NeoAncients in 2025

by Robin Layfield | Amplify Stroud

NeoAncients is back. After last years successful run of events, NeoAncients is returning to Stroud this May from Friday 2 May to Sunday 4 May, with an eclectic mix of performers and speakers from Stroud and far, far beyond.

The listings are now out and it is great to see the return of Jeremy Deller (a highlight of last year), Boss Morris, the Weird Walk, Tatum Swithenbank (producer of BBC Radio's Witch podcast) along with local additions Emma Kernahan, Sacha Coward and Mermaid Chunky to name a few. This year looks like it's going to be even better and here at Amplify Stroud we are all here for it!

We covered the festival extensively last year - something about its spiritual, folk, countryside-focus and effortless weirdness really chimes with us.

Read on and whet your appetite for the festival.

This hotly anticipated event brought together performances from internationally renowned artists, musicians, authors, actors, poets, comedians and DJs.

Over three days, they came together to explore Folk Culture, the traditions and customs of the past and their interweaving with our present and future, and the space between the real and the imaginary.

An unusual festival, perhaps for a sleepy little town in the countryside. But - as they say these days - not unusual for Stroud. This is a town that's no stranger to non-conformism.

Its (literally) riotous riotous industrial heritage has given it a brisk trade in radical ideas as well as red cloth, and woven its local stories into global ones.

NeoAncients - the interview

It would have been hard to miss the drumming, or the sound of singing, but the keen eyed would also have spotted a circle marked out in salt, an altar, containing a figurine of a cotswold british-romano goddess: Cuda.

AmplifyStroudEmma Kernahan

— Emma Kernahan | Dialect

The idea of [the tools of] music production being claimed by the public (instead of a handful of music producers) and taking young people out of the city into the countryside, felt — strangely — very British.

It felt like the connection between those ancient folk traditions like Harvest Worship & Celebration, Morris Dancing, Straw Bears, Apple Tree Wassailling and Maypole Dancing suddnely didn't seem so very far away from the raves of the late 80s ‘Summer of Love’ and what we have now — the more contained ‘safe’ events: the British Summer Music festivals.

“Everybody in the Place” — Jeremy Deller at NeoAncients Review

Jeremy Deller has a way of speaking that makes you feel comfortable, interested, informed and entertained all at the same time.

AmplifyStroudantenna

— Siobáin Drury | Artist / Maker

Either way, everybody there meant business. Someone sitting in front of me leaned over to a friend: ‘How do you find out who all the witches in Stroud are?’ she said, partly to the room. ‘You organise this, and they all show up!’ Over the laughter somebody squeezed along the packed row to find the last empty seat. ‘I've been summoned’ she said, and shoved her Aldi bag for life under her chair.

Just like the series, the event was warm and open, creating something that felt more like a gathering than an audience.

Like the series, or like witchcraft itself, it deftly occupied the space between light and dark, magic and science, humorous and radical, leaving you questioning whether there is really any divide there at all.

“The Power of Radical Kindness” — Witch at NeoAncients Review

The witch has held a place firmly in our imagination for centuries - from whispered warnings in folklore to pop-culture driven heights.

AmplifyStroudEmma Kernahan

Emma Kernahan | Dialect

A quick wander round the high street of Stroud tells us exactly why the festival was held here — this town is a hub of “neo-ancient activity.”

There is a Goddess Temple tucked away on London Road, the hills are scattered with Round Houses and Sacred spaces and any notice board will have something advertising foraging classes, community farms and organic veg.

It is also a conversation that, like everything, has its shadow. Within Stroud there is a class divide, underacknowledged cultural appropriation, hyper-individualist conspiracy logic and nostalgia-tinted conservatism / traditionalism that easily develops into something far more sinister.

Reflections on Subculture: NeoAncients

It’s the final day of the Subculture festival hosted by the Sub rooms - this year’s theme: “Neo-Ancients”. At a time when pre-Christian, Pagan and folk culture is rearing its head from the misty hills of history, this is an exploration into how and why.

AmplifyStroudRoma Robinson

Roma Robinson | The RYSE

NeoAncients is running across Stroud over the first weekend of May.
Weekend, Day passes and Event tickets are available here:

https://neoancients.com/

Amplify Stroud is supported by Dialect rural writers collective. Dialect offers mentorship, encouragement and self-study courses as well as publishing.

You can find out more at https://www.dialect.org.uk/