Words and photos by: Jack Leach
If I had to name one musical highlight of my summer, it would be Lakefest. Set in the Malvern Hills at the foot of Eastnor Castle Herefordshire, this family-run festival has built its reputation on doing something most others don’t even attempt, genuinely catering to everyone: all at once.
Across four days, five stages served up a line-up topped by some serious headline power, with The Charlatans, Madness and Bananarama closing out the Abbey Main Stage on three of the four nights — and that’s not to mention all the other amazing bands that performed. Lakefest also gives new bands the opportunity to perform at the festival by running its own Road to Lakefest competition, in which acts compete to win a place performing on the Abbey Main Stage, alongside a dedicated Road to Lakefest tent for rising music talent.
Rides, Stunts and Something for Everyone
Music aside, Lakefest’s daytime entertainment was every bit as much a part of the experience. A full fairground’s worth of rides kept the site buzzing from the moment the gates opened, from the helter-skelter, Ferris wheel and the bumper cars, giving families plenty to do long before the first act took to the stage. For those feeling a bit braver than me, there was a giant pendulum ride which does look like a lot of fun, and it’s easy to see why people were queuing for it all day long — though I’ll admit I’m not much of a fan of heights.
The undoubted highlight for a lot of festivalgoers was the BMX stunt show. Riders threw themselves through a full run of jumps, spins and tricks to a crowd that had gathered well before the display even started, and it made for some of the most dynamic, action-packed photo opportunities of the whole weekend — there’s something about catching a rider mid-air against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills that you just don’t get anywhere else.
The Yamaha Stage — Have a Go Yourself
One of the nicest little touches tucked away on site was the Yamaha stage, a fully set-up rig of instruments and amps where anyone could jump up and have a go themselves. Whether it was kids picking up a guitar for the first time or seasoned musicians in the crowd itching for a turn, there was a steady stream of people taking the mic throughout the day, turning it into one of the more unexpectedly charming spots at the whole festival.
Dog-Friendly Through and Through
One of the nicest surprises of the weekend was just how well Lakefest catered for four-legged friends. The whole site is dog-friendly, but the standout addition was a dedicated all-day play area for dogs that you could drop into at any point during the day for just £2.50.
Right alongside it sat a dog deli run by Sweet Peas, serving up treats for tired pups while their owners grabbed a well-earned break between stages. It’s a small touch, but one that made a real difference for anyone who’d normally have to choose between a festival weekend and leaving the dog at home.
Thursday — A Statement Opener
Thursday set the tone early on the Abbey Main Stage, building through the afternoon before EMF took over. Their set was every bit the burst of energy you’d expect from a band built on one of the biggest indie-dance crossover hits of the 90s, and when those opening synth stabs of “Unbelievable” finally landed, the whole field erupted. It’s the kind of song that never fails, and it had the crowd moving and singing from the first note right through to the last.
The Charlatans followed as the night’s headliners, delivering exactly the kind of singalong indie hits you’d hope for from a Thursday night closer. Old favourites like “The Only One I Know” and “North Country Boy” had the whole field singing along by the end, a proper statement of intent for the rest of the weekend.
But it was over at the Funkytown tent where the night really peaked. General Levy brought the kind of energy that only a genuine reggae and dancehall legend can, tearing through a set built on decades of hits and getting the whole tent bouncing from the first bassline. It all built towards his career-defining hit “Incredible”, which sent the tent into an absolute frenzy the moment the opening bars hit. Between the call-and-response crowd work and a horn section that refused to let the energy drop, it was one of the most purely fun sets of the entire weekend, and an easy pick for one of the best photo opportunities of the trip — there’s nothing quite like capturing a performer that at ease in front of a packed tent.
Friday — Running Between Stages
Friday raised the bar again, and for the first time I found myself properly torn between stages, sprinting across the site to avoid missing a single set. Harleymoon Kemp impressed early on the Abbey Main Stage, bringing a set full of warmth and genuine star quality that won over a crowd who might not have known what to expect. A mix of soulful covers and her own material showed off a voice with real range, playing “Back In Tennessee” and with the crowd dancing and singing along to the country beat and by the closing numbers she’d built up a genuinely engaged crowd for a relatively early afternoon slot.
Dance music mainstay Example closed the night out on the Abbey Main Stage with a set of hits that just kept on coming. “Changed the Way You Kiss Me” and “Kickstarts” both landed to huge singalongs, easily making it one of the most crowd-pleasing performances of the whole festival — there wasn’t a still body in the entire field.
Over at the Cheshire Cat Club, Bez — of Happy Mondays fame — took to the decks for a DJ set that was every bit as chaotic and fun as you’d expect from a Happy Mondays legend let loose behind the decks, mixing baggy classics and dance anthems in between his trademark freakouts on the mic. Getting a photo of Bez in full flow was a genuine highlight of the weekend; he’s exactly the kind of unpredictable, larger-than-life presence you want wandering around a festival site.
Saturday — The Big Guns
Saturday was arguably the most stacked day of the weekend in terms of headline power. The Entitled Sons got things moving on the Abbey Main Stage with a set full of energy and no shortage of confidence for a band still making a name for themselves and could possibly say that they stole the show on Saturday with a perforce that had me in shocking and Immediately wanting to hear more Playing “Rockstar” and “Listened to My Mother” one to keep an eye on full of potential, before Scouting for Girls had the whole field singing along to “She’s So Lovely” and “This Ain’t a Love Song”, a run of hits that have barely aged a day since they first came out.
Madness stole the show as headliners, tearing through hit after hit to one of the biggest crowds of the festival, “Baggy Trousers,” “It Must Be Love” and, of course, “Our House” all got an airing, each one greeted like an old friend. Even from behind the camera, it was impossible not to get swept up in it — a sea of bucket hats, dancing and every single person in the crowd singing along word for word.
Over at Funkytown, Gentleman’s Dub Club closed out the tent with their trademark blend of dub, reggae and horns, building from rolling basslines into full-blown skanking singalongs as the set went on. It’s one of those bands whose live show is genuinely built for photography, with a brass section constantly in motion and a frontman who never once stood still.
Sunday — Winding Down in Style
Sunday brought a noticeably more relaxed pace, though the quality never dropped. Over at Funkytown, East 17 turned back the clock with a run of 90s pop hits. “House of Love” and the Christmas number one “Stay Another Day” had three generations of the crowd singing along in unison, proof that a well-loved chorus never really goes out of style.
Mad Dog Mccrea kept the singalong energy going straight after with their own brand of folk-punk, all fiddles, mandolins and breakneck tempos, packing the tent out for what turned into one of the most joyfully chaotic sets of the whole weekend — there was more crowd-surfing in that half hour than the rest of the festival combined.
Ez Dickens made a strong impression on one of Lakefest’s smaller stages, delivering a set of original material with real stage presence for a name still on the way up. It’s the kind of performance that had people stopping mid-walk to see who was playing, with catchy songs like “Words Mean Nothing” and “Someone” leaving a lasting impression on everyone who stopped to listen. Definitely one to watch — I’ve sent over some interview questions, so keep an eye out for that once it’s ready to share.
Bananarama closed the entire weekend in style on the Abbey Main Stage — arguably one of the first and finest girl groups to ever do it, and still very much going strong. “Venus,” “Cruel Summer” and “Robert De Niro’s Waiting” all made an appearance, and it was the perfect send-off, with the whole field turned into one enormous singalong for the final hour of the festival.
Final Thoughts
What makes Lakefest genuinely special isn’t just the strength of its line-up, though four days of consistently good-to-brilliant sets across five stages is no small feat. It’s the way the whole event is built around being properly enjoyable for everyone on-site, whether you’re there for Madness, or simply a weekend away with the family — dog included. There’s something for all ages, and if you’re not in the mood for dancing, you can get yourself in the mood for something a bit more thrilling instead, whether that’s the fairground rides or taking to the stage yourself on the Yamaha stage. Lakefest really does have it all.
I would highly recommend Lakefest to anyone who enjoys live music, regardless of age or musical taste. It’s more than just a festival — it’s a celebration of music, community and unforgettable summer evenings. With plans for 2027 already underway, including free entry for all children under 12, it’s one to keep firmly on the radar when booking next year’s festivals. I can’t wait to see what Lakefest has in store next.