30/08/2025
Colchester Castle’s medieval silhouette transformed into a pulsating stage for the Colchester Castle Summer Series, a brand-new open-air concert festival held in Lower Castle Park, Colchester, this summer series delivered a fusion of historic ambiance and world-class music.
The event unfolded across eight unforgettable nights, each headlined by a legendary act, spanning genres with each show attracting up to 10,000 music fans. Over the full run, the series has welcomed around 70,000 attendees, lighting up Colchester like never before.
The headliners defined each night and were supported by outstanding and diverse acts that added to a successful event:
The Smashing Pumpkins kicked off the series on 14 August, bringing their alternative rock mastery alongside support from Skunk Anansie, White Lies, and Rocket
Busted ignited the nostalgia on 15 August, backed by Scouting for Girls, Reece Bibby, and Pet Needs
R&B star Craig David headlined 16 August, delivering his TS5 show with support from Big Narstie and Wes Nelson
“Roots East”—a reggae-infused highlight—saw UB40 featuring Ali Campbell headline on 17 August, with support from Aswad and legendary DJ David Rodigan
On 18 August, the stage welcomed Sir Tom Jones, accompanied by Craig Charles (DJ’ing) and Lianne Kaye, for a night full of soul
Texas graced the park on 21 August, with Natalie Imbruglia, Rianne Downey, and Ben Brown delivering a blend of pop-rock
The indie anthems came alive on 22 August with James headlining, bolstered by Happy Mondays, Lightning Seeds, and The WAEVE
And for the grand finale, Madness closed the festival on 23 August, supported by The Zutons, wrapping up the series with their signature ska-infused groove
With eight nights of musical brilliance and up to 10,000 concertgoers per show, the festival has firmly established itself as Colchester’s largest-ever outdoor music event Essex Magazine.
This fusion of world-class acts, historic venue, and soaring local excitement made every night epic, and Cutting Edge Media, alongside Lumen Productions, played a pivotal role behind the scenes.
Cutting Edge Media were tasked with supplying the camera equipment and skilled operators, and they delivered a dynamic live camera mix that filled the stadium’s five LED screens, supplied and managed by Lumen Productions; allowing every fan, regardless of distance, to feel up close, connected, and part of the action, even to the furthest edge of the field.
The team managed to capture the essence of each moment and show it live, amplifying every cheer, every riff, and exultant beat across the park, underscoring the importance of production and playing a small part in transforming the concerts into an unforgettable summer spectacle.
