News: Special Guests Announced For The Maccabees At All Points East

Ahead of The Maccabees’ landmark headline performance at All Points East on Sunday 24 August, a second wave of special guests has been announced, adding even more excitement to the Victoria Park show. Marking one of their first live appearances in eight years, the performance also coincides with the tenth anniversary of their acclaimed album Marks to Prove It and now, more brilliant acts will join the celebration; CMAT, Black Country, New Road, Everything Everything, Sorry, Katy J Pearson, Youth Lagoon, TTSSFU, Max Baby and The Juice.

Irish singer-songwriter CMAT (Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) has quickly become one of the most distinctive and charismatic voices in modern pop. Her debut album If My Wife New I’d Be Dead reached No.1 in Ireland and won the Choice Music Prize for Album of the Year in 2022, while its critically acclaimed follow-up Crazymad, For Me earned nominations for both the Mercury Prize and an Ivor Novello Award in 2024. Earlier this month, she shared “Take A Sexy Picture Of Me”, the defiant second single from her forthcoming third album EURO-COUNTRY, out 29 August.

An international pop star, songsmith, bug-fearer and self-declared “girlboss” of the Very Sexy CMATBand, CMAT is as witty and self-aware as she is talented. “Once, twice, three times a loser” at this year’s BRITs, Mercury and Ivors, she’s embracing the chaos and channelling it into EURO-COUNTRY, a record she promises will rectify these oversights in suitably dramatic style.

Emerging from Cambridge, Black Country, New Road first captured attention with their 2021 debut For the first time. The album’s ambitious blend of post-punk, klezmer and experimental rock earned widespread acclaim, landing the band a Mercury Prize shortlist nod and a growing reputation as one of the UK’s most vital new acts. Their follow-up, Ants From Up There, released in 2022, cemented their status as a singular force, charting at No.3 in the UK and receiving a chorus of five-star reviews.

In 2024, their buzz only intensified as they supported former All Points East headliners Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds across their UK and European dates. Their latest record Forever Howlong (2025) marks a bold new era with a shared vocal approach from members Georgia Ellery, Tyler Hyde and May Kershaw. Rich with sincerity and sonic evolution, it’s a moving testament to a band unafraid of reinvention.

Everything Everything, formed in Manchester in 2007, have built a reputation for electrifying live performances and intelligent, genre-spanning songwriting. Their recent album Mountainhead, released in 2024, continues their bold experimentation. Twice Mercury Prize-shortlisted and five-time Ivor Novello nominees, the band’s intricate soundscapes and sharp social commentary have made them one of the UK’s most consistently innovative acts.

North London’s Sorry bring a distinctive mix of post-punk, grunge, trip-hop and pop to the bill. The band’s debut album 925 was hailed for its daring and eclectic style. The Guardian described their sound as “just as likely to be inflected with 90s grunge as with jazz or trip-hop, thus defying traditional genre labels.”

Indie pop artist Katy J Pearson adds to the line-up with her warm, Americana-tinged sound. Known for her heartfelt songwriting and distinct vocals, Pearson has cited Kate Bush as her ultimate musical idol and counts PJ Harvey as both a friend and mentor.

Youth Lagoon, the moniker of American musician Trevor Powers, rose to prominence with his debut album The Year of Hibernation, a dreamy, lo-fi exploration of memory and emotion. Returning in recent years after a hiatus, his latest work continues to evolve his neo-psychedelic, ambient-pop sound.

TTSSFU (aka Tasmin Stephens) brings her dreamy blend of shoegaze and bedroom pop to the festival. Originally from Wigan and now a key name on Manchester’s DIY scene, TTSSFU has transitioned from crafting tracks on GarageBand to captivating live audiences with her lush, introspective sound.

French multi-instrumentalist Max Baby rounds off the newly announced names. Entirely self-taught, his music fuses 2000s rock nostalgia with modern electronic textures. His debut EP OUT OF CONTROL, INTO THE WALL, released in late 2024, introduced a singular sonic palette that bridges raw energy with digital edge.

Founded by brothers Joe and Jack from Preston, The Juice became a five-piece just before the pandemic lockdown. Now joined by another set of brothers, Ross and James, along with drummer Leachy, the band hails from Oldham and Manchester. Together, they have created a sound that blends the influence of North West British music legends like The Beatles, The Verve and The Stone Roses with New York giants The Strokes.

With this dynamic new wave of artists added to the bill, The Maccabees’ return to Victoria Park is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of the band’s legacy and the show of the summer.

Tickets available from www.allpointseastfestival.com

Brendon Veevers

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
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