Some of Luton’s most exciting emerging musicians will take over the town centre later this month as Market Hill Live returns with its biggest line-up yet.
The free outdoor music event will showcase seven local acts alongside DJs on Saturday 27 June, giving music fans the chance to discover home-grown talent in the heart of the town.
Following a successful debut last year, organisers have expanded the event, which will now run from 2pm until 9.30pm in Market Hill.
On the bill are indie rock favourites Greensands and Cereal Milk, plus indie-pop band The Aspects. Singer-songwriter Matty Ram will also perform, joined by The Elizabeths, The Blights and rising country pop artist Olivia Lynn, who is set to warm-up by supporting Emily Steel – aka Dynamite from Gladiators – on Friday 19th June at Camden Assembly, London.
The event is being organised by The Castle in partnership with Step Forward Luton and Luton Council as part of the town’s Luton 150 celebrations.
Connor Willis, event manager at The Castle, said: “We’re so excited to be presenting another edition of Market Hill Live for 2026, especially during a year of celebrating Luton’s 150th anniversary as a borough.
“This year we’re presenting the town’s next wave of future talent and giving them the stage, making this an extremely exciting opportunity for each artist and allowing the town to get behind our own.”
The event comes as Luton continues to build a reputation for nurturing local musicians, with several artists from the town going on to gain regional and global recognition in recent years, including superstar Myles Smith and Luton favourites ScreamingMechanicalBrain and The Looted Youth.
Councillor Basit Mahmood, Luton Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration and inclusive growth, said bringing live music into the town centre remained an important part of the authority’s events programme.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with The Castle again, building on the success of last year, and bringing a great outdoor live music experience back into the town centre,” he said.
“This is part of our ongoing commitment to providing free and accessible events and activities to our residents.”
The Castle and the nearby Bricklayers’ Arms, in Hightown, will provide outdoor bars throughout the day, while a selection of street food traders will also be on site.
DJs will keep the music going into the evening before England’s final World Cup group-stage match against Panama is shown live on a large outdoor screen in The Castle’s garden.
Market Hill Live is one of a number of free outdoor music events planned in Luton this summer. Starting this weekend with the inaugural New Town Community Festival, which will feature homegrown acts Missing the Ferry and Olivia Lynn. That will then be followed by Beats & Bites in the Hat District on 18 July and the new Funk & Soul Festival on 15 August.
Those will also be complimented by three more fan favourite festivals all at The Castle, starting with Vandalism Begins at Home’s annual Summer Assembly all-day extravaganza just announced for Saturday August 1. Headliners Luna Rosa, ScreamingMechanicalBrain and Broken Castles have already been announced and more artists to be revealed in the coming days.
The Castle will joint host Luton Aid 2026 on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August with the Bricklayers’ Arms and then, to see out the summer, is the two-day Castlefest on September 25-26, with announcements on that line-up still to be revealed.
Before that, will be The Luton 150 Party in the Park, which is set to take place on Saturday 12 September in Stockwood Park, and is expected to draw 10,000 people. The event being billed as the biggest celebration of Luton’s anniversary year and will feature a line-up of local and national performers, yet to be announced.
Be the first to comment