MantonFest '26 - hot music, chilled party - great day out

MantonFest Saturday in the Preshute Watermeadow. Great crowd, great weather (thankfully not as hot as previous days), great music, and – a great party. Somehow the weather was just right – often is for MantonFest. Preshute became a Gazebo City, it was that sort of relaxing and chilled day, as MantonFest always is.

Below are a few galleries of pics from the day – bands and a bit of the atmosphere.
Click any gallery or pic to enlarge

And also pics of something never expected in MantonFest – Electric trucks! Small, inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to run but designed to do almost anything that a business needs a small truck or van for. And designed and built here in the UK. Not expected in MantonFest but three arrived and they ended up being very useful. Moving all manner of equipment around the arena, but also – to the delight of many MantonFesters, carry coolboxes, gazebos, tables and chairs from the car park to the field. Find out more at theelectricvan.co They played a big role.

Music created by a mix of local, not-so-local, young, old – but all great entertainers. Youngest on the bill was Emelia Houchin, still very young but back for her third MantonFest, a name that will resound far further in years to come, but MantonFest has helped her on her way.

At the other end – not the ‘oldies’ – were AC/DC UK. Topping the bill, loud, energetic and as expected and hoped – ‘very AC/DC’…… Selection of pics in the gallery below.

AC/DC UK:

Dan Budd as Robbie Williams:
But there was also Robbie Williams. Well, not quite Robbie Williams but ‘Dan Budd as Robbie Williams’. An electric set. Robbie Williams is a great performer, a great artist with a legacy of memorable hits and live performances if you’ve ever been lucky enough to see him.

But Dan Budd. May look like Robbie Williams, may even sound like Robbie Williams, but he’s Dan Budd. A superb performer who – whilst acting as Robbie, puts himself across. It might have been a tribute performance to Robbie, but really it was Dan showcasing himself, his talent and maybe why he doesn’t call himself just a ‘Robbie Williams Tribute Act’. He was much better than that. For all those in the crowd at MantonFest they will now be able to say that not only did they see a brilliant Robbie Williams tribute act, but also that they saw and were entertained by an electric Dan Budd, live. He was that good.

Duran Duran Experience:
Probably unique in so far they are the only UK based Duran Duran tribute band.

Barrelhouse:
Local favourites Barrelhouse. Popular around here, where they come from but also popular across the globe with now three albums behind them and regular mentions and plays on blues-based radio stations across the world. But MantonFest is the spiritual home

Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective:
Like a classic touring bands of the 70s: they are almost a travelling circus; a dysfunctional family of a band. They’re tight without being boringly slick; leaving just enough rough edges to become one of the most exciting and fun ‘originals’ live bands on the circuit today. Another excellent set.

Humdinger:
Another local blues and covers band, very tight – been around for at least a couple of decades

Last Train Smokin’:
Mantonfest welcomes back Danny Simonis. ‘Straight Six’ was a regular performer here, and Danny even topped the bill at a very early Mantonfest, but this time he opened….