Brightlingsea Free Music Festival

07/09/2026

Well… this is a new one.
During our pack down, we discovered that someone has taken it upon themselves to artistically enhance our Bar Sign (photo below).

While we admire creativity, we prefer it on stage — not drawn with a permanent marker pen across something our volunteers spent hours making.

Brightlingsea Free Music Festival runs on goodwill, graft, and a lot of tea. So when someone decides to vandalise our kit without asking, it’s a bit deflating.

Of course, if the mystery artist (or artists) would like to cover the cost of a new banner, it would be most welcome — we’ll even let you choose the colour.

We thought we’d mention it… and gently remind folks that our volunteers are legends and our equipment is funded by donations.

01/09/2026

This is the Colne Delta Autumn Season of gigs in Brightlingsea. All profits go to support Brightlingsea Free Music Festival. Please check it out and support where you can.😀

21/08/2026

Get ready for a fantastic night of music! Our friends from The Good Love, who brought us some amazing events during the Fringe Festival, are hosting a special free event at Ye Olde Swan in Brightlingsea. It's going to be a blast! 🎉

Saturday, August 29th: The Goodlove Presents Record Breakers @ Ye Olde Swan with DJs The Maghreban & Matt Love. For more information, pop into The Goodlove.

20/08/2026

Still time to fill out our survey! ⏳

Brightlingsea Free Music Festival 2026 Feedback Survey Please complete this form to help us with our future events (it should take only a few minutes). Many thanks. All responses are confidential and the only data shared will be aggregated responses and anonymised comments

18/08/2026

🎶 Brightlingsea Free Music Festival – Thank You, DJ Looney! 👏👏
The thank you’s just keep coming! 💛

Brightlingsea Free Music Festival would like to give a huge shout‑out to Eamonn Lorimer (DJ Looney) for volunteering two full days of DJ’ing during band changeovers. 😎

What an absolute trooper — spinning great tunes, keeping the crowd on their toes, and bringing the energy every single time.

Eamonn, you helped keep the festival buzzing. 🎶🎶 Thank you for being part of the magic. 👏👏

14/08/2026

🌟 A Huge Thank You from Brightlingsea Free Music Festival! 🌟It’s now two weeks since the festival, we’ve dusted ourselves off, had a short breather, and we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped make 2026 such a brilliant success.

✨ Our wonderful Gold Sponsors:
Academy Windows, Britau, BSI, Brightlingsea Dental & Facial Aesthetics Clinic, Colne Delta Blues & Americana, Essex Cement, SEF, Three Wise Monkeys, White Formula, Orsted, Colne View Dental Surgery, Naglotech

✨ Our fantastic Silver Sponsors:
Colchester Financial Planning, Las Naranjas, Kazees, Town & Country👏

A special thank you to Brightlingsea Town Council for their continued support.📘 And to all the businesses who took out adverts and banners — there are simply too many of you to list individually, but please know how much we appreciate every single one of you.

If you’d like to join us as a sponsor or advertiser for next year, now’s the perfect time to get involved. Please get in touch via the contacts page on our website:
👉 www.brightlingseafreefest.com
Brightlingsea — you were amazing. Roll on 2027! 🎶💛

10/08/2026

Brightlingsea — you were amazing. A week later and we’re still feeling the energy from this year’s Free Music Festival.

To keep improving and growing, we’d really value your feedback.
👉 **Please complete our festival survey**
Your input helps us keep this event free, vibrant and community‑powered.

Brightlingsea Free Music Festival 2026 Feedback Survey Please complete this form to help us with our future events (it should take only a few minutes). Many thanks. All responses are confidential and the only data shared will be aggregated responses and anonymised comments

08/08/2026

Some pictures from Andre Kimche

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

The Brightlingsea Free Music Fest were absolutely thrilled to present Australian icon Alan Fletcher with a commemorative photograph marking a milestone for Brightlingsea.

The presentation was made backstage by former Mayor of Brightlingsea, Mick Barry and Festival organiser Gary Gilders, following a brilliant idea from Gary.

They were honouring the 110th anniversary of the 1916 ANZAC arrival. During WWI, thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers were billeted in Brightlingsea, on Bayard Recreation Ground and with local families opening up their homes and hearts to the troops.

The presentation took place during the 26th anniversary of the Brightlingsea Free Music Festival, making it the perfect moment to celebrate both their local festival heritage and their enduring historical bonds.

Having an Australian star like Alan performing on the very same ground where his countrymen were billeted and trained over a century ago brought their history beautifully full circle.

A massive thank you to Alan, Mick, and Gary for helping us keep the memory of the Brightlingsea ANZAC boys alive.