Alright butt… if you’ve ever blasted Temptation in the car, danced badly to Things Can Only Get Better at 2am, or stared moodily out of a rainy bus window pretending you’re in an 80s music video… then Electric Summer 2026 might just be YOUR festival 😍🔥
A brand-new music festival is heading to the south west this summer, and honestly? The line-up is an absolute synth-soaked belter.
🌴 WELCOME TO ELECTRIC SUMMER
Taking place at the beautiful Vivary Park in Taunton on Sunday August 30th 2026, Electric Summer is bringing together legendary names from the golden age of synth-pop alongside newer artists carrying the neon torch into the future 🤘⚡
And leading the charge?
Oh only:
- 🎹 Howard Jones
- ⚡ Heaven 17
- 🌌 Blancmange
Y’know… just casually three absolute icons of the 80s.
Combined, these artists have already announced over 80 tour dates worldwide this year, proving once again that great music never dies — it just gets louder and comes with more smoke machines 😈
🎤 HOWARD JONES RETURNS HOME
One of the biggest moments of the festival will undoubtedly be Howard Jones returning to Taunton for what is being billed as a proper homecoming show ❤️
Howard has lived in Taunton for more than 20 years, making this performance extra special for local fans — and here’s the mad part…
⚠️ This will be Howard Jones’ ONLY UK SHOW OF 2026 ⚠️
That alone makes Electric Summer feel massive.
Fresh off headlining his hugely successful THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER festival tour across America, Howard sounds genuinely buzzing to perform in the town he calls home.
“Vivary Park is such a beautiful venue for this show and come rain or shine it’s gonna be a must-see gig because of the incredible line up,” said Howard.
“I’m very happy to be playing with my friends Heaven 17 and Blancmange, and can’t wait to see everyone on August 30th.”
Honestly? Neither can we, mun 🔥
⚡ MORE THAN JUST NOSTALGIA
One of the coolest things about Electric Summer is that it’s not just living in the past.
Festival organiser Jez Damsell has built the event around both legendary artists AND newer acts inspired by the era, giving fans a full day of synth-fuelled goodness.
Alongside the headline acts, festival-goers can also catch performances from:
- 🖤 Black Nail Cabaret
- 🔥 Mesh
- 🎤 Agency V
- 🌙 Neon Fields
- 🎧 DJ Paul Dakeyne
That mix of classic and modern electronic music could make for one of the most interesting festival atmospheres of the summer.
Expect:
- giant choruses
- dancing in sunglasses
- dramatic eyeliner
- accidental cider spillages
- and at least one bloke dressed like he never left 1987 🍺😂
❤️ MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE
Electric Summer is also supporting an incredible cause, with a donation from every ticket sold going to Nordoff and Robbins — the UK charity delivering music therapy to vulnerable people across the country.
The charity has long been supported by artists throughout the music industry and continues to use the power of music to help people communicate, connect and express themselves.
Massive respect for that 👏🎶
🌅 THIS COULD BE THE SOUTH WEST’S NEW SUMMER GEM
There’s something properly exciting about new festivals when they’re done with passion instead of pure corporate waffle.
Electric Summer feels like it’s been built by people who genuinely LOVE this music and understand the scene surrounding it.
Vivary Park is a gorgeous setting, the line-up is packed with legendary names, and the vibe already sounds like a perfect end-of-summer celebration.
If this first year lands the way it should, don’t be surprised if Electric Summer becomes a yearly fixture for synth-pop fans across the UK.
And honestly… we’re all for it 🤘⚡
🎟️ ELECTRIC SUMMER 2026 – EVENT INFO
📅 Date: Sunday 30th August 2026
📍 Location: Vivary Park, Upper High Street, Taunton
🎹 Headliners: Howard Jones, Heaven 17 & Blancmange
❤️ Charity Partner: Nordoff and Robbins
🎫 Tickets available now:
Electric Summer Tickets
Get the eyeliner ready, charge the old Walkman for emotional support, and prepare for a proper neon-drenched summer party, butt 😎⚡
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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