by Abbie Moore
Neighbourhood Weekender festival takes place every year on the late May bank holiday weekend. Located in Victoria Park in Warrington, slap bang in the middle of Liverpool and Manchester, the location is perfect for music fans throughout the Northwest. Not only is the location great, but this bank holiday weekend also featured gorgeous skies and scorching temperatures to go along with an exciting line up for the Sunday of the festival.
First up on the bill and opening the main stage were the Kairos, a gritty indie band from Liverpool who I unfortunately missed seeing due to the trek from the entrance of the park to the ticket gates. Hearing their set faintly through the trees I knew next time to factor in a long walk to my itinerary.
The Guest List
Luckily, that was all I missed as I made it in time to see young Manchester indie band the Guest List take the next slot. The Quintet saunter on stage to pick up their instruments and kick off their set with their song ‘Ruine’. Piercing vocals of Cai Alty, the lead singer, belt out the lyrics ‘If love is a faith my religion worships you’ as the guitar begins to build. Unfortunately there’s a small technical issue, when guitarist Tom Quigley’s backing vocals of ‘Da da da, da da da” suddenly overpower Cai, but the lads professionally carry on like nothing has happened
There’s a brief pause in the pulsing beat of ‘Ruine’ and the bassist delivers an astonishing French monologue, I have no idea what he’s saying, nor does anyone else it seems, but the crowd go wild all the same as that gritty guitar comes back in and we’re swept away into the song.
Keo Play ‘The Big Top’ Stage
Next on my itinerary for the day was to switch stages and move to ‘The Big Top’ stage to see yet another indie band. Keo, who burst into the scene last year and have only 6 songs to their name on Spotify, have already amassed a cult following. Chants of “Keooo” could be heard throughout the tent as I stood waiting for them to take the stage.
Fronted by brothers Finn and Connor Keogh, the quartet begin with the song ‘Be Happy’, clearly already a fan favourite despite its unreleased status as the crowd belt out every lyric. Their dynamic energy fills the tent they play in along with the indie rock sound of their music, reminiscent of that of Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C, definitely a band to watch if you get the chance.
The Royston Club
My only fault with the set has nothing to do with the band itself, but the unfortunate stage clashes the festival had set. After just three songs I was jogging back to the main stage to catch the Royston Club’s set, yet another band where the entire crowd are belting out song lyrics word for word. Their 45 minute set consists of some of their most popular songs such as ‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows’, ‘I’m a Liar’ and my personal favourite ‘52’, filled with catchy guitar, sharp drums and ear worm lyrics that get stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
During one of their slower songs ‘Cariad’ half the crowd are on each other’s shoulders and flares of orange, green and white are set off. I even catch a lad with tears streaming down his cheeks as he sings along, this is clearly a band that means a lot to their dedicated fanbase.
Headliners Blossoms Take The Stage
The Sunday Headliners and probably the reason half the crowd have braved a day in the scorching sun is the band blossoms.
They kick off their set with the lead single of their most recent album, ‘Gary’. A bizarre yet catchy tune about an 8 foot tall fiberglass gorilla that was stolen from a garden centre, they even have their own huge gorilla on stage with them! However drummer Joe Donovan is donning a shirt that says ‘goodbye Gary’ so I’m not sure the huge gorilla will be gracing the stage with the band much longer.
The imminent loss of Gary the gorilla doesn’t leave the crowd disappointed though, as the band play the live debut of their new single “Joke About Divorce’, another catchy indie pop track with a retro disco feel.
As the blazing sun beings to set, front man Tom Ogden asks the crowd who brought factor 50 suncream, and jokingly calls those who didn’t put any on at all “mad bastards”. They close their set with their most popular song ‘Charlemagne’ and despite playing for 90 minutes, I still wished they’d play for 90 more.
As crowds file out of Victoria park after a weekend of memorable sets and perfect weather, I am already excited for next year’s edition of the festival.
