06 September 2025 (gig)
08 September 2025
As the guitar strings rocked out in the summer evening, we knew we were in the presence of a great.
Bryan Adams, headliner of Saturday’s Radio 2 in the Park, brought a brilliant climax to the summer of 2025 with a string of hits that completed a fantastic day at the Hylands Park event in Chelmsford.
With hits including Summer of 69, Heaven, Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, Run to You, and one of the best-selling singles of all time, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, Bryan’s energy got the audience rocking and partying from start to finish.
A big part of Bryan’s set was his connection with the audience, which included getting the crowd to hold their phone lights aloft during the emotional Shine a Light, and inviting them to party during You Belong To Me/Blue Suede Shoes, swinging their t-shirts in the air like they just don’t care. All could be seen on the live TV feed, much to the audience’s entertainment!
A special moment was when Bryan reunited with Spice Girl Mel C for a great rendition of When You’re Gone, which had the delighted audience singing along in unison.
Bryan brought to a close a magnificent day at Hylands Park, thanks to BBC Radio Two’s great lineup of both artists and DJs which had something for everyone.
Kicking off the main stage was 90s Welsh rock band Stereophonics who guaranteed everyone (had) A Nice Day, with mega hits like Maybe Tomorrow and Dakota. They were followed by X Factor sensation Ella Henderson whose smash hit Ghost gpt a packed Chelmsford crowd on their feet and lapping up every second.
Eighties pop and soul heartthrob Marti Pellow brought his Scottish charm and kilt to the audience, telling the crowd he hoped the breeze wouldn’t show off his charms! What a great set which included a fantastic rocky rendition of With A Little Help From My Friends. The former Wet Wet Wet frontman also performed classics Sweet Little Mystery, Goodnight Girl and Wishing I Was Lucky.
An emotional Jessie J took to the stage next for her first show following major health issues, receiving a rapturous welcome from the crowd who were delighted to see her back on stage.
Jessie told the Radio 2 crowd she was so grateful to be back performing, and even more so, to have her two-year-old son see her singing on stage for the first time, a truly emotional set.
Singing her new single Living My Best Life, she urged the audience to make the most of every day and hug the people they love most. Jessie also performed a great acoustic version of her much-loved No 1 hit Price Tag.
Bringing the audience right back to the 80s with their unique brand of New York meets tropical calypso and Las Vegas glamour was Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
Kid brought an extra dose of summer to Chelmsford as the band performed a string of hits including Stool Pigeon and I’m a Wonderful Thing, Baby. The temperature then went up a notch when he sang Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy, inviting the audience to conga and then welcoming a special all-star conga line-up that included The Fizz and DJs Tony Blackburn and Gary Davies.
Boyzone’s Ronan Keating brought his Irish charm and boyish good looks to Chelmsford and had the audience eating out of his hands. His debut solo single back in the 90s, When You Say Nothing At All, which was from the hit movie Notting Hill, was a special moment of the day. As was Baby Can I Hold You (a Tracy Chapman cover) and his duets with special guests Bryan Adams and Harley Moon Kemp.
The penultimate act of the night was 80s pop pin-up Belinda Carlisle, looking as glam as ever in her sparkly skirt. Radio 2 in the Park was treated to classics including I Go Weak, Circle in the Sand and Heaven is a Place on Earth.
It truly was a fabulous lineup on the main stage but Radio 2 in the Park is much more than that. With a full DJ lineup throughout the whole weekend, the crowd got the chance to be up close with their favourite Radio 2 DJs, from Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball to Rylan, Tony Blackburn and Dermot O’Leary, plus many others.
A highlight on Saturday was when Paddy McGuinness invited The Fizz on the stage of his School Disco set, so he could fulfil a personal ambition in life – to rip off the skirt of Cheryl Baker, recreating that pivotal Eurovision moment in their winning song, Making Your Mind Up.
For those unable to squeeze into the packed DJ tents, there were large screens featuring the DJs up close and personal, showing their every emotion as they spun the decks. Even queues of people lining up at the numerous food outlets for their dinner got into the groove with some moves.
Radio 2 in the Park is an annual celebration of the station’s enduring popularity and universal appeal for multi generations of music lovers. This brilliant event brings a live version of the airwaves to its Radio 2 listeners, and we can’t wait for the ‘park life’ to continue at another venue next year. You knocked it out of the park, Radio 2!
Photo credit: BBC
