Spandau Ballet icon Martin Kemp made an unexpected appearance at Download Festival in Donington Park, Leicestershire, on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The 80s pop star, who has reinvented himself with his Back To The 80s DJ set, performed on a smaller stage to a packed and enthusiastic crowd of rock fans.
Rapturous Reception at a Rock Festival
Despite Download's focus on rock and metal acts like Guns N' Roses and Linkin Park, Kemp drew a huge audience. Attendees scrambled to record and photograph him, and he seemed genuinely delighted by the response. Wearing a Download crew t-shirt, he quickly proved why he is known as one of the nicest men in showbusiness.
The room became increasingly packed, with condensation rising from the sweat of the crowd. Phones were held aloft as people video-called others to show them who was on the decks. From the faces on the screens, it appeared many were showing mums and aunties.
Personal Touch with Fans
Kemp took phones from attendees to confirm what they were saying, giving fans at home a precious moment of one-on-one screen time. He also took selfies showing himself with the crowd in the background. Despite paying attention to everyone, he never missed a beat, spinning 80s classics that had the crowd singing along.
He played a couple of Wham! songs, honouring his late friend George Michael. As he fired up tracks like "Freedom," he told the crowd, "Let's do it for George." He also played Spandau Ballet's "Gold," saying "it has to be done," and sang along as the crowd went wild.
Cheeky Merchandise and Genuine Connection
Kemp threw t-shirts with his face on them into the crowd, but not before rubbing them in his sweaty face. The crowd screamed for his attention in hopes of catching one. When his set ended after 90 minutes, there was legitimate disappointment. Many who missed it were unhappy as word spread.
If Martin Kemp is pretending to be nice and self-deprecating, he is doing a very good job of keeping up the act. He seems to genuinely enjoy being famous and absolutely love what he does. Based on the crowd's reaction, fans are happy for him to continue as long as he wants.
