Ten songs for your Desertfest London 2026 playlist

Desertfest London is a bit like Christmas for British people of a certain musical persuasion. It comes once a year, and you spend most of it drunk with the family. Instead of music about decking the halls or reindeer, though, you're more likely to catch someone singing ‘N.I.B.’ or claiming to be Iron Man after hours at The Black Heart. And instead of a traditional roast dinner, you've got virtually the entire world's cuisine within a stone's throw in the Camden markets.

I first went in 2017 for the day to see Sleep, then started doing the full weekend every year from 2022 onwards. By now, it's booked into the calendar as soon as the dates are announced. This year will be my second time covering the event for Diaries of Doom and my third time as an artist (more on that later), which I'm very grateful for.

If you see something on the merch table that catches your eye, consider doing without the next couple of beers and grabbing it there and then. It's one of the only ways artists make real money, and keeps live music alive just as much as buying gig or festival tickets, in an age of bands being shafted by streaming giants. Though I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here.

However, it's true that most of us stream, allowing us to discover and listen to an endless collection of art, so here's ten songs you can add to your playlists to get excited for the weekend ahead. There might be something new for you here and inevitably some old favourites. There's something from every stage, too... enjoy!

Clutch - Electric Worry (Sunday, 21:30, The Roundhouse)

It's about damn time we had Clutch at Desertfest, and in a few days their long-overdue headline slot will come to Camden Town. If there's one band on this bill that'll keep energy levels and anticipation high after three long nights and days of debauchery, Clutch are the one. Look no further for a rock n' roll party atmosphere at Desertfest; this will feel like a true main-event set. I've gone for Electric Worry partly for its iconic guitar/vocal intro, and the way it builds and explodes. The bluesy riffing is nothing short of irresistible, and the way the drums drive the song is masterful. Admittedly, that could apply to so many of their other songs. Vamanos, vamanos.

Gnome - The Gods Are Evil (Friday, 17:30, The Electric Ballroom)

Last time Gnome played at Desertfest, the wall of sweat and sea of bodies, mostly donning red pointy hats, hit you long before you'd even turned the corner to the gig room in the Underworld. If you were a couple of minutes late, you had no chance. They've earned a well-deserved slot at the Ballroom this time round, on what could be the biggest stage their proggy stoner rock has yet seen on this island. I was fortunate enough to see them a couple of times at the end of March. Amongst their feast of riffs, The Gods Are Evil stands out for its crowd interactivity. It's music to drink beer to, but also to occasionally stroke your beard/chin to, as their musicality is impressive and shows it's not all about the headwear. Let's have it.

Alunah - La Pucelle (Sunday, 20:30, The Black Heart)

La Pucelle is the first Alunah track with vocals from frontwoman Daisy Savage, who's been in the band for eighteen months. 2026, the band's 20th anniversary year, will not only be remembered by appearing at Desertfest (and Bloodstock in a few months) but also with new music. Preceding the 'Embers of Belief' split record, due out next month on Heavy Psych Sounds, La Pucelle takes a darker and heavier approach compared to the band's more recent output. Its twisting, spacey composition never stays still for too long and backs thought-provoking lyrics about Joan of Arc. In the interests of full disclosure, this is my band, but we're especially proud of this one.

Witchsorrow - Bacchus (Friday, 16:45, The Underworld)

Witchsorrow's traditional take on doom metal has seen them ascend to the upper echelons of the modern circuit. As UK festival regulars, they've amassed a healthy number of followers (or worshippers) via the power of Sabbathian darkness, who'll be poised to pack out The Underworld this week. Bacchus is Witchsorrow's first song in eight years, with a new album due out in July on Church Road Records. It sees the band do what they do best, with foreboding riffs and controlled drumming ushering in the dawn of a suitably grim new age for the band. In spite of the slow and apocalyptic nature of the music, their shows are always fun and full of presence, and their set will arrive as the beers truly begin to flow on the first day of the festival. Excellent!

Okay You Win - Beat Me Down (Saturday, 16:00, The Black Heart)

Rising grunge/desert rockers (and local boys) Okay You Win have earned a well-deserved spot at The Black Heart for this year's edition. Signing to the prestigious Blues Funeral earlier this year for their anticipated debut album, Beat Me Down is arguably the pick of their pre-release singles so far. A snarling, defiant rager with a driving swing to keep the song ticking, it's also home to some of Okay You Win's gnarliest riffs to date as it progresses, openly drawing from the early Soundgarden playbook. Dave Kirk’s vocals on top are delivered with pure conviction and roaring fire. I have three days on the road with these boys next month with my band Slump, and thoroughly look forward to hearing this one every night.

Sergeant Thunderhoof - Foreigner (Friday, 14:30, The Electric Ballroom)

Late additions to the Desertfest lineup, Electric Ballroom openers Sergeant Thunderhoof are worth booking the extra time off work and getting to London early for. Their last couple of albums have cemented their status at the top of the pile for UK stoner music, thanks to melodic, emotive songcrafting and inspiration drawn from English mythology. 2022's Foreigner could be considered a left-field pick, but it's a journey in the truest sense, from its energetic intro, to a beautifully soaring midsection, to its gut-punch of a close. It sums up almost everything they are about in a ten-minute blast. I'd be surprised if this cut makes it out on Friday, but you can be sure of a banging set regardless. Up the Hoof.

Ironrat - Burn (Friday, 17:15, The Dev)

Yorkshire riff lords Ironrat are a genuine hidden gem on this year's bill. Re-emerging from their slumber a few years ago, they've re-established themselves on the live circuit and their efforts have been rewarded with a slot at Desertfest. I've chosen Burn as my pick from 2025's 'Beneath It All'. The longest song on the album, it's an epic, mournful venture into the void with soulful vocal and guitar harmonies and carefully considered drumming, before it drops into glorious, headbang-inducing heavy metal worship with chugging riffs and pounding beats. Its crushing closing coda then rounds everything off satisfyingly. If you know, you know; if you don't, you know where to be this weekend.

The Grey - La Bruja (Cygnus) (Sunday, 17:15, The Underworld)

The Grey have been one of the most prolific live acts amongst underground UK circles in post-pandemic times, rewarded by appearances at major outdoor festivals such as Bloodstock, Arctangent and Download, all within the space of a couple of months. Their instrumental post-metal soundscapes leave a strong impression everywhere, with last year's 'Kodok' earning widespread critical acclaim. La Bruja particularly shines on an album that has consistently high standards, lulling in the listener as it gently evolves from section to section, its riffs and rhythms pounding away hypnotically. As a post-metal act they're a touch different from the typical Desertfest booking, but their overall vibe still completely fits the bill.

Hermano - Breathe (Friday, 20:30, The Electric Ballroom)

That's right, Friday night will be headlined with the one and only John Garcia (and his signature wail) leading the room! A true treat for desert rock aficionados, even a quick dive into his post-Kyuss catalogue proves his longevity, not that it needed proving. I've chosen 2024's Breathe for this list, as it marked their first new music in a decade and a half. Garcia's timeless wailing and the chunky stoner riffs speak for themselves. It's the sound of a band firing on all cylinders, but it's obvious to state that there's a certain novelty to having them here. If you had been born a month after Hermano's last UK performance, you'd be old enough to legally drink a freshly poured pint of Camden ale. There are no promises on when they might be back around for more.

Truckfighters - Desert Cruiser (Sunday, 17:00, The Roundhouse)

There's just something timeless about Desert Cruiser, right? That catchy chugging riff sucks you into the void and keeps you locked in. You know that the chorus line of 'I'm running out of fuel' is going to be one of the big singalong moments of the whole weekend, and the drop into the song's trippy break will, with certainty, set off a sea of headbanging. Any stoner rock playlist without this number is arguably incomplete. Truckfighters usually close with Desert Cruiser when I've seen them in recent years but it's astounding how much energy they maintain over their set lengths. They never seem to run out of gas before delivering this one with the raw fire it needs. Every time.

MN