Live Review: Bearded Theory - Sunday
25th May 2025
Words & Photos: Laura Muraska-Ross
Where did the time go, Sunday already and this amazing weekend was almost over but not without another day of amazing music. Starting with a British comedy folk and parody band (yes you read that right) called The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican. With a name like that I had to check them out on the main stage. When I got there, the winners of the fancy dress competition were being announced, and two lovely ladies dressed as white witches took the prize of four tickets to next year's festival. Then the band took to the stage, and I wasn’t quite sure what I was in for, when I saw someone dressed as what I think was shaggy from scooby doo, walked onto the stage. However, this comedy covers band had the crowd laughing, dancing and warmed up to the max. The singer even got into an inflatable canoe and crowd surfed it out a few rows into the and back...all I can say is hilarious and unique!
Next, I took in Anoise in the Convoy tent, who were different to say the least, and left me feeling like I was on some sort of psychedelic trip. Then back to the Main stage for four-piece alternative country band Divorce, who, although not very active on stage still put on a great performance, singer and bassist Tiger Cohen-Towell and co-vocalist and guitarist Felix Mackenzie-Barrow were a great pairing, their vocals melt together nicely and the bands songs make for a great edition to any summer festival.
I then headed over to the mighty Meadow tent again for a band I have seen once before only this year, but I was excited to see on a bigger stage, Raised by Owls. The extreme and sometimes weird metal band from Derbyshire weren’t far from home for this one but came out like they were playing Wembley which is what I love about these guys. From the off, lead singer Sam had humour with the crowd, and they all had their faces paint black and white, reminiscent of some kind of odd Kiss covers band. I loved knowing what was in store for the crowd and I wasn’t disappointed when Mr Blobby came flopping on to the stage waving about his two double-ended Dildos again! The mix of both laughter and bewilderment from people in the crowd, I am guessing, is exactly why the band added this addition to their shows. Combined with their quiz show halfway through, where they had the crowd do different tasks to win t-shirts with inappropriate slogans on them and ending on their rendition of Limp Bizkits ‘Break Stuff’ where they were joined on stage by the Cookie Monster wearing a red Fred Durst style hat, made for quite the experience. The fact they can all play sick ass metal music too, was just the icing on the cake once more for me.
The rest of the day was finished off perfectly at the main stage, where I caught indie-pop band The Lottery Winners who again aren’t my type of music but surprised me with their catchy tunes, and singer Thom Rylance’ infectious laugh and sense of humour with the crowd. He even made a little dig at The Darkness who have famously made jibes at them in the past. Then the instrumental and theatrical masterpiece that are Public Service Broadcasting took to the stage. If you haven’t seen them live before, they use a lot of visuals on massive screens which add to the magic of their music. However, I was ruined for this festival set of their as I have had the pleasure of experiencing them before at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, and I feel their whole aesthetic just works better in darkness and indoor venues. The impact just wasn’t the same for me outside in broad daylight.
The festival drew to a close with icons, Manic Street Preachers taking to the main stage. Another 90’s band whose music will just never fade, and the crowd was huge for this one, just like the night before for Iggy. They opened with their hit ‘Decline and Fall’ which had everyone singing along straight away. They played a massive set of old and new, but stand outs for me were ‘A design for life', 'Your love alone is not enough’ and ending their set with crowd winner ‘If you tolerate this your children will be next’ which was just amazing to see live and the perfect ending for the whole crowd to what was just a magical, friendly and hugely enjoyable weekend.
I hope to return next year to see what the organisers have in store.
Photo Credits: Laura Muraska-Ross
