The Story of Neotribe
Neotribe is Sunbird Records’ very own all-day mini-festival — a celebration born from our 2023 rebirth, created to carry the torch of our visionary founder, Dr. Jonathan Lindley. His belief? That music is the ultimate unifier, cutting across every border, identity, and background. Inspired by his Thesis, the research developed a primary case study, looking at Sunbird Records as a way of implementing post-subcultural discourse in practice.
Since April 2023, the spark of a Neotribe gathering has been flickering to life, bouncing between names, formats, and wild dreams, shared among both current and former members of the Sunbird Records crew. Inspired by the electric energy of Glastonferret at The Ferret in Preston and the magic of Ceremony at Bedford Esquires, we imagined crafting our own cultural beacon. These places lit up their towns with bold, new sounds and we knew it was time to bring that same pulse to Darwen (and Blackburn), in our own unforgettable way.
Neotribe is all about bringing a handpicked lineup of the UK’s most exciting, boundary-pushing live acts. It’s a sonic tribute to the rich subcultures and raw energy pulsing through the UK’s grassroots music scenes. Expect bold sounds, diverse vibes, and a gathering of kindred spirits.
In July 2024, we unleashed the very first Neotribe, a bold debut featuring a powerhouse lineup headlined by the phenomenal Calva Louise. Not only did they tear the roof off with a blistering set, but they also threw their full support behind Sunbird, filming two music videos at the venue beforehand and using their platform to spotlight the vital role grassroots venues and rising artists play in the cultural ecosystem. This is exactly why events like Neotribe matter.
The debut edition of Neotribe was a handpicked parade of sonic adventure. TASH brought fever-dream pop as Prom Queen supreme, while Sugarstone channeled a cyberpunk future with electrifying precision. The Illicits delivered raw, indie rock ‘n’ roll anthems with a Liam Gallagher seal of approval. Sun King draped the room in acid tinged, harmony rich blues, and Pretty Shivers dropped retro-styled gems soaked in vintage flair. Stil Life painted the stage with ‘80s art school energy, Dead Things brought garage grit and jagged riffs from Lancaster, and Urban Theory repped Manchester with a fresh burst of indie punk urgency.
Neotribe made its statement loud and clear: a new era of live music had landed in Darwen and it was just getting started. Our second Neotribe in December 2024 had a tough act to follow, originally set to be headlined by Loose Articles. But, in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion, an injury to their drummer Abbie meant they had to pull out last minute.
Enter Gen and The Degenerates, who stepped up without missing a beat. After turning heads at SXSW earlier that year, their fiery brand of anthemic rock brought swagger, intensity, and raw charisma to the stage, firmly cementing their place as one of the most unforgettable new bands on the UK’s alt-rock radar.
The day was stacked with sonic invention. Ugly Club repped the local scene with their unmistakable alternative edge, while Material Goods fused industrial grit with DIY punk and electronic pulses, their set brought to life by mesmerizing visuals. The Dirt, a collaboration between Japanese artist Sachiko and partner Jack, delivered transglobal punk poetry, and The Battery Farm unleashed a cathartic, pain-soaked performance that resonated with pure punk energy. Blagged, a four-piece hurricane of high-speed punk, tore through their set with grit and gusto, while Kubrick Stare opened the day on short notice, delivering crunchy riffs, thunderous bass, and brooding vocals that set the tone just right.
Once again, Neotribe had done exactly what it set out to do: showcase a carefully curated lineup of the most daring, dynamic live acts in the UK and bring them straight to Darwen. After two standout editions, the bar had officially been raised.
Our next instalment cranks things up a notch, this time expanding over two days and featuring what might just be our most electrifying and original lineup yet. Some of the UK’s most buzzed about live acts are joining us, including GANS, AK/DK, Meryl Streek, SILVERWINGKILLER, Test Plan, YAANG, Vigilantes, Polite Bureaux, LUNATHUG, Pre-Empted, Bag of Cans, HIGHWAYVES, Morton Betts, and Tommy Ball. It’s a lineup we’re genuinely proud to call our best to date.
Expect a collision of DIY spirit, genre-defying sounds, and punk-rooted attitude, an audio rebellion laced with social commentary, poetry, fuzz-drenched synths, blazing guitars, samplers, and more. Every act brings raw, unapologetic energy to the stage.
This is Neotribe at full throttle. Don’t sleep on it, grab your tickets now while they last