Forest Live, Forestry England’s summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, are delighted to confirm BRIT Award nominees and acid jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies as the latest act for the event’s 2025 edition.
Heading to Forestry England Cannock Chase on Wednesday 25 June 2025, The Brand New Heavies will kickstart the party as support to legendary disco icons Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
Since debuting in 1990, The Brand New Heavies have translated their love of sophisticated ‘70s funk grooves into an ever-evolving sound that has ignited dancefloors and inspired fans for over 30 years.
Their third album ‘Brother Sister’ changed everything for the band, propelling them to huge success with a #4 chart position, over a million record sales and a BRIT Award nomination. 1997’s ‘Shelter’ saw the group tuck another Top 5 Platinum certification under their belts, with hits like “Sometimes”, “You Are The Universe” and their unique take on “You’ve Got A Friend” cementing their status and pioneers of their genre.
The Brand New Heavies’ legacy has continued to grow, with 2023 seeing the band enter a new era marked by the release of ‘Never Stop… The Best Of’. The band also recently completed a sold-out ‘Never Stop… The Greatest Hits’ tour, which saw them accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra.
The band will support Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame inductee and multiple GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter and guitarist Nile Rodgers on the stunning woodland stage at Forestry England Cannock Chase this summer.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC wowed fans at four Forest Live locations across the country in 2024, and 2025 promises to be just as thrilling as the group are set to deliver a show filled with fan-favourites and massive hit songs to get the fans up on their feet and dancing.
Merging stellar performances from world-class acts with beautiful outdoor locations to create an atmosphere like no other, Forest Live 2025 will take place at four forest venues: Forestry England Cannock Chase, Delamere, High Lodge, Thetford and Westonbirt Arboretum.
The Brand New Heavies join a selection of renowned global artists announced to perform at Forestry England Cannock Chase in 2025, including Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Snow Patrol, Sting and James (with support from Razorlight and Jamie Webster).
Forestry England manage and care for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests. They use the money Forest Live raises to maintain these beautiful natural areas for everyone to enjoy, run important conservation projects and keep growing trees. Last year they planted some 7.4 million trees and welcomed 285 million visits in 2023/24. Everyone in England lives within a one-hour drive of one of the nation’s forests. Over two million people have enjoyed the Forest Live gigs over the last 23 years.
This year sees Forestry England present the concert series in partnership with Live Nation’s Cuffe & Taylor for the second year running.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC with support from The Brand New Heavies
Wednesday 25 June 2025, Forestry England Cannock Chase
Fans can sign up for information, announcements and tickets at forestlive.com.