Idris Elba stuns Torbay crowd at Electric Bay 2025

Hollywood met the English Riviera this weekend as actor, producer and DJ Idris Elba wowed thousands of festival-goers with an electric DJ set at Electric Bay 2025.

Performing on Saturday evening ahead of headliner Fatboy Slim, Elba’s high-energy set drew huge cheers from the crowd, many of whom had flocked to Torre Abbey Green early to secure a prime spot.

Although best known for roles in Luther, The Wire and a fan-favourite for Bond, Elba has built a strong reputation behind the decks — and in Torbay, he proved exactly why. With a mix of house, afrobeat and club favourites, he had the 9,000-strong crowd moving well before the sun had set.

Festival Director Biff Mitchell said: “More than 9,000 people attended Fatboy Slim on Saturday night, and yet the event has been really calm, with only a single arrest and a handful of medical incidents, all largely related to dehydration due to the sun.”

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It may have just been my observation, but Idris Elba seemed to be on the lips of many of the female guests — and his performance was undoubtedly one of the weekend’s highlights.

With an estimated 17,000 attendees across the three days, organisers believe Electric Bay delivered a multi-million-pound boost to the local economy.

Mitchell added: “We’ve seen Torbay at its best and already have big plans for next year. To put on an event of this size isn’t easy, but we are thrilled to learn that we are also helping local businesses, as well as bringing such great music to the area.”

Hotels were reportedly full, harbour bars were buzzing, and the party continued well into the early hours at local venues.

With planning already under way for 2026, and big names like Idris Elba now part of the festival’s growing legacy, Electric Bay is fast becoming one of the UK’s standout summer events.