One of those news stories that is both good and bad news simultaneously from the Takedown Festival team; Unfortunately due to Phil Campbell having ongoing health issues, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons have had to pull out of their Friday headline slot at Takedown Festival 2026.
As fairly last minute replacements go, we would say Takedown have done a very good job, as their new Friday headliners are Northern Irish alt rockers Therapy?. With over 30 years of tunes and having played festivals all over the world, Takedown have secured themselves an excellent replacement headliner. They join President in headlining the festival this year.
Kai Harris from the Takedown organising team had this to say:
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 all of us at Takedown Festival in wishing him a speedy recovery. We are super grateful and beyond excited to announce a band very dear to our hearts that will be filling Phil Campbell & The Bastards sons very large boots. The very first band I saw at a big venue 34 years ago, purveyors of the finest bouncy riffage and hooks to die for, the mighty… THERAPY?
There are also four other new additions to the line up – Grumble Bee, and three winners of the Amplead: Apply To Play scheme: Blacklight Vice, Monochrome and Stone Soup.
Takedown 2026 takes place at the Portsmouth Guildhall on April 3rd and 4th. You can find a full day-by-day, stage-by-stage breakdown of the line up for Takedown Festival 2026 below:
FRIDAY (03 April 2026)
Kerrang! Stage
Therapy?
The Wildhearts
South of Salem
Asomvel
Kill The Lights
Total Rock Stage
Gnôme
Wall
Gurt
King Kraken
Stone Soup
Metal For Good Stage
InMe
Grumble Bee
Devere
The Fear
Blacklight Vice
Tickets are on sale from the official festival website takedownfestival.com.
