ALB Festival Review

PHOTOS AND REVIEW BY DAMIEN HARVEY

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the ALB Festival 2025 in Castle Park, Colchester, and what an experience it was! For those who don’t know, ALB stands for Anti Loo Roll Brigade, and what started back in 2020 as a small community initiative has now grown into one of the warmest, most unique festivals I’ve ever been to. Best of all, it raises money for charity and you can really feel that sense of community and purpose running through the entire event.

What makes ALB stand out from other festivals is its family-friendly vibe. You can bring your own chairs, food, and drink, and just relax in the park with your friends and family while incredible acts take the stage. It feels more like a big community celebration than a commercial festival, and that’s exactly why I loved it. 

Of course, the British weather had its say! At one point the heavens opened, with pouring rain, thunder, and lightning forcing a short halt to the festival. But rather than dampening spirits, it seemed to bring everyone even closer together, people were laughing, dancing in the rain, and showing the true spirit of ALB.

The day kicked off with a little change of schedule. Bez from the Happy Mondays was due to start, but after a delay it was Tinchy Stryder who ended up opening. And what a way to begin his set was electric, with classics like Number 1 and even a brand-new track. The sweetest moment came right at the end, when his young daughter appeared on stage to announce it was her dad’s birthday the next day. The crowd immediately broke into “Happy Birthday,” and the smile on Tinchy’s face said it all.

Then it was time for Bez, who in true Bez style had everyone moving with his warm-up routine. Even though the running order had shifted, he kept the energy high and the crowd buzzing.
Next up was Pixie Lott. Her set got off to a slightly rocky start with some sound issues, but once everything was in place, she absolutely shone. Pregnant and glowing, she lit up the stage with her signature hit Mama Do and had the whole park singing along.

I’ll be honest Mr C wasn’t really my cup of tea, so I took that time to wander around, soak up the atmosphere, and capture some photos of the crowd.

That’s the beauty of ALB, there’s so much more going on than just the main stage, and you can dip in and out however you like.

But the highlight for me (and I think for many others) was Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Dressed in a sparkly outfit with playful pink pom-pom sleeves, she made a dramatic entrance and launched straight into her new single, Relentless Love. Her medley of ABBA and Madonna tracks had the whole park dancing, and when she closed with her iconic Murder on the Dancefloor, the atmosphere was nothing short of euphoric.

Closing out the night was RPJ (Rick Parfitt Jr), who brought a sing-along party vibe with covers ranging from Blink-182 to other anthems that had everyone belting their lungs out. Sadly, I couldn’t stay for the full set, but what I did catch made me determined to see them again.

ALB Festival might be small compared to the big names on the UK festival circuit, but it has something those huge events often lack heart. It’s community-driven, family-oriented, and above all, fun. I left feeling uplifted, muddy shoes and all, and I’ll definitely be back next year for ALB 2026. If you’re looking for a festival where you can relax, sing, dance, and feel part of something special, this is the one.