McFly Under the Trees: Forest Live Delivers a Wildly Entertaining Night of Hits, Harmony & Chaos
A detailed review of Forest Live featuring McFly, Twin Atlantic, and Remember Monday. From smooth ticketing and strong performances to chaotic parking exits, this forest concert blends great live music with a few organisational frustrations.
Garry Llewellyn
9 min read
McFly Concert: 4.6 /5
What an absolutely brilliant, unforgettable night. McFly are amazing live entertainers!
★★★★
👍 What works
Strong main performance (McFly + support acts)
Well-organised venue experience (mostly)
Surprisingly good facilities and atmosphere
👎 What doesn’t
Inconsistent and sloppy security checks
Poor traffic and parking exit management
Weak support act
Forest Live has been a staple of ours for ten years, seeing bands such as Kaiser Chiefs and Keane and artists such as Tom Grennan and Olly Murs. So, we were excited to see that McFly was booked for a Sunday night in 2026.
Booking tickets was an easy experience using the pre sale via Ticketmaster. Tickets arrived electronically and were added to Google Wallet using the Ticketmaster app.
Getting to Forest Live from Hedgehog Towers was easy, although our car sat nav was in a playful mood and planned our route through the narrowest single track country lanes for no reason at all! Arriving at the postcode location, Forest Live was signposted well, and we pulled into the large field/car park. Surprisingly, no one checked our parking ticket, but our surprise didn’t last long because as soon as we got out of the car, someone in a high vis vest loudly informed us to get our car park passes ready for inspection, and make sure we have no illicit items.* We then continued our walk through the forest to the entrance.
* Forest Live provided a long list of prohibited items; much to my annoyance as the camera was banned, so I had to resort to using the trusty old pixel phone.
Unlike previous years, the security queues seemed to move fast. When it was our turn, we could see why. First, we got the half-assed wand waver. A security man with one of those detector wands who waved around the body with such vigour and enthusiasm of a man really questioning his life choices. Then he waved our party through to the search table to be greeted by another hugely enthusiastic security person, who too was obviously happy with life. The bag search proceeded as follows:
''Is there food in that bag?
Yes
Ok then go through.''
Bearing in mind we had several large bags and two foldable chairs in bags.
Our bag check was …well.. incomplete. Not only that, a quick glance over to the other queues and they didn’t seem to have a wand waver.
I was quite annoyed at this, as we had diligently stuck to the rules, and I hadn’t brought the camera.
Once safely through the highly intense security checkpoint, we entered the Forest Live arena. For those not familiar, it’s a large sloped grass auditorium surrounded on all sides by forest. The edge of the area is home to food trucks, the bar, and the toilets.
On the subject of loos, it had been hugely sunny over the previous few days and three days of previous concert activity made us very nervous at the horror contained within. However, we encountered a fast-moving queue (for the ladies), quite clean cubicles, toilets that are not blocked, and a supply of paper and soap. Quite the surprise and well done Forest Live for getting the loos right!
Looking around the area, I noticed that the food supply was limited -chips, Indian, churros, pizza, and coffee were basically the available choices. This didn’t bother us, as we always take our own picnic.
Literally taking the centre stage is… yes, you guessed it, the stage with two huge screens. I could see the VIP area to the right hand side, marked out by a fence. Team Hedgehog had the cheap seats, but we still managed to bag a great view.
As the crowd continued to build, the organisers played background music, and the large screens gave us informative messages such as the money raised from Forest Live events helps Forestry England to maintain 1,500 woods and forests. Last year, they planted some 7.4 million trees; great to see our tickets help with such endeavours.
The Support Acts
DJ Dylan Walton
At 5pm, Forest Live started entertaining us with the support acts. First up was DJ Dylan Walton. Unfortunately, Dylan didn’t have much stage presence, no introduction and didn’t even talk to the crowd. I think part of the problem was the music choice and volume. Whatever music he was playing appeared to be the same volume as the previous background music. He must have been playing for about ten minutes before my party realised there was a DJ on stage. Once we stopped our conversation and looked at the stage, all we saw was a chap frantically waving his hand in the air, whilst the crowd did not care. After about an hour, he stopped playing, and his DJ equipment was wheeled off stage, not that anyone noticed.
Remember Monday
Next support act was Remember Monday. They are a British country-pop trio consisting of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull, and Charlotte Steele. They specialise in singing in harmony. Back in 2019, they appeared on The Voice and then later became our U.K. entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025 with their song "What the Hell Just Happened?"
What was surprising about Remember Monday’s warm-up gig was just how surprised they were.
Telling the audience that this is the biggest crowd they have performed to… and appearing to be overwhelmed at the size of the venue. Really? They have been supporting Mc Fly at larger venues, and surely the Eurovision Arena was much, much bigger? The inane chat didn’t end there; between each song in the set, they paused and tried their hand at some jokes that fell flatter than a five-day-old open bottle of coke. Once past their chat, they snapped into their songs. It is clear from their performance they put a lot of effort into rehearsing the pitch perfect harmonies and choreographed moves. I did find the mix of fake stage fright, then snap into an overly rehearsed song a little jarring.
Whilst they were talking, people from the mosh pit decided to keep asking for their Eurovision hit, causing one of the band to reassure people it was coming, before promptly launching into a well rehearsed Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (ABBA cover) that got the crowd buzzing with energy. It’s telling that their most crowd engaging song isn’t even theirs. Then a couple more songs no one knew, and then into their anthemic ‘What the Hell Just Happened?’ for their finale.
After their set Team Hedgehog debated why Remember Monday didn’t mention Eurovision Once?
Maybe it was the lack of points, or maybe an attempt at disassociation with the contest. Whatever the reason, covering one of the contest’s most celebrated bands during the set list was a prime opportunity. Although the girls sang well, sadly the only thing I Remember about Monday is that I am back at work!
Remember Monday Set List
▶️ What the Girls Bathroom Is For
▶️ Happier
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (ABBA cover)
Attention
▶️ Delusional
▶️ What the Hell Just Happened?
''McFly are amazing live entertainers!''
Garry, The Silver Hedgehog.com
Twin Atlantic
The next warm up band was Twin Atlantic, a world class rock band from Glasgow, current line up:
Sam McTrusty (Lead vocals, rhythm guitar)
Ross McNae (Bass, keyboards)
Craig Kneale (Drums)
Barry McKenna (Lead guitar, cello)
Sam McTrusty absolutely knew the assignment, providing huge front man energy. This is someone relishing the challenge of warming up a crowd. One second having a genuine laugh and joke with the crowd (Sam’s gentle dissing of a fan’s homemade sign had us all chuckling), the next moment treating us to a strong, emotive delivery emphasising his Scottish accent. McTrusty’s singing style blends melodic rock with a raw, slightly raspy edge, giving songs an instantly recognisable feel.
This band can play well live, we counted 4 different guitar changes for Sam, whilst the drummer didn’t miss a beat, giving it huge energy, Twin Atlantic have been around since 2007, and its pleasing to see that they are still recording with McTrusty promoting the bands latest album and treating the crowd to a couple of new songs that ooze with their trademark stadium rock energy. Their music was so good, the set list could have been a concert in its own right. They definitely flicked the switch on the generator and put their ‘Heart and Soul’ into their performance…
Twin Atlantic Set List
▶️ Don't Quit It
▶️ Hold On
▶️ The Chaser
▶️ I Am an Animal
▶️ Meltdown
I▶️ In Your Eyes
▶️ No Sleep
▶️ Heart and Soul
The Main Event
Mc Fly
Once Twin Atlantic had sufficiently prepared the audience, we had a few verses of YMCA and then straight into Where Did All the Guitars Go? as McFly bounded onto the stage to the sound of screams and cheers. These lads have been together for 23 years, and it shows as they had a natural energy about them. It’s surprising that although McFly is a well known band, I think of them as more of a pop group, than a band. That preconception was very much changed during Forest Live as I came to realise just how much of a rock band they are. They sounded fantastic and Danny Jones riffing off Tom was the best entertainment. There was a level of self deprecating humour and playing up to the crowd I have never seen from McFly before. Tom was signing Star Girl and engaging with the crowd to sing a long, just as the song finished Danny called him Elphaba and cajoled him to re sing it ..higher. Tom rising to the challenge and throughly entertaining the crowd.
The band sang hit after hit, playing each song perfectly Then came Danny's mega mash up. While the band played a four note riff on repeat, Danny launched into a solo mash up covering several stadium anthems. Watching McfFly sing Pink Pony Club was an event highlight!
As the set list moved on, McFly bought out their special guests … Remember Monday and they collaborated on the song ‘Happiness’.
In between songs, McFly had some creative interaction with the crowd; we witnessed a marriage proposal in the mosh pit (she said yes!) and met Harry’s Youngest fan.
Soon it was the end of the night with the band finishing off with ‘Red’ which now happens to be my new favourite McFly song. Of course fans screamed for the obligatory encore and McFly returned to stage to finish off with couple more hits, finishing off with ‘5 Colours in Her Hair’ and Tom’s son ‘Buzz’ on guitar.
What an absolutely brilliant, unforgettable night. McFly are amazing live entertainers!
Mc Fly Set List
▶️ Where Did All the Guitars Go?
▶️ One for the Radio
▶️ Corrupted
▶️ Star Girl
▶️ Transylvania
▶️ Lies
▶️ Obviously
▶️ Room on the 3rd Floor
Everybody Knows / Livin' on a Prayer / Pink Pony Club / What Makes You Beautiful / I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) / Radio Gaga / Twist and Shout
Happiness (with Remember Monday)
▶️ All About You
▶️ Shine a Light
▶️ Red
Encore:
▶️ Forever's Not Enough
▶️ The Heart Never Lies
▶️ 5 Colours in Her Hair
(With Tom’s son ‘Buzz’ on guitar)
End of the night
The event had been a positive experience, that was until we had to return to the car. Quickly packing up our chairs and legging it as fast as we could back to the car park - only to find a total shambles. People preparing to leave with little to no direction from the stewards. Cars stuck in rows with a marshal waving a child’s toy wand around, like he was cosplaying as air traffic control.
We were stuck in this chaos for an hour after arriving back to the car. Eventually most cars had managed to get out freeing up our stuck row. Replace chaos with a word that sounds like hit with an s and you get the picture.
As we looked around we saw the missing traffic guidance people laughing, obviously happy with the rubbish job they had done. Forest Live need to get that sorted as it tarnished what otherwise was an excellent event and I’m still singing Star Girl…
The Silver Hedgehog Rating:
4.6 Recommended
Value For Money
🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔 5
Attraction Facilities
🦔🦔🦔🦔4
Visit Experience
🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔 5
Words: Garry
Editor: JJ
Images Garry / Lichfield Photographic
About Garry
I’ve been writing in‑depth reviews since 2020 and I’m a proud supporter of independent cinema. I’m a lifelong Sci‑Fi fan, and I probably spend far too much time photographing anything that catches my eye.
About The Silver Hedgehog
The Silver Hedgehog is a review website dedicated to providing in-depth reviews. We aim to review a wide variety of Films, Entertainment, Family Days Out and Special Features.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Indie Filmmakers, Publicists and Small Business Owners
Indie filmmakers, publicists, creatives, and Small Business owners interested in coverage
please email screeners or inquiries to submissions@thesilverhedgehog.com
©️Garry Llewellyn 2020-2026 All text is the property of Garry Llewellyn and TheSilverHedgehog.com.
Text should not be reproduced in whole, or in part, without permission from the author.
All images, unless otherwise noted, are the property of their respective copyright owners.
