Kevin Ashburn
Running between two of Leicester’s finest independent venues, the legendary Firebug and the delightfully stripped back Duffy’s Rock Bar, Crowded has been serving the good stuff to the often overlooked and underappreciated city for years. Now, at the back end of the festival season, as the nights grow a little darker, they’re gearing up for another year packed full of cemented cult heroes and those on the brink of greatness. Here we take a look at five acts on this year’s line-up that we implore you not to miss.
Independent Trucking
Representing their home city, the progressive sludge trio Independent Trucking bring their hypnotic riff assault to this year’s proceedings. While still in their relatively infancy as a project, their CV is impressive, with appearances at Tonehenge and support with the likes of Nordic Giants in 2026 alone. Independent Trucking could find themselves on the verge of breaking out if they carry on expanding on their intense live show. Independent Trucking opens the Duffy’s Rock Bar stage at 2:15pm.
Codespeaker
The UK is blessed with an array of post-metal brilliance, and Codespeaker are more than holding up their end of the bargain. The Edinburgh 5-piece have been slowly garnering a reputation as one of the most intense live bands on the circuit, taking a bludgeoning approach to the subgenre with heartbreaking emotional fervour. If you like your post-metal raw and all-encompassing, Codespeaker is a must see at Firebug at 3pm.
Million Moons
As blessed as we are in the post-metal world, the British post-rock scene is bursting at the seams with world-class talent. Million Moons feel like the next big secret to be spilt. Armed with their spectacular new album You Be Good, I Love You, the Londoners expertly balance cinematic soundscapes with driving riffs that are built for breaking hearts in basement clubs and festival mainstages alike. Bring a pocket full of tissues to Duffy’s at 3:45pm.
Wildernesses
Quite possibly the most anticipated set of the day, Wildernesses are riding the crest of a wave since the release of their incredible debut album Growth earlier this year. Blending sumptuous shoegaze with warm, sundrenched art rock, the Londoners have been turning heads over the last year and gracing stages up and down the country to universal praise. Walking onto the Duffy’s bar stage at 6:45pm, make sure to get down early or risk missing out!
Pupil Slicer
Closing out proceedings, Pupil Slicer needs no introduction. Since their blistering debut, Mirrors, the mathcore cult heroes have amassed a devoted following that has seen them grace stages at the likes of Download, RADAR, Arctangent, and a tour later this year with the mighty Converge. There could be no other band that brings this day to a riotous close like the Slicer crew will, adding another rung to their ever-growing ladder in the process. Pupil Slicer play at Duffy’s Rock Bar at 9:30pm.