Northern Irish alt-rock veterans Therapy? have been confirmed as the new Friday night main stage headliners for Takedown Festival 2026, following the unfortunate withdrawal of Phil Campbell and his band Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons due to Campbell’s ill health.
President @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday
The former Motörhead guitarist had originally been scheduled to perform a special Motörhead-focused set at the event. However, organisers confirmed that Campbell would no longer be able to appear, prompting a swift change to the line-up.
Festival organiser Kai Harris of Takedown Festival Ltd shared the update with fans, emphasising the priority of Campbell’s wellbeing: “As you will have heard, Phil Campbell has sadly had to withdraw from this year’s event. Phil’s health and family comes first of course and we are sure you will join us at Takedown Festival in wishing him a speedy recovery,” Harris said.
The promoter also expressed his excitement at the newly announced replacement, revealing that Therapy? hold a personal place in the festival’s story: “We are super grateful and beyond excited to announce a band very dear to our hearts that will be filling Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons’ very large boots. The very band I saw at a big venue 34 years ago, purveyors of the finest bouncy riffs and hooks to die for — the mighty… Therapy?”
Formed in the late 1980s, Therapy? remain one of the UK and Ireland’s most influential alternative rock bands, blending abrasive punk energy with melodic hooks and industrial textures. Fronted by Andy Cairns alongside bassist Michael McKeegan and drummer Neil Cooper, the trio built their reputation through landmark records such as Troublegum and Infernal Love. Their headline slot promises to deliver the band’s signature mix of thunderous riffs, dark humour and anthemic alternative rock.
Takedown Festival will return to Portsmouth Guildhall on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April 2026, once again transforming the historic venue into a multi-stage hub for modern heavy music. With three stages running across the weekend, the event continues its tradition of championing both established names and rising acts from across the rock and metal spectrum.
Alongside Therapy?’s headline announcement, organisers have also revealed a fresh wave of additions to the already stacked bill. Grumble Bee, the dark emo-rock project led by Jack Bennett, will perform on the Metal For Good stage on Friday. Meanwhile, successful applicants from the festival’s Amplead: Apply To Play initiative have been confirmed, with Blacklight Vice and Stone Soup joining the Friday line-up, while Monochrome will take to the stage on Saturday.
The weekend’s headline slot on Saturday will be filled by the mysterious masked rock collective PRESIDENT. Just ten months after their explosive live debut at Download Festival 2025, the enigmatic group will make their first-ever festival headline appearance at Takedown.
President @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday
Elsewhere on the bill, fans can expect a broad spectrum of modern heavy music, from cult favourites to fast-rising newcomers. Confirmed acts include The Wildhearts, Gnome, InMe, WARGASM, The Hara, As It Is, Graphic Nature, Mason Hill, Saint Agnes, South Of Salem, Wall, Mouth Culture, Vower and Lastelle among many others.
The Wildhearts @ O2 Academy Islington
With a diverse mix of alternative, punk, metal and experimental rock across its stages, Takedown Festival 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic editions yet, continuing the event’s reputation as a vital showcase for the heavier side of the UK’s music scene.
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