The Beat-Herder Festival

About The Beat Herder Festival

At Dockber Farm in Sawley, Lancashire, The Beat Herder Festival 2027 runs as a music festival with a dance-heavy core across disco, drum & bass, techno and house.

It began in 2006. The first Beat-Herder drew 1,200 people, while the 2027 edition is described by the official site as the 20th Beat-Herder. Daily capacity is 5,000.

The 2024 event was cut back by organisers as a reduced-capacity 'bijou Beat-Herder' in response to rising costs.

Lineup and Programme

The bill leans into disco, drum & bass, psytrance, techno, jungle, house, garage, dub and reggae, with comedy, cabaret and folk also in the programme.

Named stages and venues include The Beat-Herder Stage, Toil Trees, The Fortress, The Ring, Stumblefunk at the Factory, BH&DWMSC, Smoky Tentacles, Bushrocker Hi-Fi, The Snug, The Parish Church, Sunrise, Bubba Gumma, The Launderette, Hotel California, Julie's Barn and The Garage.

DJ sets are central. Listed activities include live music, talent shows, creative workshops, face painting and fancy dress.

Who Is It For?

The crowd is an independent music-festival audience with a strong electronic and dance core.

The organisers describe Beat-Herder as a music festival rather than a family festival, while also noting a large children's area and that many people bring children. Adults are the default ticket category.

Under-18 tickets are sold as Infant, Child and Youth tiers, and must be bought by someone over 25. One responsible adult may accompany up to two under-18s, with youth ticket holders accompanied after 9pm and children or infants accompanied at all times.

The Venue and Site

Dockber Farm, Sawley, Lancashire is a working farm on Sawley Brow off the A59 between Gisburn and Clitheroe.

Camping is on site. General camping and live-in vehicle areas are listed, with quieter fields suggested for those wanting more space, alongside separate glamping and pre-pitched camping options.

The site has hidden tunnels and a secret swimming pool. Facilities include cash machines, showers, lockers with mobile charging, card and contactless payments at bars and merch stalls, composting toilets, hot showers in the main campsite, and glamping shower and toilet blocks.

Travel Information

The site is on Sawley Brow off the A59 between Gisburn and Clitheroe in Lancashire. Clitheroe is closest.

• Nearest rail: Clitheroe Railway Station is 6 miles away, and Skipton Railway Station is 14 miles away.
• Road access: The route uses the A59 and Sawley Brow, with access from M6 Junction 31 via the A59.
• Parking: Car park passes are required. Advance passes are cheaper, while on-the-day passes cost more and can delay entry.
• Live-in vehicles: Campervans and caravans need live-in vehicle passes, which can sell out.
• Nearby places: Whalley is 9 miles away, Colne and Nelson are 11 miles away, and Preston Railway Station is 26 miles away.