90s pop legends gear up for 'unforgettable weekend of entertainment' at Derby summer concert
It is set to be a real treat for fans of the 90s era, with upbeat rhythms and pop-tastic feel-good tunes.
Darley Park Weekender, one of the biggest events this summer in Derby has announced a string of 90s legends to its line-up.
The Darley Park Weekender will take place from Friday 21 – Sunday 23 August 2026 in Derby.
Nineties pop divas Natalie and Nicole Appleton, iconic singer Chesney Hawkes, and Katrina – of Katrina and the Waves, will all hit the stage this summer. They will be joined by DJ Mark Angels and local bands.
Together with the headliners already announced – Billy Ocean, Marti Pellow and JLS – it will be a star-studded line-up perfect for fans of feel-good tunes from one of the best music eras.
On Friday, Britain’s Caribbean King of Pop Billy Ocean will kick off the weekend with his distinct sound which conquered the global charts with hits like Love Really Hurts Without You and Red Light Spells Danger.
Marti Pellow, best known as the iconic lead singer of Wet Wet Wet, brings his acclaimed solo career and established status as a leading man in musical theatre to the stage.
Joining the line up for Friday night is Katrina, formerly of Katrina and The Waves with a set of pure pop melodies and a toe tapping beats.
Katrina and The Waves’ 1985 anthem, Walking on Sunshine earned a Grammy nomination and became a multi-generational hit.
Following a string of eighties hits, the band achieved a record-breaking Eurovision victory in 1997 with Love Shine a Light.
Since the band parted ways, Katrina has hosted on BBC Radio 2, written two travel guides and released four solo albums. She continues to tour worldwide with her long-standing band.
On Saturday, boyband royalty JLS, aka Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, JB Gill, and Marvin Humes, are heading to Derby.
This follows a 16-date tour in 2025, which saw them perform to sold-out arenas across the UK, including two landmark nights at London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena.
Joining them will be Appleton.
It has been over 20 years since Natalie and Nicole Appleton performed as a duo, and nearly five years since they last toured with their band All Saints.
Appleton will perform with their band, delivering a pop masterclass featuring their signature Appleton hits plus a couple of All Saints classics and a fun cover or two.
After playing The Darley Park Weekender in 2024, fan favourite Chesney Hawkes will return to Darley Park, and this time he’s bringing his band.
Chesney became one of the biggest pop stars of his era with his irresistible mega-hit The One and Only which is officially one of the top 20 most successful songs of the nineties.
His music style mixes classic ‘kick the doors down pop/rock bangers’ with a heartfelt, candid style of song-writing.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said: “The Darley Park Weekender is a true highlight of our summer calendar.
“This year’s line-up is arguably our most exciting yet.
“Bringing global icons like Billy Ocean and JLS to the beautiful Darley Park, alongside local talent like The Public Eye, shows exactly why Derby is a vibrant destination for culture and music.
“I can’t wait for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of entertainment.”
Derby-born indie/alt-rock band The Public Eye will kick off Saturday night’s line-up, representing the city’s rising talent with their raw, evolving sound.
DJ Mark Angels and local band Cassette Roulette will be appearing on both Friday and Saturday night.
Mark will be taking to the decks, bringing his unique energy and floor filling tracks, while Cassette Roulette will be playing music that people want to get up and dance to.
People can expect ‘two electrifying nights of incredible music, spectacular visuals, and non-stop entertainment’.
On Sunday, the Darley Park Concert will return, marking the grand finale of The Darley Park Weekender.
At the heart of the performance will be Derby’s own award-winning orchestra, Sinfonia Viva.
Full timings for the weekend will be released soon on Derby LIVE website.