top of page

Backstage rider to include mental health at Takedown Festival

Tonic Rider to provide mental health support for artists, crew and staff.


Tonic Rider is pleased to announce the launch of their mental health support for artists, crew and staff working at Takedown Festival on Saturday 8th April taking place at Portsmouth Guildhall. The South’s fan and band favourite independent alternative rock and metal festival makes its return in 2023 after a 7 year hiatus.

The Tonic Rider team will be positioned in the green room offering information about their programme, and free resources, along with one-to-one support in a private space, if and when required. This will form part of Tonic Rider’s expansion of the programme in 2023, which includes backstage support at festivals and gigs across the UK.


Alongside the backstage support, Tonic will also provide their Never Mind the Stigma stand offering information and support to attendees at the festival.


The line-up that will see over 30 bands perform across 5 stages, includes heavy hitters of the rock and metal worlds: Sleep Token, Skindred, Loathe, Jamie Lenman, Punk Rock Factory, InMe, Palm Reader, Our Hollow Our Home, As December Falls, CLTDRP, Fearless Vampire Killers, The Bottom Line, Seething Akira, Ithaca, Confessions of a Traitor and Dendera with many more acts still to be announced.

Jeordie Shenton, Tonic Rider Coordinator said 'We are delighted to be offering mental health support to artists, crew and staff working at a music festival for the first time, and even more so, that it will be at Takedown Festival in Tonic’s hometown of Portsmouth. Throughout 2023 we will be expanding our programme of backstage support and we are thankful to the Takedown team for providing this opportunity.'

Sarah Harris, Festival Director said 'Takedown is extremely proud to be working with Tonic Rider. The music industry is notoriously hard on its workers due to various different factors and the promotion of good mental health for artists, crew and staff is key to individuals thriving. We are very pleased to have resources backstage and for fans at Takedown 2023.'


bottom of page