Chelmsford's McFly Summer Series Gets a Rising Star: Olivia Rogers to Open the Show

The Broadstairs singer-songwriter and Voice semi-finalist returns to support McFly — this time by personal invitation from the band's management

When McFly take to the stage at Chelmsford's Central Park this August, they won't be doing it alone. Broadstairs singer-songwriter Olivia Rogers will star alongside McFly at the Chelmsford Summer Series this August — and the best part? This time, she didn't even have to ask.

Olivia, 20, first opened for McFly at Dreamland last summer, and this year the band's management got in touch to say they wanted her to open the gig once again. As Olivia herself puts it: "Last year it was us contacting them but because the feedback from Dreamland was so good and my following has increased by thousands, McFly's management contacted us this year saying they had requested me to open for them. It's really crazy and exciting. The fact they asked me to do it shows I did something right last year!"

A Star on the Rise

Olivia's journey to the Chelmsford stage has been nothing short of remarkable. At just 18, the Broadstairs singer and songwriter captivated audiences across the country with her performances on The Voice, where she made the semi-finals after catching the ear of some very notable judges. Her audition earned a chair turn from McFly's own Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones — the very men she'll now be sharing a stage with in Essex.

Olivia has described herself as a pop/soul singer, though she loves country too, and her earliest musical inspiration came from watching The Phantom of the Opera — leading her to opera before she transitioned into musical theatre and eventually found her own sound as a solo artist. She won Thanet's Got Talent in 2019 at just 14, and went on to serve as lead backing vocalist for the Michael Jackson Tour at the London Palladium, travelling across Europe and Sweden.

Since The Voice, Olivia has been busy. She's been gigging steadily, growing her fanbase by thousands, writing original material, and building what promises to be a genuinely exciting solo career — all while keeping close ties with the McFly duo who helped launch her into the national spotlight.

The Gig: McFly at Chelmsford Summer Series

McFly will headline the Chelmsford Summer Series at Central Park on Saturday 29th August 2026, as part of the August Bank Holiday weekend. The show runs from 1pm to 10pm across two stages and is being presented in association with Heart.

It's set to be a particularly special occasion for the band. Drummer Harry Judd was born in Chelmsford, while bassist Dougie Poynter hails from nearby Corringham, making it a rare and genuine hometown occasion for two of the band's four members.

Across their career, Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd have scored seven UK number-one singles, seven top-ten albums and over 10 million sales worldwide. They remain the youngest band ever to have a debut album enter the UK chart at number one.

Set across 35 acres of parkland in the heart of the city, the Central Park site offers a striking backdrop combining open green space with a riverside setting and a historic railway viaduct. It promises to be a spectacular evening — and with Olivia Rogers opening proceedings, Essex music fans are in for a treat from the very first note.

Tickets & Information

Date: Saturday 29th August 2026 Venue: Central Park, Chelmsford, Essex Gates: 1:00pm | Music until 10:00pm Tickets: Available via chelmsford.live/mcfly and seetickets.com

Please note: this is an 18+ event.

From the stages of The Voice to Central Park, Chelmsford — Olivia Rogers is living proof that some stars are simply meant to shine. Don't miss your chance to witness this remarkable young talent on one of Essex's biggest summer stages.