Madness to headline massive outdoor show at Colchester Castle Park next summer

Huge pop and ska band Madness have announced they will perform at a huge Essex park next summer. Following on from their show at Audley End in Saffron Walden this summer, Madness will be playing Colchester Castle Park in August 2025.

The band have been going for decades and are known for the blend of ska, pop, and tongue-in-cheek humour. Supporting acts for the show will be The Skints and The Beat ft Ranking Jnr.

Madness emerged in the late-1970s in Camden, London with their debut album One Step Beyond in 1979, which soon became a classic in its genre. It featured the hits of "Our House" and "House of Fun" along with "Baggy Trousers". The band performed at Audley End House in August this year with Lightning Seeds following the release of the thirteenth studio album which went to number one in the charts.

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Their musical catalogue has grown over the years to include the genres of Motown, soul, and British pop, as seen on Madness Presents the Rise & Fall in 1982. They have developed a "dysfunctional family" dynamic and continue to perform sold out shows across the UK and abroad.

The gig will be part of the Colchester Castle Summer Series which will be the largest music event the city has seen in some time, with each show welcoming up to 10,000 attendees. Organisers promise to deliver “unforgettable performances in the heart of one of England’s most historic and scenic locations”.

The band, which consists of Chris Foreman, Mike Barson, Lee Thompson, Graham “Suggs” McPherson, Dan Woodgate and Mark Bedford, will take the stage in Castle Park on August 23. Tickets will be on sale starting Friday, November 29 at 9am and ticket prices are yet to be confirmed. To book, visit colchestercastlesummerseries.co.uk.