When we were weighing up this year’s European festivals, there was one lineup poster in particular that was hard to look past.
With a star-studded billing that included names like Pet Shop Boys, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Queens of the Stone Age, Iggy Pop, Little Simz and Fontaines D.C, Sweden’s Way Out West had managed to assemble one of the strongest and most diverse billings we’d come across in a while.
Set within the lush, picturesque surroundings of Slottskogen park, which sits slap bang in the heart of Gothenburg, it’s a truly gorgeous setting for a festival. With stages immersed in forests and on the shores of shimmering lakes, the site certainly scores high purely on its aesthetics.
Kicking the weekend off on the festival’s main Flamingo stage were 70s British funk pioneers, Cymande, whose unique concoction of soul, jazz, calypso and reggae combine for just about the perfect opener. Shortly after, the headline-grabbing rap trio of Kneecap draw yet another massive crowd in the cavernous, aircraft-hanger-like Linné stage. Politically-charged, brimming with energy and a whole lot of fun, it doesn’t take long for their electricity to course through the crowd, who become more raucous with each track and happily oblige calls for mosh pits to be formed throughout.
Fontaines, a band undoubtedly closing in on the pinnacle of their powers, are at their fascinating best, swaying between the angst of early hit Boys in the Better Land and euphoria of new crowd-favourite, Favourite. Later, Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop, eccentrically weaves an hour brimming with some of the most important rock tracks of all time — The Passenger, Lust for Life, and I Wanna Be Your Dog all kicking the crowd into a new gear.
Queens of the Stone Age sound impeccable beneath the setting sun, as Josh Homme and co power through a set of uber-sexy rock and roll anthems. Hardcore legends Refused, performing on the Swedish festival circuit for the final time, bow out in typically brash and brilliant fashion, while homegrown headliners, KITE, simultaneously put on a mesmerising spectacle over on the main stage.
One of the weekend’s big highlights comes over on the intimate and leafy Hoijden stage, Way Out West’s dedicated area for breakthrough and upcoming acts. CMAT, an artist in the midst of a rapid and more than justified rise to superstardom, leads a performance of pure joy. One thing’s for sure, there won’t be many more chances to see her on a stage of this size, and the whole thing feels extra special for it.
Little Simz is another blistering hit, commanding and fearsome in her delivery; it isn’t difficult to understand how she’s developed into one of the leading voices in modern British rap, and her closing track, Gorilla, sounds and feels absolutely colossal in the baking sunshine.
Friday night’s headliner, Charli XCX, predictably draws the biggest crowd of the weekend, transforming Slottskogen into one massive nightclub, and the proclamation of Apple being penned in Sweden gets a chaotic seal of approval from the masses who can’t get enough.
Saturday’s standouts come by way of legendary hip hop outfit Black Star, made up of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, the legendary, utterly timeless Pet Shop Boys, whose greatest hits set is a huge dose of non-stop ecstasy, and GOAT, the mysterious, mask-clad 7-piece whose live shows have rightfully garnered cult-like acclaim.
Chappel Roan has the heady task of closing things out. Against a dramatic backdrop of a fairytale castle regularly illuminated by roaring pyro, she takes that responsibility into her stride effortlessly, delivering a masterclass in live pop, with a few rocky numbers, including an immense cover of Heart’s Barracuda, adding an extra dimension to it all.
Stay Out West, the festival’s dedicated late-night programme that brings a stellar lineup of bands and DJs to various bars and clubs around Gothenburg, is a great addition for those not ready to call it a night. We manage to catch an exhilarating, sweaty set from genre-bending 9-piece NOFUN!, and Nottingham’s excellent GIRLBAND!
Like any event of this scale, not everything is perfect. Changeover times are incredibly tight, meaning those wanting to watch a full set can be left battling with large numbers of people leaving halfway through to make it elsewhere. If lineups of this calibre are becoming a regular thing for Way Out West, it might be time to reevaluate how long is being left between artists, particularly later in the day. It’s hardly a bad problem to have, though.
Away from the music, sustainability is a major focus at Way Out West. It’s a commitment the team takes seriously, and back in 2012, they made the decision that all food on site would be completely vegetarian. While this might irk a few people, there’s nothing half-hearted about the approach. A dedicated chef’s corner, featuring popular operators from the Swedish food scene, means food is far above your standard festival meal…this year’s culinary offering even included a pop-up veggie ramen restaurant.
Elsewhere, festival merch is also circular. The event’s own-brand merch consisted of unique second-hand garments which could be customised with various stickers and branding on site, making each piece both green and completely unique. The Greentopia climate conference also forms part of the Way Out West programme, offering a platform for world-leading researchers, young activists, and artists.
We’d definitely recommend taking some time out to explore Gothenburg, too. It’s a wonderful-looking city seemingly built for aimless wandering, and it boasts plenty of exceptional food and drink spots. During our stay, we had one of our all-time favourite meals at Bar Bulot — the team operates two locations, and we visited the cosy spot in the Great Market Hall. Elsewhere, Spike Brewery’s taproom is a must-visit for craft beer fans, while Ölhallen 7:an, touted as the oldest pub in Gothenburg, is a sublime old school boozer, and you can grab a pint for around £4.
The stylish Unity Jazz is a fantastic spot for a Negroni, Kafé Magasinet’s garden is lovely for an al-fresco spritz, and few places could top the charming cobbled streets of the Haga district for a lazy stroll with coffee and pastries in tow.
Way Out West will return to Gothenburg Thu 13 Aug – Sat 15 Aug.
Featured image credit: Micke Sandström
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 13 Aug 2025
