Lakefest Sunday: The Long Goodbye
- Sam Holt
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Eastnor Castle Grounds - Sunday 10th August 2026
WORDS / IMAGES SAM HOLT
Lakefest: Sunday, the Last Day…
Sundays at festivals usually feel a little more relaxed to me, and Lakefest was no different. The line-up was less intense, but there was still something for everyone, allowing people to have fun and enjoy the final day. It was also a warmer day, and plenty of festival-goers were doing their best to stay out of the sun for as long as possible.
Festival favourite Chesney Hawkes took to the stage for an afternoon slot. For many, he’s simply known as the man behind The One and Only — something he acknowledges himself — but his set showed there is considerably more to Hawkes than that one massive hit. Alongside some of his more recent work, he dipped into music from the same era when he was at the height of his fame, including covers of James, Nik Kershaw and Wheatus, as well as his second single, Buddy.
He even used Sit Down as an opportunity to come and sit down on the speaker stack in the pit, which raised a few smiles. The One and Only was saved for the end, or so we thought. Hawkes then closed with a cover of I Predict a Riot. Considering the heat and the afternoon slot, he had drawn a good-sized crowd, proving that sometimes one song really can carry a lifetime — provided you know how to have a laugh about it.
Following on was Elvana, a band I’d heard of but never seen before. I’m told they are regulars on the festival circuit, and after seeing them, I can understand why. Their whole concept sounds like something that should never work: a crossover between Elvis Presley and Nirvana. Elvis and Nirvana. On paper, it’s completely unimaginable. Somehow, frontman Paul ‘Kelvana’ Kell makes the whole ridiculous, brilliant thing work.
Kell takes on the persona of Elvis, while the band behind him play in the heavy, grungy style of Nirvana. He struts up and down the stage with commanding presence, working an already hyped audience like he was born to do it. Down the front, I couldn’t help but notice a few fans wearing Elvis face masks, while one even appeared to be dressed as The King himself.
It’s completely bonkers, but that’s the point. There’s no attempt to make the concept respectable or sensible. Elvana take two completely different musical worlds, throw them into a blender and somehow come out with something that is enormous fun. Along with Chesney Hawkes, they pulled another big crowd, with plenty of people clearly there for Smells Like Teen Spirit and the many other hits being given the Elvana treatment.
All too soon, the penultimate act on the Abbey Stage, The Lightning Seeds, took to the stage. They opened with Change from the Jollification album, immediately bringing a more laid-back feel to the afternoon.
The Lightning Seeds have been together since 1989 and began as a side project for music producer Ian Broudie. The current line-up includes original member Martyn Campbell on bass and backing vocals, while more recently Broudie’s son Riley has joined the band on guitar.
The subject of, or perhaps the reason for, the song The Life of Riley, Riley appeared throughout the set, with the track naturally making an appearance alongside Three Lions. Unfortunately, it didn’t come home this time! The song was originally written around the 1996 World Cup, in collaboration with comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, and remains one of those songs that seems to have escaped its original purpose and become part of the national soundtrack.
Their easy-listening style was exactly what Lakefest needed at this point in the day. There was no frantic race for attention, no need to blow the roof off anything. The Lightning Seeds simply settled into the festival atmosphere, providing the laid-back soundtrack while preparing the crowd for the headliners.
A little later than expected, apparently due to technical issues, Bananarama took to the stage. Originally a three-piece, today just two remain to wow the Lakefest crowd with their catalogue of hits from yesteryear.
I Heard a Rumour set the pace as the girls went through their familiar choreographed moves. There was a quip about Steps borrowing one of their songs, Last Thing on My Mind, before they launched into the original in the catchy pop style they have become so famous for.
And why mess with a formula that works? Bananarama have held the record for the most Top 50 hits by an all-female group, with 32 hits, many of which were played to a crowd that clearly knew every word. The Lakefest audience savoured it, embraced it and, for a while, seemed determined to squeeze every last drop of enjoyment from the final afternoon.
And then, suddenly, it was almost over.
That’s the strange thing about festivals. Four days can feel like a lifetime when you arrive, yet by Sunday evening you find yourself wondering where the hell all the time went. The fields that seemed enormous on Thursday have somehow shrunk, the tents are coming down, the rubbish is being cleared away, and everyone is already talking about next year.
It has been a great festival. And perhaps that is what festivals should ultimately be: a chance to unwind, relax and enjoy a stunning setting; a chance to escape the outside world for a few days. The mobile phone signal at Lakefest is terrible, which, when you think about it, might be one of its greatest features. No endless scrolling, no constant notifications, no frantic connection to everything happening outside the gates. Just music, friends, strangers who become friends, children running around, activities for the younger generation and enough music to keep the older generations happy too.
Lakefest manages to create that increasingly rare feeling that you have temporarily stepped outside normal life.
So, thanks to Lee Martin and his team, and to all the volunteers who work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. Festivals don't happen by accident. There are hundreds of people making sure the rest of us can forget about the real world for a few days.
And that's probably the best reason of all to come back.
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