Words and photos by: Jack Leach
Cannock Chase Forestry Live returned this summer with another unforgettable week of live music, transforming the heart of the woodland into one of the UK’s most unique concert venues. Forestry Live is held across four stunning forest locations around the country—Cannock Chase, Delamere Forest, High Lodge in Thetford Forest and Westonbirt Arboretum—bringing world-class artists to beautiful outdoor settings and offering a truly unique concert experience.
Across five evenings, music fans of all ages came together to enjoy an incredible mix of artists spanning soul, reggae, dance, pop and rock. Whether you were reliving the soundtrack of your youth or discovering new favourites, Forestry Live once again proved why it continues to be one of the Midlands’ summer live music highlights.
The atmosphere throughout the week was nothing short of fantastic. Families, friends and lifelong music lovers packed into the woodland venue each night, creating an experience that was welcoming, energetic and full of unforgettable moments. From the opening night through to the closing performance, there was a real sense of togetherness, showing once again that great live music has the power to bring generations together.
Wednesday – Billy Ocean and Marti Pellow
Opening the week was Marti Pellow, whose uplifting performance immediately got the festival off to the perfect start. Best known as the frontman of Wet Wet Wet, Marti brought plenty of nostalgia to Cannock Chase, performing some of his biggest hits, including the timeless classic “Love Is All Around,” which famously spent fifteen consecutive weeks at number one in the UK charts during 1994.
With the crowd already in full voice, it was time for Billy Ocean to take centre stage. The soul legend lit up the woodland with hit after hit, including “Love Really Hurts Without You” and “Red Light Spells Danger.” From the very first song, the audience were singing every word and dancing along, as Billy effortlessly transported everyone back to the golden era of soul and pop. It was the perfect way to open the festival and set the standard for the incredible performances that followed.
Thursday – Fatboy Slim Turns the Woodland into a Rave
Thursday night saw the festival take a completely different direction as rave music icon Fatboy Slim transformed Cannock Chase into a huge open-air rave. From the moment he walked onto the stage, the atmosphere changed completely, with thousands of fans dancing from the first beat until the very end of his two-hour set.
Before the headline performance, Dylan Watson DJ, Lizzie Curious and internationally recognised DJ LP Giobbi warmed up the crowd perfectly. LP Giobbi, who has amassed more than 340 million streams and performed at some of the world’s biggest festivals, including Coachella and Tomorrowland, delivered a high-energy set that built excitement throughout the woodland and prepared the audience for one of dance music’s biggest names.
Fatboy Slim showed exactly why he remains one of the UK’s greatest DJs. Classic anthems, huge drops and an incredible light show combined to create an unforgettable evening. Young fans experienced his music for the first time, while older generations relived the soundtrack of their youth, with everyone dancing together long into the night.
Friday – Becky Hill Delivers a Homecoming to Remember
Friday continued the festival’s dance music theme with another outstanding line-up. Mia Kirkland DJ got the evening underway, delivering an energetic opening set that immediately lifted the atmosphere. Emily Makis followed with her powerful vocals, performing her latest release “Get It On” and impressing the crowd with her high-energy performance.
Hannah Wants kept the momentum going with a fast-paced DJ set packed with dance anthems that had the audience moving from start to finish.
Then it was time for local favourite Becky Hill to headline.
Returning to the Midlands, Becky Hill showed exactly why she remains one of Britain’s biggest dance artists. Her powerful vocals filled the woodland as fans sang along to hits including “Lose Control” and her latest single “More! More! More!” It was fantastic to see people of every generation singing every lyric together, proving once again that music has an incredible way of bringing people together.
Saturday – Reggae Classics Filled The Trees
Saturday evening brought a change of pace as reggae took over Cannock Chase.
Reggae Roast ft Horseman opened the evening with energetic beats and fast-paced flows that quickly got the audience warmed up before Bitty McLean took to the stage.
Performing favourites including “It Keeps Raining” and “Walk Away From Love,” Bitty McLean brought smooth vocals and a relaxed reggae atmosphere that perfectly prepared the crowd for the evening’s headline act.
When UB40 ft Ali Campbell finally walked on stage, the sold-out crowd erupted. The woodland was transformed into a huge singalong as classic hits including “Red Red Wine,” “Kingston Town” and “I Got You Babe” had everyone dancing together. It genuinely felt as though the audience had travelled back to the 1980s, with smiles everywhere you looked and thousands of voices singing every chorus.
Sunday – McFly Close the Festival in Style
After an incredible week of live music, Sunday marked the final day of Forestry Live, and what a way to finish.
Remember Monday opened proceedings following their breakthrough year after representing the UK at Eurovision 2025. Their uplifting set included “What The Hell Just Happened” alongside the catchy “Happier,” while their energetic cover of ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” had the audience singing and clapping along from beginning to end.
Scottish rock band Twin Atlantic then raised the energy even further. Their powerful guitar riffs, passionate performance and huge sound filled the woodland, with favourites including “Heart and Soul” and “In Your Eyes” getting the crowd jumping throughout their set.
Finally, it was time for one of Britain’s biggest pop-rock bands to bring the festival to a close.
McFly delivered a headline performance full of energy, nostalgia and crowd interaction. Opening with songs from the latest album “Where Did All the Guitars Go?”, the band then treated fans to a collection of favourites including “Obviously,””Star Girl” and “All About You.” From children attending their first concert to lifelong fans who had followed the band for two decades, everyone was singing every word. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable week of live music.
Final Thoughts
Forestry Live at Cannock Chase once again demonstrated why it remains one of the UK’s best outdoor concert series. Across five nights, the festival showcased an outstanding variety of artists, creating an atmosphere that was welcoming, friendly and full of unforgettable memories.
What stood out most was seeing people of every generation enjoying live music together. Whether it was dancing to Fatboy Slim, relaxing to the reggae sounds of UB40, singing along with Billy Ocean or celebrating with McFly, every night offered something special.
I would highly recommend Forestry Live to anyone who enjoys live music, regardless of age or musical taste. It’s more than just a concert series—it’s a celebration of music, community and unforgettable summer evenings. I can’t wait to see what Forestry Live has in store for next year.