Invention Festival Reveals Incredible Full Line-up and Derby Is About to Witness Something Special

A few days ago, we published our first editorial on Invention Festival, talking about how exciting it was to see Derby getting a brand new multi-venue festival dedicated to underground music, independent artists and creative culture.

There was just one problem.

We already knew what was coming.

Keeping quiet has genuinely been agony.

Now, finally, we can stop biting our tongues because the full Invention Festival line-up has officially landed and, honestly, it has exceeded even our already high expectations.

If you have not already secured a ticket, now is the time. Early bird tickets are still available in limited numbers through Gigantic, but they will not be around for much longer. Once they are gone, tickets move to full price, and judging by this announcement, we would not be surprised to see them disappear quickly.

What makes Invention Festival even more exciting is that it is not just another collection of gigs. Delivered in partnership with Arts Council England, Music Venue Trust and University of Derby, it is a genuine celebration of grassroots music, independent culture and creative collaboration. This is not a festival built around one or two headline names. It has been curated with real care. Every artist feels like they belong there, every genre complements another and there is a genuine sense of discovery running throughout the entire programme.

Looking across the line-up, there are already a handful of artists we simply cannot wait to see.

Good Health Good Wealth arrive from East London with their unmistakable blend of garage, spoken word, indie and gritty UK hip hop. They are one of those acts that somehow manage to sound completely original while remaining effortlessly catchy, and they have built a reputation for explosive live performances.

She Drew The Gun continue to be one of Britain’s most important alternative voices. Their blend of psychedelic indie rock and politically charged songwriting has earned widespread acclaim, and their intelligent, uncompromising approach feels perfectly at home at a festival like this.

Then there is TVAM, and if there is one act we are ridiculously excited about, it is this one. Their dystopian post-internet aesthetic combines industrial electronics, hypnotic techno rhythms, post-punk attitude and towering walls of sound that promise to be absolutely immense live. Expect heavy synths, dark visuals and one of the most immersive performances of the weekend.

Fans of experimental music will also want to make time for Smote, whose unique mixture of psych-folk, doom and drone creates vast cinematic soundscapes unlike anything else on the bill.

Representing the West Midlands underground is Zeo, whose blend of grime and rap has earned him recognition as one of the region’s most exciting independent artists, while electronic music lovers are in for a real treat with Danalogue, one of Britain’s most respected synthesiser players and producers, whose work has helped shape the modern cosmic jazz and electronic scenes.

Liam C returns to the city after another huge year. The London singer-songwriter, who describes himself as a “part-time pop star”, has built a huge following through TikTok while continuing to prove why he is one of the most engaging live performers around. His infectious blend of indie pop and honest songwriting has won over crowds across the country, and it will be brilliant to welcome him back to Derby as part of Invention Festival.

For lovers of turntablism and bass music, Jon1st is one of the finest DJs on the planet. Often described as a “DJ’s DJ”, his technical scratching, rapid-fire mixing and genre-blurring performances have earned him worldwide respect.

Liverpool’s transcendental heavy psych collective Bonnacons of Doom promise one of the heaviest and most immersive sets of the weekend, while Jess Silk brings her powerful folk-punk songwriting from the Black Country.

Elsewhere, Blind Yeo blend psychedelic cosmic folk with krautrock influences, Microcorps delivers hardware-driven experimental electronics, and Marvins Revenge continue their rapid rise as one of the East Midlands’ most exciting alternative rock and punk bands.

And that is only scratching the surface.

The full line-up also includes Butch Kassidy, Bored Marsh, Nori, Yarni, Plantfood, Davina Songbird, Luxjury, Gossip Queens, Monoxide Brothers, Marseille, Pablo Carrizo, Cathedra, Joel Foster, Lucille, Jude Forsey, Jemma Johnson, Luxury Nan Smell, Family of Addiction, The Velocettes, Floral Pattern, Revolution Let Down and Southpaw Grammar.

What really stands out is the sheer diversity on offer.

Garage. Grime. Hip hop. Heavy drone rock. Doom. Punk. Folk. Indie. Pop. Electro. Industrial. Experimental. Math rock. Psychedelia. Krautrock. Jazz. Singer-songwriters. Noise. Alternative and even a bit of Dad-Garage!

It is all here.

The festival will take over The Hairy Dog, Dubrek Studios, Mr Shaw’s House, The Electric Daisy, Chapel Street Arts Centre and Wardwick Museum, with outdoor busking areas connecting each venue and turning Derby city centre into one huge celebration of independent music, art and creativity.

Perhaps the biggest compliment we can give the organisers is this.

There are no filler acts.

Every single artist on this poster deserves their place. It is obvious that this line-up has been built by people who genuinely care about music rather than simply chasing the biggest names. There is a clear vision running through the festival, encouraging people to discover something new, support independent artists and explore genres they might never have considered before.

At TREИDNG, we spend a lot of time watching live music across Derby and beyond, and we can honestly say there is not a weak booking on this bill. We have either seen, covered or listened to the vast majority of these artists, and we can confidently say that every single one deserves to be here. Whether you are into garage, grime, punk, indie, electronic music, folk, heavy drone, experimental jazz or psychedelic rock, there is something on this line-up that will surprise you.

This feels like the kind of festival Derby has been crying out for. A festival that champions independent venues. A festival that puts grassroots artists first. A festival that encourages people to wander between venues, discover new music and spend an entire day immersed in the city’s creative community.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a much closer look at the artists appearing across the weekend, introducing some of the names you may not know yet, speaking to performers and organisers, and bringing you all the latest Invention Festival news as September gets closer.

For now, though, there is only one question.

Are you in?

Because if you are still sitting on the fence, stop thinking and buy a ticket. Seriously.

This is one of the strongest festival line-ups Derby has seen in years, and with early bird tickets almost gone, now is the time to get involved.

We honestly cannot wait.

See you at Invention Festival.

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