80s legends gear up for Electric Summer – a brand-new

music festival for the south west

Sunday August 30th

80s legends Howard Jones, Heaven 17 and Blancmange are all in the middle of busy touring schedules this year with Electric Summer in Taunton set to be one of the highlights.

The three artists have already announced more than 80 dates in the UK and abroad this year – testament to the longevity of their work, and great news for the fans who continue to support in their thousands.

The event, on Sunday August 30th, has added significance for Howard Jones with Electric Summer in Vivary Park, a homecoming gig for the artist who is looking forward to playing in the town he’s called home for more than 20 years.

Electric Summer 2026 Website

Howard will be arriving fresh from headlining his THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER festival tour in the USA. Electric Summer will be the only gig he’s doing in the UK this year and he's overjoyed to be playing a homecoming show in the centre of Taunton. “Vivary Park is such a beautiful venue for this show and come rain or shine it's gonna be a must-see gig because of the incredible line up. I’m very happy to be playing with my friends Heaven17 and Blancmange, and can’t wait to see everyone on August 30th.

The brand-new festival, hosted by Souvenir Events, boasts 80s legends alongside contemporary bands – all offering that synth pop sound which has proved so enduring.

Festival organiser Jez Damsell is no stranger to hosting music events, he’s already well known in the south west for organising live gigs and events but says Electric Summer is the opportunity to bring synth music to a wider audience.

“It’s a dream come true to create an event which not just celebrates that era, but also introduces some brilliant newer artists who loved the legends themselves and have gone on to create their own fantastic music,” he said.

In addition to the headline acts there will be music from Black Nail Cabaret, Mesh, Agency V and Neon Fields – together with DJ sets from Paul Dakeyne.

And there’s a musical element to the charity support from Electric Summer - Nordoff and Robbins, a charity which delivers music therapy to people across the UK, including some of the most vulnerable people in society, will receive a donation from every ticket sold. 

Much loved by the music industry itself, Nordoff and Robbins has long recognised the power of music to help people break through barriers so they can connect, communicate and truly

express themselves. 

Ticket bookings: https://www.universe.com/electricsummer26

Electric Summer line-up

Headliner, Howard Jones, is an artist who has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide since he first burst onto the scene in 1983, played at LIVE AID in 1985, and who continues to release new material and perform worldwide to this day. His fantastic 1984 debut album ‘Human’s Lib’ hit the number one spot, featuring the smash hit singles ‘New Song’, ‘What is Love?’, ‘Hide And Seek’ and ‘Pearl In The Shell’, and is an acknowledged classic synthpop

album.

Supporting Howard will be influential electronic pop pioneers HEAVEN 17 and BLANCMANGE, both of whom created synthpop classics and some of the 80’s most enduring anthems including ‘Temptation’, ‘(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang’,

‘Living On The Ceiling’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me’.

Electric Summer isn’t just about the legends. There are many contemporary acts releasing fantastic electronic music who deserve to be seen in the flesh by as many people as possible, and we couldn’t be happier to give four of them a festival stage: 

 BLACK NAIL CABARET, a dark electronic pop duo who will be flying in from their

home in Hungary to perform.

 MESH, the Bristol-based alternative electronic rock band which has a large, devoted

following in the UK and throughout Europe.

 AGENCY-V, a trio which gained thousands of new fans when they supported Gary

Numan for his Glastonbury warm-up shows in June 2025.

 NEON FIELDS, a dynamic band based in the south-west with a sound likened to

Depeche Mode, Muse, and Gary Numan.

The line-up is completed by internationally renowned producer and remixer PAUL

DAKEYNE, who’ll be keeping the audience entertained during the breaks with

specially curated DJ sets.