Kieran Webber
Director and Founder of CLUNK Magazine, CLUNK Events, and other CLUNK affiliate businesses. You’ll probably find me tucked away somewhere sending emails, listening to music, and creating content.
Boardmasters 2025 is over now but we’re still reveling in the memory of our top performances across the unforgettable weekend
Boardmasters 2025 was yet another year of impressive music across 5 days on the Cornish coast. Ranging from indie rock superstars Wet Leg through to rap duo Rizzle Kicks, there was something on offer for everyone, yet these artists take the mantle of most impressive across Boardmasters Festival 2025.
Hard Life
Hard Life have finally returned after a hiatus after their name change (due to a legal battle with Easyjet). It’s certainly been a wild ride for the band who have in many ways, had to start fresh. However, the name change hasn’t stopped them from bringing an infectious energy to the stage matched with their chilled, laidback delivery. Naturally, the played a variety of music from previous records ‘MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE’ and ‘life’s a beach’, including hit singles ‘Skeletons’, and ‘Nightmares’. In addition to this they also jammed out terminally chill new single ‘othello’. It was great to see them take the stage again and they certainly reminded us all why we love them so.
Ocean Alley
The Aussie rockers returned to Boardmasters 2025 to the newly named Mordros stage (Formerly known as The Land Of Saints). A long overdue moment as the band proved during this performance, pulling in a large crowd that all but filled the tent. Their laid back, Aussie infused surf rock bounced around all four corners of the Mordros tent, with the eager crowd singing back every word. They played through their ever growing back catalogue, including the daringly infectious classic ‘Confidence’. It was great to see the band on a larger stage and it proved that they are more than ready for the main stage.
Rizzle Kicks
It feels like a lifetime ago that Rizzle Kicks were dominating the airwaves and that the delightfully positive sounds of ‘Down With The Trumpets’ tickled our ears. After the release of their 2011 album ‘Stereo Typical’ they all but disappeared… until recently. In 2025 they returned with the new album ‘Competition Is For Losers’, which featured the hit single ‘Follow Excitement’ (featuring Rachel Chinouriri). Seeing them on the poster for Boardmasters as the special afternoon guest had us filled with nothing but nostalgic excitement. It’s safe to say that they turned up, brought their positive energy, filled the sun drenched main stage with their energetic sounds, and reminded us why we fell in love with them in the first place.
Raye
To be completely honest, we weren’t expecting much from Raye, and admittedly, was unsure if she was the right headliner. How incredibly wrong we were. Raye is nothing short of the greatest talent of this generation. The whole show, from the backdrop, to the layout, and visuals were utterly awe inspiring, not to mention her voice is incredible. Raye is easily one of the most impressive headliners we’ve witnessed at Boardmasters and we stand completely corrected on Raye, she is once in a lifetime talent.
Keo
Keo headed to Boardmasters 2025 and opened the mainstage on a very sunny Friday, in fact, it was their first main stage slot. After the band brought their 90’s inspired grunge sound, with great confidence to Boardmasters, we are sure they will be playing main stages across the world, following in the footsteps of similar bands such as Wunderhorse.
Wet Leg
It’s actually crazy to think that Wet Leg played the Mordros stage after their hugely successful sophomore album ‘Moisturizer’, which featured hit songs ‘CPR’ and ‘Davina McCall’. It was a show that deserved a slot on the main stage, nethertheless, the band made Mordros their very own. The band came out swinging with confidence, Riann at the front and centre, literally looking stronger than ever. Opening with ‘CPR’ they sent the tent into a frenzy of screams and hollers, commanding the attention of everyone lucky enough to witness. There’s no doubt the band have found their stride and they’re sounding better than ever.
Fat Dog
Fat Dog was arguably the band we were most excited to see and good lord did they not disappoint. Fat Dog might just be one of the greatest bands to have ever exist. It’s an amalgamation of almost every genre blended and spat out to the wider audience. Each band member is wildly talented yet almost completely unserious, the perfect gen z band. They bring something that is sorely missing from music, an element of fun, it’s pure, unadulterated fun. They invite you to lose yourself in a way that is borderline animalistic and it is beautiful. We have no doubt, that in time, after this successful festival season, they’ll be playing mainstages in no time.
Special mentions to Bob Vylan, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs & Deadletter.
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