Forest Live confirms James and Snow Patrol as headliners for 2025

Snow Patrol

08/11/2024 

Forest Live confirms James and  Snow Patrol as headliners for 2025

Forest Live, Forestry England’s summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has confirmed cult Manchester rockers James and Northern irish indie-rock band Snow Patrol as the latest headliners for 2025.

With over 25 million albums sold over a longstanding career, James are amongst the most commercially and artistically successful alternative rock bands of their era. Having marked their 40th anniversary just last year, James will head to Forestry England Cannock Chase Forest on Saturday 28 June 2025. 

An unstoppable force since they formed in the 1980s, James achieved their first UK number one earlier this year with eighteenth studio album Yummy

Alongside cuts from the acclaimed new record, fans can look forward to belting out James classics like ‘Come Home’, ‘Sit Down’, ‘Sometimes’, ‘She’s A Star’, ‘Born Of Frustration’ and ‘Laid’ amongst the trees this Summer as the band play through their back catalogue of euphoric anthems.

James will also be supported by Yorkshire indie heroes Shed Seven  at Forestry England High Lodge, Thetford, indie-rock heavyweights Razorlight at Cannock Chase and ‘people’s poet’ Jamie Webster at both dates.

Best known for their emotive and anthemic hits including ‘Chasing Cars’, ‘Run’, ‘Just Say Yes’ and ‘Open Your Eyes’, Snow Patrol will head to Forestry England Delamere on Friday 13 June 2025 and Westonbirt Arboretum on Tuesday 17 June 2025. 

The Northern Irish three piece of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, formed in Dundee in 1994 the band. They released their 5x-platinum, major-label debut Final Straw in 2003. Hit track ‘Run’ saw the group catapulted to national fame as they led the charge of the post-Britpop movement.

Over the course of their career, Snow Patrol have earned a momentous seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards, an Ivor Novello award and been nominated for six BRIT Awards and one GRAMMY. Earlier this year, the band released their aptly titled UK Number One album The Forest Is The Path to widespread acclaim. 

Merging stellar performances from world-class acts with beautiful outdoor locations to create an atmosphere like no other, Forest Live 2025 will take place at four forest venues: Forestry England Cannock Chase, Delamere, High Lodge, Thetford and Westonbirt Arboretum.

The newly confirmed headliners join a selection of renowned global artists for the event’s 2025 edition, including Sting, The Script, Elbow, Blossoms and Rag’N’Bone Man, plus more to be announced.

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.

Last year they planted some 7.4 million trees and welcomed 285 million visits in 2023/24. Everyone in England lives within a one-hour drive of one of the nation’s forests. Over two million people have enjoyed the Forest Live gigs over the last 23 years. 

This year sees Forestry England present the concert series in partnership with Live Nation’s Cuffe & Taylor for the second year running. 

Snow Patrol 

Friday 13 June 2025: Forestry England Delamere

Tuesday 17 June 2025: Forestry England Westonbirt Arboretum

James

Thursday 19 June 2025: Forestry England High Lodge, Thetford (with support from Shed Seven and Jamie Webster)

Saturday 28 June 2025: Forestry England Cannock Chase (with support from Razorlight and Jamie Webster)

Tickets will go on sale from 10am on 15 November 2024. 

Fans can sign up for information, announcements, and exclusive pre-sale access at forestlive.com.

Notes to Editors

About Forestry England

Forestry England manages and cares for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests and welcomed 285 million visits in 2023/24. They are creating amazing places and experiences for people to enjoy, providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.

Forestry England is growing the future and by 2026 they will: 

  • create at least 6,000 more hectares where we integrate wilding activities in our productive forests. 

  • increase the diversity of visitors to the nation’s forests and have one million hours of high-quality volunteer time given to the nation’s forests. 

  • plant at least 2,000 hectares of new, high quality, predominantly broadleaf woodlands 

About Cuffe & Taylor

Cuffe & Taylor is one of the UK’s top live music, theatre and event promoters. Established for more than 10 years and part of the Live Nation family, they present breath-taking tours, festivals and shows across the UK filling football stadiums, arenas, theatres and major historical sites.

Cuffe & Taylor’s roster of artists is extensive and varied including Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Lewis Capaldi, Sir Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Kylie, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Stereophonics, George Ezra, The Strokes, Sam Fender and Def Leppard. They also operate a hugely successful theatre touring department across the UK and internationally programming thousands of nights of entertainment ranging from live podcasts, screen-to-stage TV adaptations and musical theatre. In 2023 they were recipients of an Olivier Award, for Best Family Show, for their original production of ‘Hey Duggee - The Live Theatre Show’.  

About Live Nation

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com

Media enquiries: 

David Cox, LD Communications, david.cox@ldcommspr.uk
Charlotte Marston, LD Communications, charlotte.marston@ldcommspr.uk