Sheffield’s boldest and most immersive music event is back – and it’s bigger than ever. 

Rock N Roll Circus returns to Don Valley Bowl from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August, bringing together iconic headliners, jaw-dropping circus spectacle, and unrivalled Sheffield spirit for a four-day celebration that’s anything but ordinary.

Kicking things off on 27 August are Brighton indie rockers The Kooks, who burst onto the scene in the early 2000s with hit singles, Naïve and She Moves in Her Own Way. They will be followed on 28 August by The Streets, who will be performing their hit album ‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’ in full for the first time.

Wunderhorse have been operating under the radar for some time but make the leap to main stage to kick off the weekend celebrations on 29 August. The British rock band initially started as a solo project before frontman and songwriter Jacob Slate was joined by Harry Fowler, Pete Woodin and Jamie Staples. Woodin has since been replaced by Seb Byford.

He may be known as the frontman of the Verve but Richard Ashcroft’s solo career has perhaps outperformed much of the band’s back catalogue. With hits such as C’mon People, A Song for Lovers and Break the Night With Colour, as well as plenty of those Verve classics, he’ll close the weekend on 30 August, no doubt to rapturous applause. 

Rock N Roll Circus boasts an enviable  support list including Babyshambles, Baxter Dury, Cast, Embrace, English Teacher, Fat Dog, Milburn, Miles Kane and The Fratellis, although who is playing on what day is still to be confirmed. 

Further music performances will come from Gurriers, Hak Baker, Spanish Horses, The Molotovs and Villanelle.

But Rock N Roll Circus isn’t just about what happens on stage. It’s a full-scale experience, combining world-class live music with a full-on immersive circus show – think aerialists, fire breathers, jugglers, and walkabout performers woven seamlessly into the festival fabric. The expanded food and drink village brings the best of local traders and street food, while the Big Top creates an atmosphere unlike any open-air festival in the country.

Festival Director Ali O’Reilly says it best: “Rock N Roll Circus is all about creating something unforgettable – a wild blend of top-tier artists and surreal circus magic.”

Tickets for all dates are available now.