HEART, HUMOUR AND HIT AFTER HIT: TEDDY SWIMS OPENS THIS YEARS LYTHAM FESTIVAL
LIVE REVIEW & PHOTO GALLERY | TEDDY SWIMS w/ Jordan Rakei and Lauren Spencer Smith | TK MAXX PRESENTS LYTHAM FESTIVAL | 1st July 2026 by Jenna Laband
Taking the stage on Wednesday night, Teddy Swims kicked off the 15th year of Lytham Festival in style. Not every artist can keep a crowd on their feet during the wet and windy British weather, but Swims made it look easy!
Kicking off the night with the incredibly talented Jordan Rakei and Lauren Spencer Smith who brought their all to the stage. The powerhouse musicians really knew how to get a crowd going. Rakei blew crowds away with his instrumental ability and heartfelt songwriting, with his combination of different music genres going down a treat with the crowd. Lauren Spencer Smith then took the stage, bringing us on a journey through love and heartbreak with a series of her hit tracks. Concluding her set, Smith also included a series of cover songs that really had the crowd in awe, including a rendition of ABBA‘s ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
Two support acts and an England win under the belt, the fans couldn’t have been more excited as the music began to shift and Teddy’s intro clip began to play. As he took to the stage, the setup began to be unveiled, and in true Teddy Swims style, it was nothing short of a showstopper. The various platforms sporting his band members and backing vocalists, alongside a series of props – this was a full-blown production. What better way to open the set than with the hit track ‘The Door’, which had the whole crowd singing back from the first line.
Swims owned his stage. Strutting back and forth, making use of his set, props and interacting with his band members. His phenomenal vocals, combined with his mesmerising character and expressions, made it impossible to take your eyes off him, even despite the intricate stage setup. It was one of those productions where you notice something new every time, yet the elaborate setup never overpowered his performance; it enhanced it in every way it should.
It wouldn’t be a Teddy Swims show without a series of humorous scenes and gimmicks – as the notes of ‘Bad Dreams’ began, Swims could be seen tucked up in a bed in which he sang the first verse. The rest of the song then saw Swims singing along whilst also signing a series of fans’ merchandise, including a young boy who had a sign saying that it was his first festival.
Before performing ‘Black and White’, Teddy took a moment to connect with the audience, reflecting on Pride Month and reminding everyone that “love is love, no matter who you are”. The more intimate section of his set also saw Swims open up about deeply personal experiences, encouraging the crowd to “tell people you love them” and “check in on family and friends” before playing ‘Simple Things’.
A fans sign reading ‘44 days sober’ sign caught Swims’ attention, as he congratulated them and shared that he, too, has recently reached one month of sobriety. Swims then also went on to acknowledge Mens Mental Health Month as he thanked the crowd for giving him a space to be vulnerable through his music. Creating a genuine and heartfelt moment as he shared how his music became an outlet for him, helping him “not feel so crazy” before going onto the next song of the night after telling the crowd, “I love you all – you saved my life”.
The set then saw one of the first performances of the new track ‘Break Up in Reverse’ before Teddy announcing he was switching it up tonight with a cover of Kings of Leon’s ‘Use Somebody’ which went down a treat with the crowd. As the rain began to pick up, the stage created quite the spectacle, the crowd paraded around in their ponchos as the lights from the stage made the rainfall glisten, the signt really was beautiful.
Swims the upped the tempo one last time for his final few songs, a series of hits from his discography. ‘Guilty’ and ‘Lose Control’ proved themselves as true fan favourites as they perfectly rounded off a phenomenal show. As the show came to a close, the way the show captivated the crowd really stuck with everyone, with fans of all ages in awe of his talent and stage presence. Every detail of the show was an extension of Swims’ larger-than-life personality, from his extravagant outfit to the stage setup – it was one brilliant opening show that will be difficult to top.
Missed out? Or been to the show and it has left you wanting more? Find more dates to see Teddy Swims here, and grab the final tickets to the remaining dates of Lytham Festival here.
