Takedown Festival Kicks Off UK Festival Season with a Rowdy Weekend in Portsmouth [Photos]
Festival season kicks off in the UK as Takedown Festival returns to Portsmouth with two days of rock, metal and hardcore.
Takedown Festival returned to Portsmouth Guildhall this year, this time spread across two days for the very first time. After last year’s cancellation due to venue renovations, fans were eager to be back, and the weekend delivered a variety of the best hardcore and metal music.
The festival featured three stages: the Laney Stage as the main hub, and two smaller side stages – the Metal For Good Stage and the We Are Trxsh Stage. While the main stage offered a more relaxed atmosphere with bigger, well-known names, the side stages catered to fans of heavier music, with plenty of mosh-friendly sets that drew lively crowds.
This mix of stage setups meant there was something for every type of festival-goer. Whether you were a long-time fan of hardcore or metal or just looking to enjoy a weekend of live music, the festival had a little bit of everything. It balanced larger performances on the main stage with heavier, intense moments on the smaller stages, ensuring that attendees had a variety of experiences to choose from.
Towards the front of the side stages, things got a bit intense with frequent mosh pits and the occasional flying limb, so many attendees chose to enjoy the music from a safer distance. The contrast in stage vibes meant there was something for everyone, from long-time hardcore fans to those simply there for a good weekend of live music.
The strong line-up drew solid crowds across both days. Friday’s headliner was the Kris Barras Band, who we will also be seeing at Rock Im Park this June. Saturday was rounded off by Elvana, the Elvis-meets-Nirvana tribute act that regularly pops up on the alternative festival circuit.
Other well-received performances came from Dream State, Lake Malice, and The Raven Age, who supported Iron Maiden on tour in 2023.
Our photographer, Lorna Leahy Photography, headed down to V13’s first festival of the year, and you can check out the galleries here.
Cradle of Filth: “I don’t want to know how all the magic is made. I want to be carried away by it.”
Mayday Parade: “We wrote our first song and felt immediately that we have to do this because it felt great.”
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Mayday Parade: “We wrote our first song and felt immediately that we have to do this because it felt great.”
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