SHINDIG Festival has announced that it will return in May 2025 – but this time, it will be held in the Cotswolds after leaving its Somerset home for good.

Against an extremely challenging backdrop, the festival directors have pulled out all the stops and, together with support from SEE tickets, it will go ahead for its eleventh consecutive year.

Independent festivals are gradually being pushed out by rising costs, tighter regulations and competition from larger corporate events. 

A 2023 report by the Association of Independent Festivals revealed that one in six music festivals were forced to call it a day, with 42 independent festivals joining these statistics in 2024 alone. 

Despite these challenges the Shindig Festival team refused to let go of what makes these gatherings so essential - a space to celebrate art, music, freedom, and connection.

Mojo Fell, festival director says: “Our message is clear: independent festivals must live on. We must fight for them and support them. We knew we had something special and were inspired by the overwhelming support from the Shindig Family. This is our protest, our movement, our stand against a world that’s trying to silence the independent voice.”

After the last three festivals were held in Somerset at the Dillington Estate, and before that, at Gilcombe Farm, the Shindig festival this year will be changing scenery - moving instead to a new, secret Cotswolds location.

Despite changing location, it will retain its "friendly vibe", "incredible" music and "mind-bending" art installations.

Shindig Festival is returning in May 2025Shindig Festival is returning in May 2025 (Image: Melissa Kidd) Embracing greener practices, a fresh outlook on programming and climate-conscious conversations, the event will be a mix of new talent with timeless favourites sprinkled in.

Recommended by Emily Eavis, Glastonbury organiser, as a "good alternative to those who miss out on Glastonbury tickets" and voted "Best For Family Rave" by Festival Kidz, Shindig is attracting an ever-more diverse crowd.

A spokesperson for Shindig said: "There are no main stages, just a beautiful arrangement of themed dancefloors and corners to explore."

From watching circus, to hearing spoken words, or discovering a new skill, there’s something for everyone. Bringing a healthy dose of foot-stomping funk and a packed programme of entertainment for all ages, Shindig Festival offers "relaxation and revelry in equal measures".

But the future still hangs in the balance and will rely on ticket buyers to secure the festival’s position, which has always been to signal the start of the summer.