Saturday 30 + Sunday 31 August
Supersonic Festival is an internationally renowned celebration of experimental music and art, praised by critics and adored by adventurous audiences. Taking place in the heart of Birmingham, Supersonic brings together extraordinary live performances, visual art, and participatory events to create an immersive and unforgettable experience. It has been hailed as “the UK’s best small festival” by The Guardian and “the best European festival for new music” by The Quietus.
“Daring, challenging, wild, often very loud and always great fun…”
That’s how BBC Radio 6 Music Presenter Stuart Maconie, a long-time supporter, describes Supersonic Festival. A proud media partner, BBC Radio 6 Music will once again be on-site, attending and recording throughout the weekend.
This year’s Supersonic Festival features a genre-defying, globe-spanning line-up including UK exclusive performances from Zambian-Canadian rapper Backxwash, Sweden’s Funeral Folk (Maria W Horn & Sara Parkman), and Norway’s occult rave trio Witch Club Satan. Artists from Nigeria, Ireland, North America and beyond join the bill, alongside local legends-in-the- making, Big Special from the Black Country.
Supersonic Festival’s much-loved Market Place is back for 2025 this year housed at the Zellig Building in the heart of Digbeth and best of all, it’s free and open to the public all weekend.
A vibrant hub of independent culture, the Market Place is home to record labels, zine- makers, illustrators, DIY designers, and pedlars of all manner of curiosities. From rare vinyl to handmade goods, anarchist prints to folklore-inspired art, visitors can explore an eclectic mix of stalls, alongside band and festival merchandise from this year’s stellar lineup.
This year’s Market Place features an incredible range of independent vendors including Alt Vinyl, Another Realm, Black Lodge Press, Boswellian Artefacts, Bunny Bissoux, Dao Dao Studio, Dog Section Press, and Edgeworld Records.
Whether you’re crate-digging, sipping tea, dancing to a DJ set or tucking into a piping-hot roti, the Supersonic Market Place is your go-to destination for discovery, inspiration, and independent culture in full force.
But the Market Place is more than just shopping it’s a space to connect, unwind, and get inspired. Across Saturday and Sunday, the space will host a lively programme of free, drop- in workshops, talks, and guest DJ sets. Highlights include:
Saturday
- Backxwash in Conversation
- Workshops with SEEMAWORLD & Black Lodge Press
- DJ Sets from The Quietus, Pan Pan (weird & wonky selections), and Hipkiss & Graney (camp chaos from disco to video games)
Sunday
- Witch Club Satan in Conversation
- Workshops with SHELANU & Supersonic Me
- DJ Sets from MCSAIMA (Desi beats), Alastair Shuttleworth (avant-garde), Die Das Der
- (noise!), and ANAWIM (femme pop to Riot Grrrl)
Feeling peckish? We’ve got you covered with incredible street food traders serving up delicious dishes throughout the weekend:
- Beet The System – A vegan co-op serving legendary fresh tempeh and loaded chole fries to die for.
- Newdlez & Co – Authentic Thai street food straight from the heart of Bangkok with a homemade sauce that’s vegan and gluten-free.
- Poutine Punks – Canada’s messiest comfort food with attitude: crispy fries, rich gravy, squeaky curds and bold toppings.
- Really Awesome Coffee – Top-notch barista coffee, velvety hot chocolate, smoothies, frappes and more.
- Sri-Licious – Freshly made Sri Lankan street food packed with bold flavours and loads of vegan and gluten-free options.
Plus, the Supersonic Tea Room will keep you fuelled with a tempting selection of cakes (vegan and gluten-free options included) and our all-time favourite pocket snack: the mighty samosa. Grab a treat, rest your trotters, and soak up the sounds in this relaxed, community-focused space.