Lytham Festival 2025 just keeps getting better as Kings of Leon are the latest headliners to be announced for the much-loved live music celebration.
The Lancashire music festival has notched some seriously big names in recent years including The Strokes, Sting, Mötley Crüe, Elbow, Blondie, Courteeners and even Diana Ross just to name a very ‘small’ few, but the increasingly popular outdoor event is promising a truly bumper year this time around.
Having got back on the road with their new album Can We Please Have Fun earlier this year, American rock legends and longstanding British favouritesKings of Leon have just been revealed as the next headliner for Lytham 2025.
Confirming the news on Monday, 2 December, the massive outdoor event formerly known as the Lytham Proms has now filled out its top rung, with KoL set to make their debut next summer.
For anyone still unaware, Lytham St Annes’ self-titled music festival is spread across five days and takes place on a long strip of grass set between the town’s coastal road and the River Ribble estuary beside it.
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The very first version of the festival was held back in 1982 and since then the North West long weekender, which kicks off on Wednesday before coming to a close on Sunday night every year, has absolutely ballooned in size and prestige.
Set to welcome over 25,000 fans each day over the five nights this time around, 2025 is promising to be Lytham’s biggest year to date – hence why they’ve nailed down so many big acts.
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Already confirmed for next summer’s lineup are Justin Timberlake, Alanis Morrisette, Simple Minds and Texas. With just one day and artists left to be announced (Thursday), we’re not even done with the excitement just yet.
With a whole host of different names playing each day and the calibre of artists seemingly growing each year, it won’t surprise you to learn that these events sell out fast.
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So, that being said: if you’re a Kings of Leon fan and looking to catch them at Lytham Festival 2025, you’ll have to be on that ticket portal sharpish.
Noel Gallagher to be awarded prestigious Songwriter of the Year at 2026 BRITs in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Noel Gallagher is set to receive a special honour at this year’s BRIT Awards.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has just announced that Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award, which is an accolade that recognises exceptional songwriting talent, and is decided by a select panel of expert judges – with previous recipients ranging from Ed Sheeran through to Charli xcx.
Noel will accept the award in person when the BRITs comes to Manchester for the first time ever at Co-op Live on 28 February.
According to the panel of expert judges, Noel’s songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for more than 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis, to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.
Of course, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Oasis ended 16 years of speculation by confirming a return to the stage last year in a reunion that many thought would never come to pass. The Oasis Live ‘25 tour became a cultural phenomenon, with 41 electrifying performances in cities across the world – including right here in Manchester’s Heaton Park.
Oasis sold in excess of one million albums in 2025 alone, the only UK artist to achieve such a feat… and the albums didn’t even come out in that year.
Alongside his brother, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Noel has multiple BRITs to his name so far, but this time around, it’s Noel’s chance to shine in his own right with this important accolade.
The BRIT Awards are coming to Manchester for the first time in its history in 2026 / Credit: ITV / BRITs / Co-op Live
“For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story – bold, brilliant, and always recognisable,” commented Stacey Tang, who is the Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, as Noel’s songwriting honour was announced last night.
“His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally. Honouring Noel as Songwriter of the Year celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28 February from Manchester’s Co-op Live, and audiences at home can watch on ITV live or stream later on ITVX.
Comedian and actor Jack Whitehall will return to presenting duties in 2026 – his sixth time hosting the show.
Featured Image – RTP (via Flickr)
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Harry Styles announces one-night-only ‘intimate’ show in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Harry Styles has announced a surprise gig here on home turf – a one night only party to celebrate the release of his latest album.
The pop megastar will be performing a show at the Co-op Live – the arena in which he’s a major investor, but hasn’t yet played.
The rumours of a hometown (ish – he was born in Cheshire) show for the former One Direction star have been swirling for weeks, and now the man himself has confirmed it’s happening.
The gig will take place on Friday 6 March, the same day that his new album is released.
And shockingly, tickets for the intimate (by his standards) gig will cost just £20.
Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally is set for release earlier that day, and Harry Styles will perform all the songs live for the first time here in Manchester that very same day.
Details are, at the minute, light on the ground – but he’s hinted at tickets being sold by ‘request’.
In a post in Instagram, Harry Styles wrote: “One Night Only. Manchester. Co-op Live. March 6th.
“Ticket requests begin Friday. More details to follow.”
Fans had been dismayed until now that Harry’s Together Together tour was only visiting Wembley Stadium in London for his UK leg.
But now he’s announced the chance to see him on a comparatively tiny arena stage, I think we might have won?
Danny Jones -
2nd December 2024 
