Live Report: End Of The Road Festival 2024
End Of The Road, one of the last of the summer soirees in the British festival calendar, has firmly established itself as a favourite among both artists and punters alike. An experience that unfolds in unexpected ways, you stumble upon the kind of eclectic performances that make this festival feel like a treasure hunt, it offers a blend of musical discovery and communal spirit that keeps people coming back year after year.
Thursday found NewDad – the first of a strong Irish contingent performing over the weekend – headlining The Folly, delivering a cover of The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven’. Oddly, the song appeared to be a theme over the weekend, as on the other end of the sonic spectrum, harpist Mary Lattimore claimed it as her favourite song, and with her set brought a serene, otherworldly calm to the festival. The astonishing musicianship of The Lemon Twigs were seen in two performances, one a late-night surprise set, covering The Beatles and The Beach Boys, hearts roaming freely through rock history.
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Palehound delivered beautiful solo performance, calling the crowd “inspiring” as they fed off the energy of the weekend’s festivities. Likewise, CMAT had the crowd in stitches during Friday her Woods Stage set. “You all have excellent taste,” she quipped, before sharing a tale of her love of the festival, even after thinking she had lost her bum bag under an air mattress. Complete with a bang-on Kate Bush cover, her humour and infectious energy kept the audience hooked – her charisma as powerful as her songwriting.
Lankum’s headline performance, set against the backdrop of the trees, was nothing short of unforgettable. What stands out most is the profound sincerity and intensity with which they deliver their music. Their lyrics and melodies resonate from a deeply emotional, and long historical place, with even the darker themes expressed in strikingly beautiful ways, imbued with such warmth. Apologising for the tuning required on their “ancient instruments, from a different eon, when summers were warmer”, they draw you in completely, creating a sense of safety and connection that makes their profound impact all the more powerful. Their set like so many others, showed the depth and range of talent End of the Road curates each year, perfectly in line with the festival as a whole – balancing tradition with an eye firmly set on the future. No apology necessary.
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A quintessential End Of The Road day might find you at the Talking Heads stage, catching Jeffrey Martin’s mesmerising Americana poetry, his hushed, heartfelt lyrics holding the crowd in quiet reverence. From there, you might drift to The Boat stage, where Still House Plants deliver their curious blend of off-kilter guitar playing, strange patterns, and remarkable vocals. Their sound is both disorienting and alluring, the kind of act that catches you off guard in the best possible way. In between musical moments, there’s time for laughter, where Fern Brady offers a lighter, yet no less necessary, pause in the day. A surprise treat comes at noon on Saturday with a secret Garden Stage performance by Julia Jacklin. She was surprised herself when she was presented with a birthday cake, adding a sweet moment of spontaneity to the day. As ever, the evenings at EOTR end with the festival’s signature silent disco, a reliable after-hours highlight that keeps the energy alive long after the headliners have finished.
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But it’s the Big Top tent where the energy really reaches its peak, with CASISDEAD’s sensational set. Bringing along a team of at least eight people (although by that late hour, my arithmetic could have been off), he unleashed tracks from his latest offering ‘Famous Last Words’, his performance brimming with intensity. The masked MC commanded the stage, his enigmatic presence amplified by visuals that perfectly suited his dark, Lynchian soundscape.
What truly sets End Of The Road apart, though, is its remarkable programming. While its roots remain firmly planted in indie music, the festival’s eclecticism is its consistent strength. In the course of an afternoon, you can find yourself in a beautiful moment of quiet intimacy, a burst of unexpected energy, or a performance that simply defies categorization (NB. Mermaid Chunky). It’s a place where every stage has the potential to surprise you, making the journey through Larmer Tree Gardens as exciting as the destination. This unpredictable mix of styles and sounds is what makes End of the Road feel like the perfect finale to the festival season—a celebration of music in all its forms, where the magic lies in the unexpected.
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Words: Fraser Johnston
Photography: Rachel Juarez-Carr, Burak Cingi
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