The bands behind Outbreak's success

From the very beginning, Outbreak have been known for supporting every level of success in the hardcore scene. From small acts just getting started, to those that have gone on the huge commercial success, Outbreak continue to support these artists along their journey by inviting them back to play for the festivals loyal crowd.

Veterans of Outbreak

Bands that are most closely associated with Outbreak are:

• Basement

• Higher Power

• Terror

• Citizen

• Drug Church

• Turnstile

• Fiddlehead

• Touché Amoré

Basement are this year closing the festival on Sunday night on the main stage, holding the headline set for the second time, as they did in 2024.

Formed in Ipswich in 2009, Basement are known for blending post-hardcore, melodic emo, and grunge influences into emotionally charged tracks. Their combination of introspective songwriting, heavy guitar riffs, and highly energetic live shows helped make them one of the most influential bands in the hardcore revival scene.  

Basement are also appearing on the lineup for All Points East headlines by Deftones in London’s Victoria Park in August.

Leeds-based hardcore band Higher Power have made multiple appearances throughout the Leeds and Manchester eras of Outbreak, being billed 4 times since 2018. They also played a brief unannounced set between bands in 2015, making them, unofficially at least, the band to have played Outbreak the most. Higher Power have a more expansive sound than traditional hardcore, blending aggressive hardcore with grunge and ’90s melodic rock influences.

Supporting the up-and-comers

Bands whose rise was heavily aided by exposure at Outbreak include:

• Higher Power — the most notable band to grow alongside the festival.

• Static Dress

• Loathe

• Scowl

• Zulu

• Drain

• Militarie Gun

Many of these bands started out low on the Outbreak card but returned to larger crowds as their reputation grew alongside the hardcore scene's revival. The festival has been known for spotting up-and-coming talent and giving them a spotlight to gain exposure. This also ties in with Outbreak's commitment to supporting diversity on its lineup, each year hosting more Female-led, mixed-gender, non-binary, and artists of different races.

Baltimore-based band Turnstile are one of the most notable acts to be booked before achieving huge success, including its UK live debut at the 2013 edition in Leeds. They returned as one of the headline acts in 2022 after massive success, later going on to win two Grammy awards for Best Rock Album for ‘NEVER ENOUGH’ and Best Metal Performance for ‘BIRDS’, showing that the staff at Outbreak have a keen eye for talent before the bands hit wider success.