Bearded Theory is a multi-award winning creative and performing arts festival set in the beautiful grounds of Catton Hall in the heart of the National Forest. The festival borders 3 counties of West Midlands, South Derbyshire and Staffordshire and only 2 hours away for 50% of the UKs population.
In 2014 they won “Promoter of the Year” award at the UK Festival Awards in London and Festival Kidz “Silver Award”. In 2013, after being shortlisted for many years, they won “Best Small Festival” at the UK Festival Awards and a Festival Kidz “Gold Award”. In 2011 they won the “UKs Best Independent Festival” at the AIM Music Awards. Over the years we have also been shortlisted for many awards including Best Family Festival, Best Grassroots, and Best Toilets.
The festival has been recognised in the National press as being one of the best festivals of the summer in various articles in the Guardian, Express, Sun, Independent, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 1, Channel 4, BBC Entertainment and the Mirror. They also have an award winning free Children’s Village along with an award winning bar selling real ales, lagers and ciders at pub tariffs. In addition the festival is one of the very few festivals that allow you to bring your own drink into our arenas.
The festival has always been audience led and our programming is operated the same now as when they started 8 years ago. They book acts off the back of your recommendations, improved our infrastructure in line with feedback and sourced the vendors and bars off the back of the suggestions of people that attend.
3 Daft Monkeys
Astralasia
Attila the Stockbroker
Audio Addictz
Bad Manners
Beans on Toast
Benji 303
Billy Bragg
Black Uhuru
Blyth Power
Chris Liberator & Sterling Moss
Cockney Rejects
Crystal GEF
Darkcity Sistas
Dirty Vertebrae
Doctor and the Medics
Doghouse
Drum Mahine
Dub Pistols
Ed Tangent (DJ)
Engine, Ears
Fairground Accidents
Flutatious
From The Jam
Glowbones
Indigo Herder
Jack Savoretti
John Otway Big Band
Juno Reactor
Killing Joke
Levellers
Loop Guru
Lucas
Mad Dog Mcrea
Mad Mick (DJ)
Mado et les Freres Pinard
Man Made Man
Merv (Eat Static) - DJ set
Moulettes
Mutated Pony
New Town Kings
Niteworks
OOOD
OTT & The All Seeing Eye
Please Y Self
Pog
Popes of Chillitown
Public Image Ltd. (PiL)
Red Monroes
Rev Phil Dread
Reverend And The Makers
Senser
Sheelanagig
Skerryvore
Skipinnish
Stevie - One Bloke One Mandolin
Strontium Dogs
Subgiant
Subhumans
Talisman
The Filaments
The Orb
The Roughneck Riot
The Sporadics
The True Deceivers
The Tuts
The Uke Ellington Orchestra
Turin Brakes
Ushti Baba
Wilko Johnson
Will Tun and The Wasters
Wonk Unit
Bearded Theory festival information & FAQs
Ticket Information
Travelling to/from the festival
By Car
From the North:
Follow the M1 Southbound and exit onto the A38 at Junction 28, heading West for Burton / Birmingham. Keep travelling until you pick up the AA road signs, which will exit you at the Alrewas / Rugely / Tamworth A513 turnoff. Follow the signs to the festival.
From the West or South (a):
From the M5 (from the West) or the M40 (from London ), take the M42 Northbound. Between Junctions 8 and 9 take the M6 toll road and exit at T4 onto the A38 Northbound. Follow AA roadsigns which will exit you at the Alrewas / Rugely / Tamworth A513 turnoff. Follow the signs to the festival.
From the South (b):
Take the M1 from London , and exit at Juntion 24, following the A50 to Stoke. After a few miles you will exit onto the A38 to Burton. Follow the BAA road signs which will exit you at the Alrewas / Rugely / Tamworth A513 turnoff. Follow the signs to the festival.
Map of Hotels near festival site
Click the map to open a fully interactive map of all nearby hotels. Please check location and dates before booking.
The history of Bearded Theory festival
It all started in 2007 as a birthday celebration in a field behind a pub and a good time was had with a group of friends performing which included the 3 Daft Monkeys. It was decided to do the party again the following year but for charity. The friends in attendance still remain a key part of the team including Main Stage Manager, Magical Sounds curator, Main Stage Compere, Operations Manager, Build Team, Children’s Area managers and of course the Birthday boy remains the organiser and Main Stage programmer.
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