Doncaster Music Festival Review by Rob Johnson
Donny Fest is celebrating its second year in 2026 having successfully moved from Askern last year. Once again, the festival this year was meticulously organised, well attended and even the summer rain mostly held off.
Chris Helme, formerly of the Seahorses, kicks things off with a well received set complete with classic tracks ‘Love is the Law’ and ‘Blinded by the Sun’ as well some of his own solo material. Helme was always one of the most underrated singers of the ‘90s and his voice sounds incredible reverberating around the acoustic tent here.
Next up are The Magic Numbers who deliver a spirited set on the Main Stage with ‘Take a Chance’ a particular highlight and classic single ‘Forever Lost’ executed with a passion that many bands half their age would kill for.
Kyle Falconer of The View is up next and for a singer who has struggled with substance abuse issues in the past it’s heartening to see the Scottish music legend both looking and sounding great – and on his birthday no less. Tracks like ‘5 Rebeccas’ and ‘Superstar Tradesman’ were built to be performed in front of large festival crowds and, sure enough, both tracks receive a big reaction from the sizable crowd. That being said, ‘Same Jeans’ with its heady mixture of Oasis’ knack for a tune and The Libertines’ idiosyncratic lyricism is always going to be the song to earn the biggest reaction in any live set and that is very much the case here.
Ash close things out as the Main Stage special guests, fresh from releasing their excellent ninth studio album Ad Astra back in October of 2025. The band play the two covers featured on that album (‘Zarathustra’ from the 2001: A Space Odyssey soundtrack and a spirited run through of Harry Belafonte’s ‘Jump in the Line’) before falling back on a greatest hits set that spans their very earliest singles (‘Kung Fu’ and ‘Oh Yeah’ are both given an airing), their early ‘00s comeback (‘Shining Light’ and set closer ‘Burn Baby Burn’) and their later, rockier albums (fan favourite ‘Orpheus’ which is a set highlight here). ‘Girl From Mars’, not just Ash’s best song but one of the best songs of the ‘90s, provides probably the most memorable moment of Donny Fest 2026 with mass singalongs, pints held aloft and even the row of people sat in camping chairs at the back on their feet.
Unfortunately, due to logistical issues we miss out on Sea Girls and Jamie Webster but I’ve heard great things about both sets from those who were able to stick around.
As a resident of Doncaster myself, it certainly has a reputation as a bit of a cultural desert, and yet, Donny Fest proves there is an appetite for great music, even in deepest, darkest South Yorkshire.
If you build it, they will come.
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