By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Sunday 24 August 2025 (press ticket)

The sun kindly shone on the only UK seaside festival the whole weekend. We all remember the fun we had in the torrential rain during that Prodigy set back in 2018, but it certainly helps when it’s dry. I’m sure I had white Birkenstocks when I went on Friday, but the dust has turned everything brown. 

• Read on for reasons including Craig David, Kings of Leon, Melanie C and She’s Got Brass

Both us Humdrums were delighted with Craig David’s TS5, first act for us on the Common Stage. For an early afternoon set, this was like the legend slot at Glastonbury! There’s the usual 90s vibe at Victorious and the crowd were certainly enjoying Craig’s vibes and he is sort of local-ish too (from Southampton).

Hearing him sing Re-Rewind and everyone shout: ‘When the crowd say Bo Selecta’, it really was one of those awesome festival moments. Even if you didn’t like him that much, you couldn’t help but smile and enjoy it. He DJd but also sang with most of the other garage 90s hits he played.

I think this is what they call DJ+. Who else can sing over all of those hits AND do their own? And his voice is great still too. Mr Humdrum tells me that he’s got great social values too and that he recently returned to his childhood home in a Shelter film – just when you think you can’t love him anymore. 

Sunday was the day to chill, according to Mr Craig David himself and we did just so, catching the end of Young Knives on the Castle Stage, sounded great and with a great crowd. 

Sunday was also the day for being Under the Trees: Kojak’s Revenge was up first. They are a local covers band and we are extremely fond of them as our son’s former music teacher is a member. They don’t play your usual covers, but more off-beat ones, like Dexy’s Geno for example. They always have the crowd going and they would’ve filled the Castle Stage if relocated! 

We stayed on to watch The Showhawk Duo playing acoustic rave hits from the 90s. Imagine hearing a highER-energy version of Faithless’ Insomnia worked in with Prodigy’s Out of Space. For the third time at Victorious this year, we were treated to a singalong version of Bohemian Rhapsody, making it THE tune of the weekend.

Still Under the Trees, Absolutely Elton was next. The Humdrums aren’t great fans, to be honest, but we loved our place as I’d managed to find a rock to stand on, meaning I could see the stage clearly for the first time ever! He was amazing, even playing the piano. Hits from Your Song to Pinball Wizard, not forgetting the awesome Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Absolutely Elton smashed it. Victorious also missed a trick here: my partner on the rock was the amazing Emma Desbruslais (rhymes with crème brûlée) and we belted out Elton’s hits for the pleasure of those around us, albeit sometimes with the help of Vic Reeves’ club style vocals.

There were honestly a few people who did appreciate us; I was in fact blown a kiss by one bloke. Thank you Emma, I look forward to performing with you again next year. In all seriousness, these fleeting festival friendships you make really mean something. I’ll never be able to sing to Elton again without thinking of my Kiki Dee.

Off to the World Music Stage, where I think we “discovered” Welly a few years ago, we watched She’s Got Brass, a sassy, brassy 10-piece outfit from London. Wow, this was the find of the day. Smashing out covers of Gwen Stefani’s Holla Back Girl (and I’m sure there was a Chic one at the start), they also play their own songs. We have definitely got to see these again. 

Massaoke was the fun find of the weekend, playing an hour-long mass karaoke (it’s in the name) set each day on the Seaside Stage. We always trust Beats ‘n’ Swing to bring in these crowd pleasers – last year it was the Reverend Michael Jackson’s Oh My God! It’s the Church. This year it was the awesome Massaoke – the glam-rock covers band with a twist. Sunday’s set included Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, Nirvana’s Never Mind and Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer, whilst finishing up with, what else, Bohemian Rhapsody, for our fourth time this weekend. There’s nothing like singing at the top of your voice along with a whole field “Nothing really matters, anyone can see, nothing really matters to me”. And with no power cuts this time either!

Massaoke mania made us miss Reverend and the Makers, but we’ve seen him before and we managed to catch the two last songs. Both Humdrums really love John McClure and his band. Last year, he’d sadly had to cancel most of their gigs due to his mental health suffering after a bereavement. Thankfully for us, he was able to play at our annual Shiiine On Weekender and was very vocal about his struggles. Whilst on the topic of mental health, Tonic Music is always present at Victorious Festival, and is a great supporter of live music not just in Portsmouth now, but further afield (including Shiiine On Weekender). There are also organisations such as Andy’s Man Club to help us all. There’s just something about watching Reverend and the Makers; John’s on stage charisma mixed with banging tunes always make for a great gig. The audience at Victorious agreed. 

Don Letts is a favourite of the Humdrums, having seen him DJ many times in Portsmouth. The Seaside Stage welcomed his brand of dub classics, always including a few versions of Dawn Penn’s You Don’t Love Me. Don seemingly didn’t want to leave the stage for The Cuban Brothers, but he did eventually when he’d finished! 

As the Humdrums weren’t totally keen on many of the headliners this year, we employed Cynical Muso to review Kings of Leon for us. His review: “Prior to Sunday I had never heard anything by the Kings of Leon, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve missed much. They weren’t bad, but their brand of stadium rock is just not really my cup of tea. Having said that, they are, however, the Earl Grey, the Darjeeling and the Lapsang Souchong for their legions of adoring fans on a mobbed Common, where the conclusion of every song was met with thunderous applause and deafening roars.  And that’s why they were there, to play a set that sent their fans home ecstatic, and not for the benefit of some cynical old muso, standing at the back.”

In Humdrum-speak, I think Kings of Leon did what’s on their tin.

Off to another DJ set, this time Melanie C on the Castle Stage. She’d previously sung in 2021 and I and the audience certainly loved her then. Sunday’s vibe was a little different – she was headlining. Melanie doesn’t just DJ, she bops around whilst she is DJing and also dances around the stage too, in the way only Sporty Spice can. 90s dance hits boomed out, the audience loved it and her. What a way to end this festival. She’s always been the best Spice Girl and she certainly spiced up our Sunday life!

This wasn’t quite the end for the Humdrums though. We always like to hang around the World Music area and the People’s Lounge ended the festival with local specialist vinyl record shop Nothing Ventured Vinyl DJ set. A great way to end the festival, from jungle to jazz, leaving us still singing Luther Vandross as we rode home. Victorious is Never Too Much (although our bodies might not be in agreement with that). We just didn’t want to stop.

• Pictures via Facebook courtesy Victorious. Tickets
• Read more from Carron at her blog A Humdrum Mum
• Have you seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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