OVER 5,000 visitors attended Colchester's Anti-Loo Roll Festival on Friday and Saturday, "creating life-long memories" while supporting a group which helped residents throughout the pandemic and now the community in its Lakelands Stanway Centre. 

The Anti Loo Roll Festival started as an end of lockdown celebration in 2021 and is now an annual weekend of music and fun in Lower Castle Park.

This year’s line-up included tribute band Take This, Rick Parfitt Junior, Samantha Harvey, The Moochers, FIVE, and the Stereophonies.

Peter Dutch, Anti Loo Brigade founder and organiser,, said the festival is also designed to be "as affordable and accessible" as it can be with families being able to bring in their own soft drinks and food.

He added: “We break our back to make it as affordable as possible - it’s ridiculously good value - while raising money. This year we made a tiny bit of money, but really, we break even".

Music - Tribute band Take This on the Lower Castle Park stageMusic - Tribute band Take This on the Lower Castle Park stage (Image: STEVE BRADING)The Anti Loo Roll Brigade was integral in the Colchester community during the pandemic, providing services for education, prescription delivery, food, PPE, and so much more.

It has since taken over the Lakelands Centre in Stanway, where it continued to give back to the community - helping children from abusive backgrounds and soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Peter said: “The main driver is from mums who have children with mental health issues who say they have to choose between food shopping or their child’s therapy or children who are in dangerous situations.

Atmosphere - Festival goers enjoyed the music and good weather on Saturday Atmosphere - Festival goers enjoyed the music and good weather on Saturday (Image: STEVE BRADING)

Peter Dutch, added: “The atmosphere was incredible, I’m still buzzing off the back of it, so many heart-warming moments from the care home residents turning up on Friday to enjoy the prom night

“A lady in her 90s told me it was the first ever time she had seen a full orchestra, and the Saturday itself was phenomenal. It was a sea of children on their father’s shoulders making lifelong memories which is a part of we do”

“Next year we are planning on going bigger with huge bands, which we can’t announce yet, with a view to make money and not just break even as we will be selling tickets for huge tickets. Make it a yearly event for Colchester and use it as a long-term support to both create memories and improve the lives of people.”