Usually gigs take place in venues like concert halls, stadiums, or festival fields. Rarely, if ever, are they set against the backdrop of a barren, deserted beach. That’s where Bombay Bicycle Club are forging their own path… literally.
The indie band, whose music soundtracked many a millennial’s university life, will need to don their walking boots for their upcoming concert on a remote north Welsh beach. The exact location is still a secret, and those with tickets will be sent exact coordinates on the morning of the event – all of which really adds to the whole off-grid adventure vibe.
There will be limited phone signal at the venue, if you can call it a venue, which is intentional on the part of the organisers. The goal is ‘to get people to ditch their phones, vibe with the music, and soak in nature as they hit up the secret off-grid gig for a chill lunch break’. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon, eh?
The concert is part of the Columbia Hike Society’s HikeFest 2025, which is aiming to provide ‘free, inclusive hikes in stunning landscapes.’ There are several free events planned across the UK – and beyond – in the coming weeks, which you can learn more about here. There are several hikes available to get to the secret location, each which vary in difficulty and length, but the only tickets still available are for the mega 18.72-mile advanced walk, which will take over 6 hours to complete. If you still fancy a gig at the end of that, you’ll definitely have earned your spot. If you’re up for it, you can sign up here.
The Mercury Prize-nominated Bombay Bicycle Club will be supported by London duo lavender, who will set the tone for the show. Then, they’ll play some of their greatest hits, and perhaps even tease their upcoming album We’re Having a Barn Dance, which comes out on May 23.
When is Bombay Bicycle Club’s gig?
The gig, and corresponding hikes, will take place on May 17, which is this coming Saturday. After their beach-combing adventure is done, you can catch the band on May 30 at the Tomasvista Festival in Madrid, where they’ll play their brand new album live for the first (or second, depending on the May 17 setlist) time ever. You can learn more about the new album, or their upcoming gigs, here.
The 2025 Summer of Music in the UK
Bombay Bicycle Club’s beach gig isn’t the only exciting thing coming to the world of music this summer. We’ve got a roundup of the best UK festivals this year, as well as the best in London specifically. If you’ve got kids, have a look at the best family friendly festivals, or if you were lucky enough to bag Glastonbury tickets, you can check out our guide to Worthy Farm here.
These are the 13 best beaches in the UK, according to the Independent.
These are the best beaches in the UK, according to Time Out.
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