So there I am at a brilliant music festival for my first ever visit to this one, and after a corking first day on Thursday topped off by a superb set from headliners The Charlatans, decide to seek out stuff happening away from the music stages.
Lakefest 2026 in the stunning surroundings of Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury in Herefordshire is located between Wales and The Cotswolds. Attracting more than 20,000 people, it is their 14th edition this year and offers up a starry line-up including headliners Example on Friday, Madness on Saturday, and Bananarama on Sunday.
Plus a slew of other top bands and artists across the four days such as Soul II Soul, Reef, Lightning Seeds, EMF, Scouting For Girls, Chesney Hawkes, East 17, and Newton Faulkner.
2011 was launch year for an event which began as Wurzels CiderFest, and the following year was branded as Lakest and from then on. So it has run for 14 years as Lakefest, but 2020 was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Headliners for the first Lakefest in 2012 were Athlete – Reef who are here for the 2026 edition, were part of that lineup too.
Friday we caught: Headliner Example, Soul II Soul, Newton Faulkner, The Undertones, Bez DJ set, Harley-Moon Kemp, Professor Yaffle, CEG, Hidden Coves, and the legend that is Paul Chuckle and his DJ set.
But just as enjoyable was the exploration of the nooks and crannies around the site for some fun, non-music stuff, such as BMX stunt riding, a fire eater and even some wrestling.
Loads for the kids and families to see and do, most of it free, and the usual fairground stuff. A really safe and chilled vibe across the site so far across the first two days. Nothing to spoil the event and absolutely nothing to criticise thus far.
Apart from missing out on meeting an absolute legend, who our happy snapper Liam DID meet and had his photo taken with. He has not stopped banging on about it either, the big kid!
I refer to the one and the only Paul Chuckle, formerly of the Chuckle Brothers, before he sadly lost his brother Barry who passed away in August 2018. [aka Paul and Barry Elliott]. By the way, I can bet that a vast % of those reading this now have one particular phrase in their head: “From me to………”
If you are squeamish, maybe swerve the middle photo here from the wrestling. For those of you who say wrestling is fixed and fake, a glance at the bloke’s head pouring with blood (real blood by the way) and he probably had stitches applied later, then make that claim!
The two female wrestlers were amazing, flying through the air with scissor kicks. The kids loved it. The BMX stunt chap was incredible to watch too – outside, not in the wrestling big top! The fire eater had a red hot act too!
Bez, the Happy Mondays’ legend and winner of TV’s Big Brother in 2005, had a bit of nasty accident during his DJ set. The place was rammed and Bez and his DJ pal got the packed crowd going and well up for it, when Bez got lost in the music and the vibe, and misjudged where the edge of the stage was.
He fell off and landed in the crowd. A heart-stopping moment, but luckily he got back on stage with a beaming grin and carried on with the set. Unhurt, as were the fans at the front of the stage where he landed. Nearly an unhappy Friday for Bez.
Backstage there was a press call for us all to meet the festival’s promoter Lee Martin, and a regular performer at Lakefest, singer and songwriter Vince Freeman. Vince telling us how he used to run a coffee stall at festivals, playing the guitar at his stall, and how he transitioned into a stage performer from those humble beginnings.
We also got to meet up with the lovely Harley-Moon Kemp, a talented rising star on the country music scene. It must be in the genes, because her dad is Spandau Ballet star and film actor Martin Kemp. Her mother is Shirlie Kemp, who was part of hit pop duo Pepsi and Shirlie, and also sang with Wham and The Style Council. She married Paul Weller.
Harley-Moon’s brother is TV and radio presenter Roman Kemp. Harley-Moon turned in a decent set at Lakefest and reveled that most of her songs are about bad experiences with men. She also did a nice cover of Bryan Adams’s hit “Summer Of ’69”.
Lakefest gives new and young bands a chance to appear at the festival with their “Road To Lakefest” competition and on the smaller stages too.
All in all a lovely second day at Lakefest, where the weather was once again as hot as the fire eater’s tongue; and the music in terms of choice and quality of performances, top notch. It topped the first day’s overall experience; whetting the appetite for what Saturday and Sunday have to offer. Bring it on…
- Check out our coverage of Lakefest Day 1 – Days 3 & 4 coming soon…
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