A Summer Full of Fun: Looking Back on Norwich Summer Sessions 2025
This summer, Norwich was alive with music, colour, and creativity as Norwich Summer Sessions returned to the city centre. Over 7 weeks, just under 10,000 people came together to enjoy free live performances, filling our streets and open spaces with the spirit of celebration.
The series launched in style during Lord Mayor’s Weekend, before settling into a rhythm of Thursday evenings in July and relaxed Sunday afternoons in August. Across 34 acts, audiences were treated to an eclectic mix of jazz, folk, indie and street theatre, with stages popping up at Hay Hill, St Gregory’s Green, Gentleman’s Walk and Westlegate.
A key focus this year was showcasing local and emerging talent, including 11 young performers on the Access Creative College and New Noise Platform stages. The festival also proudly featured 50% female artists or female-led acts, reflecting the diverse talent thriving in Norwich’s music scene.
Musical highlights included sets from Kitty Perrin, Nebula Sun, Beat Fiasco, Alice Lily, 4D Jones, and Eliza Delf & The Wilderness, alongside street performances from Richard Handley and Kazuki. The final day finished on a high with Sarabanda’s infectious Latin rhythms and free salsa classes led by Jack Hunt and Marwa Ramsi.
The atmosphere was as much about community as it was about performance — families, friends, and passers-by all pausing to soak up the fun. When asked to describe the event in three words, audience responses included “Friendly, fun, exciting”, “Free, fun, funky” and “Eclectic, fun, important” ; clear proof that fun was at the heart of it all!
Feedback from audiences and businesses alike was overwhelmingly positive. 95% of attendees rated the event 8 or higher out of 10, and 55% said they came into the city specifically for the performances. Of those, 84% spent money while visiting, showing the real economic value of live culture to the city centre. Local businesses shared comments such as “The music created a lovely atmosphere in the area” and “Would love to see it come back next year.”
Norwich Summer Sessions once again proved the power of live performance to bring people together; celebrating creativity, supporting local talent, and driving vibrancy across the city.
A huge thank you to all the artists, partners, and audiences who made it such a memorable part of summer in the city. A big thank-you also to Grosvenor Fish Bar, YALM, Kuoni Holidays, Norwich Story Walks and Wild Paths for either sponsoring or taking out advertising in our Norwich Summer Sessions leaflet, and to Norfolk Community Arts (NORCA) for their fantastic help organising the event.
