Alsager Music Festival is returning to Milton Park this summer with a fantastic lineup of local talent from across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
On Saturday, July 15, more than 5,000 music enthusiasts are expected to attend to watch more than nine hours of live music from a diverse range of artists, with more at The Lodge Inn on Sunday, July 16.
Beyond the music there is a bar serving real ales, merchandise stalls, food and drink to suit all tastes, craft stalls, children’s activities and charity fund-raisers.
Completely run by volunteers, the festival launched in 2009 as a way to provide young people with a summer event to fill the long summer holidays and provide emerging artists the opportunity to perform at a music festival.
Since those early days, the festival has been organised by a group of local musicians, music enthusiasts and members of Alsager Round Table, Alsager Partnership and The Scouts.
Operating as a not-for-profit event, any money raised by Alsager Music Festival is either given to local charitable causes or returned to organising the next year’s event.
Speaking on the event, Bethan Shufflebotham – founder of The Leopheard – said: “Staffordshire and Cheshire boast a strong community of musicians, songwriters and performers with a positive collaborative spirit that fosters creativity and encouragement.
“Events like Alsager Music Festival, Hanley’s Your City, Newcaslte’s Lymelight Festival and the Jazz and Blues Festival, play a vital role in nurturing the music scene, and help to bring artists and fans from across the two counties together.
“The distance between these events allow artists and ticket holders to plan a whole calendar of events where musicians can gain exposure, connect with a wider audience, and network with industry professionals, while fans can discover new acts, create a sense of community and enjoy music, art, and culture.
“Alsager Music Festival will no double contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of the area and help put Staffordshire and Cheshire on the map as a notable music destination.”
When and where is Alsager Music Festival 2023?
Alsager Music Festival is traditionally held the second week of July, but this year, it falls slightly later on July 15-16.
On Saturday, the event will see three jam-packed stages of artists at the town’s popular Milton Park, while Sunday will see the festival continue at The Lodge Inn, on Crewe Road.
Gates open at 11am, with live music from 12pm and concluding around 9pm.
How much are tickets?
Alsager Music Festival is a ticketed event, and it’s expected to sell out ahead of the weekend, so be sure to book them in advance to avoid disappointment,
Adult tickets cost £10 each plus a small booking fee, and can be purchased via the official ticket retailer Skiddle. Meanwhile, tickets for under 18s come in at £8, plus the booking fee, but are still under a tenner overall.
With more than 30 artists performing over the weekend, this means that ticket holders are essentially paying under 30p per artist – which is phenomenal value for money.
Buy tickets to Alsager Music Festival here.
Who’s playing? Alsager Music Festival 2023 stage splits and times
Saturday – Milton Park
Main stage
- 12.00 – 12.45- Blunderbuss Benefit
- 1.00 – 1.45 – Jay Johnson
- 2.00 – 2.45 – Finney
- 3.00 – 3.45 – No Favors
- 4.00 – 4.45 – Oli Ng and band
- 5.00 – 5.45 – Greg Murray & The Seven Wonders
- 6.00 – 6.45 – Ruff Trade
- 7.00 – 7.45 – Red Hot Chili Potters
- 8.00 – 9.00 – Give It Some
Marquee stage
- 12.15 – 1.00 – Rock Paper Sister
- 1.15 – 2.00 – Charlotte Bettson
- 2.15 – 3.00 – The Budgies
- 3.15 – 4.00 – John Street Revival
- 4.15 – 5.00 – Double Denim Company
- 5.15 – 6.00 – Rogue Turpin
- 6.15 – 7.00 – Magic Mary
- 7.15 – 8.00 – Cruz
Sunken garden
- 12.00 – 12.30 – Gav Allport
- 12.45 – 1.15 – Christie
- 1.30 – 2.00 – Time Stealers
- 2.15 – 3.00 – Gary Quinn
- 3.15 – 3.45 – Gareth Jones
- 4.00 – 4.30 – Jeorgia Rose
- 4.45 – 5.15 – Walter Kocays
- 5.30 – 6.00 – Unlucky Strike
- 6.15 – 7.00 – Fraser Morgan
Sunday at the Lodge
- 1.00 – 1.30 – Henry Myles
- 1.45 – 2.15 – Sam Poole
- 2.30 – 3.15 – Jon Stevens
- 3.45 – 4.30 – Sheena Shine
- 5.00 – 6.00 – Nixon Tate
- 6.30 – 7.30 – Captain Stingray’s Groove Machine
- 8.00 – 9.00 – Green Bullet
Read more:
- Technicolour Daydream sees FINNEY blend 80s electronica with modern pop-rock
- Oli Ng reflects on 10-year career with debut album Everything Is Impossible Until It Happens
- Greg Murray and The Seven Wonders stuns Artisan Tap with Nick Degg poet support
- Sam Poole releases ninth single You Won’t Understand at just 14 years old
- Sleeping Fox – a soulful second solo EP from Staffordshire’s Nixon Tate
Food and drink
Guests attending the festival are more than welcome to take their own picnic, however, when they see the line up of food vendors, you might change your mind about a BYOB (bring your own basket) situation.
A number of delicious local vendors will be setting up in the park to dish out some cracking street food, with bars offering a range of soft and alcoholic drinks to wash it down with.
Hungry Little Critters, who have attended in previous years, will be serving up some Jamaican delicacies like Curry Goat and Jerk Chicken, while Alsager’s own Ey Up Duck will be curating a special menu, with The Wildfire Pizza Co treating music lovers to a slice of the good stuff.
Parking
If you’re driving to the festival, free parking is available at Fairview Car Park, by Asda, which has space for more than 250 cars. Milton Park is then less than a five minute walk away from the car park. Station Road also has a further 60 spaces, with a five minute walk to the event.
Spotify playlist
If you’d like to get to know some of the songs artists may be playing at the festival ahead of the event, Alsager Music Festival have created a Spotify playlist with all of the acts performing over the weekend. Give it a follow, play it in the car over the next couple of weeks and discover some cool, unsigned independent artists from right off your own doorstep.