Music / Shindig
Festival preview: Shindig 2026
Often feeling like the true start of summer, the late May bank holiday has long been a big weekend for festivals. Those not enamoured by local options Love Saves the Day or Dot to Dot might consider the locally-conceived Shindig which is back at Charlton Park Estate in Wiltshire over May 21-24.
Described as “a pint sized Glastonbury”, it comes recommended by Worthy Farm’s Emily Eavis – the festival equivalent of a royal appointment. Shindig is renowned for its hedonistic, all-ages crowd who party into the early hours amid lush woodlands and giant sculptures created from recycled military hardware.
Fat Dog are one of this year’s headliners – photo: Frank Fieber
The main live music stage, the Dig Inn, leans energetic, with this year’s headliners including the fast-rising Fat Dog. Their high octane blend of rock, disco and electro-punk is perfect festival fuel.
Also topping the bill are Californian survivors War whose cocktail of funk, rock, jazz and Latin music remains powerful after well over 50 years into their career.
The other headliners are veteran conscious rapper Chali 2NA (Jurassic 5) and ferocious rap-punk duo Bob Vylan whose performance at Glastonbury 2025 led to a police investigation over chants of “death to the IDF”.
The controversy around the band means they’re only playing a handful of UK festivals this year. Shindig co-founder Si Clarke said: “While we recognise that their work can be provocative, we believe that challenging art has an important place in culture and conversation.”
Bristol-born events Shindig and Shambala, bookending the summer, are the only UK festivals programming Bob Vylan this year – photo: Bob Vylan
Other live music highlights include gonzo synth-punks Snapped Ankles, Glasgow soundsystem dons Mungo’s Hi Fi and genre-resistant Dutch festival faves My Baby, along with charismatic spoken word artist Joshua Idehen whose heartfelt wisdom is set to jazz-inflected electronic beats.
At its heart, Shinding is a grown-up rave and much of the real action happens in niche spaces focused on specific genres and party atmospheres, including house and disco palace Shimmy Discotheque and forest-dwelling bass enclave Halcyon.
The 4am music licence means they come into their own when the live headliners are done and dusted.
The party really gets going after dark at Shindig – photo: Sarah Koury
This year’s festival boasts an array of top DJs including selector supreme Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, drum & bass pioneers Kenny Ken and Jumpin’ Jack Frost, and masked hardcore titans Altern-8.
Also appearing are euphoric liquid duo Polo & Bryson, and UK hip-hop treasure DJ Format, while Amen addicts should head straight for the Jungle Cakes takeover with Serial Killaz, Deekline, Ed Solo, Kaya Faya and Kelvin 373 of Bristol crew Born On Road.
In fact, there are BS postcodes all over Shindig 2026, with Dr Meaker, Laid Blak, Beatles Dub Club, No Go Stop, Mad Apple Circus, Dub Catalyst and Bin Bag Wisdom all getting involved.
There’s also a DJ set from Ishmael Ensemble, who headlined Bristol24/7’s magazine relaunch party at Ashton Court Mansion in 2023.
Local contributors also include Minirig – who provide power and pressure for the Sub Bus – and Southville’s own Bristol Beer Factory. A proportion of ticket sales go to Bristol based mental health charity Talk Club.
Shindig prides itself on its al fresco sculptures, art installations, and kids’ entertainments – photo: Boomstudio
There’s no need to miss out if you have offspring. Shindig was voted ‘Best For Family Rave’ by Festival Kidz, and includes all manner of junior entertainment including Graffiators, Super Pirates, World Jungle, Colour Town and a lively procession led by Jamba de Samba. There’s even a funfair.
Shindig 2026 is at Charlton Park, Wiltshire over May 21-24. For tickets and more information visit shindigfestival.co.uk
Main image: Coal Poet Media
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