wildhearts brought a sense of fun that cut straight through the evening. Their set was packed with big hooks and a slightly chaotic charm that felt completely intentional. There’s a looseness to their live show that never tips into messiness it just makes everything feel more alive. It was one of the most purely enjoyable sets of the day.

Therapy?

Therapy? closed out Friday with the kind of authority that only comes from experience. Their performance was tight, focused, and refreshingly direct. There was no overcomplication just strong songs delivered with confidence. They managed to feel both nostalgic and current, which is no small feat, and they held the room’s attention effortlessly from start to finish.

Stay tuned for Day Two of Takedown Festival

Words and photos by Rebecca Bush