Featured Image Credit: Jamie Carter
Special guests Lightning Seeds to Support
Forest Live, Forestry England’s summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announced much loved and revered Scottish hitmakers Deacon Blue as the latest headliner for its 2026 shows. Deacon Blue will be joined by Lightning Seeds at the stunning Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum on Thursday June 25rd June…….
Speaking about hitting the road, and hinting at the band’s recent album title, frontman Ricky Ross said: “No one knows where The Great Western Road ends up, least of all us! For now the road goes on and next summer we are taking the shows to some beautiful venues. We can’t wait to see you there and we promise to make every night very special.”
Celebrating 40 years since Ross and Dougie Vipond first formed the band, Deacon Blue’s Westonbirt headline show will be a career-spanning night of hits including ‘Chocolate Girl’, ‘Wages Day’ and ‘Fergus Sings The Blues’ — alongside highlights from ‘The Great Western Road’, their most successful studio release in more than three decades, reaching Number 3 in the UK and topping the Scottish Album Chart. Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios, the album reunites Ross and guitarist Gregor Philp as producers, with engineer Matt Butler, who worked on Deacon Blue’s classic debut ‘Raintown’. The record captures the band’s journey across four decades, reflecting on life, love and longevity.
With more than 7 million albums sold, two UK Number One albums, and a songbook filled with heartfelt, singalong hits, Deacon Blue remain one of the UK’s most enduring and best-loved live acts. Their headline show at Westonbirt promises to be a celebration of their remarkable story – and a showcase of a band still creating, evolving, and connecting with fans new and old.
Joining them as very special guests are Liverpudlian indie icons Lightning Seeds, the masterminds behind timeless favourites ‘Pure’, ‘Lucky You,’ and ‘The Life of Riley’.
Bursting on to the music scene in the late ’80s with their shimmering debut ‘Cloudcuckooland’, the band quickly became one of the UK’s most cherished indie-pop acts. Led by songwriter and producer Ian Broudie, their catalogue spans era-defining hits like ‘Sense’, and ‘Change’. Renowned for melodic brilliance and feel-good live shows, Lightning Seeds continue to delight fans across generations – the perfect addition to an unmissable night at Westonbirt Arboretum.
Deacon Blue and Lightning Seeds join confirmed headliners for the event’s 2026 Forest Live shows – Becky Hill (Cannock Chase), The Kooks (Delamere), Snow Patrol (Thetford Forest) and UB40 ft Ali Campbell (playing all sites) – with many more phenomenal names to be added.
Merging stellar performances from world-class acts with beautiful outdoor locations to create an atmosphere like no other, Forest Live will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in 2026 with stunning shows in four forest venues: Forestry England Cannock Chase, Delamere Forest, High Lodge Thetford Forest and Westonbirt Arboretum.
Forestry England manage and care for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests. They use the money Forest Live raises to maintain these beautiful natural areas for everyone to enjoy, run important conservation projects and keep growing trees.
Last year they planted some 7.4 million trees and welcomed 313 million visits in 2024/25. Everyone in England lives within a one-hour drive of one of the nation’s forests. Over two million people have enjoyed the Forest Live gigs over the last 25 years.
Following a hugely successful run of shows over the past 25 years, this year sees Forestry England present the concert series in partnership with Live Nation’s Cuffe & Taylor for the third year running.
Deacon Blue and Special Guests Lightning Seeds
Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum – Thursday June 25
General tickets will go on sale on Friday November 7 at 10am.
Fans can sign up for information, announcements, and exclusive pre-sale access at forestlive.com.
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