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Festivals

Ultimate guide to Lymelight Festival 2023: stage times, fringe fest, parking, food and drink

Next weekend, hundreds of music lovers will descend onto Newcastle-under-Lyme for the annual Lymelight Festival. Since its inception in 2013, the event has seen over 600 local bands perform in Newcastle town centre – and there’s a special kind of buzz surrounding its 2023 post-Covid comeback.

Across the April Bank Holiday weekend, dozens of artists are set to perform across two outdoor stages and a number of indoor venues provide a weekend of free, live entertainment for people of all ages.  Over 30 bands and artists will take to the outdoor stages celebrating the very best of our homegrown talent.

Organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID with support from PH Productions and The Underground, the event will also bring additional footfall into the town centre as well as supporting the local businesses and placing local music on the map.

To help you make the most of your weekend, The Leopheard have put together this handy guide, featuring everything you need to know about the festival. From stage times and day splits, to parking, food, markets and the weather forecast – it’s all in our ultimate guide to the festival, including chats with some of the performers gearing up for the event. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Lymelight Festival 2023.

When is Lymelight Festival 2023?

Lymelight Festival 2023 will take place from April 28-30. Thee will be a soft launch on Friday night in fringe venues, followed by two jam-packed days on Saturday and Sunday. Over the weekend, live music will start from around 12.30pm, and end at 9.30pm.

Who’s playing? Lymelight 2023 day splits, stages and times

Greg Murray and The Seven Wonders

The Guildhall Stage is located on High Street, outside The Guildhall, while the Ironmarket Stage can be found around the corner on the Ironmaket, outside Cappello Lounge. Both stages are just a short walk from one another, and the stage times have been carefully considered so that you don’t have to miss any of your favourite – or soon-to-be-favourite – musical acts. 

Sets are between 30 minutes, getting longer throughout the evening with the main act performing an hour-long set.

Saturday

Guildhall Stage 

  • 1pm-1.30pm – Behind the Moon
  • 2pm-2.30pm – The Wolf Howls When I Scream Your Name
  • 3pm-3.30pm – The Crossroad Deltas
  • 4pm-4.30pm – Secret City Souls
  • 5-5.30pm – Souza
  • 6pm-6.40pm – Mercury
  • 7.10pm-8pm – John Dhali
  • 8.30pm-9.30pm – Captain Stingray’s Groove Machine

Read more:

Ironmarket Stage

  • 12.30pm-1pm – Morning’s Thief
  • 1.30pm-2pm – Mara Liddle
  • 2.30pm-3pm – Koala
  • 3.30pm-4pm – Kez Liddle
  • 4.30pm-5pm – Walter Kocays
  • 5.30pm-6pm – Behind The Moon
  • 6.30pm-7.15pm – Red Hot Chilli Potters
  • 7.45pm-8.45pm – Fat Lip

Read more:

Lymelight Festival

Sunday

Guildhall Stage

  • 1pm-1.30pm – Greenhouse
  • 2pm-2.30pm – Smithpools
  • 3pm-3.30pm – FINNEY
  • 4pm-4.30pm – Christian Music
  • 5-5.30pm – Bathtub
  • 6pm-6.40pm – Clay Lake
  • 7.10pm-8pm – The Underclass
  • 8.30pm-9.30pm – All The Young

Read more:

Ironmarket Stage 

  • 12.30pm-1pm – Attack of the Vapours
  • 1.30pm-2pm – And What!
  • 2.30pm-3pm – The Crowns
  • 3.30pm-4pm – Borogoves
  • 4.30pm-5pm – The Dandelion Pickers
  • 5.30pm-6pm – Oli Ng
  • 6.30pm-7.15pm – Silver State
  • 7.45pm-8.45pm – Greg Murray and The Seven Wonders

Read more:

Acoustic Stage

The Carlton will be hosting an acoustic stage from 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with a further six acts performing throughout the weekend. Here are the stage times for the acoustic sessions:

Saturday

  • 2pm – Emily Lockett
  • 3.15pm – Sam Poole
  • 4.30pm – Charlotte Bettson

Sunday

  • 2pm – Jay Johnson
  • 3.15pm – Rosie Edwards
  • 4.30pm – Greenhouse

Fringe Festival

As well as the two main outdoor stages at Lymelight Festival, there’s also a bit of a fringe festival happening across the whole weekend, with acts playing inside Newcastle venues from Friday through to Sunday. Some of the events are free, however, some are ticketed, so do check before turning up.

Kez Liddle

Exact timings are yet to be confirmed for some of the events, but here’s everything we know so far at The Leopheard.

Friday:

  • Stepping Lane at Wellers – 8pm
  • Active Minds, Herbie Jack and Senseless at The Rigger – 8pm to 11pm – £8 entry (charity show)
  • Retro Disco at Castletown Distillery – 9pm to 1am – £3 entry

Saturday:

  • Vinyl Overdrive at Castletown Distillery – 3pm to 5pm
  • Tree Katz at The Crossways – from 8.30pm
  • The Band-its at Artisan Tap (Hartshill) – from 8.30pm
  • The Repeaters at The Victoria – from 8.30pm
  • Various acoustic acts throughout the day at The Carlton – line up/times TBC

Sunday:

  • Music Justified at The Victoria – from 5pm
  • Levi Knapper at Castletown Distillery – from 7pm
  • Dave and Dave DJ set at The Carlton

What the artists had to say about performing at Lymelight Festival 2023

Lymelight Festival is an event very close to the hearts of local musicians, and provides a platform where they can share their music with new audiences, discover other acts from across the county and enjoy the sense of community that comes with it.

John MacLeod is performing at the festival with his band Attack of the Vapours, as well as a second set with Borogoves. He said: “Lymelight has been such a huge part of the town’s road into summer, and a great opportunity to catch Stoke’s finest giving it some welly. I would hope that people passing through town over the weekend have become aware of the music we have to offer by osmosis alone, and followed upon the bands they heard when they got home.

“Also it’s a nice moment for all of us idiots on the scene to say hello and catch each other’s sets over a slice of freshly-made pizza (I was once described by a stall-owner as that weekend’s ‘most regular’ customer, sorry, not sorry). I really want to make it into town in time to see Morning’s Thief.”

John MacLeod, Attack of the Vapours

Greenhouse, who will be first on at the Guildhall Stage on Sunday added: “I’m so excited for my first time playing the festival. I’ve always wanted to play as all of the best up and coming bands in Staffordshire have made it great every year, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to seeing Morning’s Thief, Silver State and Borogoves play.”

Morning’s Thief performer, George, who will be opening the main festival on the Ironmarket Stage on Saturday, said: “It’s my first year playing Lymelight and I am very much looking forward to being a tiny part of just about the most stavked lineup of Stoke musicians possible. And you can see them all for free, too – it’s a no brainer to pop down for some part of the weekend.

“I know and enjoy so many of the bands on the bill, but Borogoves are always amazing live – they bring an extra layer of spectacle to already great tunes. Mercury are consistently crushing and I’m yet to see a John Dhali set.”

Meanwhile, Silver State added: “It’s all about Lymelight this year. Really looking forward to playing the Ironmarket stage with some of the best local artists. It’s going to be an absolute scream. We haven’t yet seen Mercury. We really like their sound and their latest released bang so it’ll be great to finally watch them on the Saturday.”

The lads at Secret City Souls, who will no doubt be performing their latest single Love Blind, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to be playing. We feel it’s the biggest it’s been so far for local music and there’s a lot of great bands and artists on – we look forward to our set and seeing everyone else out there. There are so many great acts on, we can’t wait to see Fat Lip, and Captain Stingray’s Groove Machine.”

Captain Stingray’s Groove Machine

Scott Evans is making a double appearance, with his dark-pop duo Behind The Moon performing on the bill twice – once on the Guildhall Stage, and again on the Ironmarket Stage. Scott said: “We can’t wait to perform at this year’s Lymelight – in fact, we get to play twice in one day! The line up is amaxing and we also have a few surprises ready exclusively for the event.”

Four-piece FINNEY are ‘really happy and thankful’ to be performing over the weekend. The band said: “Festivals are an incredible type of show to play anyways, but to be playing in our hometown alongside some of our best friends who are in some of the coolest local bands at the moment is a really special opportunity and we can’t wait for it. We loved having Smithpools open for us earlier this year and spent their whole set singing along at the side stage so it’d be nice to stand in the audience and cheer them on properly.”

“The festival being free is great with times being so hard at the minute,” said Koala. “We feel that with us being a new band on the scene, it’s nice for us to be considered among the more established bands and be able to showcase what we’re about. We’re really pleased to be a part of it.

“We want to catch Christian Music on the Sunday, we watched their Honey Box set and they seem like they make the right kind of noise.”

Mara Liddle, who will perform solo and with Borogoves, said: “I’ve seen Christian Music a few times and I’m very excited to see how their performance translates to an outdoor stae. Captain Stingray’s are always fun, too. This is my first time playing the festival but I’ve been going as a punter for years. The vibe is always perfect and the people always come down to show their support rain or shine.”

Mara’s sister, Kez Liddle, also performing in Borogoves and completing a solo set, added: “Lymelight is a fantastic opportunity to see what Staffordshire’s music scene really has to offer, which is a lot. It’s a great way for artists to reach new audiences and it’s always just an absolutely lovely weekend. I love learning about local musicians I haven’t seen before and look forward to it every year.

“It’s my sister’s first year playing at Lymeliht and I know she’s going to kill it so I’m super excited about that. She’s got some real summertime tunes si I think playing poutside is really going to work for her.”

The Underclass are most looking forward to catching Clay Lake‘s set, aftre hearing ‘a lot of good things’. The band added: “It’s our first time playting Lymelight so looking forward to seeing what it’s got. A banging local line up this year I must say. Supplying some tasty tunes and having a tasty ice cold beer whilst doing it sounds fantastic. Bring it on.”

“It’s great to see Newcastle get more attention for the music,” said The Crowns. “We all love a Castle Friday, so it’s good to see the local music getting a chance to be showed off to growing crowds. We can’t wait for Captain Stingray.”

 

Lymelight Festival

Souza commented: “Lymelight is an event that brings such a wide variety of people from across the area to celebrate and enjoy the music scene here in Stoke/Staffordshire. Because it’s held mostly during the daytime and out on the high street it means that people who wouldn’t ordinarily attend the local music venues are able to experience the music being made in the area.

“I remember attending the first ever one in 2013 thinking this is something I really want to be doing so it’ll be nice to be up there performing this year and seeing some of the other bands that we don’t often play shows with. This will be Souza’s first appearance at Lymelight and our first festival of the year so we’re looking forward to putting on a good show.”

Finally, Mercury said: “I think Lymelight is a massive addition to the local scee. With it being a free festival and great thought going into the line up, it gives people no excuse not to check out some great local acts and appreciate the art form. The local acts I’m most looking forward to seeing are Christian Music, Kez Liddle and Morning’s Thief.”

Parking

If you’re driving into Newcastle town centre to visit the festival, there are a number of places close to all of the main action in town. Parking on all Newcastle Borough Council car parks will be £1 after 1pm on the Saturday, and free all day on the Sunday. 

Be careful not to get caught out by parking on Staffordshire Moorland District Council car parks (like Corporation Street) because these are still subject to usual parking charges for the weekend – I got a fine during my first Lymelight attendance and I’m still not over it.

The best options for Lymelight visitors are the Midway car park, or Ryecroft, where if arriving before 1pm on the Saturday, you can pay by cash or the PayByPhone app – and it’s pretty cheap for an hour or two anyway.

Food and Drink

There will be street food vendors located near the stages where you can tuck into some delicious food. Typically there’s a pizza stall that’s proven very popular – Chris Hollingworth has papped me stuffing my face on a number of occasions at the festival.

If you’re looking for somewhere to have a bit of a break and a sit down though, I’ve eaten my way around Newcastle pretty extensively in the last few years, so here are some of my top picks:

  • Cappello Louge
  • Bloom
  • Slug and Lettuce
  • Darwin and Bear
  • Sando
  • Pasta Di Piazza
  • Yates

What about drinks?

Near the stages, there will be licensed areas where alcoholic beverages can be purchased from Crossways and Lymestone Brewery. But again, if you’re looking for somewhere to escape the crowds for half an hour (it’s a pretty full on day) then here are a couple of places you can get a good pint:

  • The Crossways
  • Ten Green Bottles
  • The Carlton
  • HopWater Cellar
  • Mellards
  • Wellers

Artisan Market

On Sunday, April 30, the festival will be joined by the best in makers, bakers and creators courtesy of the Castle Artisan Market. Located on the Stones, the market will see dozens of stall holders set up shop where visitors can enjoy the music and shop a selection of locally made goods. Organisers said: “The Stones are sure to be swinging as music lovers and those with an appreciation of our amazing artisans come together for a local event like no other, so be sure to pop the date in your diary and join us from 11am onwards!”

Weather

Credit: Edward Handley

While nothing will be able to put a dampener on the spirits of Staffordshire and Cheshire’s music scene, you may want to bring a brolly and waterproofs with you. We’ve taken a look at the forecast and it’s looking a bit drizzly – but as we all know, everything could change come the weekend.

Here’s what The Met Office are currently saying about next weekend:

  • Friday – light rain and moderate breeze, 7-11 degrees
  • Saturday – drizzle and gentle breeze, 6-13 degrees
  • Sunday – light rain and moderate breeze, 5-13 degrees

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