Forest Live announces second headliner for 2027 series with Madness set to play across all four outdoor sites
With special guests Scouting For Girls
Forest Live, Forestry England’s summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, have announced their next headliner for the 2027 series, with Madness set to play across all four sites. Next summer, the Camden hitmakers will bring their ska stylings to some of the nations most beautiful forest venues, with tickets for all sites on sale at 10am on Friday 25 September from www.forestlive.com
Providing the ultimate summer ska soundtrack, Madness will be taking to the stages across all four Forest Live venues next June (Forestry England Delamere – 19 June, Forestry England High Lodge, Thetford – 20 June, Forestry England Cannock Chase – 26 June and Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum – 27 June), over two decades after they first headlined the concert series back in 2005.
With 15 UK Top 10 singles, global smashes including Our House, and unforgettable appearances everywhere from Top of the Pops to the roof of Buckingham Palace, Madness remain the original Nutty Boys of Camden. The band who became a British institution and soundtracked a nation.
Formed in North London, Madness have grown into one of Britain’s most successful and best-loved bands, selling millions of records worldwide and inspiring generations of artists. More than four decades on, their music, spirit, and style are woven into the fabric of British culture.
Last year, Madness released ‘Hit Parade’, celebrating their remarkable legacy, and a career-spanning anthology. The band chose 45 singles from 45 years from 1979 through to 2024, capturing every era of their story. The collection features 27 Top 40 hits, including the timeless It Must Be Love, the cheeky chaos of Baggy Trousers, the anthemic Lovestruck, and their chart-topping No.1 House of Fun.
Talking about the album, Madness said: “From the early days to the latest tracks... we’ve packed up the lot and brought them all together in ‘Hit Parade’. It’s a proper nutty collection of our biggest and best. Press play, turn it up, and enjoy the ride.”
Also, Madness have been busy as the brand-new trailer for Take It Or Leave It is out now, offering a first look at the BFI's sparkling new 4K restoration of Madness' gloriously nutty 1981 big-screen debut. Watch here. Before the suits, the videos, the Top 10s: this is Madness before anyone knew the name. Part mockumentary, part time capsule, entirely unrepeatable. Returning to UK and Ireland cinemas on 2 October, before making its long-awaited Blu-ray debut on 19 October, Take It Or Leave It is the brilliantly chaotic, funny and unique story of how seven Camden mates became one of Britain's best-loved bands. A Restoration World Premiere and Q&A with members of Madness will take place at BFI Southbank's NFT1 on 30 September at 6.30pm.
Support for the shows will come from Indie darlings, Scouting For Girls. Formed in London in 2005, Scouting For Girls’ have had an immensely successful career selling over two million albums, two million singles, had four Brit Award nominations, an Ivor Novello nomination, had four top ten singles, sold-out Wembley Arena, The Royal Albert Hall and most recently sold-out two nights at The London Palladium and had a series of hit singles all of which were inescapable radio smashes. Scouting For Girls continue to prove they are unstoppable.
Forestry England manage and care for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests. They use the money Forest Live raises to maintain these beautiful natural areas for everyone to enjoy, run important conservation projects and keep growing trees.
Each year, they plant over 7 million trees, and welcomed 326 million visits in 2025/26. Everyone in England lives within a one-hour drive of one of the nation’s forests. Over 2.5 million people have enjoyed the Forest Live gigs over the last quarter of a century, with the concert series celebrating its 25th anniversary in the summer of 2026.
Madness follow previously announced Ronan Keating with Blue as headliners for 2027’s Forest Live series.
Madness with Scouting For Girls at Forest Live 2027:
Saturday 19 June - Forestry England Delamere
Sunday 20 June - Forestry England High Lodge, Thetford
Saturday 26 June - Forestry England Cannock Chase
Sunday 27 June - Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum
Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Friday 25 September and fans can sign up for information, announcements, and exclusive pre-sale access at forestlive.com.
