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Lazydays Festival 2026 photography at Priory Park, Southend

Lazydays Festival brought live music, fairground rides and a busy festival crowd to Priory Park in Southend-on-Sea for its 24–26 July 2026 weekend. This collection brings together my photographs of the performances and the people around them.

There are close views from the stage, confetti above the front row and hands raised against the lights. Away from the performances, the photographs take in face painting, friends talking beneath the trees and families enjoying the park.

From the festival grounds to the crowd after dark

The sequence starts with the people and spaces around Priory Park: tables in the sunshine, the Ferris wheel, colourful bunting and children watching from shoulders. It then moves into performance photographs, front-row reactions and the silhouettes and changing light inside the festival tent.

The festival’s 2026 programme announcement listed Tinie Tempah, Feeder and Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge as its headline acts, with The Feeling among the special guests. That gives some context to the weekend’s programme; the photographs below are my selected highlights.

Select a photograph to view it larger. For an event you’re planning, explore my event photography in Essex and photography in Southend-on-Sea.

Two women seated on a blanket, one holding up a phone towards the other — A guest holds up her phone towards another guest beneath the trees.

Guests sitting around a picnic table in bright sunshine at a festival — Guests gather at a picnic table in the sunshine.

Smiling woman holding a drink with a Ferris wheel behind her — A smiling guest portrait with the festival Ferris wheel behind.

Woman looking through a clothes rail beneath pink and yellow flags — A guest browses a clothing stall in the festival grounds.

Group of guests talking with drinks beside a Ferris wheel — Guests chat beside the Ferris wheel at Lazydays Festival.

Guests sitting around an outdoor table with food and drinks at a festival — Guests gather around a table in the festival grounds.

Three guests walking together beneath trees in the festival grounds — Guests walk through the grounds at Priory Park.

Smiling man having colourful face paint applied with a brush — A smiling guest has face paint applied at Lazydays Festival.

Two women laughing while seated on a fairground swing ride — Two guests laugh together on the festival’s swing ride.

Smiling woman dancing among festival guests beneath colourful bunting — A guest dances among the crowd beneath the festival bunting.

Child on a man's shoulders raising both arms amid other guests' raised hands — A child joins the raised hands above the festival audience.

Child wearing ear defenders and holding a card while sitting on a man's shoulders — A child watches from a man’s shoulders while wearing ear defenders.

Child in a pink hat sitting on a man's shoulders with both arms raised — A child raises both arms above the daytime festival crowd.

Woman looking ahead among other festival guests, framed between metal supports — A close audience portrait at Lazydays Festival.

Woman smiling at a child she is holding among festival guests — A smiling exchange in the crowd at Lazydays Festival.

Woman wearing sunglasses watching from among the festival crowd — An audience portrait among the crowd in the sunshine.

Three festival guests standing together with a stage behind them — A group portrait of three guests at Lazydays Festival 2026.

Singer performing into a microphone with one foot forward beneath white stage lights — A singer performs at the stage edge, photographed from below.

Low-angle view of a singer with one foot forward and a microphone raised overhead — A low-angle portrait of a singer raising his microphone above the stage.

Singer holding a microphone to his mouth and extending one arm towards the audience — A singer reaches towards the audience while performing.

Singer wearing sunglasses looking across the stage under orange light — A side-on performer portrait under orange stage lighting.

Singer wearing sunglasses performing into a handheld microphone against red lighting — A close-up portrait of a singer performing at Lazydays Festival.

Bassist leaning towards a microphone while playing under purple and blue lights — A bassist performs at the microphone beneath purple stage lights.

Musician singing into a microphone while playing a pale green electric guitar — A guitarist sings into the microphone during the festival performance.

Singer holding a microphone to her mouth in front of a green-lit stage backdrop — A singer performs against the green-lit set at Lazydays Festival.

Singer turning on stage with backing vocalists and a guitarist behind her — A singer in motion, with fellow performers behind her.

Singer holding a microphone while turning with her hair swinging across her face — A singer turns across the stage with her microphone in hand.

Full-length view of a performer on stage with a drummer behind her — A full-length performer portrait from the Lazydays stage.

Performer looking towards the audience with one hand on her hip and drums behind her — An on-stage performer portrait with the drum kit in view.

Musician singing into a microphone while playing electric guitar under purple lights — A singer and guitarist photographed during a live performance.

Performer looking to the side against a purple stage backdrop — A close portrait of a performer on the Lazydays stage.

Three singers performing with microphones as the central singer raises an arm — Three vocalists perform together at Lazydays Festival.

Singer smiling into a microphone with one arm raised beside two other singers — A singer raises her arm while performing with fellow vocalists.

Two performers in orange outfits standing on stage with musicians behind them — Two performers share the stage at Lazydays Festival.

Guitarist playing a red electric guitar on a dark festival stage — A guitarist performs on stage at Lazydays Festival.

Audience member in a cap holding a phone upright amid a blue-lit crowd — A guest holds up a phone among the blue-lit festival audience.

Audience hands raised towards the stage in red light — Raised hands fill the frame beneath red stage lighting.

Smiling woman in sunglasses raising both arms behind a crowd barrier — A front-row guest raises her arms towards the stage.

Wide view across a festival crowd towards an amber-lit stage beneath bunting — A wide view of the audience and tent at Lazydays Festival.

Crowd with raised hands beneath amber lights and diagonal purple beams — Amber and purple stage lighting above the Lazydays crowd.

Woman above the crowd holding a phone upright beneath festival tent bunting — A guest holds up her phone above the surrounding festival audience.

Silhouetted guest above the crowd pointing upwards against turquoise stage lighting — A raised arm stands out above the crowd in turquoise light.

Guest above the crowd gesturing with both hands beneath blue and white stage light — A guest gestures above the crowd beneath a bright stage beam.

Festival guest above the crowd with both arms bent upwards against amber lighting — A guest dances above the surrounding audience in amber light.

Festival crowd with raised hands silhouetted in bright white haze — Audience silhouettes emerge through the white stage light.

Raised hands and silhouetted heads against amber stage lights — A closer view of hands raised above the festival crowd.

Crowd raising hands and phones towards an amber-lit stage inside a tent — The audience raises hands and phones towards the amber-lit stage.

Wide view of raised hands beneath green and amber lights in a festival tent — A wide audience view from inside the Lazydays festival tent.

Crowd facing a stage lit by green and amber beams beneath tent bunting — Green and amber lights frame the crowd inside the festival tent.

Audience with raised hands and a phone recording a green-lit festival stage — A phone is held above the crowd beneath green stage lights.

Crowd beneath bunting inside a festival tent with amber stage lighting — The festival tent and audience framed in amber light.

Crowd raising their hands towards a green-lit stage inside a tent — A view through the festival tent towards the green-lit stage.

Silhouetted audience members with hands raised against blue and pink stage lighting — Raised hands stand out against the blue-lit stage.

Photographing the festival beyond the stage

The stage photographs move between low angles, closer performer portraits and wider views of the lighting. They sit alongside the audience photographs because the response from the crowd is part of the performance too: a phone held up, someone dancing or faces turning towards falling confetti.

The quieter scenes help place all of that in Priory Park. Friends sharing a table, people browsing a clothing rail and a child wearing ear defenders have a place in the collection alongside the bigger stage moments.

For a music festival or public event, I can discuss coverage around your programme, performance times and the photographs you need for publicity afterwards. Start with my event photography prices, then send me your date and plans.

Behind the camera

An Essex photographer for live music and festival life

I’m Jonathan Owen, an Essex photographer working professionally since 2003. At a festival in Southend, I look at the whole occasion: what’s happening on stage, the audience’s response and the moments around the grounds that make it feel like that particular event.

You can plan the coverage with me directly, including the performances, people and details you want included. I personally select and edit the finished photographs, bringing the different parts of the festival into a collection you can use and share.

20+ years photographing people

DBS checked

Public liability insured

Lazydays Festival 2026 photography at Priory Park, Southend

From the festival grounds to the crowd after dark

Photographing the festival beyond the stage

An Essex photographer for live music and festival life

Planning a festival or live music event in Essex?