You’ll need to hurry if you would like to attend this year’s Cro Cro Land Festival. Tickets are flying out .It’s a universally recommended gathering of extending alternative music family - and sells out in advance.

https://wegottickets.com/f/13616 CroCroLand tickets

Remaining tickets are at https://wegottickets.com/f/13616 - An instant MOMENT of 2025

2019, 2024 and now 2025. Thank YOU Cro Cro let’s go go!

Preview words by TheZineUK Events Dept.

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April: The third unconventional convention of newer wave’s alternative music people is imminent. This welcoming celebration has such an atmosphere, reputation (and realistic ticket price) that it annually generates a next wave of community and collaboration.

Fab Femme Force. The Musical. That’s **Bugeye.** Their songs and story help to forge TheZineUK documentary..Especially since the Origin Story Year of 2018. No strangers to stages, supports and festivals of all sizes, courtesy of being the nation’s No.1 Disco Punks (Janice Long acknowledged this on The BBC). Inclusive Sparklerocked Electropop! Lead singer, **Angela Martin**, and art design star, **Julia Woolams** (31% Wool - see the instantly recognisable Cro Cro Land graphics) are cro-creators of this event. Our interdependent artivists are standing up for good times going down in hard times. *Bugeye. Don’t Stop! xx*

Cro Cro Land presents the must-see, rising star talent.

Hard working, organically growing names are building a trickle-up which lays a firm foundation for festival futures and more. Incidentally, if you see a CroCroLand Talent playing your local grassroots venue, please just buy an advance ticket when possible. “Think of events like this as a 5-star artists recommendation (like those food rating signs you see on eateries)” - Music Tourist Board

Bubblegrunge twinkler, **Lilith Ai,** opened Cro Cro Land 2024 and kicked arse with her first fully rocked set. You bet this smashing pumpkin has been invited back, she’s on a roll. An engaging entertainer, we can’t stop documenting artists like Lilith Ai as the newer wave of rock and roll seeds and blooms.

“Building a trickle-up” is no throw-away observation.

Far from pulling up the ladder (which is not uncommon when either artists or events become more popular), Cro Cro Land is extending a community of artist development., Musicians and their allies connect so the line ups are a mix of requested returns - and brand new names joining the alumni.

Since getting tipped about **Dakka Skanks** a couple of years ago, I never got the chance to catch them live. This was meant to be, right? The star turn, Dub Soul Ska Punks are hitting this weekend like a Train To Skaville stopping at Norwood Junction!

Talent pipeline watchers and supporters, get INVOLVED.

Spread the word. Talk and write about WTF is going on right now because 2025 onwards needs as much song and dance as it can get! Seriously though, note the scouting for each outing… Starting strong, Cro Cro Land gets organically stronger.

Time travel to that strong 2019 start… BLOOD RED SHOES, FERAL FIVE, SHE DREW THE GUN, MOSES, BERRIES, BANG BANG ROMEO, THE LOVELY EGGS… much more goodness. Including:

**Nova Twins** - over the last few years from the first Cro Cro Land, via THAT alternative rock inclusion letter to The MOBOS, Times Square New York billboards, front covers, Marshall Records, many major international festivals/major supports, Elton John being a fan to 2025 and performing live at The MOBOS, then most recently on BBC TV’s Jonathan Ross show. A second album is coming and - like ALL Cro Cro Land fam - we wish them all the best.

Cro Cro Land 2019 (one day, three stages in a pre-demolish hotel) the palpable excitement included being there for the very first notes of the first sets.

At the last minute, there was a replacement needed for the main stage opener. I gasped in genuine WOW at an early doors incarnation of Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something - and find gigjoy every time I catch their show.

Spiders From Mars glamchildren rockers of the star shaped kind. This was how 2024 rounded off for a lucky crowd with a gloriously sparked headline at Kick Out The Jams in Haggerston (The Outers, also playing this year’s Cro Cro Land, were special guests). Cosmically epitomising the wonder of Cro Cro Land being a genuine place. Like a punk Brigadoon. **Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something** rock out where ART meets ALT.

Cro Cro is a label of love and discovery presented as a music festival of delight and diversity. TheZineUK will be magnetised by fresh finds, yet again. I’m not a gambler but I bet some hugs and smiles are involved.

We were there! Cro Cro Land 2024. The Feral Five front woman (and Planet Water Space Vixen) **Kat Five** made her first live appearance as a solo artist. You get to experience some very special live sets at this festival. Since then, the “Shadowy electro atmospherics” (Turn Up The Volume) of self composed, written, performed, and produced song, ‘Party Trick’ helps to propel her multi-talent-tasking energy! Redefining definitions to infinity, Kat Five is one of the wonderful peer-supporting artists who flavour the grassroots venue circuit. Fun fact, I ran up to give her a hug at Amersham Arms but I didn’t have my glasses on and it was dark. It was another woman with space vixen looking hair so I had to pretend that I was going to the toilet because I clumsed. The best bit for me was that I WANTED to rush across the room and hug a Kat Five, that day. Truth Is The New Gold, as Feral Five say. Words to live by in the post-truth age.

The presenting and promoting of newer wave music industrious moments is an energised enthusiasm. Cro Cro Land want you to feel part of this music festival. Creating community from credible calibre collusion. Beyond 20th century’s music “scene” concepts, this is a lifestyle blueprint. DIY Art Chic POWER.

Yuke are psychedelically groovy with art and heart and a radiant live show.

Every artist this weekend has VERY MUCH to say! They’ll express, expressly, through the medium of lyrical rhythms and beyond.

Post-Brexit, forget ‘Auld Lang Syne’, **Benefits** gave us the definitive end of year round off. ‘*Traitors*’. Poetically decibelled and gifting the world with their “Wokey Left Shite” imagery (and a favourite gig preview video with the whole line up before their headline at Oslo, mid October 2023. Probably one of the starkest and most powerful calls to people power). This will be one of their first shows after the release of brand new album, ‘Constant Noise’ (Invada) on 21st March. Benefits are an alarm-call sound of the people’s spring.

Welcome to a Playing Class endeavour like a noisy house party going on a few minutes walk from Norwood Junction rail station. A village of goodtime gig giggles for children of all ages, in a theatric setting.

Talking of theatric, more multi talented prowess in the shape of A VOID. A scene making a scene in their own right. - creating, performing, supporting and starring. Before they hit Manchester Punk Festival on 20th April, then Paris Accor Arena on mid-summer’s day supporting Indochine get close and affected at Cro Cro Land.

Already looking forward to this weekend and it’s still March! Did TheZineUK documenting enjoy 2024? Well, our amateur snapshots and feedback report https://thezineuk.co.uk/articles/cro24 headline is:

“Cro Cro Land Forever (please)”

Anita Maj and Ms Mohammed at CroCroLand 2024. “***I've yet again been part of something huge, important, revolutionary, the demonstration that things can be done and can be done well, against all odds.”*** recalled Sonja (The Blur Fairy) Amoretti.

TheZineUK have attended (and WOULD NOT HAVE MISSED) every Cro Cro Land music festival so far. Our story of what’s happening somewhere-under-the Brits-radar-but-over-the-joy-rainbow is blessed by this cultural treasure. Sorry not sorry to go on. Celebrate good times and all that… Is this a preview or a love letter? Whatever.

Gonna get the first live experience of **Native James** soon. Fckn BRINGING it with the YouTube video for ‘***Hammer***’. Feels like it’s gonna go off, as they say. Anybody who shouts out ALT BLK ERA (recently from the MOBO Awards) magnetises TheZineUK team, before the first live, metal pedalled note.

Cro Cro?

“A fierce celebration of alternative music…” says Cro Cro Land Festival presenter, The Croydonist, continuing that it’s not “…just a music festival - it’s a celebration of Croydon’s legendary music scene, a gathering where bands mix with fans, big names play in intimate spaces, and the UK’s most talked-about new artists take the stage”.

Another flashback to 2019 courtesy of the ace photographer, Jon Mo (who also snaps images for music TV stream, Spill The Sound, presented by **Louise Schofield** who created **this youtube short of new music taking seed**, from the day: “***What a fun day we had at Cro Cro Land Festival. Such an amazing atmosphere and a brilliant festival”***. Post lockdown, a new world begins. We are blessed to have such uniqulture on our planet, so leave your worries behind come live in the escapist moment. More music people stories will unfold. Trust.

Croydon is a music tourism, punk birthplace destination (also home to the annual garden party in a park that is SNCFest). Locating Cro Cro at the spectacular (and intergalactic community welcoming) Stanley Arts in South Norwood is a stroke of perfection.

**Stanley Arts,** 12a South Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB

It’s no surprise that (alongside their interdependent allies - including Decolonise Fest, Kick Out The Jams, Scruff Of The Neck, This Feeling, LOUD WOMEN and more) local star turns, Cro Cro Land and Bugeye are all 2025 Musos Awards nominated (musician choices). TheZineUK salutes them for winning, every day, at future-shaking by the power of music love impulse.

Quite a few of this weekends have connections to quite a few of them…”community and collaboration”. I said what I said.

The Outers make an impression with engaging art pop indie rock and stylish, spirited performance then widen their reputation with each show and release. The first song of 2024, ‘Twenty’, is a Musos Awards 2025 nomination and their first song of 2025 is released just before Cro Cro Land. - Party… ON!

This preview is just a tiny fraction of Cro Cro Land 2025.

For a pic and bio of each star turn as they are announced be sure to follow the growing programme at instagram.com/crocroland/ and facebook.com/crocroland

Inspirations, **Big Joanie**, live on stage! The tunefully and internationally reknown feminine force for rhythmic and social good are in the house!

How is such a collection of classic must see names all under one roof? It’s the kismet of karma at work alongside a hard won reputation. The line up is chosen from an (understandable) deluge of requests to play.

**Billy Nomates** is about to become Billy Loadsamates…

Promoted with enthusiasm, Cro Cro Land is also signposted with maps and timetables on location and set-scheduled so that attendees can catch as many bands as possible.

You’d not wanna miss **ARXX**. Right? Another favourite of TheZineuK documentary, An arena sounding rock band - but at close range! Again, found via Cro Cro Land No.1 - feels like 2025 is a magic number 3 of a gathering.

Here are the day splits and - hold the magic - that’s not even all the line up!

**Saturday 5th April**
Billy Nomates, Goat Girl, Benefits, Bugeye Native James, The Priscillas, Berries, Grandma's House, A Void, Bridget, I, Doris, Hot Wife, Mythora, Lucky Number You, Phwoar, The Outers, Kat Five.
**Sunday 6th April**
Big Joanie, ARXX, Scrounge, Dakka Skanks, Loose Articles, Currls, Jemma Freeman & The Cosmic Something, Pet Feeding Station, Miniseries, YUKE, Shallow Honey, Lilith Ai, Rival Queens, Keeley, Charley Stone & The Actual Band.

#musictourism

(1) Independent Music World Icon, John Kennedy (Radio X, The Remedy, Tape Notes etc presenter/promoter/DJ) recommends Cro Cro Land! A super-seal of approval. The Gig Life Crisis FB group of music lovers are singing Cro Cro Land praises - a super seal bonus!

(2) I’m a solo gig adventurer with not-the-best-social graces, if you are also shy, it’s OK. this is a welcoming and friendly crowd with safe space in it’s DNA.

(3) London. A music festival of brillness that’s only 15 minutes from The Shard. Event closes at 11pm. Trains run back to London until midnight (always check TFL for updates). Loadsa buses. Venue (has bars and a food court). In short, a proper (weather proof) day out. Fuller information: https://stanleyarts.org/your-visit/

Can not wait to just drink in the vibes of rock n roll uniqulture in The Cronx. Love you, I hope you can make it.

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