Bay Days Festival, a beloved Chelmsford music event from the 2010s, is making a comeback on Saturday, August 1, with a larger setup that includes a free community area for local residents. The festival will feature 32 artists performing across four stages throughout the city centre, spanning multiple genres and venues.
Expanded Lineup Across Four Stages
Organisers have expanded the lineup to include a variety of musical genres across three main indoor venues: Radio City Social, Hot Box Live, and Chelmsford Theatre. These indoor stages will host 22 bands, with London group Pengshui, Hull band Mastiff, and Bristol group Mother Vulture headlining. A fourth stage located in the Festival Village at Marconi Plaza will feature 10 local acoustic acts, including BBC Introducing performers Katy for Kings and George Bone.
Free Festival Village and Local Vendors
Visitors can enjoy the Festival Village without a ticket, where they will find local food traders, pop-up stalls, and drinks from independent businesses. This free access aims to make the festival inclusive for the community.
Revival After a Decade-Long Hiatus
The festival was originally held at local pubs before ending in the mid-2010s. Independent event teams have now revived the gathering with the blessing of the original founders, aiming to support the growing local music scene.
Organisers Express Excitement
Dan Harvey, owner of Radio City Social, Radio City Beer Works and Bay Days Festival, said: "Bay Days Festival was a staple of the live music scene in Chelmsford in the 2010s, and we’re really proud that we have been trusted to take it forward into a new era. This is a local festival, hosted by local people for local people that was created to celebrate music, to offer a fantastic experience to both fans and artists and ultimately, to build memories in the city we love. This is just the beginning; we have huge plans for Bay Days and a desire to create a significant, independent music festival in Chelmsford that the city can be proud of."
Steve Tonkin, owner of In The Abyss Promotions, commented: "Fast forward to 2026 and our second involvement with Bay Days. The rapidly growing heavy music scene in Chelmsford has truly blown us away and we believe Bay Days is the future of that. There is a real buzz going on in Chelmsford right now and we couldn't wish for a better City to co-create such an exciting festival... 2026 is just another step in future of Bay Days."
Event Details
The festival takes place on Saturday, August 1, at Radio City Social, Hot Box Live, Chelmsford Theatre, and Marconi Plaza in Chelmsford, Essex. While the Festival Village at Marconi Plaza is free, ticket details and prices for indoor venues are available on Eventbrite.
