MUST-SEES | Reeperbahn Festival 2025
- SHOWGRAPHERS
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
With its 20th edition, Reeperbahn Festival 2025 once again proves why it’s Europe’s most exciting space for discovery. Across four packed days, Hamburg’s St. Pauli will host hundreds of acts — from buzzed-about newcomers to scene-shaping veterans — in clubs, theaters, and makeshift venues that transform the neighborhood into one giant sonic playground. It’s the kind of festival where you go in with a plan and inevitably stumble across your next obsession by accident.
Some of our must-sees have already been featured in our coverage — Balancing Act, Florence Road, Getdown Services, Honey I’m Home, Just Mustard, Salvana, and The Buoys are all high on our list this year cause we have already seen them live before and they didn't disappoint. But the lineup runs deep, and plenty of other names are demanding attention. Here’s who else we’ll be racing between venues to catch.
BED
This London-based trio crafts dreamy yet unsettling alt-pop, balancing intimate vocals with off-kilter production. Their songs feel both fragile and daring — perfect for a late-night set that lingers long after it ends.
Big Special
Raw, brash, and steeped in punk urgency, Big Special deliver political anthems with a working-class bite. Expect a show that’s part catharsis, part rallying cry, and impossible to ignore.
Boko Yout
Boko Yout brings infectious rhythms and sharp storytelling, weaving grime and dancehall influences into his high-energy performances. His sets are a reminder that hip-hop can be as socially incisive as it is party-starting.
Carpetman
With woozy guitars and melancholy-tinged melodies, Carpetman trades in introspective indie that’s as nostalgic as it is forward-looking. A band for those who like their hooks bittersweet.
Carsick
Playful and chaotic in equal measure, Carsick turn everyday frustrations into spiky punk anthems. Their live shows are full of humor and sweat — punk as protest, but with a grin.
Full Flower Moon Band
Hailing from Australia, Full Flower Moon Band conjure a heady mix of glam, psych, and theatrical rock. Their sets are pure spectacle, balancing swagger with real emotional heft.
Lézard
French newcomers Lézard specialize in jagged post-punk grooves wrapped in icy, magnetic cool. There’s a sharp edge to their music that feels tailor-made for dimly lit Hamburg clubs.
Night Tapes
Atmospheric and hypnotic, Night Tapes blur dream pop with electronic textures. Their sound drifts between reality and reverie — a perfect soundtrack for the festival’s twilight hours.
Really Good Time
Don’t be fooled by the tongue-in-cheek name: Really Good Time are serious about fun. Expect disco-punk energy, razor-sharp riffs, and a party-starting spirit that refuses to quit.
Slate
Cardiff’s Slate bring brooding, slow-burning post-punk that builds tension until it snaps. Their commanding presence and poetic lyricism promise one of the most intense live moments of the festival.
Soft Loft
Gentle and melodic, Soft Loft create tender indie-folk that feels both intimate and universal. Their harmonies and understated arrangements invite quiet reflection amid the chaos of Reeperbahn nights.
Them Flying Monkeys
This Portuguese outfit thrive on psychedelic grooves and explosive energy. With improvisational spirit and a touch of chaos, their shows are unpredictable — and all the better for it.
unpeople
Mysterious and genre-fluid, unpeople shift from gritty alt-rock to electronic experimentation with ease. They’re the kind of act you stumble upon and can’t stop talking about afterward.
Wah Wah Wah
As playful as their name suggests, Wah Wah Wah deliver an art-rock punch full of eccentric twists and sharp edges.
Witch Post
Dark, abrasive, and unflinchingly honest, Witch Post channel riot grrrl energy into jagged punk catharsis. Their shows are raw statements of defiance — and not to be missed.