10 years of Indie at 6 Music Festival
This year marks 10 years of 6 Music Festival: a whole decade of incredible live performances across the UK.
The festival now has its permanent home in Greater Manchester, where the very first edition of the event took place in 2014, and this year's event boasts an amazing line up of artists, including Young Fathers, Gossip, The Smile, CMAT and more.
The festival has grown considerably over the years but most notably, 2023 brought the addition of live club nights hosted by 6 Music's Rave Forever and Indie Forever as well as a soul soothing brunch with Morning After Mix Live.
You can be a part of the live events all weekend on 成人快手 Sounds and 成人快手 iPlayer - find out how to catch all the action at the festival here.
Ahead of this year’s festival, host of Indie Forever, Nathan Shepherd has been reflecting on all the incredible Indie performances at 6 Music Festival over the years, selecting some of his favourites for you to relive below.
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Listen to highlights from 10 years of 6 Music Festival on Indie Forever here
Nathan brings you the best indie music from the 6 Music Festival as it celebrates its ten year anniversary. With epic live performances by Wet Leg, Jamie T, Future Islands, beabadoobee, Bloc Party, HAIM and lots more
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Watch sets from 10 years of 6 Music Festival on iPlayer here
Archive sets to match your every mood from the history of the festival - featuring Little Simz, Christine and the Queen, Laura Marling, Self Esteem, Johnny Marr, Bicep and more
Bloc Party (Cardiff, 2022)
Nathan: Bloc Party electrified the stage when the festival came to Cardiff in 2022. Singer Kele Okereke said that it was their third performance since 2019, so fans were eager to hear their hits along with new material. They closed the night with their indie classic Helicopter which sent the crowd into a frenzy. The band are set to play their debut album in full this summer at Crystal Palace Park in London to celebrate its 20th birthday.
Lava La Rue (Greater Manchester, 2023)
Nathan: An incredible talent, not only just as a musician but a director as well, having directed one of Wet Leg’s music videos. They brought the vibes and neo-psychedelia to the Victoria Warehouse in 2023.
Black Country, New Road (Digital, 2021)
Nathan: This was the year that 6 Music Festival went digital, and Black Country, New Road took to the stage to perform a set which was then broadcast on 成人快手 iPlayer. Such an amazing performance from amazing musicians playing under such weird circumstances, but nonetheless, a spell-binding performance.
Khruangbin (Cardiff, 2022)
Nathan: It was their first show ever in the UK, a truly mesmerising performance, an instrumental, rich set that still had the crowd singing back to them when they crescendoed into a medley featuring Warren G, Dr. Dre, and a bit of Spandau Ballet as well. I could watch them play forever.
Bombay Bicycle Club (Camden, 2020)
Nathan: 2020's festival took place in March, and marked one of the last music events of the year before the UK was put into lockdown. Bombay Bicycle Club played new tracks from their fifth studio album, released in the same year, and also tracks from their unreal back catalogue. They raised the roof of the Electric Ballroom on the Sunday night.
Franz Ferdinand (Greater Manchester, 2014 & Belfast, 2018)
Nathan: What a way to kick off the first ever 6 Music Festival - Franz Ferdinand took to the stage to play a mega setlist packed with their hits, that they let the fans decide! They let the fans vote for 6 songs which they then played in the setlist, only revealing them on the night.
They also made a return to 6 Music Festival in 2018 when the festival came to the Titanic Slipways in Belfast, and they played with the same intensity and energy that they did back in 2014.
The indie icons are currently celebrating 20 years since the release of their debut album and joined me on Indie Forever to chat about the songs and artists that influenced its creation.
