McFly supported by Twin Atlantic and Devon
Sunday 13th July 2025, Bedford Summer Sessions, Bedford Park
For the second night in a row, I had the pleasure of attending Bedford Summer Sessions, but this final evening had something special in store – the return of McFly!
I’ve been a fan of the band since the very beginning. The last time I saw them live was back in September 2006 on their Motion in the Ocean tour to promote the album of the same name, so I was excited to see them again all these years later. The big question was: could they still deliver the goods nearly two decades later?
Tonight is the night…
From the moment I arrived, it was clear this was going to be a much busier affair than the previous night watching Supergrass. Collecting my passes from the box office and making my way through security into the premium ‘The Retreat’ area, the atmosphere felt electric. There was a noticeable difference in the crowd with a real mix of families, lifelong fans, lots of hyped up girls wearing McFly branded merch as well a new generation of young fans who have discovered the band through their parents.
Whereas the night before it had been quite empty towards the back by the food stands, this time it was heaving with people and long queues everywhere. I think it shows how popular McFly have remained. Even when not being ‘the band’ each of the members have still been in the public eye through appearances on reality and other TV shows or writing popular children’s books and musicals.
Tonight, was McFly’s night to rock and Bedford was ready for them.
Can we make it out alive?
When I arrived, the first support act, Devon, was already on stage. I wasn’t familiar with him, but his style fit nicely with the night’s pop-rock vibe.
I had my eye on the food offering inside The Retreat area that I’d spotted the night before. This was provided by The Moody Cow, and I decided to try their signature Moody Burger which was a smoked beef pattie with pulled pork and cheese and an array of sides – garlic potatoes, slaw, pit beans and mac ‘n’ cheese.
It sounded delicious and as there was hardly any queue, I was quickly served. Whilst all the sides were delicious, the burger itself sadly didn’t live up to expectations. It was a bit dry and hard, and still a bit pink on the inside, not that juicy. Definitely not one of the best of burgers I’ve tasted, but that was just a small downside to the evening.
Whilst I was sitting on one the picnic benches eating, Twin Atlantic, were next up on stage, who delivered a punchy, confident set but not without incident. Midway through, the band suddenly paused their set as security had to step in to defuse a crowd issue near the front. From what I’ve gathered since, it was a serious situation that could’ve escalated quickly, but thanks to the professionalism of the band and event staff, it was handled swiftly and with minimal disruption. Once everything had been resolved, Twin Atlantic returned to finish their set, earning an appreciative response from the crowd.
Gods of Rock and Roll…
As the sun dipped behind the trees and the crowd were warmed up with a pre-show singalong over the speakers to classics from Journey, Bon Jovi, and Queen, the anticipation hit fever pitch. After an intro of Trump’s favourite song YMCA, Tom, Danny, Dougie, and Harry strode onto the stage to a loud cheer and launched straight into two high-energy tracks from their most recent album Power to Play which is a brilliant love letter to ‘80s rock and a call for the return of guitar-driven bands.
From there, it was hit after hit, with a great setlist of songs from across each of their albums. McFly were determined we were going to have ‘the best evening ever’ – and we did. I’d even go as far as saying they were even better than the last time I’d seen them live.
Danny, in particular, proved what a charismatic frontman he’s become with hints of Bruce Springsteen and Freddie Mercury, effortlessly having fun with the audience and leading in call-and-response singalongs, splitting us down the middle so one side sings one line and the other half responds.
Songs like Star Girl, All About You, and Shine a Light got huge reactions, while Transylvania was a clear fan-favourite but the standout moment for me was Everybody Knows, which morphed into an epic medley featuring Livin’ on a Prayer, Radio Ga Ga, and Twist and Shout. Pure crowd-pleasing magic. Red, a song which wasn’t a single and only appears in demo form on their album of Lost Songs, gave Danny the chance to show off his gritty vocal power, building to an amazing crescendo. This ended the main set, but of course, McFly returned for a raucous three-song encore, closing with their debut single 5 Colours in Her Hair, a perfect full-circle moment.
This is Happiness…
As the night ended and the crowd began to drift out of Bedford Park to head for home, there was a lovely final, moment. Two young children, likely Tom and Danny’s sons, who had been watching from the side of stage, got their little moment on stage singing along to the outro track, God Gave Rock and Roll to You by KISS, and soaking up the moment. A reminder that McFly is now not just a band, but a family affair.
Walking out through the park, the buzz was undeniable. Even my companion, who isn’t a huge music fan like I am, said, “They certainly know how to put on a show.” And they really do.
Yes, I may be biased as a long-standing Galaxy Defender (the term used for McFly fans), but this was an expertly delivered, fun-filled night of nostalgia, musicianship, a masterclass in owning the stage and full of sheer joy. I certainly had a big smile on my face. Whether you grew up with McFly or are discovering them now, their live show is pure entertainment from start to finish.
If you get the chance to see McFly in concert – take it. You won’t regret it.
