Delamere Forest, the setting of Forest Live, has stunning views. The concert arena at Delamere Forest is a natural amphitheatre in the largest woodland area in Cheshire. The forest is a mix of Conifer and Broadleaf woodland attracting over 750,000 visitors per year.You really feel that you are away from everyday life as you step into the countryside. Stewards are all along the route once you enter Delamere Forest, directing you where to park – they use about five fields.
Once parked up you make your way to a big field that slopes so everyone gets a fantastic view of the big stage. When buying your tickets for Forest Live, you can buy standard or upgrade to Glade VIP – this is an enclosed part of the field that has access to bars/food stalls with tables and chairs – and more importantly to the posh clean toilets!
All the headline acts have one or two support groups. The main group goes on stage around 9pm and most perform for around one and a half hours.
Friday 13 June 2025
Snow Patrol headline with support from Freya Ridings and The Florentinas
Indie rock band Snow Patrol sell out every place they play. Lead singer Gary Lightbody has the audience in his hand from the moment he steps onto the stage. Men and women love and admire him. Everyone sings along. ‘Take Back The City’, ‘Chocolate’, ‘Run’, ‘Just Say Yes’, ‘Called out In The Dark’, ‘Chasing Cars’ – fifteen years since these songs first came out.
Over the course of their career, Snow Patrol have amassed seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards and been nominated for six BRIT Awards and one GRAMMY. Earlier this year, the band released their aptly titled UK Number One album ‘The Forest Is The Path’ to widespread acclaim.
Saturday 14 June 2025
Gary Barlow with support from Beverley Knight
Gary Barlow is one of the United Kingdom’s most successful songwriters, selling over 50 million records, and having written thirteen number one singles (ten with Take That, two solo, one with the Robbie Wiliams song ‘Candy‘) and twenty-four top-ten hits. As a solo artist, he has had three number-one singles, six top-ten singles and three number-one albums and has additionally had seventeen top-five hits, twelve number-one singles and eight number-one albums with Take That. Gary has also served as a judge on television talent shows around the world. He recently did a TV series travelling around vineyards in Australia with celebrity guests joining him to taste the many different wines produced in different areas.
The place is jam packed. Well Gary is in his hometown of Frodsham where he grew up so it is an extra special concert for him. As soon as he enters the stage the crowd are cheering and shouting. He tells us that his mum and family are here tonight. He sections the evening with hits from the 80’s. 90’s, noughties. From playing on his piano, to dancing and moving across the whole of the stage, it feels like he is giving the whole crowd a big hug! Everyone keeps raising their arms in the air and they know every word to every song. What a great Saturday night.
Sunday 15 June 2025
Rag’n’Bone Man with support from Elles bailey and Kerr Mercer
Rory Graham, best known as Rag’n’Bone Man rose to fame in 2016 with his unique blend of hip-hop, traditional blues and his powerfully deep baritone singing style. He won two BRIT Awards the following year, before cementing his success with the record-breaking release of his four-time Platinum, UK Number One album ‘Human’. With a dedicated international fan base, Rag’n’Bone Man has continued to sell out tours and headline festivals across the globe and has collaborated with the likes of Gorillaz, Logic, Calvin Harris and P!nk. His third studio album ‘What Do You Believe In?’ was released earlier this month and proved an instant hit with fans, entering the top three in the UK Album Chart.
Approaching the arena I see about thirty 15 year olds being escorted off the grounds by security. They were trying to get in without tickets! Inside there are groups of teenagers and then many people in their fifties and sixties. From the moment Rory enters the stage we are all captivated. He is covered in tattoos, a big bloke – then he opens his mouth and the voice is incredible.
What a talented man. A young girl shouts, “you are a sexy bastard” and he can’t stop smiling and laughing. “I’ve never been called that before but I will gladly take it”, his face lights up. Everyone is in awe of this gentle giant, such a beautiful voice.
Thursday 19 June 2025
Busted with support from SOAP and Twin Atlantic
Pop-rock three piece Busted delighted fans with a selection of hits including ‘Year 3000’, ‘Air Hostess’ and ‘Sleeping With The Light On’. It’s been over twenty years since the much-loved band first bounced into the charts with the irrepressible energy of debut single ‘What I Go To School For’. 2023 saw the legendary band celebrate their 20thAnniversary with a sell-out Greatest Hits tour, before achieving a Number One album with ‘Greatest Hits 2.0’ the same year. Later this year they are touring with McFly.
James Bourne, Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis – what a wonderful sight to see them together on stage again. Matt was full of banter all evening, making jibes at his two band mates, talking to the audience. Matt was enjoying himself so much that he forgot to sing his lyrics on ‘Falling For You’! He told us that James arrived at the gig with just his phone charger and toothbrush – he cleans his teeth with coke a cola! This was my favourite night!
Saturday 21 June 2025
Blossoms with support from Seb Lowe and The Guest List
Since forming in 2013, Blossoms have four UK Number 1 albums, BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominations and a series of globe-trotting tours under their belts.
The indie-rock group sang ‘I Like Your Look’ and ‘Big Star’ accompanied by earlier hits including ‘I Can’t Stand It’, ‘There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’, ‘Charlemagne’ and ‘Your Girlfriend’.
Please can we have another ‘Forest Live’ next year?
What a fabulous five nights of concerts – please can we have more next year?
Each evening was a mixture of ages, from babies and toddlers with their families to many people in their 40s, 50’s and 60’s.
Forest Live is a major live music series held in our nation’s forests. Taking place in beautiful natural woodland arenas every summer. By buying tickets from Forestry England, you are helping to grow and protect our nation’s forests for generations to come. Forestry England plant over 7 million trees in England each year and protect trees and wildlife habitats from climate threats. Everyone in England lives within a one-hour drive of one of the nation’s forests!
All photographs by Deborah Law
