Annual music festival in England
Laura Marling at End of the Road 2011
End of the Road Festival is an annual music festival in England which focuses on independent rock and folk music . It is hosted at the Larmer Tree Gardens , on the border of north Dorset and Wiltshire , and usually takes place over the last weekend of August or the first full weekend in September. The first festival took place in 2006, and after selling out for the first time in 2008, it has sold out in advance every year since.
The festival was started by Simon Taffe, who continues to run it as of 2024[update] , and his friend Sofia Hagberg, who retired in 2015.[ 1] Taffe, who ran a building and decorating business before starting the festival, described its origins in an article in 2024. Planning started in 2004; Taffe mortgaged his house and borrowed widely to raise funds for the festival, which then lost money for the first three years.[ 2]
The festival has six stages: the Woods Stage, the Garden Stage, the Big Top Stage, the Folly, The Boat and the Talking Heads, as well as a clearing in the woods around the Garden Stage containing a piano at which semi-secret sets take place. There are also children's areas and workshops, a healing field, a film tent, comedy, a library in the forest and a games area (ping pong , table football etc.). Late night entertainment usually includes high-profile DJ sets, a silent disco , unpublicised pop-up performances and karaoke . Due to the nature of the gardens the festival is set in, it is not unusual to see peacocks wandering around the area.
The festival has a capacity of 15,000 (2014).[ 3] The site opens for camping on Thursday afternoon and the entertainment runs from Thursday evening to Sunday inclusive.
In 2011, the festival won an award for 'Best Small Festival' at the UK Festival Awards . In 2012 claims were made that the festival was secretly organised by Scientology .[ 4] [ 5] The festival stated that it had no formal link with Scientology, although two directors were Scientologists. In 2016, 2017 and 2019, the festival won an award for 'Best Small Festival' at the NME Awards .
The 2020 festival was cancelled[ 6] as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival returned in 2021 with some of the same artists including King Krule , Little Simz , The Comet Is Coming , Squid , Dry Cleaning and Richard Dawson .
End of the Road 2025 will take place between 28-31 August.
The first festival took place on 15–17 September. It was headlined on the Friday by Josh Ritter , on Saturday by Badly Drawn Boy and on Sunday by Ryan Adams . Other artists included Absentee , The Boy Least Likely To , Brakes , British Sea Power , Chris T-T , Darren Hayman , Dawn Landes , Ed Harcourt , El Perro Del Mar , Electric Soft Parade , Emmy the Great , Fanfarlo , Frightened Rabbit , Gravenhurst , Guillemots , Holly Golightly , Howe Gelb , I'm from Barcelona , James Yorkston , Jeremy Warmsley , Jim Noir , Jolie Holland , Kathryn Williams , Metronomy , Micah P Hinson , Richard Hawley , Simple Kid , Suburban Kids with Biblical Names , and Tilly and the Wall .
The second event, held 14–16 September, was given a five-star review by The Independent newspaper.[ 7] It was headlined by Yo La Tengo , Super Furry Animals and Lambchop , and also featured Archie Bronson Outfit , Architecture in Helsinki , The Bees , Brakes , British Sea Power , The Broken Family Band , The Concretes , Danielson , Darren Hayman , Dawn Landes , Euros Childs , Frida Hyvönen , Herman Dune , Howe Gelb (who also curated the two main stages on the Friday, headlining the Big Top stage with a Giant Sand jam session), I'm from Barcelona , James Yorkston , Jeffrey Lewis , Jens Lekman , Joan As Police Woman , John Parish , Johnny Flynn , Josh T Pearson , King Creosote , Loney Dear , Malcolm Middleton , Midlake , Pete and the Pirates , Robyn Hitchcock (who was accompanied by John Paul Jones ), Scout Niblett , Seasick Steve , Stephanie Dosen , The Twilight Sad , Willard Grant Conspiracy and Zombie-Zombie .
For the first sellout year, over 12–14 September, the headliners were Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, Mercury Rev and Calexico . Also appearing were A Hawk And A Hacksaw , Akron/Family , American Music Club , Billy Childish and the Musicians of the British Empire, Bon Iver , Brakes , British Sea Power , Darren Hayman playing Hefner songs, Dirty Three , Jason Molina , Jeffrey Lewis , Kimya Dawson , Kurt Wagner , Laura Marling , Low , Micah P Hinson , The Mountain Goats , Noah & the Whale , Richard Hawley , Robyn Hitchcock , Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin , Sons of Noel and Adrian , Sun Kil Moon , Tindersticks , Two Gallants , The Wave Pictures and Zombie-Zombie .
The 2009 festival took place on 11–13 September. Explosions in the Sky , Fleet Foxes and The Hold Steady were headliners. Also playing were The Acorn , Alela Diane , Beth Jeans Houghton , Blitzen Trapper , The Boy Least Likely To , The Broken Family Band , Charlie Parr , Darren Hayman , David Thomas Broughton , Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele , Dirty Projectors , The Dodos , Efterklang , Herman Dune , The Horrors , Josh T Pearson , The Leisure Society , The Low Anthem , Malcolm Middleton , Mumford & Sons , Neko Case , Okkervil River , Richmond Fontaine , Shearwater , Steve Earle , Vetiver and Wildbirds & Peacedrums .
Crowdsurfer, 2010
For its fifth year, the festival took place from 10 to 12 September. Headliners were Modest Mouse , Yo La Tengo and Wilco . Also playing were Deer Tick , Wolf Parade , The Low Anthem , The Felice Brothers , Woodpigeon , Phosphorescent , The Wilderness of Manitoba , The Unthanks , Iron & Wine , The Mountains and the Trees , Annie & The Beekeepers , Dylan LeBlanc , Joe Pug , CW Stoneking , Charlie Parr , Frank Fairfield , Daniel Lefkowitz , Monotonix , The Mountain Goats , The New Pornographers , Caribou , The Antlers , Citay , Freelance Whales , a Jarvis Cocker DJ set and many more. Also present was comedian Russel Howard and music journalist Barney Hoskyns .
In 2011 the festival took place from 2 to 4 September. Headliners were Beirut , Joanna Newsom and Mogwai . Also playing were Midlake , Laura Marling , The Walkmen , Wild Beasts , The Fall , Lykke Li , Tinariwen , The Unthanks , M. Ward , Gruff Rhys , Okkervil River , Phosphorescent , John Grant , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah , Best Coast , White Denim , Tune-Yards , Willy Mason , The Black Angels , Wooden Shjips , Jolie Holland , Josh T Pearson , Kurt Vile , Micah P Hinson , James Yorkston , Gordon Gano & the Ryans , Caitlin Rose , The Leisure Society , Brakes , Zola Jesus , Austra , Beth Jeans Houghton , Timber Timbre , Allo Darlin , Bob Log III , The Unthanks , Woods , Midlake , Lanterns on the Lake , Sam Amidon and more. There was also comedy from Robin Ince , Jo Neary , and Simon Munnery and literature from Laura Barton , Rob Young , Clinton Heylin and others.
The festival won the award for "Best Small Festival" at the 2011 UK Festival Awards .[ 8]
In 2012 the festival took place from 31 August to 2 September. Headliners were Patti Smith , Grandaddy , Beach House , Grizzly Bear , Alabama Shakes . Also playing were Dirty Three , Midlake , The Low Anthem , Roy Harper , Mark Lanegan , Tindersticks , Jeffrey Lewis , Robyn Hitchcock , Graham Coxon , Villagers , Patrick Watson , Justin Townes Earle , First Aid Kit , Deer Tick , Anna Calvi , I Break Horses , Moulettes , Gravenhurst , The Futureheads , Mountain Man , Alt-J , Islet , Sleep Party People , Frank Fairfield, Woods , Patti Smith , Tindersticks , Lanterns on the Lake , Jonathan Wilson , Leif Vollebekk , Van Dyke Parks , Deer Tick , Francois & the Atlas Mountains , Dirty Beaches and more.
The 2013 festival took place from 30 August to 1 September. The line-up included Sigur Rós , Belle and Sebastian , David Byrne & St Vincent , Dinosaur Jr. , Efterklang , Warpaint , Jens Lekman , Eels , Ralfe Band , Allo Darlin' , Mark Mulcahy , Doug Paisley , Matthew E. White , Serafina Steer , Parquet Courts , Wolf Alice , Pokey Lafarge , Ethan Johns , Cass McCombs , Frontier Ruckus , Ed Harcourt , East India Youth , Dutch Uncles , RM Hubbert , Golden Fable, Trembling Bells & Mike Heron , Daughn Gibson , Frightened Rabbit , The Barr Brothers , The Walkmen , Charlie Boyer & the Voyeurs, Bo Ningen , Palma Violets , Public Service Broadcasting , Strand of Oaks , Marika Hackman , Landshapes , Evans the Death , Tigercats , Julianna Barwick , Caitlin Rose , William Tyler , Damien Jurado , Daughter, Deap Vally , Catfish and the Bottlemen , Diana Jones , Braids , King Khan and Doug Paisley .
The festival took place 28–30 August. The 2014 headliners were "The Gene Clark No Other Band"*, The Flaming Lips and Wild Beasts . Other notable acts included St. Vincent , The Horrors , Yo La Tengo , John Grant , Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks , White Denim , British Sea Power , Gruff Rhys , Tune-Yards , Unknown Mortal Orchestra , Ezra Furman , Adult Jazz , The Wave Pictures , Cate Le Bon , Sweet Baboo , H. Hawkline , Lucius , Perfume Genius , Lau , Archie Bronson Outfit , The Felice Brothers , Marissa Nadler , Benjamin Booker , The Radiophonic Workshop , British Sea Power , Jenny Lewis , Stealing Sheep , Kiran Leonard, Tiny Ruins , Benjamin Clementine , Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit , Sam Lee , Temples , Laish , Pink Mountaintops , Ghost of a Sabre Toothed Tiger, Woods , and Tinariwen .
The Gene Clark No Other Band was a supergroup formed especially to perform Gene Clark 's 1974 solo album No Other in full. Having toured the east coast of the US,[ 9] End of the Road was their sole UK performance.[ 10]
In 2015 the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary and it took place on 4–6 September. The line up included Tame Impala , Sufjan Stevens in his only 2015 European festival date and The War on Drugs , Mac Demarco , Future Islands , My Morning Jacket , Laura Marling , Django Django , Alvvays , Fat White Family , Slow Club , The Duke Spirit , The King Khan & BBQ Show , Torres , Oscar, Hinds , Low , Fuzz , Natalie Prass , Ought , Stealing Sheep , Giant Sand , Marika Hackman , Kevin Morby , East India Youth , Sleaford Mods , Girlpool , Du Blonde , Brakes , Wand , Jacco Gardner, Flo Morrissey , Metz , Pond , Kiran Leonard, Peter Matthew Bauer , H Hawkline, Ryley Walker , Fumaca Preta, Ultimate Painting , Jane Weaver , Andy Shauf , Saint Etienne , Giant Sand , Palma Violets , Meilyr Jones, Euros Childs , Ex Hex , Diagrams , Stephen Steinbrink and Crushed Beaks.
Following on from winning the 'Best Small Festival award at the 2016 NME Awards , the 2016 festival took place on 1–4 September, expanding to the Thursday night for the first time. The line up included The Shins , Joanna Newsom , Animal Collective , Bat For Lashes , Cat Power , Teenage Fanclub , Devendra Banhart , Local Natives , Goat , Savages , Thee Oh Sees , Broken Social Scene , Phosphorescent , Thurston Moore , Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop, M. Ward , Scritti Politti , Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts, Steve Mason , JD McPherson , Shura , Field Music , Omar Souleyman , King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard , Bill Ryder-Jones , Kevin Morby , Eleanor Friedberger , Dr. Dog , Kelley Stoltz , U.S Girls, Money , Anna Meredith , Jenny Hval , Ezra Furman , Field Music , Sunflower Bean , Karl Blau , Tigercats, Lail Arad and J.F. Robitaille, Meilyr Jones, Hard Skin, Kevin Morby , B.C. Camplight , BEAK> , The Leaf Library, Flamingods and many more.[citation needed ]
After again winning the 'Best Small Festival' award at the 2017 NME Awards , the 2017 festival took place from 31 August to 3 September. The line-up included Father John Misty performing his first UK headline festival set, along with the year's only UK festival shows from Mac DeMarco , Bill Callahan , Lucinda Williams , Amadou & Mariam , Ty Segall , Perfume Genius , Parquet Courts , Alvvays , Foxygen , Car Seat Headrest , Jens Lekman , Baxter Dury , Deerhoof and Waxahatchee . Acts returning to the festival from previous years included Japandroids , Pond , Nadine Shah , Bill Ryder-Jones , Jens Lekman , Ryley Walker , Ultimate Painting , Parquet Courts , DUDS, Gulp and Marika Hackman . Other notable acts, including The Jesus & Mary Chain , Slowdive , Real Estate , The Lemon Twigs , The Moonlandingz , Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever , Moses Sumney , Deerhoof , Laraaji , Kelly Lee Owens , Brix & the Extricated , Waxahatchee , Xylouris White and Starcrawler , performed at the festival for the first time.
The 2018 festival took place from 30 August to 2 September. The line-up was as follows:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
The 2019 festival took place from 29 August to 1 September. The line-up was as follows:
Talking Heads Stage [ edit ]
The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was to have been headlined by the Pixies , Angel Olsen , King Krule and Big Thief , with other notable slots taken by Bright Eyes , Richard Hawley and Little Simz . Some of the acts featured on the proposed line-up went on to play the 2021 edition of the festival, though this was hampered by notable COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The 2021 festival took place from 2 September to 5 September. The line-up was as follows:
Talking Heads Stage [ edit ]
End of the Road returned to Larmer Tree Gardens in 2022, from 1 to 4 September.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Khruangbin
Fleet Foxes
Pixies
Bright Eyes
Sudan Archives
Tinariwen
Perfume Genius
Kurt Vile & The Violators
K.O.G.
Durand Jones & The Indications
Los Bitchos
Hurray for The Riff Raff
Steam Down
Starcrawler
BCUC
English Teacher
The Umlauts
Ural Thomas & The Pain
Shovel Dance Collective
The Heavy Heavy
The Bug Club
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Black Midi
The Magnetic Fields
Aldous Harding
Porridge Radio
Kevin Morby
Lucy Dacus
Nilüfer Yanya
The Weather Station
Hailu Mergia
Anaïs Mitchell
Emma-Jean Thackray
Ryley Walker
The Golden Dregs
Alabaster DePlume
Cassandra Jenkins
Naima Bock
Margo Cilker
Jake Xerxes Fussell
Rosali
Yasmin Williams
Katherine Priddy
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Laurel Halo (DJ)
I.JORDAN (DJ)
Yard Act
Battles
Ross From Friends (Live)
Scalping
Soccer Mommy
Moor Mother
Purling Hiss
DEHD
Priya Ragu
Willie J Healey
WU-LU
NewDad
The Lounge Society
Circuit Dex Yeux
Grove
Lee Patterson
Mandy, Indiana
Modern Woman
Deathcrash
KEG
Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan
Stephen Durkan & The Acid Commune
Automotion
Sniffany & The Nits
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Audiobooks
Xenia Rubinos
Ahmen Fakroun
Apollo Ghosts
Fruit Bats
Mike Polizze
Cola
Vogues
Bingo Fury
Lynks
Sinead O'Brien
Joe & The Shitboys
Skullcrusher
TV Priest
Grace Cummings
Mess Esque
Coco
The Chisel
M(H)AOL
Lutalo
Jana Horn
Highschool
Nukuluk
Cobalt Chapel
Keyah/Blu
Jealous of The Birds
Joanna Sternberg
Lichen
Tiny Leaves
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Snapped Ankles
Tom Ravenscroft (DJ)
James Holden & Wacław Zimpel
Lunge
Jockstrap
Bad with Phones
Fat Dog
Taraka
O.
Party Dozen
Bar Italia
Robert Stillman
Aga Ujma
John Francis Flynn
Duncan Marquiss
Lara Jones
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
James Yorkston
Gwennifer Raymond
Marlaena Moore
Christian Lee Hutson
Darren Hanlon
Karima Walker
Uwade
Sophie Jamieson
Lael Neale
End of the Road returned to Larmer Tree Gardens in 2023, from 31 August to 3 September.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Wilco
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Future Islands
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Deerhoof
Greentea Peng
Wet Leg
Fatoumata Diawara
The Last Dinner Party
KOKOKO!
KOKOROKO
Lee Fields
King Tuff
Oracle Sisters
Charley Crockett
Say She She
CVC
TEKE::TEKE
Royel Otis
Personal Trainer
Divorce
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Angel Olsen
Arooj Aftab
Ezra Furman
Cass McCombs
Crack Cloud
Allah-Las
The Mary Wallopers
Samia
Caitlin Rose
Daniel Norgren
Caroline
Alogte Oho and His Sounds of Joy
Horse Lords
Avalanche Kaito
Joan Shelley
Charlotte Cornfield
John Francis Flynn
Sweet Baboo
Friendship
Mabe Fratti
Floodlights
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Marie Davidson (DJ)
Elkka(DJ)
The Murder Capital
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom
Overmono
Biig Piig
Yeule
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Popul
Bar Italia
Flohio
The Anchoress
The Murlocs
Ela Minus
PVA
Divide And Dissolve
Okay Kaya
Moin
Geese
Adwaith
Big|Brave
MADMADMAD
Fat Dog
They Hate Change
Enys Men with Live Score by the Cornish Sound Unit
Deliluh
Saint Jude
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
HMLTD
Yunè Pinku
High Vis
Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals
Heartworms
Part Chimp
Lime Garden
Yot Club
Louis Culture
Wunderhorse
Runnner
Gretel Hänlyn
Beige Banquet
Ulrika Spacek
Marina Allen
Panic Shack
Meadow Meadow
The Prize
Mary in The Junkyard
Laundromat
Katy Kirby
Tapir!
Master Peace
Sylvie
MF Tomlinson
Indigo Sparke
Laura Jean
October Baby
Gena Rose Bruce
Blue Bendy
Scott Lavene
Jessica's Brother
Ursa Major Moving Group
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Tom Ravenscroft (DJ)
Dungen
MC Yallah & Debmaster
Bodega
75 Dollar Bill
System Exclusive
Macie Stewart
The Courettes
University
Oren Ambarchi
7ebra
Julia Reidy
Joyful Talk
Donna Thompson
Whitney K
Jon Mckiel
Three Spoons
Scuplture
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Nina Nastasia
H. Hawkline
Héloïse Werner
Sessa
Simon Joyner
Sam Burton
Angeline Morrison
Cinder Well
Kara Jackson
[ 11]
The 2024 festival ran from 29 August to 1 September.[ 12]
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
IDLES
Slowdive
Yo La Tengo
Richard Dawson
Sleater-Kinney
Jockstrap
Altin Gün
Laetitia Sadier Source Esemble
CMAT
The Lemon Tiwgs
Nation of Language
Nusantara Beat
Curtis Harding
Jalen Ngonda
MRCY
Gently Tender
Julianna Riolino
Holiday Ghosts
Brown Horse
Girl And Girl
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Lankum
Richard Hawley
Floating Points
Mdou Moctar
Phosphorescent
Ty Segall (Solo Acoustic)
Gruff Rhys
Camera Obscura
Joanna Sternberg
Bill Ryder-Jones
Lisa O'Neill
Ichiko Aoba
Mary Lattimore
SANAM
Florence Adooni
Sahra Halgan
Cat Clyde
Bonny Doon
Kassi Valazza
Julia Jacklin
Molly Lewis
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Yu-Su (DJ)
John Talabot (DJ)
Cornelius
Baxter Dury
CASISDEAD
English Teacher
Sprints
Billy Woods
Water From Your Eyes
Paranoid London
Sam Morton
Slift
Militarie Gun
Master Peace
Thus Love
Hotwax
Lip Critic
Upchuck
Sextile
Powerplant
Malice K
King Hannah
The None
The Orchestra (For Now)
Senyawa
Rob Auton & JFAbraham present Words With Music
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
NewDad
Heartworms
Big Special
Lambrini Girls
MSPAINT
Durry
Flamingods
Snõõper
Gustaf
Gurriers
Mozart Estate
The Tubs
Plantoid
House of All
The Itch
Ugly
SOMOH
RVG
Odie Leigh
Tiberius b
Wine Lips
Palehound
Maple Glider
Mui Zyu
Freak Slug
Deary
Hello Mary
Jellyskin
Sarah Meth
The Shits
Cerys Hafana
Fruit Tones
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
ML Buch
Tom Ravenscroft (DJ)
MC Yallah & Debmaster
Chanel Beads
Still House Plants
Tara Clerkin Trio
Colossal Squid
Nourished by Time
H31R
Blue Lake
Mark William Lewis
EBBB
Joe Gideon
Debby Friday
OTG
Ex-Easter Island Head
Elsy Wameyo
NiCky
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Clarissa Connelly
Sam Amidon
Dawn Landes performs the Liberated Woman's Songbook
Jess Williamson
Jeffrey Martin
Me Lost Me
Mary Elizabeth Remington
Anastasia Coope
End of the Road 2025 will take place on 28 - 31 August.
^ "About Us" . End of the Road. 2024.
^ Taffe, Simon (21 August 2024). "A moment that changed me: I had a drunken idea to start a music festival – so I sold my house" . The Guardian .
^ Sommerlad, Nick (30 July 2014). "Six reasons to get excited about End of the Road festival" . Daily Mirror . Retrieved 3 November 2019 .
^ Goodwyn, Tom (2 February 2012), "End Of The Road Festival denies link to the Church Of Scientology" , New Musical Express (NME)
^ NME. "2010 Scientology Links" . NME . Retrieved 20 February 2012 .
^ "End Of The Road Festival 2020 cancelled over coronavirus outbreak" . NME . 20 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020 .
^ Hasted, Nick (18 November 2007). "End of the Road Festival, Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset" . The Independent . London. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2009 .
^ "…And the winners are…!" Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine . Festival Awards. 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
^ "Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Walkmen, Grizzly Bear Members Perform Gene Clark's No Other on Pitchfork.tv" . Pitchfork . 28 April 2014.
^ "The Gene Clark No Other Band « End of the Road Festival | 4th - 6th September 2015" . Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014 .
^ End of the Road Highlights 2023 . End of the Road Festival. March 2024 – via YouTube.
^ "Home" . End of the Road . Retrieved 21 August 2024 .
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