It is that time of the year again, as we welcome the North West’s biggest indie party to Warrington this weekend for Neighbourhood Weekender 2023. Victoria Park will host a Bank Holiday weekend packed with some of the UK’s music festival favourites and up and coming talent, so what can we expect?
Firstly, there will once again be a Neighbourhood launch party on Friday night. “Live at the Big Top” sees the Ian Brown headline set fans were hoping for in 2021 finally taking place in his hometown two years later. The Stone Roses‘ frontman will perform alongside Happy Mondays, Cast, and rising local band, CVC.
The main event kicks off in style with Scottish talent, Brooke Combe opening the main stage festivities at 12:40. Cassia and The Royston Club, at the Main Stage and Big Top respectively, are two of the stand-out afternoon bands on the opening day, before Sugababes bring a much anticipated dose of pop nostalgia to Victoria Park at 15:40.
Saturday features some big returns, with Inspiral Carpets and The Enemy both performing at The Big Top, along with The View, who will make their first live appearance since the infamous Deaf Institute bust-up. The Viola Beach Stage will once again host the grassroots talent tipped for big things, and our “one to watch” for the Saturday is Wigan group, Stanleys, who will be performing at 17:10.
The Saturday headliner is Paul Heaton, with a special guest promised to replace Jacqui Abbott, who sadly can’t perform following medical advice. This means there is a massive opportunity for Scottish singer-songwriter, Rianne Downey, whose voice feels perfect for the gig and was confirmed last week to sing alongside The Housemartins‘ frontman for the headline set.
Onto Sunday, and our “One to Watch” on the Viola Beach Stage is Leeds post-punk outfit, English Teacher, taking to the stage at 19:25. The Big Top welcomes Leigh chart toppers The Lottery Winners, along with The Big Moon, Everything Everything, and what promises to be the unmissable performance of the weekend from Confidence Man, as the Australians bring their wonderfully unique energy and live show to Warrington.
The final main stage lineup features the outstanding Gang of Youths, who precede indie festival favourites, Sea Girls, and a highly anticipated performance from the one and only, Self Esteem, who enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough with her most recent record, Prioritise Pleasure. Rebecca’s live shows are carefully constructed performances with rave reviews on the last tour, so this could be a contender for set of the weekend.
Finally, the Sunday headliner is Sheffield icons, Pulp, who teased a comeback last year and return to the live stage for the first time in 10 years this week. In what is a huge booking for Neighbourhood Weekender and reflective of how far this festival has come in such a short space of time, Pulp will likely draw the biggest crowd of the weekend and for good reason, with Jarvis Cocker one of the UK’s top frontmen and the band boasting a plethora of hits to close the festival in style.
There are plenty more artists across the three stages this weekend, along with the Corner Shop Rave, Neighbourhood Inn pub, and an array of popular food and drink traders catering for all tastes. All this, along with the predictions of a hot and sunny weekend from the Met Office, make Neighbourhood Weekender the place to be in May once again.
You can check out the full lineup and get hold of the last remaining tickets here: Home – Neighbourhood Weekender -Neighbourhood Weekender (nbhdweekender.com).
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