Closing out a massive weekend of live music within the ancient stone walls of Lincoln Castle, pop-punk veterans McFly proved exactly why they are still one of the UK’s finest live acts. On a glorious Sunday night, the four-piece turned the medieval fortress into a sprawling family-friendly party, backed by a superb, eclectic support bill featuring country-pop trio Remember Monday and Scottish alt-rock heavyweights Twin Atlantic.
Kicking off the afternoon were country-pop outfit Remember Monday, whose fun female-led vocals and synchronised choreography immediately won over the early crowd. Proving they don’t take themselves too seriously, the trio joked about their high-energy track “Attention,” laughing that they desperately needed to get on a treadmill. They also shared a brilliant backstage story about meeting McFly in the dressing rooms at Wembley Stadium’s Summertime Ball, where the headliners were apparently “making an absolute racket” next door. The trio closed out their energetic set with a massive performance of their 2025 Eurovision UK entry “What the Hell Just Happened?”, jokingly telling the crowd it was a “winning song.”
The tone shifted seamlessly into a heavy rock gear with the arrival of Twin Atlantic. The four-piece from Glasgow brought massive energy, with the frontman spending a generous amount of time down on the front barrier clapping along directly with fans. He took a heartfelt moment to give official recognition to the night’s sign language team before thanking the on-site doctors and paramedics for looking after him prior to the set, quipping, “Hopefully I don’t faint up here.”
The Scottish frontman kept the crowd laughing between songs with some classic, self-deprecating banter. Looking out at the audience, he joked about having a medical cocktail in his system while spotting a “broccoli head” haircut and a “North Star” in the crowd, before calling out a fan dressed as Where’s Wally for being “too tall.” Spotting another fan holding a sign admitting they were skipping their exam revision to be there, he bluntly called them an “idiot” to roaring laughter from parents and teens alike. Musically, the band were incredibly tight, with “Brothers and Sisters” sparking a massive clap-along before their signature anthem “Heart and Soul” blew the roof off the castle grounds, driven by a thudding drum beat and a roaring electric guitar intro that got even the distant, VIP seats up and dancing.
When the main event arrived, box spotlights sliced through the dusk to reveal a packed courtyard overflowing with signs from die-hard McFly fans of all generations. Certainly not lost where McFly’s guitars as they came out for opener Where Did All the Guitars Go? followed by favourites One for the Radio and Star Girl.
McFly have always been masters of showmanship, and their mid-set medley was an absolute masterclass. “When you come to a McFly show, you don’t just get one guitar solo, you get two,” they announced, declaring the moment an official audience audition to become the “fifth member of McFly.” What followed was a chaotic, high-octane mash-up party that seamlessly blended their own track “Happiness” with massive covers like Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful,” The Proclaimers’ “500 Miles,” Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga,” and “Twist and Shout.” At one point, the band hilariously paused to get serious, leaning right over the stage barrier to look fans dead in the eye before jumping right back into the madness.
The special guests kept coming as McFly invited their new friends Remember Monday back out onto the stage to sing, dance, and bounce along during a joyous reunion on “Happiness,” bringing a massive wave of waving hands across the entire castle layout.
The band’s natural chemistry and playful stage banter kept the momentum rolling effortlessly. Between songs, the frontman marvelled at the historic venue, joking that the crowd felt “medieval-themed” before pointing out a fan in the crowd as the “king and queen.” The banter took a surreal turn when the lead singer got completely distracted by a rogue moth on stage, before pivoting to poll the audience on Tom Fletcher’s current moustache—resulting in a hilarious mix of loud boos, cheers, and a direct double thumbs-down from the front row. He also gave a heartwarming shout-out to a dedicated fan who had travelled all the way from Italy, telling them they could finally save their arms and put their sign down.
The absolute pinnacle of the night arrived when the band slowed things down just long enough to ask the crowd for a smile. “Put your arms around each other, be friends with your neighbours, and if they aren’t getting involved, you get them involved,” they instructed. The opening chords of “It’s All About You” subsequently filled the castle courtyard, sending a beautiful, emotional wave of arms swaying from side to side as thousands of voices echoed off the ancient walls.
The rock energy surged back for “Shine a Light,” which featured real bursts of fire erupting behind their logo on the massive video walls, throwing stark white spotlights across hundreds of phones capturing the moment. For the heavy riffs of “Red,” the stage was bathed in deep crimson as the frontman urged the entire arena to get low to the ground before triggering a massive, synchronised bounce. Sitting playfully on the edge of the drum podium before ending the song draped right over the front barrier, he screamed, “That’s why we love you, Lincoln!”
Answering a deafening chant of “we want more,” the band returned for a spectacular encore. They tore through a blistering version of “Forever’s Not Enough,” complete with a blistering guitar solo from Tom Fletcher. Refusing to let the energy dip, they teased the crowd: “We love every single one of you, but this song isn’t over… do you WANT SOME MORE?!”
The night officially concluded with a kaleidoscopic explosion of colour for “Five Colours in Her Hair,” played against a vibrant rainbow backdrop. In a beautiful, unforgettable twist, they were joined on stage by Tom Fletchers son Buzz, who strapped on a guitar and shredded right alongside the band. As the final notes rang out, the drummer climbed down directly to the front barrier, handing out his drumsticks and hugging emotional fans along the front row. It was a spectacular, flawlessly executed finale to an incredible weekend of live music at the castle.
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