‘MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME’ : NBHD WEEKENDER RETURNS TO VICTORIA PARK

FESTIVAL REVIEW | NBHD WEEKENDER 2025 By Keira Knox

NBHD Weekender, a gathering that has become renowned for its welcoming atmosphere. On this bank holiday weekend, thousands of music enthusiasts flooded Victoria Park to enjoy the sun and heavy rains while the booming sound of the festival stages filled the air. You won’t find anything quite like the electrifying ambiance that permeates from the Northwest.

Fans spent the weekend scouring the park for the most promising up-and-coming performers and figuring out where they could score the very best spots for their beloved headliners. NBHD Weekender offers a space for artists to connect with their fanbase on a more intimate level, fostering personal connections and memories to last a lifetime.

It is fair to say that 2025 seemed like a welcome home celebration for a festival that had stepped away from the limelight the previous year. With an estimated 26,000 lively and welcoming spectators making the most of the bank holiday weekend, the festival is a genuine celebration for all ages. Audiences are treated to electrifying performances on the Main Stage and The Big Top, while the small outdoor Viola Beach Stage pays homage to the local indie band and their manager, Craig Tarry, with heartfelt performances.

SATURDAY – 24th MAY

Festivalgoers flocked to the fields under the warm sunshine to see Seb Lowe, the festival’s opener, perform on the main stage. As he took the stage to deliver his politically charged lyrics and legendary social commentary, it’s safe to assume that the audience was instantly revved up. They are deserving of all the praise they are receiving; it’s surprising they haven’t soared to the pinnacle of the independent music scene already.

Staying with the main stage, The Royston Club, hailing from Wrexham, graced Warrington with a performance brimming with indie smash hits. A sea of red Wrexham shirts surrounded the main stage, giving the impression that the bulk of the town had come out to express their support, proving just how incredibly dedicated their fanbase is. With lead vocalist Tom Faithfull expressing his astonishment, “My goodness! Look at you all,” even one of the top live bands in the area seems taken aback by the enormous number of onlookers. When performing live, The Royston Club sound just like the studio version, making them a rarity in this industry. Quite an outstanding band.

The next stop is the smaller Viola Beach Stage, where viral sensation KEO took to Victoria Park. Performing on such a prestigious platform is an impressive achievement for a band with just two singles to their name. Their gritty, visceral performance placed the audience on their feet, singing and dancing in perfect harmony.

Despite the fact it served as the third stage of the weekend, the Viola Beach Stage had the greatest lineup by a wide margin. Arkayla drew a massive audience that was equally blown away by their set. Featuring outstanding vocals and exceptionally strong instrumentals, they are, in my opinion, one of the best up-and-coming bands currently active. Just give this Manchester band a little more time, and they’ll be as famous as their predecessors, Oasis and The Smiths.

Photos by Charlie Wright

With a grand entrance to Robbie Williams’s ‘Let Me Entertain You’, The Lottery Winners showed just how happy they were to be playing a festival so close to their hometown of Leigh. The irrepressible energy and sly humour of the band got the crowd rocking. Frontman Thom Rylance, who was clearly impacted by the wild welcome and packed out out tent, paying a moving tribute to the fans’ support and a reflection on his own experience. A band that will bring the energy and tunes without fail, they are are a staple in festival season.

In spite of the rain, indie legends The Wombats rocked Victoria Park with their infectious ’00s hits, tremendous energy, and mosh pits. NBHD broke out into a spontaneous sing-along, dancing to the beat of the drums, in an attempt to chase away the rain. The band appeared to be enjoying themselves as much as the audience!

The K’s, hometown heroes, mounted the stage at the Big Top, which seemed far too small in comparison to the assembled audience. A large number of onlookers, including myself were unable to enter the tent and instead soaked up the atmosphere and heavy rain from the outside. Hundreds more admirers flocked from all around the park, piqued curiosity from every angle, and the performance itself was unaffected by the depressing weather. The K’s are sure to become headline contenders after this set.

The day comes to a close on the main stage as the legendary Manchester band James, fronted by the incredibly captivating Tim Booth, perform an electrifying show. Booth creates a touching moment when he descends a flight of stairs into the audience while clutching hands and enchanting a few privileged admirers. A legendary set to round out the first day of NBHD Weekender.

Photos by Charlie Wright

SUNDAY – 24th MAY

On Sunday, we were up early at the big top, where 18-year-old Alex Spencer kicked off the second day of the festival with a set full of indie bangers, enthusiasm, and backflips. Spencer and his band put on an incredible performance that solidified their spot on the NBHD stage; their talents outstrip their youth. Then we were back to the main stage in no time to witness, Brummie band The Clause light up the stage with the lead single ‘Nothing’s As It Seems’ off their debut album, ‘Victim Of A Casual Thing,’ which was announced not long ago.

At the Viola Beach stage, Tom A. Smith’s magnetic personality shone through. For the past few years, he has been a staple on the indie radar. His song writing abilities are simply phenomenal; his latest singles ‘What’ and ‘Fashion’ are a raucous hybrid of rugged vocals and impressive instrumentals.

Always expect unwavering energy from Corella. They are the pinnacle of what an indie band should be; great guitar riffs, high energy and fantastic vocals. What more could you want from a festival set than the lead singer getting in the mosh pit?

The big top crowd was taken aback by Nieve Ella’s fearless guitar skills and powerful vocals. By combining classic indie with a touch of pop magic, she demonstrated precisely why she is on an upward trajectory with her set. Authentic charisma and natural ability onstage.

Returning to the Main Stage, Dublin’s Inhaler were met with thunderous applause. Even though they weren’t officially the headline act, their legion of loyal fans spent the entire day camped out at the barrier, hoping for a glimpse of the band. The crowd’s emotions remained high despite the torrential downpour, continuing to maintain their energy. It was as if the whole audience spun around at the same moment the set ended, sprinting to the Big Top in a mad dash to catch Wunderhorse. One of the biggest set clashes of the whole weekend.

Deja vu hit almost instantly, with crowds gathering outside the already-packed out tent to catch a glimpse of Wunderhorse. Even just a few songs in it was clear that the band’s set was destined to be electrifying and crazy. They are another rapidly developing band their music is relatable, melodious, and emotionally charged.

‘Have Fun’ is the opening number by Irish singer-songwriter CMAT, who put fashion at the forefront of an explosive performance. Her infectious enthusiasm and beautiful voice drawing in the crowd. There’s something so captivating about CMAT and her stage presence, no wonder her latest track has become a TikTok hit!

No amount of mud on our shoes or damp clothing would diminish the enthusiasm of the crowd when Stereophonics, the main stage’s headline act, took the stage. Finishing off the day with a 90-minute set, the Welsh rock titans deliver an extremely memorable headline performance!