Rockstar Richard Ashcroft will headline the event on August 27 in Lower Castle Park with support from former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan and Apollo.
Ashcroft rose to fame in The Verve which formed in 1990 and went on to receive critical acclaim thanks to their 1997 album Urban Hymns which featured iconic songs Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Don’t Work.
80s music star Billy Ocean will headline the Summer Series on August 20 and the BRIT award-winning artist Becky Hill will headline on August 22. Dance music icon Fatboy Slim is headlining the event on August 29.
Performer – Richard Ashcroft on stage at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, supporting Oasis earlier this year (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA)
A Colchester Castle Summer Series spokesperson said: “2025 has already been a phenomenal year for Richard Ashcroft.
“He has earned rapturous, stadium-wide receptions throughout his run of huge shows as special guest to Oasis, while his recent singles generated great anticipation of the release of his new album Lovin You.
“He has also seen phenomenal demand for his upcoming arena headline tour, which has seen London’s The O2 sell-out months in advance after all tickets for Manchester, Cardiff and Liverpool were also already snapped up.”
There were eight Summer Series shows this year, with headline performances from The Smashing Pumpkins, Busted, Craig David, Tom Jones, Texas, and Madness.
Solo artist – Richard Ashcroft (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA)
Two festivals also happened, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell headlined reggae day festival Roots East, which Mr Campbell spoke to the Gazette about.
Meanwhile, Manchester group James headlined the Out of Time Festival.
Indie rockers White Lies spoke to the Gazette about their time in the city and supporting The Smashing Pumpkins.
The team behind the event, promoters Soundcrash and Supermodified, are well-known in the UK for hosting popular events like the Margate Summer Series, London’s South Facing Festival, Hitchin Priory Series, and Cardiff Bay Series.
Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10am via colchestercastlesummerseries.co.uk.
More headliners and support acts will be announced soon.
