FESTIVAL REVIEW: Desertfest London 2026

The beauty of heavy music in 2026 is that within our small corner of the musical world, there lies a vast and vibrant ecosystem of bands, with vastly differing sounds and styles. As a result, this vibrant and multi-faceted world of heavy music has spawned a host of events and festivals. While some look to cast a wide net, others look to shape and mould lineups catering to very specific sectors of the scene. Desertfest London sits in the latter category and for good measure. Now into its 14th year, the festival is very much THE premier destination in the UK for all things doom, stoner, psych and sludge. And 2026’s offering is no different. Here’s what went down.

Friday – May 15th

SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF – The Electric Ballroom

Arriving at the eleventh hour to replace RUBBER SNAKE CHARMERS, Bath’s SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF kickstart the day’s action at The Electric Ballroom with a thundering display of big riff energy. Devil’s Daughter is a rip-roaring way to ignite the crowd early on with an abundance of hook-laden riffage and a tantalising vocal display from frontman Dan Flitcoft, who takes advantage of the bigger space of The Electric Ballroom to great effect. They balance the thumping chug stoner rock fans crave while dialing back the intensity for passages that shimmer with psychedelic-infused bliss (looking at you Absolute Blue). Cuts from 2024’s excellent The Ghost of Badon Hill go down a treat, and with emphatic chants of “HOOOOOF” greeting the band upon every song’s conclusion, two things are clear. One, this band are right at home here, and two, Desertfest London is off to a flying start.

Rating: 9/10

CAPRICORNS – The Electric Ballroom

For eighteen long years, CAPRICORNS remained an unfamiliar name to the newer initiates of the Desertscene. Billed as “if you know, you know” it’s little wonder The Electric Ballroom was packed to the rafters with heavyweight names and curious newcomers for the return of the quintet. Weaving through material from 2008’s River, Bear Your Bones and 2005’s Ruder Forms Survive appeared effortless, spitting in the face of some unfortunate technical difficulties. When they were overcome, Desertfest was treated to a masterclass of mind melting doom. Trademark peaks and troughs of hard hitting riffs and delicate melodies made Seventh Child Of A Seventh Child gargantuan. Elsewhere on the perfectly-balanced scale, the simmering riff of 1969: A Predator Among Us sent ripples of chills through the spine. If CAPRICORNS needed a gauge of their performance: what better than a room full of bobbing heads, stank faces, and the telltale spark of the green leaf?

Rating: 9/10

WITCHSORROW – The Underworld

In what feels like a match made in heaven, Desertfest London is the perfect environment for WITCHSORROW to make their return. They last performed at the festival a decade ago, and it’s been eight years since 2018’s colossal Hexenhammer, but to an absolutely heaving crowd at The Underworld, the band proceed to drop an aural megaton. Their Sabbathian worshipping riffs and devilish snarls go down a treat as they keep the crowd fixated as they allow their lengthy compositions to unfold their many layers. New material from the upcoming The Devil and All His Works feels right at home, and judging from the roaring reception upon their conclusion, WITCHSORROW marked their return in thunderous fashion. It’s like they never left.

Rating: 8/10

GNOME – The Electric Ballroom

There are many weird and wonderful sights to behold in London; from the vocal Arsenal supporter growling at tourists to the sea of red pointed hats swarming The Electric Ballroom. This was no cult meeting however. This was GNOME’s testament to the Duke Of Disgrace. The Belgian brood decimated the room with riffs to take more seriously than the fashion. From Golden Fool’s infectious bounce to the suckerpunch from Blacksmith, GNOME have rightly earned their cult following. With tight grooves and smokey vocals, GNOME could have walked away with being set of the day had they not followed CAPRICORNS. While some will baulk at the gimmick, many others were hunting down Red Gnome Hat Guy so they too could be part of the fun Desertfest London has become best known for.

Rating: 8/10

CWFEN – The Underworld

Glasgow’s CWFEN had a massively superb 2025, with their debut album Sorrows being met with acclaim across the board, and they represent yet another quality homegrown outfit. At Desertfest London, their goth laden doom and shimmering shoegaze is the perfect soundtrack to usher in Friday evening. Spearheaded by the captivating and humble Agnes Alder, the band straddle their enormous sound and make the most of the intimate confines of The Underworld to create a truly stunning soundscape. Set opener Bodies is an instant attention grabber while the likes of Wolfsbane and Embers demonstrate the sheer quality at this band’s disposal. Stunning stuff.

Rating: 9/10

HERMANO – The Electric Ballroom 

The beauty of catered festivals of Desetfest London’s ilk is that it allows for truly special performances. Performances built for the scene it caters for. And HERMANO headlining The Electric Ballroom on day one is living proof of this. Having released their first new music for 15 years two years ago, it’s the cult Californian stoner rockers first UK appearance for 19 years, and with the room heaving, we’re treated to a stoner rock masterclass.

It helps when you have John Garcia fronting, with the KYUSS singer’s influence splashed across every iteration of the festival since day one. Fronting HERMANO, Garcia and his bandmates are on fierce form and they waste absolutely no time in delivering riff after riff. From the bounce of Senor Moreno’s Plan, the crooning sexiness of Alone Jeffe, or the full-throttle gallop of set closer Landetta (Motherload), it’s a set that captures the very essence and vibe of this festival, and marks a fitting main stage billing for a festival that owns a unique space in our ecosystem.

Rating: 9/10

Saturday – May 16th 

INSTAR SLING – The Underworld

Let’s get one thing straight. INSTAR SLING are heavy. Disgustingly heavy. The London trio have already only been active as a three piece for a year, but their brand sludgy doom is raw and dissonant; reflective of sheer raw potential. Dissonant, horrible, lurching slow passage roll like oppressive thunder, twisting and turning with calculated precision. The result is a soundscape that keeps you grounded, bracing for the next aural hit to land. For some, it may be too punishing at this time of the day, but such is the beauty of this festival, horrible sludge tucked away in Camden’s corners. Indeed, it is this rawness and caustic nature of INSTAR SLING’s suffocating soundscape which serves as a monstrous wake-up call for day two of Desertfest London. Consider us well and truly awake.

Rating: 7/10

INHUMAN NATURE – The Roundhouse

With the previous night still ringing in the air of Camden Town and cigarette papers lined with a different hair of the dog, Desertfest bookers knew just the right time for a lethal injection of energy. Enter INHUMAN NATURE. No strangers to the festival, the crossover thrash collective levelled The Roundhouse within minutes. Possessed to Die’s cutting riffs prowled throughout the main space and snapped through the sleepy synapses of the crowd. Heads banging, senses assaulted, anger broiling through the screamed vocals, this was a set that could simply not be missed. Purist pundits complained that the vibe didn’t fit, however, the topic of conversation was still the mighty INHUMAN NATURE so who was the real winner?

Rating: 8/10

WYTCH HAZEL – The Roundhouse 

As many consumed the Devil’s Lettuce, The Roundhouse transformed into The Citadel with the blessings of WYTCH HAZEL. Donning their trademark white religious garb, the Lancaster quartet brought their concoction of intoxicating guitar melodies and vocal harmonies to a rather delicious head. The Citadel radiated through the air with its sweet lamentation whilst the bubbling undercurrent of I Am Redeemed was the bed for salacious harmonies that buzzed in the mind and carried many away to the upper echelon of having a Nice Time(TM). Lucifer may have been banished but he may have just stuck around for another hit of the perfumed riffs permeating throughout the steelwork.

Rating: 8/10

ELEPHANT TREE – The Roundhouse 

Following the unfortunate withdrawal of CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULLS, ELEPHANT TREE entered Roundhouse to some lofty expectations. The London four piece quickly laid those to rest with shimmering guitars and dreamy vocals brought to a tingling crescendo. Armed with riffs to sway to, ELEPHANT TREE were a welcome oasis within the Desertscene. Serenity weaved through the desert rock riffs and transcended with Bird’s ever so slight edge. Yet this was no Saturday afternoon nap soundtrack. ELEPHANT TREE were captivating from beginning to end. Echoes ensnared the senses in the sweetest of escapist raptures. Stand in? By no means. ELEPHANT TREE were embraced by the crowd in their own right.

Rating: 7/10

ABRAMS – The Black Heart 

Colorado riff merchants ABRAMS have been bubbling under the surface in the stoner scene for some time now, 2024’s Blue City turned many heads towards the quartet, and on their first appearance to our shores, and indeed the festival, the band feel right at home at The Black Heart. They are met with a nicely packed-together crowd who are rewarded with a performance that justifies the hype surrounding the band. The resulting hour is one that flies as the band unleash a sound that successfully walks a tightrope of melody and dissonance. With material from the recently released Loon sounding enormous in the live arena, hopefully it won’t be too long before the band grace our shores again.

Rating: 8/10

GREEN LUNG – The Roundhouse 

There is something of a celebratory feel in the air around GREEN LUNG’s position atop the bill on Desertfest London’s second day. It’s not only a homecoming for the London metallers and it’s not just their first ever festival headline set. In fact, it runs much deeper. The first roots of the idea that would form the band, now one of UK metal’s hottest properties, were explored at this very festival ten years ago in 2016, and what we’re treated to is nothing short of a triumph.

Armed with a setlist of insatiable heavy metal anthems, the following 16 song performance is one that rarely dips. Maxine (Witch Queen) creates the biggest singalong of the entire weekend, the live debut of Evil in This House is an early highlight while Graveyard Sun and Woodland Rites make the most of the grandiose backdrop of The Roundhouse to sound absolutely earth-shattering. Even when the band dial down the momentum, such as seen in the spine-tingling folk-driven Song of the Stones or the first-raising anthem of One for Sorrow, the crowd remain transfixed towards the stage. We first saw signs of the band’s grand ambitions last year at The Ritz in Manchester, and despite the bigger stage, the bigger occasion, GREEN LUNG atop a festival billing is a sight that we’ll soon fast get used to seeing.

Rating: 10/10

Sunday – May 17th

STEAK – The Roundhouse

Making their explosive return to the stage, and tasked with kicking off The Roundhouse on its second day hosting Desertfest London, a festival first this year, homegrown fuzz rockers STEAK are the perfect way to soundtrack Sunday afternoon. It helps when the band have an abundance of massive riffs in their repertoire, as the likes of Wolves and Overthrow can attest to, and the following hour that passes is a delight. Very much living up the festival’s mantra of delivering raw, unadulterated riffs and grooves, STEAK are great fun live and deliver a set that sets a high bar for Desertfest London’s final day.

Rating: 8/10

TRUCKFIGHTERS – The Roundhouse

Swedish stoner rockers TRUKFIGHTERS are Desertfest royalty, having performed at numerous iterations of the festival. 2026 marks four years since the band last graced the London edition of the festival, and under the lights of The Roundhouse, the Swedes deliver a set that is packed to the brim with energy. Material from the freshly released Masterflow, and we’re treated to a fair chunk of new material, goes down aplomb with the rapturous crowd but when the band dispatch the likes of Desert Cruiser and Gargarismo, the excitement and glee is at fever-pitch. Some things just make logical sense and TRUCKFIGHTERS at Desertfest London is one of them. Same again next year, please?

Rating: 8/10

HOWLING GIANT – The Underworld

Nashville may not be known for its psych scene but who were HOWLING GIANT to let that stand in their way? Since 2014, the trio have been cooking up their brand of zesty vocals and guitar hooks QUEEN would be proud of. Finally gracing The Underworld, this Sunday was easy for another reason. With tight riffs nestling bobbing heads and dual harmonies breeding the prestigious stank face, HOWLING GIANT intoxicated the inhabitants of The Underworld with ease. Hunter’s Mark’s solo slithered around the columns and filled the room with delightful buzz. HOWLING GIANT were slick in the most complimentary of terms and Distorted Sound will be playing their discography on heavy rotation.

Rating: 8/10

FORLORN – The Dev

Tucked away in the smallest of Desertfest London’s four stages, The Dev plays home to some of the most exciting gems that occupy the festival’s vibrant musical ecosystem. FORLORN are one of them. The UK metallers have coined their own authentic aesthetics and soundscape around the term ‘Folk Horror’, and live, it translates to ferocious effect. Spearheaded by Megan Jenkins’ larynx-shredding screams, FORLORN waste no time in unleashing their metallic noise as the likes of Funeral Pyre and The Weight Of It All threaten to shake the building to its very foundations. Such is the makeup and intimacy of The Dev that the immersion is somewhat lost due to the bright lights and screens at the bar, particularly for those stood towards the back, but take nothing away from the ferocity in which FORLORN unleash their craft.

Rating: 7/10

THE SWORD – The Roundhouse 

When the Texan juggernauts announced their split in 2022, no one would have expected THE SWORD to return three and a half years later. Yet with the 15th anniversary of 2010’s Warp Riders and 20th anniversary of 2006’s Age of Winter, it would have been rude not to. And there was no better Desertfest venue for them than The Roundhouse. Freya’s thunderous riff rampaged through The Roundhouse with precision. THE SWORD’s rich mythology rising from the ashes with new life. Early BLACK SABBATH-inspired vocals seeped into the Camden air leaving patrons gasping for more. Flitting between vintage material such as Mist & Shadow and the exuberant Celestial Crown, Desertfest was treated to a smorgasbord of THE SWORD’s finery. An offering The Horned Goddess would have snapped up with glee.

Rating: 7/10

CLUTCH – The Roundhouse

It seems almost criminal that Maryland’s titans CLUTCH hadn’t been booked to play Desertfest until 2026. Though it seems to have come at just the right moment. Despite being 30 years into their career, CLUTCH continue to age like the finest wine. Taking to The Roundhouse as the closing band of the festival, could they top GREEN LUNG’s stellar slot from the night before? 2015’s Psychic Warfare’s X-Ray Visions began proceedings and what a start it was. Vocalist Neil Fallon commanded the stage like it was second nature. The Roundhouse vibrated from the high octane energy from the very first note. Serpentining through their 13 studio albums, Psychic Warfare was real and fought on the undulating coast of Slaughter Beach which was perfection from beginning to end. The hammer was swung and landed with skull crushing brutality for a masterclass in why CLUTCH have become an institution.

With the inclusion of a live debut of Drifter Returns, it wasn’t just the band that were kept on their toes. Thunderous applause hit harder than drummer Jean-Paul Gaster. Earth Rocker lived up to its moniker, paving the way for the culmination of one of the best Desertfest lineups to date. And what better way to close Desertfest London 2026 than with one of psych’s finest institutions?

Rating: 9/10

BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT – The Underworld

Returning to Desertfest London to close out The Underworld on the final day, the past eight years have seen Portland, Oregon’s BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT grow considerably in popularity. The venue is jam-packed for the band, and despite the fact the rock royalty CLUTCH are billed to perform at the same time at The Roundhouse, there’s clearly a lot of adoration towards this band. The eight years since their Desertfest debut have been kind, as BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT deliver a captivating and thoroughly immersive live performance, one that straddles the duality of light and dark to wondrous effect. The set is driven almost entirely by their new record, Not Here Not Gone, a bold choice sure, but one that pays dividends as the likes of the riff-swinging hits of Bodies or the sultry grunge offerings of Heavy, Why? can attest to. And in set closer, Spades, BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT have a super weapon in their arsenal. A cacophony of killer riffs that induce your best stank face, it makes for a glorious finale for Desertfest London 2026. Bravo.

Rating: 9/10

And that’s a wrap on Desertfest London 2026! Bigger, bolder and bloody brilliant, we’re already counting down the days until 2027 rolls around. Until next year, hail the riff.

Words: James Weaver, Tasha Brown

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