It has been revealed that pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor will headline the ALB Festival in Colchester, Essex on September 13.
The ALB Festival has run annually since 2021, which originally celebrated the end of national lockdown. Emerging during the Corona Virus pandemic, the Anti Loo Roll Brigade (ALB) established themselves as a unified community group who provided a support network during the pandemic by providing education, food, gifts, additional support and PPE to local care homes and communities. However, since then, the ALB have brought communities together with their annual music festival, the ALB Festival.
Ellis-Bextor recently witnessed a resurgence in popularity following the use of her 2001 hit ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ in new cult classic Saltburn, released in 2023. With the iconic disco-pop track’s re-emergence into the top 10, the singer has earned a prominent place in pop culture.
It was reported that Ellis-Bextor witnessed one of her busiest years yet in 2024, playing a total of 110 shows, and touring with the likes of Nile Rodgers and Take That. One of which saw the pop star as the leading lady to welcome in 2025 during the BBC’s annual New Year’s Eve concert.
The singer’s appearance at ALB Festival will be highly anticipated, the event’s organiser Peter Dutch stated: “Sophie is just incredible and is going to completely fit into our ethos of fu and partying and dancing”.
Taking place on September 13 and 14, Ellis-Bextor will have her headline set back to back with exclusive performances full of nostalgic hits from Pixie Lott and RPJ. With more act announcements on the way, attendees of the event’s second day will experience the exquisite sounds of Colchester’s Live 40 Piece Orchestra, alongside celebrating musical legacies with some of the Best Tribute Acts in Britain.
Pixie Lott’s return to Essex will be legendary not only for attendees but for the singer herself, as it was only last year, she reminisced with BBC Essex on Chelmsford’s V Festival, which discontinued in 2017. She played the gig in 2014 and has urged for its revival ever since.
The nostalgic-pop that seems apparent in ALB’s choice of lineup this year proves to be an unmissable event for music lovers this summer.
Tickers for this year’s ALB Festival are on sale now and can be accessed here.
