The festivities will take place at London’s Southbank Centre this summer with a host of events highlighting the some of the best in indie music, art and culture. Pulp will go on at the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday 18 July. On the set will be their 2025 album ‘More’ performed in full for the first time ever, as well as a host of fan-favourites.

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This performance is set to be one of Pulp’s only UK showings this year. The band embarked on the Here Comes More Tour last June, their most expansive tour since the 1990s. It has taken them to arenas across the country and even to a surpise appearance at Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid Stage last year.

Other 2026 UK/IE appearances for Pulp include headlining the All Together Now Festival in Ireland this July as well as Dorset’s End of Road Festival in September. They will also play a one-off show at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on August 28^th.

As for the further Rough Trade 50 bill: fellow Rough Trade signees, Scritti Politti will play two sets at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Saturday 18 July: a matinee set at 3 pm and an evening show at 8 pm. And on Sunday 19 July, London-based rock band, caroline, will play the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with special guests My New Band Believe.

Rounding out the celebration of all things indie will be a series of performances across music, film and the written word. An Evening with Rough Trade Books will take place on Friday 17 July and include author appearances and a record fair from the record label’s publishing venture. A special new staging of Hannah Patterson’s debut novel, Ungone will take place in the Purcell Rooms on Saturday 18 July. And Sunday 19 July will see Pulp’s own Jarvis Crocker present a screening of the Northern coming-of-age classic, Kes (1969), which will feature a live orchestral accompaniment of the film’s soundtrack.

Geoff Tavis, founder of Rough Trade Records, said of the label’s Golden Jubilee “this year means it’s 50 years since the day the first shop opened its doors on Kensington Park Road.” He went on to say, “the Rough Trade shop, which became a distributor and then a Record label, has helped to bring into the world some of the very best music.”

Pulp recently appeared on ‘HELP (2)’ , the compilation charity album from War Child Records. They contributed ‘Begging for Change’ to the project. The band shared that the song was recorded during sessions for ‘More’ but never finished. It was completed for War Child project at Abbey Road Studios.

In a four-star review of 2025’s ‘More,’ NME said, “Pulp have retained their original spirit and flair into a statement of middle age without feeling any less vital.” The band will perform ‘More’ in full at Rough Trade this July.

Tickets for all events, except for Pulp’s headline show, go on sale 2 pm Thursday April 16.

For Pulp’s gig, pre-sale begins Friday 17 April at 10 AM. General sale will be on Monday 20 April at 2 PM. Tickets can be found here.

The track is in many ways reminiscent of their new wave work in 1980s Sheffield, and a far cry from the glitzy pop of their ‘90s output. Layers of synth work and vocal effects combine alongside a jangly guitar riff and singer Jarvis Cocker’s usually cynical and political lyrics. In the chorus, Cocker is joined by several other artists working on the album in a spelt out rendition of ‘B-E-G-G-I-N-G’. These include Blur’s Damon Alburn, Kae Tempest and Irish indie sensations Fontaines D.C. ‘s Grian Chatten among others.

Since the track’s release, Cocker has confirmed that the track was initially intended for last year’s Pulp release, ‘More’. “Sometimes a song needs a purpose”, the frontman said. “Like all the other 22 songs on the ‘Help’ album, ‘Begging For Change’ is designed to raise money to help children living in war zones around the world. This only works if you buy/download/stream it.” This is not Pulp’s first dalliance with War Child, having donated £25,000 in prize money to them in 1996 when picking up the Mercury Prize. This time, Cocker said, “we have given more. How much more? You’ll have to wait and see.”

This is War Child’s sixth charity album over the last twenty-one years. Each has featured contemporary leading artists performing either originals or covers. The first, ‘The Help Album’, released in 1995, featured Oasis, Blur and Terrorvision among many others. Since then, War Child’s albums have included tracks from The Prodigy, Muse, George Michael and Radiohead. This album will include contributions from Sheffield altrockers Arctic Monkeys, solo artist King Krule, British indie rock duo Wet Leg and American pop singer Olivia Rodrigo. Arctic Monkeys released the album’s first single, ‘Opening Night’, released on 22 January. In releasing the track, Arctic Monkeys said that “when [producer] James Ford called and asked if we’d contribute to the HELP(2) album we set out to work on a song idea and assembled in Abbey Road to record it. We are proud to support the invaluable work War Child does, and hope the record will make a positive difference to the lives of children affected by war.”

An accompanying film will come with the album, the work of documentarian Jonathan Glazer, which will be a combination of studio and war footage from Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and Ukraine. War Child’s focus is on the children impacted in conflict zones. Producer James Ford has previously worked with many of the artists also on the album, and will be released on 6 March. 

Among the newly announced acts are Super Furry Animals, the beloved Welsh indie-pop innovators whose kaleidoscopic catalogue continues to influence generations. Their long-awaited return to the stage, and to EOTR, bridges nostalgia and reinvention, making them a perfect fit for an anniversary celebration of this scale. Another returning favourite, Kurt Vile, brings his unmistakable brand of hazy, psych-tinged indie rock back to the Larmer Tree Gardens. Known for his meandering guitar lines and laid-back vocals, Vile’s set is likely to be a dreamy late-summer highlight.

Injecting a burst of chaotic energy into the lineup are Fat Dog, one of the most talked-about new bands in the UK underground scene. Their genre-blurring mix of techno, rock, and experimental noise, which they’ve called “scream-into-pillow music” has earned them a devoted following for their unpredictable live shows. Expect mosh pits, sweat, and a sense of total abandon when they take the stage, the kind of set people talk about for years afterwards.

Other artists include the revered songwriter Lucinda Williams and psych-rock workhorse Ty Segall bring heavyweight live reputations to Larmer Tree Gardens. Elsewhere, celebrated vocalist and composer Beverly Glenn-Copeland appears with Elizabeth Copeland, alongside the widescreen post-rock and folk textures of caroline, the shadowy intensity of Just Mustard, the experimental electronics of james K, and the visceral noise-rap of YHWH Nailgun. It’s a bill that invites you to explore, stumble across new favourites, and stay out later than you planned.

What truly makes EOTR unmissable is its mix of genres and celebration of difference- the way folk minimalists bump shoulders with avant-garde jazz players, the way you can wander from a raucous late-night set to a quiet forest performance. The festival consistently gives space to rising stars and niche artists who later become household names, proving that its curators still have their finger firmly on the pulse of what’s next in music. It’s the sort of weekend where every slot on the timetable feels like a potential discovery.

A fourth mystery headliner is yet to be revealed, keeping fans eagerly speculating. Whether it’s a legendary reunion, a beloved cult act, or an unexpected newcomer, the surprise promises to be worth the wait and only adds to the sense of anticipation building around this year’s event. The festival will take place at Larmer Tree Gardens between September 3 and September 6.

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Recorded over a week in November 2025 at Abbey Road Studios in London, ‘HELP(2)’ was produced by acclaimed musician and producer James Ford, whose vision helped collate an eclectic group of artists across genres and generations. Every contributor donated their time without fee, in alignment with the cause at the heart of the project: raising funds and awareness for War Child’s work supporting children in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan.

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The album opens with Arctic Monkeys’ “Opening Night”, a new track marking the band’s first release since their 2022 album ‘The Car’. Written by frontman Alex Turner and produced by Ford, the song sets a poignant tone for the compilation.

From there, ‘HELP(2)’ hosts some of the music industry’s biggest names. Contributors include iconic and contemporary talents such as Damon Albarn (with Grian Chatten and Kae Tempest), Depeche Mode, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Beck, Sampha, Foals, Wet Leg, Beth Gibbons, and Fontaines D.C. Among the collaborations are some interesting pairings and reinterpretations that reflect the diversity of the project’s artistry: from Arooj Aftab’s ethereal contributions to a collaborative performance between Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng.

In all, the album contains 23 tracks, each to support War Child’s mission and inspire its listeners to engage with the realities facing millions of children in war zones today. The compilation is as much of a call to action as it is a body of music; War Child once again using their influence in the arts for good.

The project also reflects on its roots. The original ‘Help’ album – recorded in just one day in 1995 and featuring artists like Radiohead, Oasis, and Blur – raised more than £1.2 million for War Child, providing critical assistance to children affected by the Bosnian conflict. ‘HELP(2)’ honours that legacy while acknowledging that the scale of need has only grown. Today, around one in five children worldwide live in areas affected by armed conflict.

‘HELP(2)’ is available for pre-order on vinyl, CD, and digital formats now, The record stands as a testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together and make a tangible difference in matters of much more importance than the creative industries.

Jarvis Cocker & co were the heavy bookies’ favourites to play a secret set at this year’s festival, even after the band’s keyboard player, Candida Doyle, claimed that Glastonbury “weren’t interested” in hosting the Britpop icons this year.

@martyfors This is going to be amazing. Pulp returning to Glasto this year. #pulp #glastonbury #glasto #glastonburyfestival ♬ original sound – martyfors

Despite that, the Pyramid Stage was packed with both people and anticipation as the clock ticked towards 6:15 pm on Saturday (June 28).

As the ‘Patchwork’ set was due to kick off, a message flashed on the screen: “Are you ready for… Pulp summer”. The Sheffield band then took the stage and launched straight into ‘Sorted for E’s & Wizz’ and ‘Disco 2000’ before Cocker greeted those in attendance.

Cheekily opening up with “Did you know we were gonna play? How?” Cocker then went on to reminisce about the band’s first time headlining the Pyramid Stage in 1995, saying: “Those songs were played here 30 years and four days ago, they were played for the first time. You could say they were born at Glastonbury.

“We played here with 10 days notice after John Squire broke his collarbone. We were so nervous, but today feels very different – I feel relaxed.”

Pulp then broke into ‘Spike Island’ – the first single off their new chart-topping album ‘More’. Their first album in 24 years received rave reviews, including four-stars from NME,  as it earned Pulp their first Number One album in 27 years.

@bbc6music Pulp bringing the ENERGY Listen on @bbcsounds #glastonbury #BBCGlasto #Pulp ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

The rest of the set contained a perfect combination of both new gems and old classics, before giving the crowd a powerful rendition of ‘Common People’ to close the show. Check out the full setlist below.

‘Sorted for E’s and Wizz’

‘Disco 2000’

‘Spike Island’

‘O.U. (Gone, Gone)’

‘Acrylic Afternoons’

‘Something Changed’

‘Do You Remember The First Time’

‘Mis-Shapes’

‘Got To Have Love’

‘Babies’

‘Common People’

Pulp was far from the only big name to perform a secret set at this years festival. Kiwi pop sensation Lorde opened up the Woodsies tent, and Lewis Capaldi made an emotional return to the Pyramid Stage.

However, the biggest surprise came after alt-metal icons Deftones dropped out just hours before their appearance on the Other Stage. Stepping in to fill those big boots, Skepta rocked the stage with a ferocious 30-minute set.

@.dailyconcerts NAH THATS NOT ME #skepta #glastonbury #glastonburyfestival #boybetterknow ♬ original sound – dailyconcerts

Despite all the legendary performances at this years Glasto’ – including The Maccabees, Olivia Rodrigo and Supergrass – most of the attention has been focused on punk band Bob Vylan and Irish rap trio Kneecap.

A police investigation has been launched into Bob Vylan’s set after frontman, Bobby Vylan, led the crowd into chants of “free, free Palestine” and the perhaps more problematic “death, death to the IDF”. Check out the coverage of the controversy here at mxdwn.co.uk

Pulp are widely considered to be one of the greatest British bands of all time, and one of the main pioneers of the familiar Britpop sound. Despite this, keyboard player for the band, Candida Doyle, revealed that Glastonbury “weren’t interested” in hosting the band at this year’s festival, despite it being the thirty year anniversary since the band headlined the Pyramid Stage in 1995.

The band were not originally destined to headline the festival back in 1995, the impromptu opportunity came about when John Squire of The Stone Roses, one of the bands set to headline that year’s festival, broke his collar bone in a mountain biking accident, meaning the band could no longer perform. So, Pulp got the call up and headlined the Pyramid Stage on the Saturday.

This performance can be credited as a defining moment in Pulp’s history, as it was the catalyst that caused the band’s fifth studio album, ‘Different Class’ to go four-times platinum when it was released, just four months after playing Glastonbury.

Irrespective of the monumental success of the Pulp’s previous headline slot, in an interview with BBC Radio 6’s Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, Candida stated “We wanted to, just because it’s the 30th anniversary and that kind of thing, and they weren’t interested. And then we were thinking maybe next year, and then they’re not doing it next year,” as Glastonbury will observe their routine fallow year.

But, some festival goers believe that this year’s mysterious slot on the Pyramid Stage, penned as an artist named ‘Patchwork’, is still going to be Pulp, despite both Candida Doyle and singer Jarvis Cocker both separately alluding to the contrary.

@martyfors This is going to be amazing. Pulp returning to Glasto this year. #pulp #glastonbury #glasto #glastonburyfestival ♬ original sound – martyfors

A slot at this year’s festival would also coincide with the release of their new album More which was published on June 6 this year, as well as the band’s current world tour, which sees them play arenas across the globe. 

The new album, as well as information regarding the tour are available here.

There are at least four secret sets already pencilled into the line-up this year, including a mysterious band called ‘Patchwork’ taking to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. This is reminiscent of 2023 when the Foo Fighters appeared as ‘The Churn-Ups’ to a massive crowd.

The rumours have been circulating ever since the line-up was released for the festival – which runs from June 25 to June 29 this year – as to who ‘Patchwork’ will be, with the bookies’ now suspending the odds on two acts to make an appearance.

Britpop icons Pulp seem to be the most likely – according to both the bookies’ and the famed Twitter account ‘SecretGlasto’ – after recently topping the album charts with their first full release in 24 years, ‘More’.

The Sheffield indie legends first headlined Glasto’ 30 years ago after replacing The Stone Roses who had to pull out due to injury. They then repeated that feat just three years later in 1998 before not playing the festival again until 2011.

Well, it now looks like they will be ending their 14-year hiatus later this month, with bookies’ pricing Pulp at 1/2 odds to appear at the festival. This comes after the Twitter account ‘SecretGlasto’ – which has shared reliable insight into the festival in the past – shared a tweet suggesting Pulp will appear on the main stage (see below).

pic.twitter.com/vPku0SJzXG

— Secretglasto (@secretglasto) June 9, 2025

Pulp is not the only band anticipated to show up at Worthy Farm, with American indie sisters HAIM given a 4/9 chance by OddsChecker of playing the Park Stage. The LA trio release their fourth album, ‘I Quit’, on June 20 – just days before the festival kicks off.

The sisters added fuel to the fire last week, sharing their fondness of the Park Stage with BBC Radio 2: “We love the Park Stage, it is our favourite, cause that was like the first time we came to Glastonbury, we got to play The Park Stage. It felt like a movie… it’s the best festival in the world.”

A HAIM show would mark their fifth appearance at the festival following on from their previous outings in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2022.

Kiwi pop sensation Lorde is another heavily rumoured name as she is gearing up to release her new album ‘Virgin’. The ‘Royals’ singer recently told Jo Whiley that she was eager to “pull some strings” to try and make a Glastonbury appearance, so that’s one to keep an eye on.

More big names are certain to show up, according to the bookies’. Ed Sheeran is placed at odds of 1/2 (66 per cent chance) of playing at Worthy Farm for the first time since his headline set in 2017. 

Other names include Mumford & Suns placed at 4/7 (63.6 per cent chance), Lewis Capaldi at 1/1 (50 per cent) and Robbie Williams at 2/1 (33.3 per cent).

With just days to go until the festival gets underway, excitement is building. Friday night headliners, The 1975, recently shared that it will be their only show of 2025 as they prepare for a new album. Check out mxdwn’s coverage of it here.

Thanks @allontheboard, what an honour! See you at The O2000 tonight! xxx https://t.co/Sq088NHDOH

— Pulp (@welovepulp) June 13, 2025

This past weekend, on the 13th and 14th of June, Pulp played two sold-out shows at The O2 in London to celebrate the success of their album ‘More’. The concert was close to three hours long, with an intermission breaking the performance up into two sections. This performance took fans on a journey through Pulp’s entire musical career spanning across almost 40 years. Their set list with new songs and nostalgic classics included songs ‘Spike Island’, ‘This Is Hardcore’, ‘Grown Ups’ ‘Help The Aged’, and ‘Sorted for E’s & Wizz’ in their first set, and ‘Something Changed’, ‘Babies’, ‘Acrylic Afternoons’ and ‘The Fear’ in their second set, ending the night with their most popular song, ‘Common People’. 

The band was joined by a string section and backing singers on stage. The lead singer, Jarvis Cocker, connected and engaged with the audience throughout the night with his lyrics, moves, tossing treats into the crowd, and allowing his fans each night to pick a song to sing. The song ‘Party Hard’ was picked on night one, and ‘59 Lyndhurst Grove’ was picked on night two by the fans. The concert included a large-scale cinematic production and visuals, creating a living room environment in the second half of their set. Pulp played an acoustic version of ‘Something Changed’, asking the audience to imagine a living room, creating a more intimate atmosphere, connecting the artists to the fans. 

The band formed back in 1978 in Sheffield, releasing their debut album, ‘It’, in 1982. Their album, ‘His N Hers’ in 1994, was crucial for the band gaining recognition, with them later releasing their first hit album a year later, ‘Different Class’ in 1995. ‘Different Class’ skyrocketed with success as it debuted at the number one spot on the UK Albums Charts and won the Mercury Music Prize in 1996, achieving excellence across the UK. 

Pulp is currently on tour this summer, including upcoming UK performances in Birmingham and Manchester. They will also be in North America later this year, performing in Boston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and ending in Los Angeles. Find more tour information here.       

As one of the biggest musical names to come out of the Steel City, Cocker has played the venue many times – including Pulp’s first ever Sheffield gig in 1980.

After a multi-year battle against the new landlords – The Electric Group – it was finally confirmed earlier this year that the venue had lost its appeal against the eviction notice and been given three months to vacate the premises.

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Cocker joined former Pulp guitarist, Richard Hawley, on stage for a benefit gig at The Leadmill back in 2022 when the news first broke of the eviction. Addressing the new owners, he said on stage: “They may own the bricks and mortar, but they don’t own the spirit of the Leadmill.”

Since the solemn news broke earlier this year, the venue has put out a plea for any artist who’d like to play a farewell show to come forward. It was recently announced that Miles Kane would perform the final gig – with rumours circulating that Alex Turner could join him for a reunion of The Last Shadow Puppets – whilst Richard Hawley has two shows pencilled in.

Cocker was asked in a recent interview whether he’d grace the stage for one last time, telling NME: “I don’t think Pulp would fit into The Leadmill now, unfortunately. Every time I look, we’ve got another member. I know that Richard Hawley is doing something there soon and I might go up there, watch that and maybe go on stage.”

Although he stopped short of confirming whether he would play the venue one last time, the ‘Common People’ singer did exclaim his intentions to visit The Leadmill one last time, as there is a certain memento he intends on grabbing.

He told NME: “My main thing is trying to figure out how to get that plaque outside off the wall before the new owner moves in.” The plaque in question commemorates Pulp’s first gig.

Cocker joked: “I vowed that’s what I’d do if it was to close, and now it is. If the next thing you read about me is that I’ve been arrested trying to crowbar a plaque from outside of The Leadmill, you’ll know why.”

The Electric Group – the new owners of the venue – own multiple venues up-and-down the country including Brixton Electric. They have promised that the building will remain a music venue that will “support artists, fans, and community projects for the next 100 years.”

However, critics and especially Cocker himself have not hesitated in questioning their intentions, saying in the same interview with NME: “It’s a bit like when Starbucks first started and they would close down all the coffee bars to open theirs. Leadmill was already a successful venue but now someone has bought it.

“This is the first place that Pulp played in Sheffield, it’s developed over a lot of time, and to create a place with that kind of history and atmosphere to it is not something that you can buy.”

Pulp are currently touring their first album in 24 years, ‘More’, which is on track to be their first number one album since 1998’s ‘This Is Hardcore’. Tickets for the ongoing tour can be found here.

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‘More’ was released on June 6th and was Pulp’s first album in 24 years. Lead singer, Jarvis Cocker, spoke about what inspired the band to start writing again: “when we started touring again in 2023, we practiced a new song called “Hymn of the North” during soundchecks & eventually played it at the end of our second night at Sheffield Arena. This seemed to open the floodgates: we came up with the rest of the songs on this album during the first half of 2024. A couple are revivals of ideas from last century. The music for one song was written by Richard Hawley. The music for another was written by Jason Buckle.”

“The Eno family sing backing vocals on a song. There are string arrangements written by Richard Jones & played by the Elysian Collective. The album was recorded over 3 weeks by James Ford in Walthamstow, London, starting on November 18th, 2024. This is the shortest amount of time a Pulp album has ever taken to record. It was obviously ready to happen. These are the facts. We hope you enjoy the music. It was written & performed by four human beings from the North of England, aided & abetted by five other human beings from various locations in the British Isles. No A.I. was involved during the process. This album is dedicated to Steve Mackey. This is the best that we can do. Thanks for listening.”

Little Simz looks to land a personal best with sixth studio release ‘Lotus’ this week (number 2), as ‘Fame Is A Gun’ by Addison Rae aims to break into the Singles Chart Top 20, whilst the singer’s debut album ‘Addison’ is expected to debut at Number 3.

Pulp’s new album ‘More’ is available to purchase on the band’s official Bandcamp.