Neighbourhood (NBHD) Weekender returns to Warrington’s Victoria Park this Bank Holiday Weekend (23rd-24th May).
Since its launch in 2018, the festival has firmly established itself as the flagship North West event for both established and up and coming UK indie music.
This year the festival is headlined by former frontman of The Verve, Richard Ashcroft and Stockport quintet, Blossoms, and arrives with another stacked lineup of talent.
The stage times are out now, so who should you be looking out for across the three stages this weekend?
ARKAYLA (Saturday, The Big Top, 13:40-14:15)
Make sure you’re in early on both days as some exciting bands and artists take these slots, with breakthroughs often just around the corner. Arkayla promise to be one of those. They are a Manchester band on the cusp of bigger things. Catchy tracks like ‘Doctor’ and ‘Fortune Teller’ have caught the attention of many already, and with a core loyal following already amassed, we’re sure people will pack out the tent for this set on Saturday.
THE CHEAP THRILLS (Saturday, Viola Beach Stage, 14:55-15:20)
After establishing what felt like a residency at the Bread & Roses stage at Glastonbury last year, The Cheap Thrills have cemented themselves as one of UK indie’s must-see live acts. The Liverpool band come with ready-made indie dancefloor fillers, such as ‘Codependence’ and ‘Last Orders’, you can be sure that the Viola Beach stage will have one of its biggest crowds of the weekend for this set on Saturday afternoon.
BROOKE COMBE (Saturday, The Big Top, 15:50-16:25)
After releasing her debut album ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’ last year, Brooke Combe started 2026 with a Jimmy Kimmel Live! performance. The Scottish singer-songwriter now arrives at Neighbourhood Weekender riding the crest of a wave. And she is back with new music, with latest single ‘Tears Won’t Lie’ out now. It is Brooke’s first release as a new label signing on Fontana Records, produced by The Coral’s James Skelly. You can hear it live at The Big Top this weekend!
THE NORTH (Saturday, Viola Beach Stage, 17:10-17:35)
The North are a Leeds band with a rising profile. Spreading fast through word-of-mouth on the back of incredible live performances and riffs beyond their years, they are brimming with raw talent, and have an incredibly high ceiling. They could be one of the Viola Beach Stage’s strongest testimonials in years to come. In a year where the third stage is particularly strong at Neighbourhood Weekender, The North should be one of your top priorities if you are seeking future stars this weekend.
KEYSIDE (Saturday, Viola Beach Stage, 20:10-20:40)
Keyside maybe need less of an introduction these days. Fresh from announcing a Mountford Hall homecoming show in Liverpool, they are rapidly on the rise. It follows their sunshine-ready return with new single ‘Lemon & Lime’. In a city steeped with music history, and a breeding ground for up and coming bands and artists, Keyside have been a leading name on the lips of tastemakers for a couple of years now. They will deservedly headline the Viola Beach Stage on Saturday!
THE GUEST LIST (Sunday, Main Stage, 14:00-14:30)
Indie can be a crowded, saturated genre at times where breakthroughs can be limited, however sometimes certain bands manage to surface as the next “big thing”. Recently, The Guest List from Manchester have enjoyed being in this space, with lots of hype and trusted sources suggesting this is a band ready to break through on a major scale. Their debut album ‘Something Real’ lands on August 28th, so get down early to say “I was there” for one of their landmark early shows on the NBHD Weekender main stage.
WESTSIDE COWBOY (Sunday, The Big Top, 14:45-15:20)
Westside Cowboy are one of the most hotly tipped names in UK music right now, and they head into Neighbourhood Weekender on the back of a huge announcement. Their eagerly anticipated debut album ‘It Goes On’ has been confirmed for release on August 21st via Island Records. The announcement also coincides with the release of new single ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’, out now. So Sunday’s set comes at the perfect time for the Manchester band, and it won’t be long before they’re gracing the bigger stages, so get down to the Big Top for this one.
THE ROYSTON CLUB (Sunday, Main Stage, 16:15-17:00)
One of the most deserved indie breakthroughs of the last few years has been Wrexham’s The Royston Club. If flawless debut ‘Shaking Hips & Crashing Cars’ laid the foundations, then follow-up ‘Songs for the Spine’ took things to the next level. Their fanbase is soaring and stocks have never been higher for the Welsh band, and they bring an excellent live show to match. They have worked their way up through the stages at Neighbourhood Weekender, and this year they have a prime afternoon main stage slot, testament to their recent growth as a band.
DMA’S (Sunday, Main Stage, 19:10-20:10)
DMA’s need no introduction. Since emerging from Australia with their breakthrough debut album ‘Hills End’ in 2016, the north of England has felt like a second home for the band. Now with 10 years under their belt, they are one of the UK’s most beloved indie bands. They’re back with new music this year, with the likes of ‘My Baby’s Place’ and ‘Heatin Park’ up there with some of the trio’s strongest work to date. They will sub-headline the main stage on Sunday.
BLOSSOMS (Sunday, Main Stage, 20:50-22:20)
And last but not least, it goes without saying that Blossoms are going to close out your NBHD Weekender in style. The ‘Gary’ era saw Blossoms hone their craft as a live band, putting the hours in to perfect their live show and reaping the rewards. Now, with new single ‘Joke About Divorce’ promising to be the sound of the summer already, they’re showing no signs of slowing down and are at the peak of their powers. Expect a headline set to remember from the Stockport boys!
Neighbourhood Weekender takes place this weekend (23rd-24th May 2026).
Head to Home – Neighbourhood Weekender – Neighbourhood Weekender for final tickets and more information.
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