Neil and Sherry review the High Tide Festival held in Twickenham Sunday 27th July 2025:
Once again, thousands of people poured into Twickenham to attend one of the most well-organised and expertly curated FREE festivals anywhere in the UK. As we strolled down from Twickenham Station, everywhere we looked there were more groups of people of all ages and backgrounds heading into the centre of town. It was an inspiring sight and got us straight into the right frame of mind for the day’s entertainment. What follows is only a tiny snapshot of what happened at the High Tide Festival. The event, which Eel Pie Records’ Kevin Jones has been putting together with gradually widening ambition and participation since 2019, has multiple stages, some outdoors and others in pub venues etc. He is ably assisted by his co-curator Leila Jones who also handles the artist liaison. We only had a few hours but, where last year we stayed at the Main Stage all afternoon, this year we tried to get around different venues and to get the full flavour of this most diverse and unique gathering.
NEIL: We kicked off by dropping into The Rose and Lion since we knew our friend and fellow musician Alex Laertis was running and engineering the stage for the day (as well as performing with a duo version of his band The Thieves later in the day). So we had the opportunity for a chat with Alex and to meet Zak, the singer from his band (who kindly took this pic) before heading into the throng!
SHERRY: Twickenham is always full of colour and character, but seeing it transformed for the High Tide Festival was something special. The streets were buzzing with music, laughter, and community spirit. It felt like the perfect place for a music celebration. We met up with Alex and kicked things off for the day.
L to R: Alex Laertis, Neil & Sherry (Sherin) @ The Rose & Lion, Twickenham
SHERRY: It was amazing to see a band made up entirely of talented women absolutely owning the Main Stage. Colectiva brought a powerful, vibrant energy that instantly lifted the crowd. Their sound was rich and alive; full of rhythm, colour, and confidence. I loved how naturally they connected with the audience, and you could feel how much they enjoyed playing together. It wasn’t just music. It was a whole mood. Inspiring, joyful, and unforgettable.
NEIL: Next we headed into the heart of the festival’s location, stopping briefly to look at some of the many food and merchandise stores and kiosks and the amazing variety of indie cafes and restaurants. Pretty soon we found ourselves at the Main Stage where Colectiva were playing. This group of top-notch female musicians cooked up a musical storm; albeit a storm of sun and summer vibes with their Afro-Latin Funk and Jazz style. Their line-up of Cat Eden(Trombone), Allexa Nava (Alto Saxophone), Alley Lloyd (Bass Guitar), Eliane Correa (Piano), Lilli Elina (Percussion) and Lya Guerrero (Drums) oozed musicianship and creativity. From uptempo Afrobeat/Jazz vibes to sweet Latin grooves, sometimes all instrumental with some mouth watering improv, other times exuding goose-bumping vocal harmonies, the standard never fell below outstanding. When Alley invited the audience to participate with some well-drilled clapping, they responded with unsurprising enthusiasm. Throughout their set, their fluid, virtuosic playing and their joy in what they do was infectious and invigorating. My favourite of all the acts we got to see and hear.
NEIL: As we made our way through the crowds, we found ourselves watching the intriguing but unlisted German-style Oompah quartet who, with some keen detective work, we eventually worked out were the internationally acclaimed Die Dorf Fest Kapelle (aka @oompahband on Instagram). This group of two women (on Alto Saxophone and Trumpet respectively) and two men (on what could be Tuba or Euphonium, hard to be sure which, and Side Drum/Tambourine respectively) gave us a refreshingly unusual take on some classic tunes including the Bee Gees’ Tragedy. Their cheery, highly musical style seemed perfect for the sunny open air atmosphere of High Tide and the size of the crowd that gathered for them spoke for itself. Highly entertaining. And it would be remiss of me not to mention how cool it was to see a Tuba (or maybe Euphonium!) player with a cool Punk-style light blue and white Mohican to complement the German Lederhosen look. Top class.
SHERRY: I wasn’t expecting to stumble across a German style band like Neil said in the middle of Twickenham, but that’s the kind of magic High Tide delivers. Die Dorf Fest Kapelle were a total surprise and such a fun one! Their playful twist on classics had everyone smiling, and the mix of instruments really stood out. I loved how effortlessly they connected with the crowd. It felt spontaneous and joyful.
Die Dorf Kapelle Fest (DDFK) @ High Tide Festival 2025
SHERRY: Even though we couldn’t get close enough for a good view, the energy coming from For Breakfast’s set at The Eel Pie was impossible to miss. Their sound filled the room with emotion, and you could tell they were pouring everything into it.
NEIL: We then decided to check out one of our favourite lunchtime spots in Twickenham, The Eel Pie pub. There was an impressive crowd packed into the restaurant area where we could hear a passionate and energetic set taking place courtesy of North Londoners For Breakfast. We could not get close enough to take any pics sadly but the catharsis and intensity came over in spades. A band to check out.
NEIL: Our next stop was The Basement Door Stage. I had heard a lot about the grassroots supporting activity of The Basement Door from one of the students I tutored at the University of Surrey in late 2024. Here we found the astonishing young guitar hero Phoenix. Looking into Phoenix’s recent history, including a 2023 interview on BBC Radio London, I surmise that he is either 11 or recently turned 12. In the space of 4 years, he has learned to play at the top standard of leading adult professionals.
This afternoon, he demonstrated this by kicking off with renditions of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile and Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love. He was aided and abetted by an accomplished young band consisting of a gutsy and expressive singer plus clearly accomplished Bass Guitarist and Drummer. But there was no question that Phoenix was the star of the show, running around the stage, coming down to audience level, climbing onto podiums and working up the crowd with his rabble rousing antics and astonishingly virtuosic lead guitar play. This kid is going to be a star. He is already endorsed by Marshall (which, no pun intended, speaks volumes!) and is grabbing the attention of the media.
SHERRY: I was completely blown away by Phoenix. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. So much power, skill and presence from someone so young. His guitar playing was electric and the way he moved around the stage had everyone hooked. Honestly, it made me want to start guitar lessons myself. Phoenix is pure inspiration.
Phoenix and his band @ The Basement Door Stage, High Tide Festival 2025
SHERRY: We then got our food which was garlic prawnies. Those prawns really had me suspicious they were huge! I kept asking Neil, “Are we sure these are real?” Turns out they weren’t exactly prawns after all, but whatever they were, they tasted absolutely lush with that garlic sauce. Sitting in the sun, eating our food while Shniece & Run Come Down played in the background; it was one of those perfect festival moments. Her voice was beautiful and full of soul, and the Reggae rhythms gave everything such a warm, easy energy.
NEIL: We decided to make our way back to the main stage via the area with the greatest concentration of food kiosks; both of us ordering a mix of the biggest prawns (Prawnies!) I have frankly ever seen with some mushrooms and potatoes all in a rather rich garlic sauce! Oops! Sherry was doubting whether the prawns could be real, so enormous were they! Having done some digging, I think she was correct. I found ‘Prawnies’ described as ‘Seafood Macrae Imitation Prawn Tails’! As far as I can fathom, they are a hybrid of seafood ingredients but all natural and no additives. Hmmm, well they tasted amazing anyway!
While we found somewhere to sit and tuck into our rather decadent lunch, we were entertained by some lilting Lovers’ Rock and sumptuous Reggae vibes from Shniece & Run Come Down. Shniece was on good form, working the crowd and expressing no shortage of love for them, the venue and the town. Her band provided a spine-tingling mix of Reggae that respected the roots traditions of Jamaica but also showed a love of the UK’s own sounds from a lineage that goes back to when Dennis Bovell first delivered his defiant riposte to Jamaican musician friends’ mockery of UK Reggae and includes everyone from Janet Kay and Black Slate to Misty-In-Roots and Steel Pulse. Shniece’s sound is, of course, more contemporary and has common ground with the likes of Hollie Cook, Aleighcia Scott and Royal Blu (and it subsequently turns out that she has worked with the first two of that trio). Her soulful, soaring vocals scythed their way through the mix and floated effortlessly through the festival air. Perfect summer vibes mixing in with the smoky smells of freshly cooked food and the refreshing fizz of my sparkling water!
Shniece & Run Come Down @ Main Stage, High Tide Festival 2025
NEIL: After this, we waited patiently at the Main Stage for Britpop era legends Dodgy who were due on at 4.40PM. Sadly, by 5.05PM, there was still no sign of them and Sherry had to get back for an evening event in Basingstoke. I had intended staying longer after seeing her to the railway station but, with a headache fast developing, my phone about to die and no contact from any others we had planned to see at the festival, I took the decision to leave too. I also faced a longer-than-usual journey due to the route I was forced to take thanks to engineering works on my train line. So, with a stop at Sainsburys Local at Twickenham Station for a cold drink and headache tablets, we headed for Clapham Junction where we would take our respective trains home (or part of the way home in my case!). My phone finally died as I attempted to reply to a text but by this time I was on the 484 bus heading back to Ladywell. At least I was forced to enjoy the scenic route home and to note how many other outdoor events seemed to be happening across South East London on this final Sunday in July. Even when I got off the bus in Ladywell Village, I could hear music and crowd noise drifting through the air from somewhere in Lewisham! It felt like the whole of London was enjoying the party vibes. Nice way to round off a thoroughly enjoyable day, made all the more so by Sherry’s lovely, inspiring company.
SHERRY: As we waited for Dodgy, I kept watching the crowd; people still smiling, kids dancing, street food smells drifting through the air. Even though I couldn’t be there to enjoy more, it didn’t feel like a letdown. The day had been packed with so many unexpected moments, from powerful performances to joyful street corners full of music. On the train to Basingstoke, I felt that kind of tired that only comes from a good day out; sun soaked, music filled, and shared with lovely people. High Tide had such a special atmosphere. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
People arriving at High Tide Festival 2025 earlier in the afternoon
Although we sadly did not get to see our friends Alex Laertis and Zak play a live stripped down The Thieves set, we did receive a very honest report and a short video clip from Alex. He was quite self-critical with regards to his lead guitar play (he is usually the band’s Bass Guitarist) although, knowing what a fine musician he is, I suspect the audience’s verdict would have been a lot more positive. He was, however, pleased with his harmonica play and Zak’s vocals and, judging by the clip we received, rightly so because he was bending and stretching the notes like a classic Blues player while Zak was in strong, expressive voice.
Alex was on lead acoustic guitar and harmonica with Zak on acoustic rhythm guitar and lead vocals. Their set included unreleased tracks Black Lipstick Stain, Ain’t My Game, Empty Bottle and Don’t Want To Wait Until Tomorrow plus Never Enough from their debut EP, all of which are due to be released on their forthcoming album If Chaos Had A Lover (which is a great title by the way). Without the usual full-on Rock and Roll band behind them, this stripped down version of The Thieves amplified the extent to which the songs are rooted in Blues. The clip we heard certainly confirmed this and the sound was punchy, earthy and energetic.
L TO R: Alex Laertis & Zak of The Thieves @ The Rose & Lion, High Tide 2025
Alex, being the sound engineer and stage manager for The Rose & Lion all day and evening, also got to meet my (Neil’s) old friend Errol Linton who was headlining that stage with his Errol Linton Blues Band. It has been decades since Errol and I briefly played in MSQ together and continued to regularly hang out into the early nineties. So I am grateful to Alex for taking the time to reconnect us. I would love to have stayed to see Errol but he was on late in the evening. I will make the effort to go and see him in London soon though. I gather his set was as captivating as the live clips I have seen online suggested it would be. He has always been an amazing performer and one of the finest harmonica players in the UK with a deep love and appreciation of the Blues that has been the case since he was a teenager. I still have the superb cassette mixtape Errol made for me back in 1988 with Blues on one side and Ska on the other. A cherished memento from my younger years.
Alex also sent us a short video clip as evidence of the energy, charisma and musicianship Errol and his band brought to the occasion. The below pic is a screenshot from that video.
