For the last decade, there’s only been one place worth heading for the April Bank Holiday weekend. Live music, artisan markets and an atmosphere of community and collaboration like no other. That’s right – Lymelight Festival is back for 2023, complete with a snazzy new look, too.
Founded in 2013, Lymelight Festival has seen hundreds of local bands, musicians and wordsmiths perform in the town centre, and the three-day festival is returning to The Stones this April to shine a light on local talent, while providing a jam-packed programme of free entertainment that is not to be missed.
The festival, organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and supported by PH Productions, underwent a social media rebrand earlier this week, with a new logo design from Dan Muir – and it really does feel like it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before.
More than 40 acts are set to perform across the weekend across two outdoor stages in the town centre and throughout town centre bars during the evening from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30.
The line-up is yet to be announced, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Lymelight Festival social media for updates while I work out how to catch part of everyone’s set.
“Lymelight has an incredible heritage with almost 10 years of showcasing and supporting our local music scene,” said Peter Herbert, Director of PH Productions.
“We are keen to build on that existing reputation this year, working with Lee Barber from the Underground Stoke, and supported by local music show, Honey Box Live, Lymelight Festival 2023 is set to be the finest festival yet staging the best creative talent in Staffordshire.”
Darla Jade – Lymelight Festival 2019
In previous years, The Honey Box streamed live acoustic sessions and interviews from the festival, so those unable to attend in person could get that festival feeling back at home, too. It’s always been an unmissable social event for many, including myself, who can usually be found down the front viewing the festival through a 50mm camera lens, having captured more than 40 sets at the festival since 2016.
Newcastle-under-Lyme BID added: “The announcement of Lymelight comes as great news for the local music scene following recent rumours of possible changes to regional music programme, BBC Introducing. BBC Introducing transmits across the UK, giving local musicians the chance to show off their skills to a larger audience.
“The music business has voiced worry about the potential effects that the show’s cancellation might have on regional music scenes and about the limited opportunities for identifying up-and-coming talent in a sector that is already difficult. Events like Lymelight, Your City Festival and Honey Box Live are crucial for preserving the performing space for artists and for fostering the growth of the already vibrant local music scene.”
We Few – Lymelight Festival 2017
The event – coinciding with the Castle Artisan Market on the Sunday – is set to bring additional footfall into the town centre as well as supporting the local businesses and placing local music on the map. Like me, Lucas Yeomans, BBC Radio Stoke presenter and The Honey Box host, feels that Lymelight is ‘synonymous with the bank holiday weekend’ and is ‘essential for the community’ helping to build Staffordshire’s presence beyond its own patch.
The presenter will no doubt be involved in the festival in some way, I suspect holding a microphone and introducing the performers. He added: “Lymelight Festival has become a staple part of the local music scene, it’s helped artists build relationships with each other but also allowed them the platform to be discovered by presenters like myself, which gives them a pathway to getting radio airplay and a continuous chance to grow their audience.”
Lymelight Festival will be held from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30, 2023. You can keep up to date with the latest Lymelight news and line up announcements on social media a @lymelightfestival.
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Julia Moseley – Lymelight Festival 2019
