Kraftwerk, The The, Death Cult and more announced for newly-launched Forever Now festival in Milton Keynes

The first wave of artists confirmed for the newly-launched Forever Now Festival have been confirmed, with Kraftwerk, Johnny Marr, The The, Death Cult and more leading the way. Find out more below.

• READ MORE: Ian Astbury talks the resurgence of goth, David Bowie’s legacy and The Cult’s “renaissance”
  

The new festival will run across just one day and comes as a sister event of the US Cruel World festival.

Taking place at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, the inaugural event will showcase alternative music, fashion and literature, and is set to take place on June 22.

The launch was first teased earlier this week, and organisers an event that explores “the darker underbelly of creativity, from new wave to post-punk, psychedelia and alt-rock”.

Now, the first wave of artists has been confirmed, with German electronic innovators Kraftwerk leading the stacked line-up. The gig for them marks one of their first performances to be announced for 2025 and comes after a run of shows this summer, including a stop at Fuji Rock Festival.

Joining them is post-punk icons, The The, who made a huge comeback this year with the announcement of ‘Ensoulment’ – their first album in 25 years. They also went on to announce a run of live shows, in which they played a number of tracks for the first time in three decades.

Punk icon Billy Idol has also been confirmed, and is set to bring hits like ‘White Wedding’ and ‘Rebel Yell’ to the stage. Announcing the news, he said: “Forever is Now! Looking forward to what will unquestionably be an incredible day of music in Milton Keynes!”

Death Cult – the band which would go on to become The Cult – join the bill too, following on from a run of 2023 anniversary shows in the UK. Elsewhere, Johnny Marr, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Happy Mondays, The Damned, Public Image Ltd, The Psychedelic Furs and more complete the line-up.

“Forever Now started as an idea…then became a song….then an album…and has lived on through the years. Now it’s also become a gathering of some legendary musicians on one day in one place, which we are proud to be part of,” the latter said of the announcement.

Announcing the line-up, Steve Homer, CEO of AEG Presents, said: “We are delighted to present a festival that reflects the rich heritage of artists in the alternative music field. The day will feature some amazing artists, unique sets, and collaborations not seen on a UK stage before. As the birthplace of alt counterculture, the UK is the perfect home for a festival to pay homage to alternative creative artistry.’’

Two main stages are set to be featured, as well as a third stage called The Echo Chamber, which will be curated by music journalist John Robb. It’ll also see in-depth interviews, panel discussions, and artist conversations.

“Forever Now is more than just a festival—it’s a vibrant homage to the creativity and countercultural spirit born from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s that remains just as influential to present-day culture,” reads a press release describing the festival. “From the fashionably dark to the fiercely unconventional, all are welcome to revel in a day of unforgettable music and community. This is a festival where nostalgia meets discovery, where new and devoted fans unite, and where forever truly begins now.”

Tickets will go on pre-sale on December 5, with a limited first release ticket available from £85. General sale will begin at 10am on December 6. Find further ticket information here.

The addition of Death Cult to the line-up of the first-ever Forever Now comes as frontman Ian Astbury recently spoke to NME and opened up about the decision to revisit the earlier roots.

“[The Cult] were huge and we were playing arenas, but I didn’t like the terms and conditions of that. What you had to do to be an iconic entertainer was asking too much,” he said, explaining the decision to revive Death Cult in 2023. “It was a professional career, but I was never interested in that. I never got into music as a career choice, I fell into it. I just believed in punk rock and I believed in creativity – that is Death Cult. Death Cult is way more intuitive and operates from emotional intelligence.”

He continued: “When we hit the stage and I saw that we were connected, it was a thing of beauty. I don’t particularly care about the editorial perception of the band. We did Death Cult on our own terms then, and that’s what we’re doing now [with The Cult].”

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