Melton Mowbray Town Estate delivers resounding success with launch of Melton Ska Fest

Melton Mowbray Town Estate has successfully launched Melton Ska Fest, a new one-day music festival. The inaugural event, held on Saturday, July 26th, attracted a capacity crowd of over 1,800 attendees.

The 10-hour festival was a triumph of planning and execution, receiving positive feedback from all key stakeholders, including performers, trade stands, suppliers, and the public. The event featured seven live bands and a DJ marquee, supported by a range of partners including JTH Concerts and Live Events, Sounds Alive UK, Crowsafe UK and MB Bars and Events Ltd.

Dean Rees, CEO of Melton Mowbray Town Estate, commented on the achievement: “We are incredibly proud of what our team and partners have accomplished. To launch a new festival and receive such an overwhelmingly positive response is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. The event not only provided a fantastic day of entertainment, but it also drew significant visitor numbers to Melton Mowbray from across the country.”

Feedback from partners was equally strong. JTH Concerts and Live Events stated, “We thoroughly enjoyed this one, looking forward to the next,” while Sounds Alive UK called it a “Great event!”

And feedback from the bands has also been effusive, “Excellent set up, great atmosphere, if anyone wanted to know how to do a festival, that was it. Thanks for having us, that was a party,” Madness Tribute Band Gladness; “It was amazing, you should be proud of yourselves for organising this…brilliant,” Stereotypes; “I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible experience at your very first Reggae and Ska Festival. You truly knocked it out of the park,” The AC30’s.

A key success factor was the organiser’s commitment to continuous improvement. While celebrating the victory, the Town Estate is already acting on audience feedback. “We view this first festival as a fantastic foundation to build upon,” Rees stated. “We have taken on board valuable operational feedback, particularly concerning the provision of toilets and the variety of catering. These insights are crucial, and plans are already in motion to scale up these amenities for an even more seamless customer experience in 2026. We are confident that Melton Ska Fest has a bright and sustainable future.”

This successful launch serves as a case study in creating a new, large-scale cultural event that resonates with a target audience and provides a positive economic and reputational boost for a regional town.