Pembroke Castle came alive with music, warmth, and community spirit as Voices at the Castle delivered a memorable evening in one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic settings on Saturday, 13th June, 2026.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the historic castle, the event brought together local performers, an international star, and a fantastic audience for an uplifting celebration of music and charity. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the program showcased exceptional talent in a truly epic and sunny setting.
The performances were sensational across the board. The evening opened with Pembrokeshire Pop Voices, who treated the audience to their upbeat repertoire, including charity single “Love the Bones of You.” This was followed by Pembroke & District Male Voice Choir, who brought all the big, powerful male voice classics, with much of the audience joyfully singing along.
The Paul Sartori Community Choir was fantastic, confidently “throwing those curtains wide” in one of their first outdoor performances, including a particularly brilliant rendition of ELO that truly stood out. Bella Voce were also in exceptional form, delivering a beautiful and varied range of melodic songs, their harmonies sounding more phenomenal than usual as they echoed around the ancient walls.
And of course, headline act Russell Watson absolutely blew everyone away, delivering a truly unforgettable performance. His humour, warmth, and remarkable voice captivated the audience as he delivered a mixture of classical and contemporary songs that delighted the crowds. He led a crowd sing-along of “Volare” and really got the crowd dancing! He closed the evening with a deeply moving dedication to the Paul Sartori staff, performing the beautiful “Someone to Remember Me.”
A key part of the evening’s success was the fantastic hosting by compere Rod Haynes. His warmth, humour, and natural stage presence ensured the event flowed seamlessly and created a welcoming environment for all, and the charity is hugely thankful for his contribution.
Of course, the charity was incredibly disappointed that Rock the Ramparts could not go ahead on Friday evening. Due to high winds, it was not possible to safely install the stage roof and associated sound equipment, and the difficult decision was made to cancel the event on health and safety grounds. The charity is extremely grateful to all the bands – The Candy Skulls, The Cleddau Kings, Milly & The Bandits, and Saltwater – for their understanding, their generosity, and for the time they had put in to rehearse and prepare for the event. Our thanks also go to the staging and lighting teams who worked tirelessly throughout the day in an effort to make the event happen despite the challenging conditions.
Special thanks go to all the staff at Pembroke Castle for their continued support and for providing such a remarkable setting. Appreciation is also extended to Wayne and the team at EPS, Magnum Sound, Bluesky Marquees, Merts Medical, Elite Security, and to Joshua Bennet and David Halsted for their valuable contributions to the food and drink provisions. A huge thank you also to Ian Richards for doing the photography for the event on behalf of Paul Sartori.
Voices at the Castle stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, dedication and a shared love of live music, and the hope is that this night will live on in the memory of those who attended for years to come.