Forest Live, Forestry England’s much-loved summer concert series presented in partnership with Cuffe & Taylor, has announced Scottish hitmakers Deacon Blue as the latest headliners for its 2026 shows.
The band will be joined by Lightning Seeds for a stunning open-air concert at Westonbirt Arboretum on Thursday 25 June 2026.
Speaking about taking to the road again — and referencing the band’s latest 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 Ricky Ross and Dougie Vipond first formed Deacon Blue, the Westonbirt headline show will be a career-spanning celebration featuring classics including Chocolate Girl, Wages Day and Fergus Sings The Blues, alongside songs from The Great Western Road — their most successful studio album in over three decades.
Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios, the album reunites Ross and guitarist Gregor Philp as producers, alongside engineer Matt Butler, who worked on their 1987 debut Raintown. The record captures the band’s journey across four decades — a reflection on life, love and longevity.
With more than 7 million albums sold, two UK Number One albums, and a catalogue of heartfelt, singalong hits, Deacon Blue remain one of the UK’s most enduring and best-loved live acts. Their Forest Live headline show promises to be a joyful celebration of their remarkable story and their ongoing creative energy.
Joining them as special guests are Lightning Seeds, the Liverpool indie icons behind timeless favourites Pure, Lucky You, and The Life of Riley. Led by songwriter and producer Ian Broudie, the band’s melodic brilliance and feel-good performances have delighted fans for over three decades, making them the perfect addition to an unforgettable night under the trees.
Deacon Blue and Lightning Seeds join an incredible line-up for Forest Live 2026, including Becky Hill (Cannock Chase), The Kooks (Delamere), Snow Patrol (Thetford Forest) and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell (all sites) — with more stellar names to be announced.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026, Forest Live brings world-class music to spectacular outdoor woodland settings, combining unforgettable live performances with the natural beauty of England’s forests. Proceeds from the events help Forestry England maintain and protect these spaces, fund conservation projects, and plant trees for future generations.
In 2024/25, Forestry England planted 7.4 million trees and welcomed over 313 million visits to the nation’s forests. Over two million people have attended Forest Live concerts since the series began.
Following a hugely successful partnership, this year’s series marks the third year of collaboration between Forestry England and Live Nation’s Cuffe & Taylor.
Deacon Blue + Special Guests Lightning Seeds
📍 Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum
📅 Thursday 25 June 2026
🎟️ General tickets on sale: Friday 7 November at 10am
💻 Sign up for pre-sale and updates: forestlive.com
