🤘 Introduction
When most festivals are still months away and winter refuses to loosen its grip, Planet Rock Presents Winter’s End brings the rock community together for one unforgettable weekend.
Held every January, Winter’s End has become one of Britain’s most loved indoor rock festivals, offering fans the chance to shake off the winter blues with four days of live music, caravans, great food and one of the friendliest atmospheres anywhere on the UK festival circuit.
Since its debut in 2017, the festival has welcomed rock legends, rising stars and thousands of loyal fans who return year after year.
From its beginnings in Dorset to its move to Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Porthcawl, South Wales, Winter’s End has grown into the perfect way to start the live music year.
📻 Born from Planet Rock
Following the success of Planet Rockstock, Planet Rock wanted to create a second event that would celebrate the best of classic rock, blues, melodic rock and modern hard rock at the beginning of the year.
Instead of waiting until summer, Winter’s End gave fans something to look forward to during the coldest months of the year.
The concept was simple:
- One stage
- No clashes
- Indoor venue
- Holiday park accommodation
- Planet Rock presenters
- Established artists
- Rising talent
- Friendly community
It proved to be an instant success.
🏕️ The Dorset Years (2017–2022)
The festival began at Sandford Holiday Park near Poole.
The venue perfectly suited the relaxed atmosphere Planet Rock wanted to create.
Fans stayed in caravans instead of tents and spent the weekend surrounded by fellow rock fans rather than battling muddy fields.
The indoor venue meant the weather never became a problem.
Outside it might be freezing.
Inside the guitars were turned up to eleven.
🎸 2017 – The Beginning
The inaugural Winter’s End immediately set the tone.
Headliners included:
- The Answer
- Inglorious
- Toseland
Other highlights included:
- Bernie Marsden
- GUN
- Dare
- Stone Broken
- Massive Wagons
- Cats in Space
- Chantel McGregor
- Vega
From the opening day it became obvious Winter’s End was something special.
The one-stage format meant every band received a full audience.
Fans discovered new artists throughout the weekend.
🔥 2018 – Building Momentum
The second edition expanded the festival’s reputation.
Headliners included:
- Stone Broken
- The Temperance Movement
- King King
Other bands included:
- Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
- Those Damn Crows
- Broken Witt Rebels
- Wayward Sons
- The Quireboys
- Aaron Buchanan and the Cult Classics
Winter’s End had quickly become one of the UK’s favourite indoor rock weekends.
⚡ 2019 – Bigger Than Ever
The third festival featured:
- Massive Wagons
- Ginger Wildheart
- Reef
Also appearing:
- Kris Barras Band
- Brian Downey’s Alive and Dangerous
- Kingdom of Madness
- Bad Touch
- Blackwater Conspiracy
- Amy Montgomery
By now the Winter’s End family was firmly established.
Many fans returned with the same friends every year.
🤘 2020 – One Last Weekend in Dorset
The final Sandford edition featured:
- Those Damn Crows
- Terrorvision
- Sweet
Alongside:
- Diamond Head
- The Treatment
- Mason Hill
- Empyre
- Gorilla Riot
- Danny Bryant
Only weeks later the live music industry shut down because of COVID-19.
Nobody realised this would become the last Winter’s End at Sandford.
🦠 2021 – A Festival Paused
Like the rest of the live music industry, Winter’s End was unable to take place.
Bands stopped touring.
Venues closed.
Fans were forced to wait.
The community remained strong and looked forward to the festival’s eventual return.
🎉 2022 – Live Music Returns
Winter’s End returned with renewed energy.
Artists included:
- Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
- Florence Black
- Scarlet Rebels
- Cardinal Black
- Mason Hill
- Laurence Jones
- The Dust Coda
- SKAM
The atmosphere was emotional.
Simply being back together felt like a celebration.
🐉 A New Home in Wales
Winter’s End found its permanent home at Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Porthcawl, South Wales.
Sharing the venue with Planet Rockstock proved the perfect move.
Trecco Bay offered:
- Modern caravan accommodation
- Indoor entertainment venue
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Shops
- Easy parking
- Beautiful coastal setting
The festival immediately felt at home.
🌊 2023 – The Welsh Era Begins
The first Trecco Bay edition featured:
- Elles Bailey
- Von Hertzen Brothers
- Kris Barras Band
Also appearing:
- Cardinal Black
- Kira Mac
- Troy Redfern
- The Virginmarys
- The Karma Effect
- Gypsy Pistoleros
The move gave the festival a fresh identity while keeping everything fans already loved.
🎸 2024 – Growing Stronger
The festival returned to South Wales with another impressive line-up.
Weekend tickets sold extremely well as more fans discovered the unique atmosphere that Winter’s End offered.
The event was now firmly established as one of Britain’s best indoor rock festivals.
🔥 2025 – Future Headliners
Headliners:
- Kira Mac
- Florence Black
- H.E.A.T.
Other bands included:
- The Treatment
- Dan Byrne
- LN
- Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse
- The New Roses
- Laurence Jones
- Marisa and the Moths
The festival continued its tradition of turning emerging artists into future headline acts.
⚡ 2026 – Four Days of Rock
For the first time Winter’s End expanded to include an official Thursday warm-up.
Headliners included:
- Sophie Lloyd
- GUN
- Orianthi
- Tyketto
The supporting bill featured:
- The Damn Truth
- Brave Rival
- Black Lakes
- Blue Nation
- Tailgunner
- Chantel McGregor
- These Wicked Rivers
- Seven Sisters
The extra day proved a huge success and allowed even more bands to be showcased.
🎉 2027 – Celebrating Ten Years
The tenth anniversary edition takes place from 28–31 January 2027 at Trecco Bay.
The first announced artists include:
- The Answer
- Bywater Call
- Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse
- Dan Byrne
- LN
- Ward XVI
- Black Orchid Empire
- The Dust Coda
- Winter in Eden
- Dead Writers
The return of The Answer, who headlined the very first festival in 2017, brings the story full circle and makes the anniversary especially fitting.
🎤 One Stage. No Clashes.
Perhaps Winter’s End’s greatest strength is its simplicity.
Every band performs on the same stage.
Nobody misses a favourite act because another band is playing elsewhere.
Every artist enjoys the same audience.
Every fan experiences the complete weekend.
That philosophy has helped countless bands gain new followers.
🌟 Bands Winter’s End Helped Champion
The festival has played an important role in supporting modern rock.
Bands that have appeared while building their careers include:
- Those Damn Crows
- Massive Wagons
- Stone Broken
- Florence Black
- Scarlet Rebels
- Cardinal Black
- Kira Mac
- Dan Byrne
- The Karma Effect
- Blue Nation
- Black Lakes
- Brave Rival
- LN
Many returned years later as much bigger names.
🏖️ The Trecco Bay Experience
Winter’s End is much more than live music.
Fans enjoy:
- Comfortable caravans
- On-site restaurants
- Bars
- Beach walks
- Late-night conversations
- Planet Rock DJs
- Artist interviews
- Merchandise stalls
- Friendly faces everywhere
By the end of the weekend almost everyone recognises everyone else.
It feels like one enormous rock family.
♿ Accessibility
Trecco Bay makes Winter’s End more accessible than many outdoor festivals.
Benefits include:
- Permanent pathways
- Indoor venue
- Heated accommodation
- Proper beds
- Bathrooms
- Short walking distances
The organisers continue working to ensure as many rock fans as possible can enjoy the weekend comfortably.
❤️ Why Fans Love Winter’s End
Fans return because of:
- No clashes
- Incredible atmosphere
- Friendly audience
- Comfortable accommodation
- Amazing bands
- Fantastic sound
- Discovering new artists
- Planet Rock community
- The relaxed pace
- Feeling part of something special
It is one of those festivals where first-time visitors often become annual attendees.
⭐ The Riff Report Verdict
Planet Rock Presents Winter’s End proves that you don’t need sunshine, muddy fields or enormous stages to create an unforgettable festival.
It has become the perfect way to begin every rock year.
The combination of incredible bands, passionate fans, comfortable accommodation and the welcoming Planet Rock community has created something genuinely unique.
From The Answer opening the story in 2017 to returning for the tenth anniversary in 2027, Winter’s End has always stayed true to its original vision.
Support great bands.
Celebrate live music.
Bring people together.
And make everyone feel part of the family.
The weather outside may be freezing.
The sea at Porthcawl may be wild.
But inside Winter’s End, rock always wins.
The festival year starts here. ❄️🤘🎸
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud.
