By Kaya Mcneil-Simms

Back in 2025, it was announced that one of the north’s biggest festivals will make its return to Victoria Park, Warrington with The Verve’s leading man and the ever so charismatic Blossoms clinching the headlining slots on May bank holiday weekend.

Neighbourhood Weekender is well known for showcasing a unique and diverse lineup of music artists across different styles, genres and decades, making it ideal for either discovering your new favourite artist or falling in love with an old favourite all over again. This year, it’s set to welcome 90’s icon Richard Ashcroft aka the leading man of The Verve, whose ’97 record Urban Hymns quickly became one of the best-selling albums in UK history, securing the band a BRIT award and a Grammy nomination. Even solo, Ashcroft has made a name for himself, with all his albums reaching the top 5 in the charts.

As previously forementioned, sharing headlining duties are Stockport’s Blossoms. The quartet are still riding on the high of their biggest ever show, which saw them embraced by a whopping 30,000 at Wythenshawe Park and a five-night residency in the city of Manchester. Since their 2016 debut, Blossoms have enjoyed consistent chart success, earning BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations and latest release Gary becoming their 4th UK number 1 album.

Credit: Christina Thompson

Joining the formidable headliners are northern royalty Kaiser Chiefs, Cast, DMA’s and 00’s icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor whose Murder on The Dancefloor remains a cult classic decades later that’s guaranteed to get people on the floor without fail. Also featuring in the line up are 00s icons Example, Razorlight and The Fratellis, alongside rising stars The Guestlist, NXDIA, Luvcat and The K’s.

Neighbourhood Weekender is the festival that marks the official start to not only summer, but festival season as a whole. With such a diverse lineup, there’s something for all music lovers to enjoy!