The UK’s finest hardcore festival is back once again, and with a London date on the cards, 2025 is shaping up to be one of it’s greatest instalments yet. Chock-full of talent, Outbreak 2025 is poised once more to take one of the top spots when it comes to the UK festival circuit. There’s plenty of big, recognisable names, such as Knocked Loose, Turnstile, and Danny Brown to draw in massive crowds. Alongside the obvious big names, there’s also a plethora of cult-classic performances taking place, such as the infamous Glassjaw, who are set to perform what many argue to be two of the finest post-hardcore albums of all time, in full. There’s also the wonderful Sunny Day Real Estate, for which this will be their first UK performances for the last 14 years, making the occasion that bit more special for fans.
There are plenty of obvious picks for “ones to watch”, but we’d like to shine a light on some of the acts you may not have picked up on, emphasising smaller, more underground acts, and telling you exactly why they deserve your attention.
(Appearing at Outbreak Manchester only)
Final Resting Place
(Appearing at Outbreak Manchester only)
If you’ve somehow not heard mention of Final Resting Place by now, where have you been? A supergroup of sorts consisting of members from Simulakra, Sanction, Living Weapon, and many other beloved projects, Final Resting Place came out swinging with their debut EP, Prelude To Extinction, in 2024. Since then, they’ve seen nothing but love due to their incredible live performances, notably performing at Northern Unfest earlier this year to much acclaim from festival goers. We expect to see exponential growth for this band at Outbreak, and their set will undoubtedly be one for the history books.
Have A Nice Life
(Appearing at both Outbreak Manchester and Outbreak London)
With the release of deathconsciousness in 2007, Have A Nice Life started something that they couldn’t have ever intended. Quickly becoming a divisive release in underground circles, it survived all of its discourse and has prevailed to become a cult classic, later joined by two more fantastic records. Their unique blend of atmospherics, gloomy synths, and droney shoegaze have left an unmistakable mark on the scene, spawning many imitations in its wake. Now set to make their debut UK performances, we’re expecting something big to come from this. Though many in attendance may not have heard of them, there’s absolutely no doubt that you’ve heard a project inspired by the work of the duo. If you are optimising your day and caught between Have A Nice Life and Witch Fever, their ultra-classic “Bloodhail” is typically early in their set. If you want even more sing-alongs, load up on the early tracks from The Unnatural World and Sea of Worry which are even catchier than anything else on deathconciousness.
Impunity
(Appearing at Outbreak Manchester only)
Having received masses of praise with the release of their demo EP back in 2023, Impunity have been consistently making the rounds in the live circuit for some time now. With their sights now set on Outbreak once again, it’s not too much of a stretch to think that perhaps we’ll finally be treated to some new music from the hardcore quintet. Keeping things short and to the point, Impunity have already shown a level of mastery for their brand of hardcore that is unmatched by many. Chock-full of breakdowns, their set is bound to be chaos, and one that any hardcore purist should be looking to watch.
Jane Remover
(Appearing at both Outbreak Manchester and Outbreak London)
A late addition to both the London and Manchester dates, Jane Remover is set to grace the UK for the very first time. A fast-growing underground star, their infectious blend of emo, hyperpop, and electronic music is equally refreshing as it is nostalgic. A standout amongst their peers, there’s a clear stylistic difference between the music of Jane Remover and the majority of acts playing, but we have no doubt that it will be a welcomed addition, and that each set will go down in history as something truly special. Nothing is confirmed yet, but the fact we have Danny Brown and Jane Remover performing on the same day in both London and Manchester could make “Psychoboost” an early day highlight.
julie
(Appearing at both Outbreak Manchester and Outbreak London)
One of the bigger acts to grace our list, modern shoegaze icons Julie make their triumphant return to the UK following the release of their debut album, my anti-aircraft friend, in late 2024. They’re bound to be a controversial pick for many hardcore purists, but here at Boolin Tunes, we’re not scared of a bit of variety to keep things interesting. As evidenced by their recent headline run of the UK, Julie deserve their flowers, and you should absolutely check them out at this year’s instalment to find your next obsession.
Long Goodbye
(Appearing at Outbreak Manchester only)
No stranger to the UKHC scene, Long Goodbye have been one of the scene’s most consistent up-and-coming acts for quite some time now. With a uniquely abrasive sound, a stellar debut EP under their belt, and the prospect of new music on the horizon, they’re a must-see for any self-respecting modern hardcore fan. Having recently supported the incredible God Complex on their reunion dates, Long Goodbye are destined for big things, and we truly believe that Outbreak 2025 will mark the beginning of this.
Model/Actriz
(Appearing at both Outbreak Manchester and Outbreak London)
Another outlier on the lineup, Model/Actriz look to bring their own, unique electronic tinged sound to Outbreak 2025. Having just released their latest album, Pirouette in early May, they’ll no doubt be debuting plenty of new material for the very first time on UK shores. Yes, we know they’re not a traditional choice for the festival, but it’s good to have a bit of variety in there, right? If you find yourself in need of a break from all of the two-stepping and crowd killing, Model/Actriz are here for you.
Splitknuckle
(Appearing at Outbreak Manchester only)
A shining light for Essex hardcore, Splitknuckle have been on the Boolin Tunes radar for some time now, with their latest release, Breathing Through The Wound being one of our favourite hardcore releases of 2024. Our own love for this band aside, it’s clear to see that they’re quickly becoming a mainstay across the UK scene, and with shows planned supporting the likes of God’s Hate and the overnight sensation’s Torture, it’s clear that they’re also garnering attention internationally. Yet another success story from the Daze Records camp, we can say with all certainty that Splitknuckle will put on one of the most fun sets of the weekend.
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water
(Appearing at both Outbreak Manchester and Outbreak London)
The Saturday-Sunday genre split has never been more fierce than Outbreak 2025. The epitome of Saturday’s sound has to be They Are Gutting A Body Of Water, a fact that’s perhaps recognised by the festival as they’re opening the indoor stage. The terms shoegaze, slacker rock, noise rock and plunderphonics are gestured in an attempt to pin down their sound, something that shifts between releases. The way they fold all of their bedroom studio experiments directly into their sound is perhaps unrivalled – their ‘band’ tracks are very oddball, and their excursions elsewhere are so blurred and frequent. The end result is a body of work that truly challenges our expectations for soulful and effect-driven music, and most recent single “AMERICAN FOOD” suggests they’ll be crossing all these streams more than ever with future releases. Part of the excitement of seeing They Are Gutting A Body Of Water is just to find out how the hell they will actually sound in the room. With their breadth, they could do pretty much anything they wanted, and listeners would agree it made no less sense than any other part of their sound.
Tickets to Outbreak 2025, if any are still available by the time you’re reading this, are available via the Outbreak official website.
