The Libertines Take Over Hitchin Priory

You will struggle to find a more serene setting for live music than the Grade I listed grounds of Hitchin Priory. This bank holiday weekend, the historic setting has been taken over by some of the finest live acts in the country. After an unfortunate weather-induced cancellation on Thursday, the Hitchin Live series got underway on Friday night with a momentous evening headlined by Rudimental, paving the way for yesterday's stunning all-day indie showcase. Headlined by the iconic Libertines, it was one of the strongest lineups of indie music you will find anywhere this summer.

Despite bursts of very traditional British summer weather soaking the huge crowd that turned out, spirits could not have been dampened if they tried. The early 2000s icons proved emphatically that they remain as vital and as relevant as ever. Hits from their early days blending seamlessly amongst offerings from 2024's All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade in a set that showed just how well The Libertines have evolved across two decades without ever losing what made them so special in the first place. The raw energy and unmistakable chemistry between Pete Doherty and Carl Barat was as electric as it has ever been, the pair commanding the Priory stage with the kind of effortless magnetism that simply cannot be manufactured. Amongst the indie hits there was even room for a brief audience-backed cover of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' that had the rain-soaked crowd singing through enormous grins, a moment that summed up the warmth and spontaneity that has always set The Libertines apart.

Before the headline set the supporting lineup was every bit as impressive, a roll call of some of British indie's most beloved names. Maximo Park and Reverend and the Makers stormed the stage as the evening drew in, keeping spirits and energy high as the Priory filled further, while earlier in the day Mystery Jets and The Ramona Flowers both delivered sets that shone brightly and reminded the crowd just how deep this genre's well runs. Local rising star KIT also took the opportunity to make a serious impression, a performance that felt like the kind of platform moment that a future career gets built on.

Hitchin Live closes out today with something entirely different but no less spectacular, as Ministry of Sound Classical brings a 30-piece orchestra to the Priory grounds for a reimagining of the biggest dance anthems in history, supported by Roger Sanchez, Danny Rampling, Sonique and Seb Fontaine. It promises to be a fittingly extraordinary end to what has been a remarkable weekend. Hitchin Live at the Priory is a concert series well worth keeping a very close eye on. Easily accessible, brilliantly curated and set in one of the most stunning venues in the country, it only looks set to get better from here.