The curtain has come down on the first-ever Colchester Castle Summer Series, which has been hailed as a phenomenal success after welcoming 70,000 music fans to Lower Castle Park over eight unforgettable nights, in what was Colchester’s biggest ever outdoor series.
Across August, the historic setting of Colchester Castle provided the backdrop for a landmark run of shows featuring some of the world’s most celebrated artists, spanning rock, pop, R&B, reggae, and ska.
The series opened in spectacular fashion with The Smashing Pumpkins, supported by Skunk Anansie and White Lies, who set the tone for a summer of world-class live music. Busted brought Essex to its feet with an energy-filled night of singalong pop-rock anthems, followed by an electrifying Craig David TS5 party and the soulful reggae celebration Roots East, headlined by UB40 featuring Ali Campbell with special guests Aswad, David Rodigan, Don Letts, and Bitty McLean.
Legendary Welsh star Tom Jones returned to Colchester for the first time in six years, delivering a powerful set that spanned his remarkable career, while Scottish icons Texas and Natalie Imbruglia lit up the stage with timeless hits. The festival spirit continued with the Out of Time Festival, where James, Happy Mondays, Lightning Seeds, and The Waeve came together for an unforgettable celebration of British music.
The series closed in triumphant style on Saturday 23 August, as ska-pop greats Madness turned the sold-out Lower Castle Park into one giant party, joined by The Zutons, The Skints, and The Beat featuring Ranking Jnr.
Left-right: The Smashing Pumpkins, Crowds enjoy Busted (Credit Gem Harris)
Event organisers Soundcrash and Supermodified expressed their delight at the success of the inaugural Colchester Castle Summer Series:
Rob Waller of Soundcrash said:
“This has been a landmark moment for Colchester. To see thousands of people each night enjoying such a diverse range of world-class artists in one of the most historic settings in the UK has been incredible. We’re grateful to the fans, the artists, and Colchester for making this debut series such a huge success.”
With sold-out shows, glowing reviews, and an atmosphere that captured the spirit of summer, the Colchester Castle Summer Series 2025 has firmly established itself as a highlight of the UK’s live music calendar.
