Neighbourhood Weekender has announced the first wave of acts for next year’s lineup, and there’s some huge names heading to Warrington.
The Victoria Park-based festival is always known to kick-off the summer with an incredible weekend of non-stop live music across three stages, and with the incredible roster of talent announced today, 2023 looks set to be no different.
Local northern legends Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, and popular indie band The Kooks have both been confirmed for huge slots at Neighbourhood Weekender 2023, alongside the return of Britpop superstars Pulp – who have also today announced they are reuniting for the first time since 2013 for a string of shows next year.
Pulp will headline the festival as part of their ‘What we do for an encore’ live dates.
LET’S GO! First wave of your Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 line-up is here!! 💥💥💥
Announcing the reunion tour and headlining slot, lead singer Jarvis Cocker said: “Three months ago, we asked, ‘what exactly do you do for an encore?’ Well… an encore happens when the crowd makes enough noise to bring the band back to the stage.
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“So we are playing in the UK and Ireland in 2023, come along and make some noise, and we’ll see you there.”
Alongside Pulp, after a second consecutive UK number one album, legendary duo Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott will return to Victoria Park to close out the main stage on Saturday night.
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The Kooks will also take to the main stage on the Saturday of the two-day festival.
Neighbourhood Weekender has unveiled its 2023 lineup / Credit: Neighbourhood Weekender | Graham Joy Photography
Those three huge names will also be joined by indie stalwarts The Wombats, The Enemy, and Ocean Colour Scene, alongside festival favourites Jamie Webster, Everything Everything, and The Big Moon.
Pop sensations Anne-Marie, Ella Henderson, and Sugababes have also been announced, as well as two of this year’s biggest breakthrough artists – the Mercury Prize-nominated Self Esteem, and Australian dance duo Confidence Man.
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A whole host of exciting newcomers have also been announced as part of the first wave lineup, with rising stars CMAT, Courting, English Teacher, and Slant all taking to the stage in May.
There’s some huge names heading to Warrington next May / Credit: Neighbourhood Weekender
Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 is taking over Victoria Park in Warrington on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 May, with tickets officially set to go on general sale at 9am on Friday 4 November, and you can grab them from the NBHD website, or head on over to Ticketmaster or Gigs and Tours.
Coach packages are also available from official coach partner, Big Green Coach, here.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall Manchester – groovy, hazy and effortlessly cool
Clementine Hall
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall proved exactly why they’ve built such a cult following over the past decade.
Formed in 2010 by frontman Ruban Nielson, the band first broke through with their scrappy, lo-fi self-titled debut and since then, they’ve become known for their signature blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and warped pop.
I first saw the band back in 2023 at Glastonbury, and yes sorry I am one of those annoying people that bring it up all the time.
They’re the perfect band to close your eyes, sway your head and tap your foot to – and that’s exactly what the crowd were doing in unison last night at the Albert Hall.
Image: The Manc Group
From the second they stepped on stage, there was no rush – just that signature hazy groove met with enough stage lights to sink a ship.
You could barely see them on stage, but that made it even cooler. And you can only imagine how gorgeous the Albert Hall looked with hundreds of spotlights in different colours whizzing all over it.
Early tracks simmered and pulled us in before the band stretched out into crowd pleasers like ‘Multi-Love’ and ‘Hunnybee’. What an absolute tune by the way.
Image: The Manc Group
There wasn’t much crowd interaction but, again, there didn’t need to be. They let the music do the talking and by treating us to some of the most epic guitar solos we’ve ever heard (no, seriously), we’ll forgive them for not talking to us.
Each song melted into each other as the band oozed effortless charm and talent throughout the almost two hour set, which is no mean feat.
Of course, a sea of phones shot up for ‘So Good at Being in Trouble‘, their most popular track which prompted a harmonious audience singalong. Not very harmonious by me, admittedly.
It was a fantastic ending that left the audience feeling united by the laidback brilliance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and I hope they don’t leave it too long to come back this time.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Emily Sergeant -
28th October 2022 
