Dot To Dot is the perfect live playlist for music fans' essential new favourites. Across two days, two cities and venues in Bristol and Nottingham, it's become a go-to that maintains quality - a feast for the new music palette. Whether diving into tiny venues or dashing around cities (might as well get the sights in), it's an unmissable experience. In 2025, Dot To Dot takes that step further - creating a historic edition we'll reference to fill music libraries for the next year and beyond. Plus, we've never known Nottingham better. Decent!
LALA Hayden opens the Dork Stage with BETA packed; the crowd enraptured by future pop that's both playful and immediate. 'Monster' stands as a powerful call to arms, whilst 'baby, you're the best' and 'beast' set the marker high for an artist turning individuality into pure joy. Dot To Dot's reputation for uniting exciting new faces and spotlighting local talent shines with Swallowtail. Originally from Nottingham, their shoegaze-soaked set grabs attention. The Dork Stage fills to capacity, feeling like a hidden secret the city is ready to share - and it's clear why. Tracks from 'The Seesaw' EP are mesmerising and unstoppable - today, they demonstrate their vast potential. It's a highlight, a band poised to hypnotise and turn heads. Sounds good to us.
The greatest house party begins when Disgusting Sisters take the stage. Synchronised dance routines, horror stories about 9-5 jobs (terrifying), and bouncing indie-dance-punk takes over (just hear 'Killing Time' and closer 'Calvin Klein'). Part 90s pop celebration and part uncompromising punk energy - it's a mood setter that demands you join the Disgusting Sisters party. Trust us. Likewise, Holly Head's blend of thrashing post-rock, tight post-punk and explosive eruptions creates a bulldozer live show that splits BETA at the seams - 'No Gain' showcasing a band perfect for mid-festival release. Don't take our word for it; take the word of a bloke who shouted, "YOU'RE REALLY GOOD" across the room. They're set. Bandit follow, delivering purposeful indie hooks that punch through any evening lull. Tales of everyday life meet meaty riffs in a focused set of beloved and new material. Indie wins again.
Crowds spill from Rock City for Big Special - their cathartic tales lighting up singalongs everywhere. If you need proof of a band connecting with the masses, this set serves as a prime example - a unifying 'BLACK DOG / WHITE HORSE' becomes the festival's highlight while the "new national anthem" 'Shithouse' deserves Wembley's backing vocals. New material hints at their towering ambitions. "Are you entertained?!" calls frontman Joe Hicklin. The answer is clear. Dot To Dot shows how Big Special are becoming THE people's band.
In a room packed with fans, fellow bands and festival headliners, Dog Race command attention. Their cocktail of detailed, crafted rock served from their unique perspective is intoxicating - turning their Dot To Dot set into one of those "moments". Dog Race showcase intricate layers waiting to be explored, both live and in every step ahead.
Over at Rescue Rooms, Jasmine 4.t's set delivers a vital call to arms that transcends the usual festival half hour. Cuts from 'You Are The Morning' become rawer live, poured straight from the heart with ripping intensity - yet it's Jasmine using her platform to highlight issues affecting global communities that stands out. 'Elephant' and unreleased closer 'Did You Know' punctuate an essential set in multiple ways.
No band sounds like The New Eves. Their Dot To Dot set stands apart, as they create something undeniably fresh rather than following predecessors. Orchestral-alt sounds in sweaty venues might sound absurd, but The New Eves transform the Dork Stage into a communal moment that stuns. They lead into Dork Stage headliners Westside Cowboy. As the talk of new music town, BETA's capacity spills onto the street - and for good reason. Opening with a delicate, almost acoustic cut, they attack the stage like their lives depend on it whilst having the sort of unfiltered fun that's infectious. 'I've Never Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)' is emphatic, whilst 'Shells' showcases their core strength - harmonies ringing out before whipping into a frenzy. Even with just two songs released, they've outgrown these tiny venues. A band so good it makes you wonder where they've been your entire life. It's Westside Cowboy, and yes, they're that fucking good.
Sprints' rise to headline status was never a case of if but when. Tonight at the grand nightclub-esque The Palais, they seize Dot To Dot by the teeth. Like a runaway train, they scorch through tracks from their debut album 'Letter To Self', setting fire to everything around them. Moshpits erupt continuously, with the crowd firmly in their grip. 'Up And Comer' sparks circle-pits whilst 'Literary Mind' makes the floor shake under pogoing masses. Sprints know how to own a grand stage like few others. Tonight confirms that in the boldest lights - disco balls above the dancefloor and everything.
Dot To Dot never lets up, even in the final hours. Over at Rescue Rooms, with excitement buzzing through the air, Keo prove why fans are craning to catch a glimpse of a band destined for greatness. While 'I Lied, Amber' and 'Thorn' are their only released tracks, their bulldozing blend of 90s alternative rock and earnest songwriting hits Rescue Rooms with such force that you can't help but embrace it all. Turning Dot To Dot into their own headline moment, tonight confirms that Keo are ready to seize their opportunity.
Sports Team round out proceedings as Secret Special Guests, announced earlier in the day, taking to The Bodega's stage at 1am for the intimate show that embodies their signature chaos and fun. Packed to the rafters, it's an electric performance of flying bodies, mass singalongs and pure joy. With new album 'Boys These Days' in tow, 'I'm In Love (Subaru)', 'Sensible' and 'Maybe When We're Thirty' are already embraced as classics, while favourites like 'Camel Crew', 'M5', 'Here's The Thing' and 'Happy (God's Own Country)' ignite unbridled chaos across The Bodega. It's a spectacular finale that proves why Sports Team remain unmatched at what they do.
As stragglers loiter around The Bodega and head into a Bank Holiday Sunday in Nottingham, Dot To Dot leaves it all on the pitch. It's no surprise, but it scores every time.
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