Way Out West is back! Next year’s edition will take place from August 7th – 9th 2025 and organisers are announcing the first four acts – CHAPPELL ROAN [US], KHRUANGBIN [US], FONTAINES D.C. [IRL] and WET LEG [UK]
CHAPPELL ROAN’S dazzling ascension to superstardom is a remarkable one. After a decade of largely unnoticed work in the music industry, the slow-burning US artist from Willard, Missouri found herself on everyone’s tongue with her electrifying debut album ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ from 2023. A spectacular breakthrough that, according to Roan herself, happened when she decided to “stop trying to impress the music industry and start trying to impress gay people”. And her maximalist, pulsating pop is without a doubt unapologetically queer. It’s playful, vibrant, urgent, emotionally intelligent, sexually forthright and often cheekily funny.
With her extraordinary stage presence and her ambitious live performances, CHAPPELL ROAN has built a reputation as one of the most magnetic artists around, and this summer she is coming to Way Out West!
With it’s volatile hybrid of post-punk, sprechgesang and impressionistic poetry FONTAINES D.C’.s generational debut album ‘Dogrel’ from 2019 skyrocketed the Irish five-piece from the underground to the biggest stages. Five intense years has passed and FONTAINES D.C. have not crumbled under the expectations of saving rock. Quite the opposite. The bleak masterpiece ‘A Hero’s Death’ was released just a year after the debut and the ever-evolving band created their most complex and adventurous album with ‘Skinty Fia’ from 2022.
Earlier this year the thrillingly unpredictable FONTAINES D.C. transformed yet again. On their unanimously praised record ‘Romance’ they have not only radically switched their outfits but also incorporated 90’s alt-rock and nu metal into their eclectic mix. All this while staying true to their identity. We are delighted to welcome the incomparable FONTAINES D.C. to Way Out West!
Crate-digging music tends to primarily cater to, you guessed it, crate-diggers. And while KHRUANGBIN most certainly can be labelled obscure, musical globe-trotters they have managed to maneuver their love for south Asian music, psych-funk, dub and Middle Eastern sounds – just to name a few – into a fusion that is not only honest, substantial, and indisputably contemporary but also irresistibly cool. So, despite having a name that many consider hard to pronounce and playing music that is mostly instrumental, this Houston trio has had one of the biggest breakthroughs of the last decade gathering millions of streams each month, touring arenas and becoming darlings of music fans all over the world.
After experimenting with introducing more vocal melodies on the album ‘Mordechai’ from 2020, ‘A La Sala’ from earlier this year marks a return to the origins of the band. A return to the minimalist yet cosmically connected interplay between guitarist Mark Speer, bass player Laura Lee and drummer Donald Johnson! Please welcome the mysterious Texan trio KHRUANGBIN to Way Out West!
WET LEG makes, according to themselves, “sad music for party people, and party music for sad people” – a manifesto that is curiously accurate. Formed at the top of a Ferris wheel on the Isle of Wight, the two best friends Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers took the world by storm with their self-titled, instant classic debut album from 2022. A weird, silly, humouristic and irresistibly catchy record where WET LEG blew new life into indie-rock. A feat that not only earned them joyous reviews, two Grammys, two Brit Awards but also won them the love of fans all over the world. Much like on tape, WET LEG on stage is riotously enjoyable experience and this summer Way Out West will get to experience just that!
If you are looking for a place to stay for Way Out West Festival, then check out our interactive accommodation map below. Just add in the dates you want to stay and venue and you will be able to see what’s available nearby!
If you also need to find a flight to get you there, try our flight search feature below!
