Glory & Glitter: Neighbourhood Weekender Crashes Back in Style"
- Desh Kapur
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Victoria Park, Warrington – May 24–25, 2025
IMAGES / WORDS DESH KAPUR
Neighbourhood Weekender 2025: A Two-Day Indie Wonderland in Warrington
Once again, Neighbourhood Weekender returned to Warrington’s Victoria Park—and if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: I absolutely love this festival. From top to bottom, it’s a joy. The event is immaculately organised, the lineup always delivers, and the energy of the crowd is nothing short of electric. Whether you’re here for the iconic headliners or the up-and-coming artists testing festival waters for the first time, there’s something for everyone. Add to that a sea of smiling faces, cold drinks, outrageous outfits, and gourmet street food, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a bank holiday weekend.
SATURDAY – Sunshine, Singalongs, and James
Only 50 minutes from my front door to the park gates, and with the sun shining, my cameras packed, and my bucket hat firmly in place (a must-have accessory for any self-respecting indie fan), I made my way into the heart of the action. After grabbing our passes, we entered the site to find it already buzzing—glittered faces, flares, oversized shades, and the unmistakable hum of summer anticipation in the air. The sun was out, the music was loud, and the vibes were immaculate.
The day began at the main stage with Welsh indie outfit The Royston Club, who delivered a cracking set of stadium-sized bangers. Their rise from local heroes to festival favourites was inevitable. Next up, were Manchester-based indie-electro stalwarts The Slow Readers Club a band known for their dark, melodic sound and emotionally charged lyrics and it was all on show today, Blending post-punk influences with synth-driven atmospheres, that filled the tent with sweaty, ecstatic fans. A quick step out the Big Top and a step to the right and its the Viola Beach stage for one of my favourite acts of the weekend The Florentenes a rising indie rock band from Manchester, their energetic guitar-driven sound and live performance litterally stopped people in thier tracks. blending Northern grit with melodic hooks, making me think of the likes of the Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes
Then it was time to head to the Main Stage for Scottish indie rock band The Snuts and they were at thier brilliant best , high-energy indie rock with infectious hooks, whats not to love, throw in one of the best lead singers around in Jack Cochrane and everyone was loving it, next up were the forever young Ocean Colour Scene, another personal highlight for me. While the band looked a little older, their sound was timeless. When they launched into “The Day We Caught the Train,” it felt like everything stopped—pure, sun-drenched magic washing over a crowd in full voice. A near-perfect festival moment.
Back to the big top for the effervescent Lottery Winners their indie pop charm and swagger on full show to a packed to the rafters Big Top, Then it was back to the main stage for The Wombats bringing thier vibrant celebration of indie rock to Neightbourhoods main stage, blending nostalgic hits with fresh tunes. and a performances marked by infectious enthusiasm, engaging stage presence, and a setlist that spans their extensive discography, including fan favorites like "Let's Dance to Joy Division" and "Moving to New York" . The Wombats consistently deliver and if you’ve never seen them live, you’re missing out.
We ended our Saturday with the legendary James their performance was full of emotional depth and dynamic energy, captivating the audience in front of them with a blend of classic hits new music and innovative arrangements. . Lead singer Tim Booth engaging as ever, often involving direct interaction with the audience, he always adds a unique and personal touch to their concerts .James consistently deliver performances that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking, solidifying their reputation as one of the UK's most enduring live acts .
SUNDAY – Rain and Rhythms
The clouds rolled in on Sunday, bringing with them a heavy dose of northern drizzle. But did that dampen spirits? Absolutely not. Festival goers returned in their thousands, ponchos on and pints in hand, ready to make more memories.
Due to unforseen circumstances my day started a bit late, sorry if i missed you. Sigrid kicked of my day on the main stage, her infectious energy was quite captivating the set was a blend of vibrant pop anthems and the odd intimate ballads showcasing her dynamic vocal range and engaging stage presence.
Staying at the main stage it was time for Irish indie popsters Inhaler, their performance was a masterclass in modern indie rock, blending youthful exuberance with polished musicianship and infectious energy that has become their hallmark. their performance was "a tour-de-force of high-energy, feel-good tracks" . Frontman Elijah Hewson's has commanding stage presence,
Next it was to the Big Top for my standout band of the whole festival Wunderhorse, gritty, dirty, raw and intense, with a sound that lies somewhere between Seatle and Cornwal. the band delivered a set that left fans in awe, Frontman Jacob Slater's dynamic stage presence and the band's performance made it the "were you there?" performance of the weekend, their live shows really are a must-see experience.
Staying in big top whilst the rain triple dropped outside, it was time for the tour de force that is CMAt, full of showmanship and caberet . CMAT's performance was a whirlwind of charisma, humor, and emotional depth, she is captivating with her unique blend of country-pop and theatrical flair. she dazzled with high-energy renditions of tracks from her Ivor Novello-nominated album Crazymad, For Me, delivering a performance that was both campy and heartfelt .
And finally, to close out the weekend for me, it was one of my favourite bands, the brilliant Welsh indie kings The Stereophonics, led by the brilliant songwriting and voice of Kelly Jones,. Tonights performance was a true testament to their enduring appeal and musical prowess. a masterclass in rock showmanship, the band delivered arena-sized anthems with hook-laden guitar work and Kelly Jones' unmistakable gravel-tinged vocals, captivating a crowd of devoted fans, with classics like "Have A Nice Day" and "Dakota" stirring the audience into euphoric singalongs . The Stereophonics are "Real Live Certified," indie rock legends consistently delivering .
My Final Thoughts
Neighbourhood Weekender 2025 was another triumph. From euphoric sunshine singalongs to defiant dances in the rain, this festival continues to be one of the very best on the UK calendar. The lineup was stacked, the atmosphere unbeatable, and the memories—sweaty, muddy, sun-kissed and all—absolutely priceless.
See you next year. Bucket hat and camera at the ready.
MY STANDOUTS FROM THE WEEKEND
SATURDAY - THE FLORENTENES
SUNDAY - WUNDERHORSE
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