NEWS: Darley Park Weekender returns!

The Darley Park Weekender returns to Darley Park from Friday 30 August to Sunday 1 September with a new line-up and festival feel.

It kicks off with the 80s Mix Tape, followed by the poptastic Ultimate 90s. The weekend culminates with the Darley Park Concert, a long-running event that has become a firm favourite for families from the wider Derbyshire area.

The weekend line-up is as follows:

- Friday 30 August: 80s Mix Tape (Gates open at 4pm, warm up begins 4.15pm) A night of nostalgia taking you back to the 80s with performances from Jason Donovan, Chesney Hawkes and a DJ set from Scott Mills.

80s Mix Tape, now in its third year, will be transporting us back to the era where leggings were a staple, and the music was epic.

Jason Donovan broke many hearts in the 80s as boy-next-door Scott Robinson in Neighbours, before going on to top the charts alongside co-star Kylie Minogue with Especially for You. His career as popstar and actor went stellar, with highlights including 1989 album Ten Good Reasons multiple productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End.

Chesney Hawkes rose to fame with massive number one hit The One and Only and went on to have a varied career as popstar, musical theatre actor and television personality.

DJ Scott Mills has been ruling the BBC Radio 1 and 2 airwaves since 1998, after starting his career in the 80s aged just 16. He’ll take the party up a notch as he takes to the decks performing a banging 80s DJ set.

Joining them we also have The 80s Reunion, this four piece tribute act authentically recreate the look and sound of the 1980s. With awesome dancers and a live band they will recreate some of the very best chart-topping hits from 80s icons such as Duran Duran, The Human League, Madonna, Eurythmics and more.

Local Derby band Cassette Roulette are a 5-piece band made up of full-time professional musicians and two of the best female singers around. They’ve entertained crowds at hundreds of events across the UK, playing the perfect mix of old favourites and modern classics to keep the dance-floor full, all killer no filler!

Saturday 31 Aug: Ultimate 90s (Gates open 4pm, warm up begins 4.30pm) Featuring Honeyz, Blue and a 90s Hangover DJ set from Chris Moyles.

Take a fond trip back to the 90s where Buffy was on everyone’s top watch list and Alicia Silverstone was a style in icon in Clueless.Taking us back to this pop-tastic time are some of the greatest pop legends whose posters adorned the wall of many teenagers growing up.

Brit Award-winning boyband Blue, consisting of members Simon Webbe, Duncan James, Antony Costa and Lee Ryan, have sold 15 million records worldwide. All Rise formultiple hits including Too Close, If You Come Back and Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.

R&B girl group Honeyz had five UK top 10 hits Finally Found, End of the Line, Love of a Lifetime, Never Let You Down and Won’t Take It Lying Down. Original members Celena Cherry and Mariama Goodman will take to the stage to bang out the hits.

DJ Chris Moyles is best known for The Chris Moyles Show, on BBC Radio 1 from 2004 and more recently on Radio X. The show came live from Derby’s Guildhall Theatre in 2010, with guests McFly! He’ll take the party up a notch as he takes to the decks with his 90s Hangover DJ set.  

The Ultimate Boy Band Party Show is 5 bad boys with the power to rock you, taking you back to the naughty 90s withover 30 number one hits. With more key-changes than a Casio PT-50 the boys will be body poppin’ to bangers from Take That, Nsync and The Backstreet Boys as well as stepping from their stools for favourites from Westlife & many more… cue the wind machine! Featuring over 30 pop classics including Words, Love Me For A Reason, Bye Bye Bye, Uptown Girl, Flying Without Wings, I Want It That Way, Pray and Relight My Fire, The Ultimate Boyband Party Show is the essential feel good night out.

Sunday 1 Sep: The Darley Park Concert (Gates open at 1pm, concert begins at 6pm) Sinfonia Viva will provide the classical music before the traditional fireworks round off one of the UK’s biggest outdoor classical concerts

Enjoy one of the highlights of the summer as The Darley Park Concert returns for another spectacular evening of classical music and fireworks.

Back as part of The Darley Park Weekender, the firm favourite will be delighting crowds once again with a captivating performance of classical music, followed by a dazzling display of fireworks to round off the weekend. The theme for this year’s concert is Music from the Movies.

Sinfonia Viva will provide the stunning music in the beautiful surroundings of Darley Park, making it the perfect event for family and friends to enjoy together. Don’t forget to bring your picnic!