Everything You Need to Know Before Live At Melbourne Hall Opens Its Gates This Weekend
There’s a new festival on the block, and if you’re looking for an excuse to spend a weekend surrounded by live music in one of Derbyshire’s most picturesque settings, this might be it.
Live At Melbourne Hall makes its debut from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July, taking over Crow Park at Melbourne Hallfor three days packed with live bands, DJs, street food and plenty of reasons to leave the house. Set against the backdrop of the historic Melbourne Hall estate, the festival is aiming to become a permanent fixture on the East Midlands live music calendar.
Whether you’re chasing indie anthems, nostalgic dancefloor fillers or a day of modern country, there’s a different flavour on offer each day.
Who’s playing?
Friday belongs to the 90s. Jo Whiley brings her much-loved 90s Anthems show to Melbourne Hall, celebrating one of British music’s greatest decades, while Gary Davies keeps the nostalgia flowing with his 80s Disco, alongside Toby Spin.
Saturday shifts the focus to guitar music. Lightning Seeds headline after a career packed with timeless indie-pop classics, while Maxïmo Park promise the kind of energetic live show they’ve built their reputation on. Riding The Low, fronted by Paddy Considine, and the legendary Propaganda DJs complete a seriously solid day for indie fans.
Sunday rounds things off with a celebration of British country music. The Shires top the bill, joined by Ward Thomas, Catherine McGrath and rising star Minna.
Getting there
Melbourne sits around eight miles south of Derby and just a few miles from East Midlands Airport.
If you’re driving, free parking is available all weekend with no advance booking required. Travelling by train? Derby is the closest station, with regular buses running directly to Melbourne. Taxi journeys from Derby take around 20 minutes, while official travel partner Albatross Cars will have additional vehicles operating throughout the weekend.
What should you bring?
It’s a British outdoor festival, so pack for every season… even if the forecast looks perfect.
Bring your ticket, comfortable footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen if the sun decides to make an appearance, and a portable phone charger because there won’t be charging points on site.
Accessibility
The organisers have put accessibility high on the priority list, with dedicated accessible entrances, viewing platforms, accessible toilets and complimentary Essential Companion tickets available through the event’s access scheme.
Visitors bringing registered assistance dogs are welcome, although these need to be registered with organisers before the event.
Food, drink and facilities
Expect fully stocked bars alongside a hand-picked selection of street food vendors, with vegetarian and vegan options available throughout the site.
The event is completely cashless, so bring your bank card or use contactless payments. Free drinking water stations will also be available across the festival.
Families welcome
Live At Melbourne Hall is open to all ages, although organisers recommend children attending Friday’s Jo Whiley show are aged eight or over.
Anyone under 18 must attend with an adult, and Challenge 25 will be operating across all bars, so don’t forget valid photo ID if you think you might need it.
A few things to remember
There are a handful of festival rules worth knowing before you travel.
- Bags must be no larger than 35cm x 40cm x 19cm.
- No flags or banners.
- No umbrellas.
- Blankets are allowed on Saturday and Sunday.
- Camping chairs are welcome on Saturday and Sunday, but not on Friday.
- Once you leave the site, you won’t be able to re-enter.
Fancy upgrading?
VIP tickets are still available, subject to availability, and include fast-track entry, exclusive bar access, private toilets, additional food vendors, covered seating areas and a dedicated chill-out space away from the main crowds.
TICKETS
Tickets remain available across all three days at the time of writing, although organisers say demand has been strong ahead of opening weekend. General Admission, VIP and child tickets are all on sale now.
For a first-year festival, Live At Melbourne Hall isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s focusing on strong line-ups, a beautiful location and creating a relaxed weekend that appeals to music fans of all ages. If the organisers get the atmosphere right, this could easily become one of the East Midlands’ annual summer highlights.
Live At Melbourne Hall takes place at Crow Park, Melbourne Hall, from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July 2026. Tickets and full event information are available via the official festival website.
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