Renowned for its boundary-pushing ethos, independent label Transgressive returns to the Sunrise Arena with a hand-picked line up of genre-defying artists that embody their diverse and fearless creative spirit. This year’s bill blends long-standing label favourites with thrilling new talent, reaffirming Transgressive’s commitment to championing innovative voices and delivering unforgettable live experiences.
This year you can expect live sets from The Moonlandingz, Young Knives, Moonchild Sanelly, and The New Eves, alongside DJ sets from the legendary Erol Alkan plus Transgressive DJs, a perfect way to kick-off the first day of the festival.
The Moonlandingz bring their otherworldly live energy to Latitude, having evolved from the fictional world of the Eccentronic Research Council into one of the UK’s most captivating live acts. Their debut album Interplanetary Class Classics established them as masters of swirling juddering synths, wailing guitars, motorik stomp and extraordinary songwriting, earning critical acclaim.
Young Knives‘ return adds extra heft given they were one of Transgressive’s earliest signings, some two decades ago. Their Mercury Prize-nominated debut, Voices of Animals & Men, brought a refreshing take to the post-punk revival with killer pop songs like She’s Attracted To, Weekends and Bleakdays and The Decision. 20 years on, they remain central to artistic innovation and festival-thrilling in equal measure.
Moonchild Sanelly brings her boundary-breaking vision to the Sunrise Arena, having carved out a unique space in contemporary music through sheer determination and artistic fearlessness. The trailblazing South African musician’s signature future-ghetto-funk sound has earned collaborations with everyone from Beyoncé to Ghetts since joining Transgressive in 2020.
The New Eves represent Transgressive’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. The hotly tipped Brighton-based quartet create an incendiary mix of Patti Smith-esque radical poetry, rock’n’roll recklessness and freak folk experimentalism. Their unusual instrumentation and DIY spirit conjure what feels like a folkloric punk revival.
Erol Alkan brings decades of electronic music mastery to the decks. The legendary DJ and producer has been a pivotal figure in London’s scene since 1993, with his influential club night Trash hosting ground-breaking performances by LCD Soundsystem, Klaxons, Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Scissor Sisters until 2007. His masterful reworks, re-edits and productions have cemented his status as one of electronic pop music’s most respected figures.
Transgressive DJs round out the night, with the label’s collective of DJs, team members and artists representing the diverse musical community that Transgressive has cultivated over two decades of independent music excellence.
Last year’s Transgressive Takeover at The Sunrise Arena was really one of those magical occasions. From artists arriving to the stage via boat, to the stampedes of fans that ran to the woods to see what was in store, it truly was a celebratory time. When the festival invited us back for a second edition in 2025, we jumped at the chance. Bringing along friends old and new, this year’s edition is going to be just as eclectic and exhilarating. We’ll see you in the forest. – Toby L, Transgressive
With just three weeks to go until our 19th edition officially begins, there’s no time to hang about…
