Nailed It festival pulls in 72 bands and singers airing original sounds in eight pubs around Derbyshire town

Eight pubs in Belper are supporting the annual Nailed It extravaganza in Belper on July 11, 2026 when crowds will have the opportunity to watch East Midlands musicians playing everything from rock and pop to blues and ska.

Cassiopeia, who hail from Matlock, will headline the stage at The Nags Head. The band, which plays impactful rock and acoustic ballads, said: “What we’re most looking forward to showcasing our own songs. That and seeing some of the other great acts playing.

Formed 18 months ago, Cassiopeia comprises Indi on vocals and guitar, Jacob on lead guitar, Martin on bass and Jon on drums..

Electronic psychedelic disco sounds come to Belper, courtesy of Project Emptyhead who will top the line-up at Tylers. Project Emptyhead play music that is fast and furious – a collage of sounds reminscent of an instrumental Underworld. The band, which was born in a home studio during lockdown, now includes bass, synthesizer, guitar and a dancer/visual artist. Project Emptyhead has performed at Off The Tracks, Psychfest and Rekindled festivals and at the Derby venues Dubreak and The Flowerpot.

Project Emptyhead said: “We’ve not played at Nailed It before – we are looking forward to it.” Their audience at Nailed It may recognise members of the band from other groups Headshrinka and Straightbends who have played many times in Belper, at the George & Dragon pub and The Lion hotel.

Hard rock band Mercury Falling, who are topping the bill at The Devonshire, said: “As a new band playing original material it is very hard to get gigs. We’ve never played in Belper but the very fact that there’s an all day festival that’s for original bands mean we wanted to get on the bill. We will be up for a good part of the day before we go on so we hoped to see plenty of the other bands and hopefully make some new frients and fans along the way.”

Northampton based Mercury Falling have built their sound on big riffs and melodies. Their original tracks, A New Kind Of Truth and Mr Rock N Roll, have had regular airplay on internet radio shows.

Nailed It will have three outdoor stages – at The Railway, The Lion and The Devonshire – and an acoustic line-up of acts at The Rifleman. The festival starts at 2pm with the final act playing from 10pm and each act starting on the hour. The full line-up is as as follows, with the first band listed opening the proceedings and the last one playing out the show:

The Railway – Burning Circus, Rock Paper Sister, Graham Graham Beck, Romy, 45, 5 Hills Out, Dredeye Knight, Suburban Toys, The Collective.

The Nags Head – Whiskey Stain, Bad Heritage, Braver Than Fiction 3 Second Fuse, Old Wine New Bottle, Glass Atlas, The Velocettes, Courtesan, Cassiopeia.

The Devonshire – The Skarantinos, The Bluest Blues Experience, Lucy Crisp, Homecooked Blues, Sad Vacation, Rules of Engagement, Shiftin Sands, As The Day Burns, Mercury Falling.

The Rifleman Arms – Mary Bolt, Ewan Craft, Graham Huntley, Daz Lynch, Joe Clarke, Tim Filor, The Breaded Churchman, John Fryer, Joe Bancroft.

The Lion – Confused, Pulses, We Are The Station, The Longmen, Acid Giles, The Model Workers, Bryony Williams, Not My Good Arm, Fibonacci Twist.

Cross Keys – Hungover Tuesday, Amy DX, Neural Dance, Connor Hayez, Calves In The Dark, Jack Stevenson Band, Soapbox Preacher, Steamtown, The Grassroots High Roller Club.

Arkwrights – Ukelele Bailey, Jude Forsey, Carl Norty, Lilly Sphire, Darren Claxton, Karen McLeod, Lucy Milford, Stevie Jones and Dean Shaldrick, Calder.

Cross Keys – Hungover Tuesday, Amy DX, Neural Dance, Connor Hayez, Calves In The Dark, Jack tevenson Band, Soapbox Preacher, Steamtown, The Grassroots High Roller Club.

Tylers – Horthworld. Our Distorted Venture, Taylor Liam Jackson Band, The Last Orders, Atomic Tide, Remand To Vegas, Skulljacker, This Fallen City, Project Emptyhead.

Monthly gigs are held at The Railway from November to May under the banner of The Road to Nailed It.