If there were an award for the UK’s most effortlessly cool festival, Good Times would be a worthy front-runner. Nestled on the edge of the idyllic market town of Chipping Sodbury, the six-day event is cultivating a reputation not just for its stellar lineups, but for an atmosphere so relaxed it feels more like a weekend in a well-organised dream than a major music gathering.
Arriving in the town, the only clue that something extraordinary is unfolding are the discreet yellow signs pointing towards the festival site. But as you crest the final bend and catch sight of the main stage — flanked by an easygoing crowd drifting towards the gates — the scale of what’s happening begins to take shape.
Inside, the layout is as thoughtful as it is effective. A bar stretches so far along the perimeter that queues remain virtually non-existent, even at peak times. A rich array of food vendors offer everything from pizza to noodles. Clean, well-placed restroom facilities never feel out of reach, and a curated selection of sponsor stalls and an impressively stocked merch tent complete the circular setup. It’s clear the organisers have studied the highs and lows of other festivals — and refined the Good Times blueprint accordingly.
Day Three: Rock Royalty Ascends
Friday was dedicated to rock, and it delivered — hard. The lineup traced a line from rising local talent to established legends, all building toward a genuinely historic headline performance.
Opening proceedings were Bristol favourites IDestroy, a fierce three-piece led by hometown hero Bec Jevons. Their connection to The Bristol Gig Guide runs deep — they were the last band we interviewed before lockdown — and their set felt like a full-circle moment. Tracks like All My Friends Are Plastic and Headphones sounded even more urgent live, with bassist Nic Wilton-Baker and drummer Jenn Hills locking in behind Jevons’ razor-sharp vocals. With 400+ gigs under their belt across Europe and Asia — not to mention appearances at Download, Dot to Dot, and Punk Rock Holiday — IDestroy are no strangers to a big stage. And tonight, they owned it.
Next up: RXPTRS, a band we never tire of shouting about. With their genre-smashing blend of heavy riffs and melodic hooks, the Bristol five-piece tore into their set like men possessed. Tracks from their breakout album Living Without Death’s Permission remain thunderous live, but it was the new material — especially the punishing single The Grindhouse — that hinted at even bigger things on the horizon. Vocalist Simon Roach commanded the stage with venom and vulnerability, backed by the precision of Ian Chadderton and Harley Watson on guitars, Sam Leworthy on bass, and the ever-pummelling Mat on drums.
As the evening light began to fade, the stage welcomed So Good — and the energy spiked. The London-based collective, fronted by Sophie Bokor-Ingram, fuse hip-hop, punk, drill, and what they cheekily call “ignorant brat pop” into a performance that feels part protest, part party. Having supported tonight’s headliners on tour, So Good came into the set tight, fierce, and fully formed. From the pink balaclava-clad drummer to the kinetic choreography and politically-charged lyrics, they turned the festival into a dancefloor riot. In 2025, their message — and their swagger — hits hard.
Nostalgia and Noise: Republica Return
For this reviewer, Republica’s set was more than a highlight — it was a time machine. The first band I ever paid to see live, back in 1997, delivered a blistering reminder of their place in the Britpop pantheon. As frontwoman Saffron launched into Bloke, the crowd was instantly transported to the heady days of Cool Britannia. Singalongs to Drop Dead Gorgeous and Ready to Go reached near-religious fervour, while deeper cuts like Out of the Darkness gave long-time fans a moment to savour. Republica may have started in the ’90s, but tonight proved they’re anything but a nostalgia act.
Skunk Anansie: A Historic Album Launch in the Heart of the Cotswolds
And then came the moment that confirmed Good Times as something truly special.
Just days before the festival, it was revealed that Skunk Anansie would not only headline — they’d be launching their brand-new album The Painful Truth right here, in Chipping Sodbury. For a band of their international stature to choose this sleepy town for such a milestone was a coup for the festival, and the crowd knew it.
As silhouettes of guitarist Ace and bassist Cass emerged on stage, the roar from the crowd was deafening. But it was the arrival of Skin — as powerful and iconic as ever — that truly ignited the night. They launched into This Means War, a thunderous opening salvo, and didn’t let up. Charlie Big Potato and Because of You followed in rapid succession, the sound massive, the energy relentless.
From the new record, An Artist Is An Artist stood out immediately — a track that manages to sound unmistakably Skunk while pushing their sound into new territory. And when Skin dropped to the barrier during Weak, reaching out to fans with the kind of raw emotional connection she’s known for, it cemented the night’s magic.
Of course, a Skunk Anansie show wouldn’t be complete without its political charge. As ever, Skin didn’t hold back, railing against the state of modern Britain with righteous fury: “Yes — it’s fucking political.”
By the time Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good) rang out across the festival site, thousands of voices joined in, arms raised, eyes closed — a shared moment of catharsis under the stars.
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to overstate what a triumph this night was. For a festival still establishing its name on the national circuit, pulling off a world-class, album-launching headline set like this is nothing short of extraordinary. Good Times isn’t just another boutique festival — it’s rapidly becoming a must-attend celebration of sound, community, and attention to detail. And if this is the level they’re operating at in 2025, we can’t wait to see what next summer brings.
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
