The Maccabees return to Eden Project 16 years on

The last time The Maccabees played the Eden Project, it was 2009. The band have not been back since. That changed at the weekend, when the indie rock group walked back out under the Biomes for a full day festival in the year Eden turns 25.

A full-circle moment for Eden Sessions

Eden Sessions billed the return as a full-circle moment, and the timing gave it extra weight. The Eden Project is marking its landmark 25th year, and the return of a band who last appeared on that stage in 2009 gave the anniversary a headline act with history attached.

A packed indie bill

This was a day festival rather than a single headline show. The Maccabees were joined by special guests Everything Everything, along with Tom A. Smith, Tummyache, The Velvet Hands and Matilda Finn Frances.

The result was a bill of epic indie music from first chord to final encore, with the crowd carried through the afternoon and into the night by a run of acts that spanned established names and newer ones.

📷The Maccabees - Credit: Rob Donald

Football on the big screen

The music was not the end of it. After the final encore, fans stayed on site and gathered around a giant screen at the Eden Project to watch England secure victory over Norway in the FIFA World Cup.

Live music and a World Cup win in the same day is not a combination Eden puts on often, and the crowd made the most of it.

📷The Maccabees - Credit: Rob Donald

Still to come at Eden Sessions

There is more to come at this year’s Eden Sessions:

• Sunday 12 July – Mika, MEEK
• Wednesday 15 July – CMAT, Katy J Pearson

Mika takes the stage today, with CMAT and Katy J Pearson closing out the run on Wednesday.

📷Everything Everything - Credit: Rob Donald

📷Everything Everything - Credit: Rob Donald

📷Matilda Finn Frances - Credit: Rob Donald

📷The Maccabees - Credit: Rob Donald

📷The Maccabees - Credit: Rob Donald

📷The Maccabees - Credit: Rob Donald

📷Credit: Rob Donald

📷Credit: Rob Donald

📷Credit: Rob Donald

📷Credit: Rob Donald

📷Tummyache - Credit: Rob Donald

📷Velvet Hands - Credit: Rob Donald

📷Credit: Rob Donald

📷Tom A Smith - Credit: Rob Donald