South Facing Festival returns to the historic Crystal Palace Bowl in summer 2025 with its most ambitious programme to date. Set against the scenic backdrop of one of London’s most iconic open-air venues, the festival once again promises a run of spectacular live performances across multiple dates in August. With a stellar line-up that spans electronic, indie, hip-hop, folk, and more, South Facing continues to establish itself as a cultural cornerstone in the UK’s summer festival calendar.
This year’s series begins with a double bill of epic proportions. On 7 August 2025, Scottish post-rock titans Mogwai will deliver their only UK festival performance of the summer, joined by Irish experimental folk sensation Lankum in what promises to be a powerful, genre-defying night of music.
One of the most emotional and heartfelt events of the summer returns with Flackstock on 8 August, celebrating the life and legacy of Caroline Flack through a joyful mix of music, comedy and dance. Now in its fourth year, the festival continues to raise vital funds for mental health charities and brings together family, friends, and fans for a beautiful, shared tribute in one of London’s most special spaces.
The park transforms for the return of Skepta’s Big Smoke Festival on 9 and 10 August, bringing together the brightest stars and pioneers of grime and UK rap. With curated performances by Skepta himself, appearances from very special guest Central Cee, plus ‘grime scene saviour’ Chip, rising star Chy Cartier, and an unprecedented B2B from JME and Frisco, the weekend is set to be a definitive moment for the UK urban music scene. Skepta will also appear on Sunday as part of a full Más Tiempo takeover, stepping behind the decks to close out the weekend.
On 14 August, South Facing will dive into the roots of downtempo, trip-hop and electronica with a rare, genre-blending lineup featuring Morcheeba, UNKLE, and the legendary DJ Shadow. For fans of classic beats and chilled vibes, this event offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these pioneers share the stage in London.
At South Facing, festival-goers can expect the best in street food, craft ales, and rum shack delights while enjoying the open-air ambiance of Crystal Palace Park. With excellent transport links including Crystal Palace, Penge West and Gipsy Hill stations, the venue is easily accessible from across London and the South East.
Rob Waller of Soundcrash says: “South Facing is about bringing world-class artists to a legendary stage, with the energy and diversity of London at its heart. This year’s line-up is bigger than ever, from genre-defining legends to next-gen icons, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Crystal Palace for another unforgettable summer.”
