Despite being on my doorstep, the Poole Harbour Festival has somehow always eluded me. However with this year being the tenth anniversary of its inaugural offering, it felt rather serendipitous that I should be free on the very weekend that the harbour side festivities were taking place.
As it celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, Poole Harbour Festival is bigger, bolder and more popular than ever, building on a decade of success to cement its place as one of the South Coast’s most anticipated music festivals.
Ten years of the Poole Harbour Festival
The Poole Harbour Festival had brought out the big guns for this year with headline acts like Groove Armada and The Kaiser Chiefs who along with festival mainstays like the brilliant Dodgy, Republica and The Fratelli’s ensured that the music celebration at Poole’s Baiter Park was one of the biggest and most high-octane to date.
Friday was a celebration of tribute bands who paid homage to the likes of Coldplay, Kings of Leon and the Foo Fighters. There was also a blistering DJ set from former Prodigy who really got the crowd going.
Poole Harbour Festival has always celebrated tribute acts and on Saturday, we took ourselves off to watch ‘Fleetwood Mad’ who were absolutely brilliant and they performed one of my favourite Fleetwood Mac songs – ‘Secondhand News’ and really did it justice.
Saturday also served up some classic sets from Judge Jules, Lisa Lashes and Beans on Toast, however one of the standouts from the sophomore day was a high-octane set from the brilliant Republica. Growing up, I can’t deny I wanted to be Saffron and even tried to emulate her edgy colour block bob. Chock full of attitude and charisma, she is a formidable frontwoman and the band are as amazing as ever.
M People’s Heather Small overcame a slight wardrobe malfunction to deliver a soulful six song set which included classics like ‘Moving On Up’ and the rousing ‘One Night In Heaven’. Her voice is instantly recognisable and despite being solo, she filled up the stage with her charm and powerful voice.
Indie favourites The Fratelli’s were in fine form and threw a couple of fun covers into the mix which include ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ by Baccara. The four-piece brought an energetic early evening performance, combining tight musicianship with a set packed full of crowd-pleasing moments which includes fan favourite ‘Chelsea Dagger’.
Saturday celebrations at the Poole Harbour Festival
Closing out Saturday night at The Poole Harbour Festival, ahead of a propulsive pyrotechnics display was the one and only Groove Armada who are in the midst of one of their busiest summers yet, showing that their legendary status on the dance scene remains as strong as ever. Andy and Tom, whom I have had the pleasure of interviewing, gave us one of the best sets of the whole weekend.
Groove Armada brought a touch of dance music royalty to The Poole Harbour Festival, delivering a set packed with the grooves and energy that have defined their career. Their ability to connect with both long-time fans and a new generation of festival goers underlined why they remain such a formidable live act.
After such an exhilarating Saturday, Sunday proved to be more than a worthy match with a fantastic line up which included Bez, Dodgy, N-Trance and festival headliners – The Kaiser Chiefs! The final day delivered a fitting celebration of Poole Harbour Festival’s 10th anniversary, blending classic pop, indie and dance acts with plenty of crowd-pleasing moments
Why Dodgy were my Poole Harbour Festival highlight!
Bez kicked off day 3 of the Poole Harbour Festival with a boombastic DJ set, the Happy Mondays legend brought his trademark enthusiasm and larger-than-life presence to the Main Stage, taking the crowd on a nostalgic journey through acid house and rave culture. It was a feel-good set that celebrated the era that helped shape British dance music and which really set the tone for the final day of festivities.
East 17 drew in a crowd of multiple generations, showing that they still have the boundless energy and fire to deliver a joyous set which included nineties classics like ‘House of Love’, ‘It’s Alright’ and festive favourite ‘Stay Another Day’, despite it being sweltering and not December, it worked and what a beautiful song it is – a perennial Christmas favourite regardless of the season!
My Poole Harbour Festival highlight was without a doubt – Dodgy! With a career spanning more than 30 years, they are invariably masters of melodic, feel-good guitar pop. Armed with a back catalogue of old school favourites and a renewed energy from their latest album ‘Hello Beautiful,’ they delivered a set that reminded festivalgoers why they have remained such enduring favourites.
From ‘Staying Out For The Summer’ from 1994’s ‘Homegrown’ to 2026’s ‘Summer Forever’, this was a sun-dappled, uplifting and life-affirming career-spanning set which showed that Dodgy’s feel-good formula remains as powerful as ever. More than 30 years into their career, their ability to bring people together through beautifully crafted, optimistic guitar pop remains undiminished. Absolutely superb!
N-Trance brought a welcome burst of 90s dance nostalgia to the festival, reminding everyone why their euphoric sound remains so beloved decades later. With their signature blend of soaring melodies and classic rave energy, they delivered a feel-good set that had the crowd embracing every moment. Of course, the crowd went wild when they heard the opening notes of ‘Set You Free’ which is the epitome of an ‘absolute banger!’
Scouting For Girls brought their irresistible pop sensibilities to the Main Stage of the Poole Harbour Festival, turning the afternoon into a celebration of big melodies, familiar favourites and effortless crowd connection. With a back catalogue full of instantly recognisable hits like ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and more, they delivered the kind of upbeat, feel-good performance that perfectly matched the festival atmosphere.
The Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby, riots and a headline finale to remember!
For a big ten year celebration, a big sound was most definitely needed and it came in the shape of The Kaiser Chiefs who put on a crowd pleasing show complete with the obligatory flames, streamers – the works! However, this wasn’t a case of all style and no substance, the likeable Leeds quarter were unsurprisingly another standout of the whole festival.
Kaiser Chiefs brought Poole Harbour Festival’s 10th anniversary celebrations to a memorable close with a headline set packed with the anthems that have defined their career.
With huge crowd favourites including ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Every Day I Love You Less And Less’, ‘Oh My God’ and ‘The Angry Mob’ all featuring alongside familiar favourites such as ‘Na Na Na Na Nah’, ‘Factory Gates’ and ‘Never Miss A Beat’, the band delivered the kind of energetic, singalong performance that has made them such enduring festival favourites.
Frontman Ricky Wilson was at his charismatic best, while a lively cover of The Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ added an extra burst of fun to a celebratory headline set. By the time the final notes rang out, the message was clear: Kaiser Chiefs still know exactly how to turn a festival crowd like the ones at the Poole Harbour Festival into one giant chorus.
Ten years in, Poole Harbour Festival has proved it is no longer just a local favourite – it is a proper fixture on the South Coast’s festival map. This year’s anniversary edition delivered exactly what a great festival should: big singalong moments, unexpected gems, a crowd united by music and an atmosphere that felt genuinely celebratory.
There is still plenty of room for it to grow, but the foundations are firmly in place. If this weekend was anything to go by, Poole Harbour Festival’s next decade could be its most exciting yet.
Photo Credit: Poole Harbour Festival
