Closing out the UK’s festival season and promising nights as hazy as the Dorset cider served on site, End of the Road is a firm favourite in the summer scene.
End of the Road Festival is small enough that giddy punters can rush from one stage to another as one act ends and another starts, whilst remaining large enough to attract stellar headliners including Sharon Van Etten, Father John Misty, Self Esteem, and Black Country, New Road. But who lurks underneath those names in the big font at the top of the poster? Here are our picks of who to catch as the summer bows out in style.
Westside Cowboy
Opening the festival with vigour and verve, and united by a candid approach to a genre often obscured by blustering swagger, Westside Cowboy are one of the must-see acts of the weekend. With one EP under the belt, they’ve already won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition – so make sure you’re pitched up early on Thursday.
The New Eves
The New Eves’s debut album has just landed like a stone hurled in a lake, sending waves outwards at all angles. Their peculiar brand of ferocious folk is at once savage and gentle, like the soft coat of a wolf. Titled ‘New Eve Rising’, it’s a name that feels particularly apt as the band embark on an exciting trajectory.
Silver Gore
A new project from Ethan P. Flynn and Ava Gore, Silver Gore bring a variety of influences and are new enough that it’s hard to know exactly what to expect when the duo take the stage at Larmer Tree Gardens. Combining disco inflections with off-kilter pop and indie curios, catch them in The Folly on Friday to discover what waits in the wings behind their debut single ‘Dogs in Heaven’.
The Orchestra (For Now)
Long time So Young favourites The Orchestra (For Now) have earned themselves an upgrade from their early performance last year in The Big Top, now bringing their riotous soundscapes to the Garden Stage. An eight-piece collection of sharp-angled influences, they’re promising to fill the stage with their expansive sound and substantial presence.
Personal Trainer
Another band bringing large numbers and larger charisma to End of the Road are Dutch outfit Personal Trainer. With two albums of festival-ready indie rock at their fingertips, they bring with them the vigour of the emergent wave of Amsterdam-based artists, of who they lead the charge. If you’re a fan, make sure to also catch lead singer Willem Smit in Long Fling, his new project with fellow Dutch artist Pip Blom.
Geordie Greep
A previous So Young cover star, Geordie Greep brings his volatile, baroque music making to the Garden Stage on Saturday evening. Overtly theatrical in his smoke-and-mirrors approach, layers of storytelling and ostentation promise big impact against the lush landscape he’ll find himself in.
Broadside Hacks Present: A Tribute to The Incredible String Band
Who will appear on stage as part of this homage to 60s icons The Incredible String Band? Broadside Hacks, the London-based collective, promoter, and record label, bring their eclectic, fiery approach to folk music to the band’s back catalogue. Helmed by Sorry’s Campbell Baum, it’s anyone’s guess who will appear beside him on stage.
Anna Erhard
Combining daft lyricism and strikingly good songs, Swiss-born Anna Erhard’s unique brand of indie rock combines wit and wisdom. With a spontaneous air, her music revels in oddity, bringing the breezy joy of an old Hollywood screwball comedy to life.
Katy J Pearson
Katy J Pearson’s charming singer-songwriter indie is not one to miss amid a busy Sunday evening of festival favourites. The West Country singer’s bright, potent pop is perfect for anyone who might find themselves starting to flag as the festival winds its way towards its close on the final night.
Ellie O’Neill
After a much-lauded performance at The Great Escape at the start of the summer, Ellie O’Neill is starting to make a name for herself. Building a steady following on the back of Bandcamp-only releases, her grassroots approach to songwriting reflects the green grass-freshness of her folk-infused lyricism.
Read our full preview of End of the Road Festival in the new issue of So Young. Issue Fifty-Seven is available from our shop now.
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