Forestry England’s much-loved concert series will return from 24 June, opening with a midweek party headed up by none other than Fatboy Slim. The DJ and producer, whose reputation for turning any space into a dancefloor precedes him, will kick off proceedings beneath the canopy at Westonbirt.
The following night sees Deacon Blue bring their well-polished catalogue of anthems to the stage, before reggae royalty UB40 ft Ali Campbell take over on Friday. As the weekend arrives, Saturday is handed to Rick Astley, a performer whose resurgence in recent years has brought him a whole new generation of admirers. The run concludes on Sunday with Richard Ashcroft, the unmistakable voice behind The Verve, closing the woodland weekender in suitably grand fashion.
Support acts for several dates are still to be named, though many have already been confirmed, adding further depth to the programme. Tickets are available now through the Forest Live website.
Next year’s series carries added significance, marking the 25th anniversary of the Forest Live programme. Four forest venues will host shows: Cannock Chase, Delamere Forest, High Lodge in Thetford Forest and, of course, Westonbirt Arboretum. The anniversary bill stretches across genres and generations, with acts such as Nile Rodgers & Chic, McFLY, Garbage, Skunk Anansie, Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, The Kooks and many more appearing at other sites across the country.
Forest Live events have become a staple on the summer calendar, merging stunning woodland settings with performances from globally recognised artists. While the concerts attract huge audiences, they also serve a wider purpose. Money raised supports Forestry England’s extensive stewardship of the nation’s 1,500 forests—helping conserve habitats, maintain footpaths and plant millions of new trees each year. Last year alone saw 7.4 million new trees planted and more than 300 million visits made to England’s forests.
This year marks the third time the concert series has been delivered in partnership with Live Nation’s Cuffe & Taylor, further strengthening its reach and production capacity.
For those looking ahead to next June, the Westonbirt dates are as follows:
Wednesday 24 June: Fatboy Slim
Thursday 25 June: Deacon Blue (with Lightning Seeds)
Friday 26 June: UB40 ft Ali Campbell (with Bitty McLean + Reggae Roast ft MC Horseman)
Saturday 27 June: Rick Astley (with The Lottery Winners)
Sunday 28 June: Richard Ashcroft (with Tom Meighan + Apollo Junction)
Tickets are on sale now, with updates available at forestlive.com. If the early buzz is anything to go by, Westonbirt is set for a very lively June indeed.
