Glastonbury 2025 – Ones to Watch

As the sunshine falls on Britain once again, it’s a reminder that summer is on the way, bringing us back to the legendary Glastonbury festival! 2025’s lineup has something for everybody – with older names like Neil Young next to new stars like Lola Young, dance-heavy sets from Fatboy Slim and The Prodigy, pop sensations like Charli XCX and Olivia Rodrigo, rock heroes like Deftones and Weezer, and some awesome hip-hop artists like Busta Rhymes and Loyle Carner joining the bill. And that hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface! With a wealth of other brilliant acts and the full line-up yet to be released, this year’s Glastonbury is packed with promise to be an unforgettable party. It’s time to take a look at some of the newer artists that ticket holders (and telly watchers) should look out for. Here is our Glastonbury 2025 – Ones to Watch!

Doechii

The newest name to break out from the now legendary label TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) has made some fantastic waves over the past year or so. Her third mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal”, shot her to a new level of stardom, receiving widespread critical acclaim for its eclectic sound that delved into old-school hip-hop, trap, R&B, soul and dance music. Listeners fell in love with her animated style, which combines sharp lyricism with undeniable energy and inventiveness. She’s all things at once – confident, vulnerable, powerful, anxious, playful and serious. None of it sounds phoned in. Just as she screams on her track “Boom Bap”, mixing jazz-scatting with Dr. Suess-like lyrics: “I’M EVERYTHIIIIIING!”

We’ve also seen examples of her artistry in live performances. Her Tiny Desk session rightfully went viral, proving she is an emcee who has honed their craft perfectly, from her performance and breath control to her choreography and infectious charisma. Her Grammy’s performance could go down in hip-hop award show history, owning the stage with her athletic, imaginative performance, and it was perfectly punctuated with her win later that night. Oasis singer and guitarist Noel Gallagher once famously went against the idea of hip-hop at Glastonbury, branding it as “wrong” against the “tradition of guitar music”. Perhaps if he sees Doechii, he might think twice about where he stands, ‘cause those standing by her stage will see one of the most captivating rappers in the world today.  

RAYE

RAYE has made her name in mainstream music as a professional powerhouse singer, mixing vintage soul with contemporary storytelling. After a slow start to her career due to label mismanagement, her virtuoso vocals have topped charts, gone viral, and seen her take home the most BRIT Awards an artist has ever won in one night. Her personal, heart-on-sleeve lyrics combined with her refined production blending R&B, jazz, hip-hop and more have seen her skyrocket to success as modern soul’s new songstress.  

Part of the Brit School alumni of star singers like Adele, Amy Winehouse and Jessie J, RAYE has found her place as one of modern R&B’s top belters, putting on a dazzling performance at the Grammy’s, and while she didn’t grab an award, she stole the show, with one of her main influences – Alicia Keys cheering enthusiastically in the audience. Her Royal Albert Hall concert in 2023 was a grand affair, and her backline of orchestral musicians beautifully complemented her powerful vocals, whisking the viewer away to visions of those ’70s soul records. This one will be a joy for fans, casual listeners, old souls, new R&B heads, anyone really. The talent transcends your tastes when they sing this good!

EZRA Collective

Spearheading the UK jazz scene, Ezra Collective have made a mainstream impact in a genre that’s nowadays more niche than other popular styles. Their colourful cross-genre music takes cues from afrobeat, hip-hop, R&B, funk, reggae and more, all underlined with a spirit of groove-heavy jazz. The collective first formed in London through meeting at a community-driven jazz programme nurturing Black British talent, and they honed their craft performing, jamming and learning from their mentors like British jazz icon Gary Crosby. Their music can go from head-nodding Dilla-inflected hip hop like “What Am I To Do” to beautiful Latin-American inspired rhythms like “Body Language” – each eclectic piece of the puzzle is never out of place next to each other.

Their legendary live shows carry on that essence of jazz, with tight musicianship that teems with creativity, improvisation and interactive crowd moments. They’ve played Glastonbury Festival a couple of years before, with Clash calling their 2023 set “a mesmerizing performance that transported the audience into sheer euphoria.” One watch of their performance of “No Confusion” will give you a taste of a crew of friends having a blast with each other and the crowd, while delivering a flawless flow of funk that perfectly shines on a summer’s day. EZRA Collective are certainly here to prove that jazz isn’t just background music for moody contemplation, but a dazzling dash of musicianship that can still make you two-step like any DJ could.

Kneecap

Public Enemy, Run the Jewels, Akala… We might not have guessed that hip-hop’s next most invigorating political provocateurs would hail from Ireland – and even rap in their native Irish Gaelic tongue, peppered with post-punky, electro-tinged instrumentals and raw energy. Their music and unapologetic socially conscious stances have seen them rise in the public eye, whether it’s through their rousing, rebellious music, their critically acclaimed biopic or their willingness to bring the fight to any opposition, even if that’s the monarchy or the UK government.

If you’re at the festival looking for something to jolt you out of the summer slump, then Kneecap has you covered. Their chaotic, riotous shows could rival any top rock group, and you can expect to see ski masks, mosh pits and emcees Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara screaming like it was the grimiest punk-rock basement show you’ll ever set foot in. Their previous set at Glastonbury 2024 drew in a large crowd, and they energized all who bore witness to the three lads reeling off rhymes with perfect precision while keeping their powerful stage presence. Their driving, drum-and-bass heavy dancefloor anthems like “H.O.O.D” and “Guilty Conscience” are certain to get you out of your camping chairs. Their name might fall next to Kaiser Chiefs on the 2025 poster, who have their hits like “I Predict a Riot”, but if anyone’s causing a riot this year, my money’s on Kneecap.

Shaboozey

Shaboozey has emerged in the mainstream as a truly alternative artist, mixing two genres that you’d think are at stark odds with each other. With his features on “Cowboy Carter” and his biggest hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, he combines the carefree, hooky party vibe of hip-hop music with the soulful arrangements of country. It’s no joke or novelty parody crossover. This is the combination of two of America’s greatest arts, rich in storytelling and self-expression. In the country genre that has historically overlooked black artists and in a country that grows ever more divided, his music seems like a uniting force that can bridge the gap between the two styles.

His feel-good, sing-along performances seem like a good foot shuffle. Live bands back his strong voice as it sits atop the fiddles and guitar, and he invites the audience to join in for every catchy refrain they hear. His performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon shows his fantastic vocal control and fun, welcoming stage presence. His repertoire, which can switch between bass-heavy bangers and sweet acoustic numbers, should make for a dynamic set list and a truly unique experience that will be hard to find anywhere else in England. Join in and see the West Country of Somerset turn into the lively country of the Deep South – we’re sure his “bar song” will become a festival anthem this year.

Amyl and the Sniffers

Australian band Amyl and The Sniffers feel like a revival to the raw energy of 70s and 80s punk. Drawing influence from bands like The Damned and The Stooges, there’s no need for a perfect polish or grand presentation here. Just a back-to-basics band, beating the hell out of their instruments and screaming about everyday, working-class Aussie living. Their fiery brand of punky garage rock has seen them take home an ARIA award and support major names like Foo Fighters and Green Day. From the comical bouncer-serenade “Security” to the road-trip anthem “Hertz”, their keenly observational, rebellious rock jams have seen them make their name buzz on the international rock scene.

With lively frontwoman Amy Taylor, doing everything from mom-dancing, headbanging and high-fiving the crowd, their set is sure to be a potent shot of wild energy that will keep you moving. Their last Glasto appearance was an hour of sharp, reckless rock ‘n’ roll that didn’t let up. Shredding solos, thrashing drums, shouting vocals, a captivating stage presence, and a pretty hilarious Glastonbury drinking song. More recent sets at Freak Valley Festival and Outside Lands have shown they haven’t lost any of their beautifully chaotic charm. Whether you want to join a circle pit, crowd surf, or simply nod your head and enjoy the music, Amyl and the Sniffers will be a unique, raw band to behold.

And There We Have It!

Six of the freshest musical talents on offer at Glastonbury 2025. Whether you want no-holds-barred punky pandemonium from Amyl & The Sniffers and Kneecap, some get-together country positivity from Shaboozey, an experimental jazz journey with Ezra Collective, high-energy hip-hop from Doechii or a modern soul masterclass with RAYE, these artists will be a perfect addition to your setlist schedule. Acts like these set the bar so high for 2025, and this year’s Glastonbury won’t be one to miss!