The Rock n Roll Circus: Norwich’s Summer Showstopper!

There are summer days that just stamp themselves into your memory, aren’t there? The ones where the sun is out, the music is loud, and the whole family is riding that wave of excitement that only a proper festival can bring. This year, the Rock n Roll Circus rolled into Norwich and honestly, it felt like someone had raided my personal playlist and booked every single band I adore. A stella line up doesn’t even cover it. It was basically all my faves, one after another, like the universe had decided to throw me the ultimate party. Baby Shambles and Johnny Borrell and Mairead Nash as a guest just milling about made me feel like I was right back in the noughties, hanging out in Camden and enjoying all the live music but… This was little old Norwich, with me as a Mum of four and a whole heap of life in between, proving that sense memory can take you back to a moment in time in an instant.

Razorlight were my pinnacle. My absolute best of the best faves, and I swear they are at their strongest right now. Better than their heyday, even. There’s a tightness to them, a confidence, a richness in the sound that just hits you right in the chest. Immense is the only word for it. I stood there thinking, this is it, this is the version of Razorlight I’ve always wanted to see, and here they are, right in front of me, blowing the roof off a circus tent in Norwich.

Then The Kooks came on and brought that cheeky, playful energy they’re known for. They teased the audience with the hits, stretching out the anticipation in that delicious way bands do when they know they’ve got you in the palm of their hand. And then they even invited Cruz Beckham onto the stage! Out he came for a song, and the whole place erupted. It was one of those moments where you look around and everyone is grinning, phones in the air, teenagers screaming, tiny kids on shoulders with their mouths open like they’ve just seen actual magic.

But James. Oh James. They were phenomenal. Tim Booth, at 60, performing like he’s powered by something otherworldly. At one point he came right into the audience, weaving through the crowd, and then, because apparently 60 is the new 20, he climbed up a pole and continued the set from above us. It was wild, it was joyful, it was everything live music should be. You could feel the collective “is he really doing this?” ripple through the crowd, followed by absolute awe.

And to finish it all off, Madness. The band that never ages. They seriously don’t. They look the same, they sound the same, and the music is still as brilliant now as it ever was. There’s something comforting about them, like they’re part of the British summer fabric. You hear those opening notes and suddenly everyone is dancing, even the people who swore they were too tired.

The circus theme made it even better. The elephant, the helter skelter, the whole whimsical setup that made the kids feel like they were in a storybook. The foodie vans were brilliantly placed, waffles on sticks were a massive hit with my little two, and the pizza place in the VIP area was spot on. And of course, Bucket List, the Norfolk favourite, serving up the kind of food that makes you forget you’re technically at a festival and not a proper restaurant.

The VIP upgrade was worth every penny. No queues for the toilets (a festival miracle), a calmer vibe, plenty of places to sit, and even a dedicated area to watch the main stage in comfort with bean bags and no time delay on the screen. It felt like the grown‑up version of festival life, but still fun enough that the teenagers didn’t roll their eyes at us.

We loved every second. It was just as brilliant for my teens as it was for my tiny two, who soaked up every bit of festival flavour like sponges. And of course, it was fantastic for us too. A proper family day out, close to home, because everywhere is close to your house if you live in Norwich and it’s in Norwich, with the best line up of the entire summer in my opinion. It won. Hands down.

They’ll be back next year, and you know I’ll be back with all the info the second I have it.

I was invited to attend Rock n Roll Circus as guests o the festival.