Future Days Festival 2026 Preview
Tastemaker festival Future Days returns; now extended to two days, with killer names featuring local heroes Gans, punk icons Warmduscher, techno giants SILVERWINGKILLER and a curtain raiser set by special guests Personal Trainer
Having had an edition so successful that Future Days has expanded from one day to two; compromising of October 16th and the 17th in the Crossing, Digbeth, it remains a proven training ground for future talent. Last year had hardcore spoken word Canadian band Piss; in what proved to be a “I saw these when they were first on the festival billing moment”, followed by industrial punk icons Gurriers and Man/Woman/Chainsaw, who have since gone on to sell out the Electric Ballroom in London ahead of debut album ‘Cannonball’. This was topped off by queer hyperpop icon Lynks and indie highlight Honeyglaze; in addition to a memorable show by shoegaze icon TTSFU.
This year it’s back and better than ever. Working Men’s club are electronic post punk, paired with Ulrika Spacek’s experimental rock there’s a real proving ground for genre-bending acts to dip between the dancefloor and the mosh pit at will. A young crowd; heightened and energetic, will pop off at any given moment – as evidenced by last year’s Gurriers, and Lynks fans throwing themselves into the mosh before he even gave the word go; praising his enthusiastic support. Adult DVD’s indie punk add a touch of class to the Saturday – a dance punk band from Leeds formed post pandemic with quirky characters and honest songs with a touch of randomness to their subject matter – eclectic sonic indie disco that dovetails to rock and acid house at the press of a button. Gans are from Birmingham themselves so will naturally attract a cult following just by being there – frantic and energetic with a high paced buzzy sound. Debut ‘Good for the Soul’pulsates the same way a Big Special or IDLES set might do – and having played more than 150 shows in 2025, their embracement of the power of connection really drives the audience in and keeps them there.
One of the bands that has escaped me for the longest time; in part due to clashes is the legendary Warmduscher. Formed in 2014 the Londoners were born out of a creative collision, a reportedly legendary live act that was not just a side project of prominent bands but a musical force that would carve out its own niche – from albums like ‘Kahki Tears’, ‘At the Hotspot’ and ‘Tainted Lunch’; the band are an unstoppable titanic force of a musical act – DIY spirit and effortless ability to blend genres fearlessly. Clams Baker Jr. is incredibly charismatic a frontman and they set out to prove that they don’t care what people think of them – they can’t really do anything else – so don’t just define them, embrace them and enjoy them for what they are.
At the opposite end of the Saturday is new to the scene 1000 Rabbits, who exist in the space between opposites and thrive off intimate and explosive sets. A Windmill-adjacent band that make off-kilter art pop and ‘Are We There Yet?’ really captures their sense of identity as a band crafting out their talent and space in the field. It’s a definitively warm opening statement of intent that shows their freedom of trust in each other – with the emotional pull of their live acts that make them impossible to resist. From Suffolk with the addition of Paolo; a guitarist in London who joined the likes of Laura’s violin, Liv’s synths and Luke’s relentless drumming, it’s a real match made in heaven of a series of artists that really amplify the quality and talent across the board – showing this festival’s strength in depth. If you’d pick one “I saw them before they were big” act at Future Days – it’s 1000 Rabbits – so get on board the hype train now.
SILVERWINGKILLER adds a high burst of techno to the Friday with the rave energy they’re sure to bring to the table and the indie band Personal Trainer give a special curtain raiser set. There’s also time for the Weird on Purpose stage; featuring the likes of Ollie Cook & The Hogwash, a returning figure from 2025, along with Irish shoegaze upstarts Pebbledash, Loum and Jazzcat.
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