BURN IT DOWN FESTIVAL + WIN 2 TICKETS

After winning Best Metropolitan Festival last year, Burn It Down Festival is back with a bang in 2025. Two full days of live music from some of the best hardcore, alternative & emo bands in the scene, set in the beach town of Torquay - it's definitely a weekend you won't want to miss.

We had a quick chat with founders BYP (previously Boneyard Promo) to chat a little bit about the inspiration behind the festival and what makes it unique.

You’re celebrating 10 years of BYP (Boneyard Promotions) this year. Congratulations! Can you tell us a little bit about how BYP got started and what was the original vision you had for it?

BYP was started in a small pub in a small town. We had a dream of seeing good, alternative bands here and the only way for that to happen was to book them. We knew there was a scene for it, if only we could get the shows put on. It’s so difficult, even now, to get bands down this way. Most touring circuits count Bristol as their southern date. But there’s so much to see in Devon and Cornwall, and I don’t want the kids that grow up here to not have the opportunity to see good live music. It’s so inaccessible to young people who don’t have the money for trains and accommodation. It’s important now more than ever to encourage a scene in the south west. 

You started BYHC last year, a division of BYP that focuses exclusively on bringing hardcore shows to the south-west. Why the focus on hardcore specifically, and who are some up-and-coming local acts you would recommend people check out?

BYHC felt like less of a pivot and more of a homecoming. Our first ever Boneyard show was a hardcore show in Torquay. There used to be a huge scene for it in Plymouth, with great shows from our friends OCHC, but as the years have gone on, we’ve seen less and less hardcore shows down here. Every year at Burn it Down the hardcore stage is electric with energy, and so we thought it was about time to focus on hardcore specifically. We’ve had some absolutely amazing local bands play BYHC shows so far; shoutout Reality Check, Fight The Champ, and Prison Wife to name a few.

Burn It Down festival is around the corner and this year has an absolutely stacked line-up. What inspired you to start the festival, and how have you gone about choosing the line-ups each year?

We feel so lucky to live here in Torbay, right by the beach with some amazing venues perfect for an indoor festival. We’re always thinking about what’s next and how we can make things bigger and better, so it was the natural next step after putting on small alternative shows. Choosing the line up is definitely one of the funnest parts each year. We try to focus on celebrating UK emo, hardcore, and alternative music. Going mostly off our own selfish wants and likes, the team are always sending each other songs and bands we like and want to see. 

It must have been a real proud “pinch-me” moment when Burn It Down Festival won Best Metropolitan Festival last year (congratulations, again!) How did the win influence how you approached this year’s edition of the festival?

We didn’t expect it at all, going up against incredible festivals. We are so so honoured, not only to be recognised in any capacity, but especially this award as it celebrates our location. It influenced us specifically to try and show off more of where we are, and try and communicate to people that maybe haven’t been to Burn It Down before, that it really is like a festival and a holiday all in one. With more boat parties this year, you get the chance to see the entire bay from out in the water. We really want to scream and shout about our vicinity to the beach and encourage our festival goers to bring their swimmers and get down the beach!

What would you say has been the most challenging aspect of setting up a festival like this?

Being an independent, grassroots festival with no third party funding means that our budget is water tight. Artist fees have pretty much doubled since last year, with the cost of travel for touring artists being close to unworkable. What is happening in the live music industry right now is a knock-on effect, that effects bands, ticket buyers, and venues alike. In addition to this, we have to work around strict exclusivity clauses from bigger festivals, which state bands can’t announce another show or festival within a certain time frame or distance. Not only does this stop small festivals like us from booking the bands we want, but it stops bands from doing what they really want to do: play shows.

In your opinion, what do you think makes Burn It Down unique compared to other similar festivals?

We are lucky to be in the beautiful English riviera, with the sea mere metres from where the bands play. We celebrate UK hardcore, alternative, emo and rock music across 3 stages all on one street. We offer boat parties on both days with BID alumni on the decks. With the addition of an indoor skate park and a wrestling show this year, we are really raising the bar of what is usually to be expected at a music festival. 

What have been some of your favourite memories from previous BID fests?

Too many to count. One year, we had Jaeger sponsor us; they sent so many bottles of Jaeger cold brew we didn’t know what to do with it. All the staff took one each after the festival and we all got so insanely smashed that it is still spoken about now with horror - it’s a legend within the team. Every year now on the Sunday once it’s all over, we have a team dip in the sea, which is the perfect reward after a whole year of hard work. Some other great memories include Being as an Ocean jumping from the main stage balcony, and Wargasm breaking the record for most crowd surfers at one time.

 

For people heading to Burn It Down Festival for the first time, what advice would you give to them to ensure they make the most of the weekend?

Buy merch from bands, it’s the easiest and most effective way to support them. Explore the town, go to the beach and get in the sea. Wear your sunscreen and bring your inflatables. Check out the bands you haven’t heard of before, every single band on the line up is worth seeing. 

Are there any dream headliners or bucket-list bands you’d love to book for a future Burn It Down line-up?

We would absolutely love to have Fiddlehead headline. Personally, I’d love to see Pest Control, Microwave, and Model/Actriz. Also, Basement, if you’re reading this, please come back, we promise we’re better since second year!

---

STAND A CHANCE TO WIN 2 x TICKETS TO BURN IT DOWN FESTIVAL 2025

• Sign up below (one entry per person/email address)

• Make sure to follow Burn it Down and Pins & Knuckles Merch on Instagram for festival updates

• Winners announced 19 August 2025

• Terms & Conditions apply

ENTER NOW