Words: Sophie Thompson

Not many artists are capable of transforming a woodland forest into one giant nightclub, but Fatboy Slim proved exactly why he is one of the greatest names in dance music as he bought his final show of his Woodland Tour to Cannock Chase. 

Accompanied by a backdrop of towering trees, the legendary DJ created a vibrant open-air rave, delivering a visually spectacular nostalgia fuelled set which had thousands dancing from start to finish. 

With Forest Live celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, run by Forestry England and Cuffe and Taylor, it is famous for bringing live music to England’s most glorious forests. 

The evening was perfectly warmed up by Lizzie Curious whose energetic DJ set was packed with legendary 80s club classics. Tracks like ‘Freed from Desire’ had the crowd up on their feet singing along creating the perfect atmosphere as the sun began to set over Cannock Chase. 

American DJ and producer LP Giobbi followed with an uplifting performance even bringing Fatboy Slim onto the stage for a brief appearance that sent the audience into a frenzy. She ended her set by handing out sunflowers to the crowd of fans at the front. 

As darkness fell onto Cannock Chase Forest anticipation reached its peak. Fatboy Slim made his entrance to the Willy Wonka theme song ‘Pure Imagination’ before sending the woodland crowd into full party mode. 

His trademark visuals were as much the star of the show as the music was. Giant screens flashed with a constant stream of pop culture references alongside legendary figures including David Bowie and Prince, while lasers, smoke and vibrant bursts of colour created a visual spectacle on stage. 

His set effortlessly blended his iconic 90s catalogue with clever mashups and twists. An early tease of Rockefeller Skank sparked an audible surge of excitement in the crowd before he finally unleased the full track later in the night. Drinks and arms flew in the air across the crowd as fans embraced the high temperatures without holding anything back. 

No Fatboy Slim show would be complete without ‘Praise You’ which became one of the biggest singalongs of the night. 

The surprises continued with inventive remixes including an iconic remix of ‘Mr Brightside’ and ‘Born Slippy’ demonstrating his skilled ability to weave dancefloor classics across decades. 

The set closed with fan favourites ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat’ and ‘Right Here Right Now’ which kept the momentum building to the final moment with no break in energy. 

One of the most heartwarming sights of the evening was the diversity amongst the crowd as families danced amongst lifelong ravers with children perched on shoulders singing along to 90s dance classics, proving how Fatboy Slim‘s music continues to bring together generations. 

With over two million people attending Forest Live concerts over the past 25 years, Cannock Chase once again demonstrated why the series has become one of the UK’s most unique live music experiences.