UK - The National Bowl, Milton Keynes hosted a double festival weekender for BludFest 2025 on Saturday 20 June and the debut of Forever Now which ran on Sunday 21 June.
Bigger and louder than ever, BludFest 2025 returned for its second year to The National Bowl. With a mission to elevate fresh boundary-crossing talent alongside established stars, all while fostering an inclusive, sustainable environment for music lovers, it didn’t fail to disappoint. Curated by Yungblud, the band headlined the main stage Saturday night, alongside a heavyweight lineup including Chase Atlantic, viral hitmaker Blackbear and US rapper Denzel Curry.
The Second Stage, located in the grounds of the Bowl, was managed by SEL Live who delivered full production support over the festival weekend. The Milos MR2K 12x10 roof structure was the perfect platform for BludFest headliner Rachel Chinouriri with other acts including Luvcat, Ivor Novello Award winner Masterpeace and TikTok star Peach PRC. Festival goers were able to move between the main stage and Stage 2, which was located next to the Yungblud Village - a hub of pop-ups and interactive activities for fans.
Stage 2 entertainment was provided on the Milos MR2K roof structure, with its low-profile Keder canopy and versatile horizontal truss grid layout for maximum rigging solutions which comply with the latest EuroCode specifications. The benefits for temporary event structures include integration with existing ground support, robust construction, while providing the ability to adapt to various event needs and perfect for this back-to-back event.
Key advantages include efficient rigging time with MT1 M290 truss towers, while the low-profile design ensures easy installation, constructed on a Layher base. The Milos MR2K utilises Milos MT1 towers with horizontal M390 truss grids, respectively providing a strong and stable platform for rigging sound, lighting, video screens and other equipment.
The Milos MR2K roof system has been a workhorse structure on the festival scene with SEL Live this summer, and the company’s investment in the structure has been suitable for a wide range of temporary events, from small concerts to large festivals. The system offers a high load capacity capable of supporting significant weight for stage equipment and the National Bowl set-up included PA wings, an additional feature enhancing its versatility and safety.
Forever Now, a new one-day festival, followed BludFest on Sunday 21 June. The National Bowl transformed itself overnight to welcome the cultural phenomenon of the dark side of creativity, featuring many pioneers of new wave, post-punk, psychedelia and alternative rock - from electronic innovators Kraftwerk, who headlined the main stage, to Billy Idol and alt-rockers The The.
Showcasing on Stage 2 were The Psychedelic Furs, Happy Mondays, The Damned, alongside The Jesus and Mary Chain, with Death Cult headlining the second stage, and drawing big crowds to close off a jam-packed weekend line-up.