Sarah L Dixon Writer

Gigantic Eve at The Old Globe Inn with Celeste

A brilliant evening making new friends, selling a few books and having a couple of ales in the beer garden, reunited with Shiiine friends – Julia, Emily, Roger and Dan and making new friends in Paul and Louise (introduced to me by Graham, my Sheffield gig friend, who had met them at Poppies gig).

We managed to get an earlyish night and the house Julia had found was ace and had lots of strange gates and statues in the garden.

Gigantic day

The Jim t-shirt had to be worn – my favourite t-shirt design for at least a couple of years! I met up with Richard (director) and we had a good catch up as we had never met before but I had sent my book across to him. He loves it! I love the fact no-one really knows what he looks like so he can wander around his own festival without being spotted and enjoy the bands, the crowds, the sun. He told me the line-up is already confirmed for 2027 – 1st May and will be announced on Friday 26th June when tickets will be available too. He was trying to hint to me about who might be booked without telling me, which was amusing. I have a line-up I am hopeful for and when I met Adam Mole at the merch desk later he would not tell me which were right but he said at least 2 of my guesses were correct. Exciting!

I am going to be involved in Gigantic next year but we are working out in what capacity, depending on what spaces are available and logistics. I will post more information when I have it and ticket links etc.

But, first Gigantic 2026…

Danny Bowden, Cud and The Utah Saints

It was a great bonus to wander in to get my bearings inside to have Laura run over to hug me and see Danny on the stage. We met at Shiiine last November, but Danny got in touch after Gigantic last year to ask me to send photos of him DJing with Bez, so we had been chatting on social media since then.

I grabbed some food and caught the end of a good Cud set and then danced my heart out to a blistering Utahs set. Dan and I were proper going for it! The Utahs are playing in Huddersfield in October and I am looking forward to their set in a smaller venue – sweaty and bouncy and intimate. Tickets still available for The Parish here:

Parish Events – UTAH SAINTS Tickets | Saturday 24 October 2026 at 19:30

Jim Bob & The Hoodrats

So, anyone who knows me well knows this will be a highlight for me, Jim and The Hoodrats were on great form. They sound the best they have ever done in my opinion and I kind of wished I was a bit further into the crowd but I was flagging a little bit by this time and temperatures were pretty high.

Now, I have to wait a long time for more Jim Bob – Jim Bob Christmas is the next time for me. The Sunday intimate matinee ones are sold out but the Saturday one still has some tickets for sale at the moment here:

Jim Bob Tickets | Saturday 05 December 2026 at 19:00

The Wonder Stuff

The Wonder Stuff always put on a great show. These are my bet for returning again next year – as Jim has already done two Gigantics in a row. I was sitting outside with mates made at a Rock City gig in 2023, Sarah and Jez and it was great to catch up with them, a little surreal to be catching up on a table next to some of the Stuffies but also lovely to just all be out in the space, I love it when the crowd feels safe enough to do this.

https://www.viagogo.co.uk/Concert-Tickets/Rock-and-Pop/The-Wonder-Stuff-Tickets

While I was catching up with Sarah and Jez near the merch desk Malc Treece came over and we said Hi! asked him if we could have photos with him and then asked if he would take a photo of me with Sarah and Jez. Such a lovely guy, is Malc, he once sent me a photo randomly of my book in his guitar case because he found it when he started rehearsing with The Stuffies again after a break.

Peter Hook & The Light

Then, I went back in to gather my books that I had forgotten to mention to anyone as I was too busy being at the festival to be in promo mode… Laney kept them safe for me and I went to collect these before everyone left and Peter Hook told me my feet still had some dancing in them. So, I went back in and brought friends with me to dance to the last 3 or 4 songs and I do have a big big love for New Order and Joy Division being Stockport-born.

I cannot wait for the announcements for Gigantic 2027 on 26th June!! Not going to tell you my dream line-up but I will tell you I am hopeful for Jesus Jones, Neds and EMF.