Summary

  • Tens of thousands of music fans descended on Hylands Park in Chelmsford for this year's Radio 2 in the Park

  • The BBC radio station's flagship music was held in Chelmsford - the birthplace of radio

  • Bryan Adams ended Saturday on a high with a set that thrilled the crowd, following the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Jessie J and Ronan Keating

  • Sunday's headliners Def Leppard also brought the roof down, rounding off a day that included sets from Olly Murs, Anastacia and Soul II Soul

  • Watch highlights on BBC iPlayer

Live Reporting

By Alice Cunningham and Shivani Chaudhari. Edited by James Fell

  1. From dad to popstar mode for Essex boy Olly Murs

    Olly Murs smiles at the camera. He has short dark hair, stubble and wears a black shirt with some white floral patterns on it.Lauren Jane Carter/BBC

    Olly Murs, who is a local Essex boy who grew up in nearby Witham, has spoken with BBC Essex prior to his set.

    "It's great to be here - we're in the park," he says. "Buzzing."

    Murs welcomed his second child Albert into the world earlier this month and says he has been in "dad mode" for the past few days.

    "I'm slowly getting into popstar mode for tonight... but it's been beautiful, it's been amazing.

    "I can't wait to do this, but I can't wait to be home."

    Murs is on stage at 18:30 BST.

  2. Rylan joins Anastacia

    An Anastacia classic hit is up next - Left Outside Alone.

    It sounds amazing live - she is belting out those lyrics.

    And things get even better because she brings Rylan Clark out to sing with her - our dreams are coming true!

  3. 'Y'all sing nice'

    "Y'all sing nice," Anastacia tells the Chelmsford crowd during her next song, Not That Kind.

    The singer is a total pro on stage.

  4. Are you singing, Chelmsford?

    Anastacia is doing what we love best and tweaking her lyrics especially for the local audience.

    "I knew there would come a time that Chelmsford would sing with me," she sings during Sick and Tired.

    The crowd immediately responds.

    Great effort, Chelmsford. Let's keep this atmosphere up!

  5. Star-studded line-up drawing locals in

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A woman with long dark hair wears a green floral dress and sunglasses in the shape of hearts. She stands next to another woman with red hair who is wearing sunglasses and a black T-shirt.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    The Radio 2 in the Park line-up has drawn lots of locals in this weekend, like Abbie Street, 30, and Helen Schofield, 56, from Billericay.

    “We wouldn’t have come if the line-up wasn’t this good," Abbie says.

    Helen adds: "I came here when it was V Festival and it’s nice to see the grounds used for a festival again."

    Abbie was near the front for David Gray's performance. She says: "I hadn’t heard of him before but he was really good."

  6. 'I love it here'

    Anastacia sings into a microphone with her other hand raised in the area. She has long blonde hair and wears a white jacket with red and black details.

    "What's up, Chelmsford?!" Anastacia literally screams at the crowd.

    "I love it here... thank you very much for having me.

    "Back in the day, we needed this radio, so it is more important than ever to support the radio stations and love them, because they get to bring these things to you.

    "So, yay for Radio 2."

    She leads into Sick and Tired which was released in 2004.

  7. Vocals for days

    Paid My Dues is next and performing alongside Anastacia are two backing vocalists who are also sounding brilliant.

    There is a really good vibe on that stage right now.

    Things are only going to heat up.

  8. Welcome to Chelmsford, Anastacia!

    A view of a large festival stage. The crowd looks toward the singer who is performing. She can be seen on a large screen next to the stage.Lauren Jane Carter/BBC

    Anastacia is looking great on stage right now.

    Is it just us who feel blessed to be in her presence?

  9. Who is Anastacia?

    Anastacia singing on stage in front of a band. She has long blonde hair and glasses. She is wearing a red leather cowboy stale jacket with long red tassels along the arms. She is also wearing blue jeans and holding onto a microphone.Getty Images

    Anastacia is a best-selling female artist and is best known for her hits I'm Outta Love, One Day In Your Life, Paid My Dues and Left Outside Alone.

    She has sold more than 30 million records worldwide.

    Anastacia said: "I'm so looking forward to performing at Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford, singing the hits, having a party on stage, sharing nostalgic memories and making new memories all at once. It's going to be a lot of fun!"

  10. This is going to be good

    Anastacia begins her set with One Day in Your Life.

    This is going to be a good set - she is well known for her unique and powerful voice.

  11. Group's matching theme continues

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A man wearing a top with abs drawn on to it stands in between two women either side of him. The women wear matching tops and hats.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Yesterday, I met Claire, Phil, Emma, Sian and Leanne from south Wales, who were all head to toe in matching Wales kits.

    I'm pleased to say the matching theme continues today with some excellent animal print - very Essex!

    I'm not sure those abs are real though, Phil.

  12. Sophie Ellis-Bextor impresses Chelmsford

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A man wearing a black cap and T-shirt sits on the ground with a woman with shoulder length red hair and a white T-shirt.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Sophie Ellis-Bextor really impressed the Chelmsford crowd, opening the day's proceedings earlier.

    Kym McCaghy, 51, and Darron Smith, 56, from Colchester here in Essex described her as "fantastic".

    "Definitely came to see Sophie," they said.

    It was the first time they had seen her live.

  13. Still to come

    As Soul II Soul bring their set to a close, there are now only three to go on the main stage:

    • 17:30 - Anastacia
    • 18:30 - Olly Murs
    • 20:15 - Def Leppard

  14. Back to Life gets a cheer

    Soul II Soul

    Soul II Soul have just belted out perhaps their biggest and best-known hit, Back to Life (However Do You Want Me).

    The 1989 classic sparks an instant reaction from an appreciative crowd.

  15. Hey Jude!

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A woman and man smile at the camera with their baby held in their arms between them. The baby has blue ear defenders on. Both parents wear sunglasses. The woman has long blonde hair and the man has short brown hair and a beard.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Have I just met Radio 2 in the Park's youngest guest?

    Jess and Ben have come to Hylands Park from Colchester with their three-week-old son Jude, who is sporting the tiniest ear defenders I have ever seen.

    First on Jude's agenda was Sara Cox's DJ set.

  16. Soul II Soul open with Keep On Movin'

    Soul II Soul

    One of their best-known songs, from 1989, opens the set with a chilled vibe that seems to go down well with a swaying crowd.

  17. Who are Soul II Soul?

    Jazzie B is standing in front of a wall of lights as he performs. He is wearing thick square framed glasses, a large black hat and a grey top with blue and orange sequins on. He has long dark hair that has been braided over one shoulder and grey and dark facial hair.

    Soul II Soul are next on the main stage.

    The group, created by school friends Jazzie B and Daddae, was born out of the UK sound system culture of the 1980s, evolving into a 25-piece band.

    They have sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.

    Jazzie B from Soul II Soul said: "It's always a blessing to bring the Soul II Soul vibes to the people."

  18. What songs did Suede perform?

    Suede delighted us with eight songs during their set at Hylands Park.

    Here are the songs they performed:

    • Trash
    • Dancing with the Europeans
    • Animal Nitrate
    • Trance State
    • She Still Leads Me On
    • Saturday Night
    • Metal Mickey
    • Beautiful Ones

  19. Beautiful Chelmsford

    "Thank you, Chelmsford, you have been beautiful," Suede frontman Brett Anderson declares at the end of their set.

    The band walks off the stage and it is all over.

    What an awesome performance.

  20. 'How's your singing?'

    "The problem I've got is that I've been standing in front of a guitar amp for 35 years and I can't hear what you're saying," Suede frontman Brett Anderson screams at the crowd.

    "We're going to try some singing now, how's your singing?

    "There's only one word, it's a small word... I want you to sing it back to me."

    He then goes to sing a lot of "la, la, las", which the crowd sing back at the start of Beautiful Ones.