What do a Hollywood film star, a global rock legend and TVs’ # 1 property expert all have in common? Give up? Well, they were all spotted at Lakefest on Saturday. Oh, and while the UK baked in the extended heatwave and drought, it snowed at Lakefest.
Now, I may be spinning the facts a wee bit here. But only in as much as the weather summary. It was scorchio at Lakefest on day three, but the snow was actually foam shot from a canon for a foam party disco. The adults loving it as much as the kids. [fyi: A wee bit of rain sprinkled upon us early evening on Saturday, still balmy temperatures, but only for five minutes].
The rest of the above statement is true. There was a film star present. There was a legendary rock star there, and that property programme star was also knocking about. Who?
Paddy Considine, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi. Sarah Beeny. All enjoying the stunning surroundings of Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury in Herefordshire – between Wales and The Cotswolds.
For day three of Lakefest 2026, the 14th year of the event which attracts more than 20,000 people to soak up the sights and sounds; which included those nutty boys as headliner on Saturday, Madness. Plus a bunch of other top bands and artists, such as Reef, and Scouting For Girls.
Thursday’s headliners were The Charlatans, Example on Friday, and Bananarama will top the bill on Sunday. A tasty lineup across the four days such as Soul II Soul, Lightning Seeds, EMF, Chesney Hawkes, East 17, and Newton Faulkner, among many others.
2011 was launch year for an event which began as Wurzels CiderFest, and the following year was branded as Lakefest and from then on. So it has run for 14 years as Lakefest, but 2020 was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.
Saturday 2026 we caught: Madness, Reef, Scouting For Girls, Riding The Low, The Entitled Sons, Killing Chic, Tell Mother, CEG the (young band who opened the main stage today after a set on Friday on the Funytown stage), and the quirky Arkansaw Jukebox Collective.
We also had the chance to shoot some portrait pix with Paddy Considine, Roy Stride frontman for Scouting For Girls, and the bands Killing Chic and The Entitled Sons. And snap a quick shot of Tony Iommi…
So. Paddy was there fronting his band Riding The Low. Tony was there as a mate of Joff, the guitarist, producer, and songwriter in the much-talked about band Killing Chic. Sarah was there with her kids who are in the band The Entitled Sons, (love the name!).
The question I ask is this: What did Nile Rodgers ever do to Joff and his band mates, to warrant the urge to commit murder? Killing Chic. Ohhh, don’t do that chaps. Who doesn’t love “Le Freak” and “Good Tkmes”, and their like?
Well, here is a bit of background on Killing Chic and Joff for you…
Joff is Sergio Momo, and he and the band are based in Turin, Italy. They released the single, “Too Late” in July and their self-titled album is due in October 2026, for which they were recording at Abbey Road last week.
They are Joff, guitarist Zeta, vocalist Chris, drummer Fasa, and bassist Paul Zogno; who have already played several low-key UK shows ahead of Lakefest, where their brand of classy classic rock went down well.
Factoid: Joff is actually a master perfumer behind the Xerjoff brand, and he has crafted scents for the likes of Duran Duran, Queen legend Brian May, and Sabbath icon Tony Iommi. Joff also played guitar on Iommi’s “Scent Of Dark” track that to promote his “signature” blend in 2021.
Tony was out of the spotlight at Lakefest, stood in the pit with friends watching Killing Chic’s 6pm set on the Funkytown stage. He will release his first solo album in 21 years in October this year.
The Entitled Sons delivered a very impressive set and many people were heard giving positive feedback. The young lads had great fun; including the moment towards the end of their set, when one of them, Rafferty, jumped off the stage into the crowd with his guitar, and proceeded to play while crowd surfing. Multi-skilling right there!
The band is Sarah Beeny’s four sons and husband Graham, who formed the Somerset-based rock band in 2022. Billy (keyboards), Charlie (lead vocals), Rafferty (guitar), Laurie (drums) and Graham (bass).
They wrote and produced their first single, “Break”, released in January 2022, and within days got into the top 10 of the rock category of the iTunes charts, and number 45 in the national rock chart. They performed at the 2023 Glastonbury Festival. [Not sure what Sarah would think of the naughty slogan on the tee-shirt worn by one of her lads!!]
Madness were the perfect Saturday night headliners. Delivering all their hits in style. Faultless and fabulous singalong fun. We heard “Embarrassment”, “My Girl” [With keyboard man Mike Barson talking about his inspiration for “My Girl”, which was his van driver colleague – they delivered bananas – regularly complaining about his girlfriend].
Arkansaw Jukebox Collective were good fun,: with a bunch of famous covers in a bonkers rock-punk-pop-bluegrass vibe. Songs by the likes of The Sex Pistols; yep, with accordion. Johnny would go mad!!!
Reef were in the lineup for the very first Lakefest back in 2012 and are back and in fine form in August 2026…
Thursday at Lakefest, excellent stuff. Friday, even better. Saturday, a superb day/night.
Just one more to go on Sunday, when the lovely Banarama will be singing about being “your Venus”. I nearly crashed the car the first time I heard that song back in 1986 and misheard the lyrics!
Check out our coverage of Lakefest Days 1 & 2 – Day 4 coming soon…
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