Under the Drum Festival 2025: Music, community, and sustainability in the heart of County Antrim

Love Ballymena
Jun 22
3 min read

Scenes from Under The Drum Festival 2024

All images: Sarah Ellis

This summer, a truly unique festival experience returns to the lush hills of County Antrim as Under the Drum Festival brings together music lovers, artists, and eco-conscious adventurers for a celebration of community, creativity, and the land that sustains it.

Taking place on 8th and 9th August 2025, Under the Drum will once again transform the enchanting Breckenhill site into a haven of live music, arts, and holistic experiences — all with a strong commitment to sustainability and genuine human connection.

Founded by siblings Will, George, and Rosanna Reade, the festival was born from a desire to create a space where the Irish music scene could flourish without the commercial pressures of larger events.

“Our size is our strength,” says Rosanna, who leads on artist curation and festival visuals.

“It allows us to be genuine in our ethical and environmental aims of being low-waste, low-impact and supporting brands that we believe in. It’s allowed us to curate a list of bands and artists that we love as we aren’t trying to fill a huge set list.

“We believe the atmosphere harks back to the old school festivals. Being smaller also means that you won’t ever be queuing for hours, or even minutes.”

A celebration of Irish talent

Spanning multiple stages, the festival’s line-up proudly showcases the richness of the Irish music scene, from innovative rock and electronic acts to poetic folk and soul.

Headline performers include:

Junior Brother, whose blend of lyrical folk and offbeat humour makes him one of Ireland’s most compelling storytellers.

Junk Drawer, known for their genre-defying sound and winners of multiple NI Music Prize awards.

Holly Lester, a trailblazing DJ and activist, co-founder of Free The Night – a campaign for reforming Northern Ireland’s nightlife.

Negro Impacto, whose vibrant fusion of neo-soul, funk, R&B and indie has made waves across Ireland.

Fizzy Orange, blending retro soul, rocksteady, and rhythm into a feel-good festival favourite.

Rising stars Vera, Touzai, and Moon Landing add fresh energy to the dynamic bill.

A festival rooted in land and legacy

Breckenhill is not just a backdrop — it’s part of the story. Lovingly nurtured over 37 years by the Reade family, what was once a derelict site has been transformed into a biodiverse sanctuary of fields, gardens and woodland. Every tree planted has been done so with the intention of restoring native habitats.

The site is largely powered by solar and biomass energy, and the festival itself is consciously designed to reduce its environmental footprint, with composting toilets, reusable cups, and recycled décor.

Since 2021, over 1,300 native Irish trees have been planted on the grounds — making each festival footstep part of a bigger journey toward ecological healing.

More than just music

True to its ethos, Under the Drum goes beyond entertainment, offering festival-goers a deeply immersive experience that includes:

Yoga sessions amid nature
Wild swimming and an on-site sauna
Falconry displays
A curated art market
Spoken word performances from the Seamus Heaney Centre

The festival also proudly partners with Beyond Skin, a charity promoting peacebuilding and cultural inclusion through the arts — a perfect reflection of Under the Drum’s core values of openness and respect.