Darley Park was alive with music, dancing and summer spirit as The Darley Park Weekender returned for three spectacular days, bringing international stars, local talent and world-class orchestral performances to the heart of the city.
The weekender kicked off to a showstopping, sold-out Friday night, with headline act and Britain’s Caribbean King of Pop, Billy Ocean, who had the crowd singing and dancing. He was joined by very special guest Marti Pellow, whose unmistakable voice brought a host of Wet Wet Wet favourites and solo hits to the stage.
Also joining the Darley Park weekender stage was Katrina, formerly of Katrina and the Waves, with her feel-good pop anthems, while Mark Angels brought his popular DJ sets and local favourites Cassette Roulette helped get the weekend off to a flying start.
Saturday night saw British boy band and X-Factor icons JLS delivering an 'Outta This World' headline performance. The group, made up of Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, JB Gill and Marvin Humes, had the crowd singing their hearts out.
They were joined by Appleton, performing a mix of their own hits alongside much-loved All Saints favourites, and pop-rock favourite Chesney Hawkes, who returned to Darley Park after appearing at the Ultimate 90s event in 2024. The Saturday night line-up also showcased some of Derby’s home-grown talent, with The Public Eye opening the evening.
The weekend came to a superb close on Sunday with the much-loved Darley Park Concert, performed by East Midlands orchestra Sinfonia Viva and conducted by acclaimed conductor Stephen Bell. This year’s programme, with a theme of Stage and Screen, took audiences on a journey through dramatic films and magical musicals. It featured music from Apollo 13 and Beauty and the Beast, alongside classical favourites from composers such as Mozart and Tchaikovsky.
The concert also celebrated an array of exceptional talent, including vocalist Juliette Crosbie, powerhouse performer Red, the UHDB Staff Wellbeing Choir and the Derby Harp Ensemble, showcasing the wealth of musical talent from across the region and beyond. It was great to see that audiences were captivated by the performances from both international and local talent. The theatrical pyrotechnics and laser light show wowed audiences and closed the weekend in style.
The Darley Park Weekender was staged by Derby LIVE and Derby City Council’s events team, bringing together international performers, national favourites and local musicians for a celebration of music in the heart of the city.
It was an unforgettable weekend! But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what Derby had to say about this year’s three-day music spectacular:
Great night. Our first Darley Park experience. Looking forward to next year!
Brilliant night, fantastic entertainment. Billie Ocean and Marti Pellow were fantastic!
It was a fantastic night for all ages to appreciate music and have a fabulous time.
Our first time and we absolutely loved it! So impressed with the fantastic set up x when can I book for next year!
Excellent organisation, fantastic performers and an amazing DJ set. Such a great, local event, loved it
Brilliant night from start to finish
There was such an unreal energy in Darley Park last night, what a weekend so far
Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for City Centre, Culture and Tourism, said:
What a fantastic weekend of music in Darley Park! It was wonderful to see people of all ages coming together with friends and family to enjoy live music in one of our beautiful parks. A huge thank you to everyone who came along and joined the celebrations. The Weekender has become a much-loved highlight of Derby’s summer programme and we’re already looking forward to welcoming audiences back to Darley Park.
The Darley Park Weekender returns from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August 2027! The Darley Park Concert for 2027 is now on sale and acts for the Friday and Saturday events will be announced in due course. Follow Derby LIVE on social media or sign up to our newsletter to be notified when the line-up is announced.
Further details about future Derby LIVE events can be found at the Derby LIVE website.