Warrington Music Festival continues its upward trend

by Glen Screeton
THE annual Warrington Music Festival once again proved why it remains one of the town’s most important cultural events, delivering a day packed with live music, community spirit and an impressive standard of local talent.

With typically unpredictable summer weather threatening throughout the day, organisers were rewarded with largely favourable conditions, while the festival’s two main performance areas at Market Square and Times Square maintained a professional atmosphere from start to finish. More importantly, the event successfully balanced its grassroots identity with a noticeable rise in the quality of performances across the board.

Proceedings on the Main Stage opened with a lively set from Runcorn band The Brindley Rats, whose energetic performance immediately engaged the growing audience. Kim Jennett followed with a solo appearance showcasing her rock powerhouse vocals and electro-acoustic guitar work, which provided an early reminder of the festival’s commitment to diverse musical styles.
Dashing between stages I can’t vouch for all of the younger bands that followed but Red Light Racers demonstrated considerable improvement despite understandable signs of ‘in between song ‘ nerves – these are big stages after all and many non-musicians wouldn’t dare speak on them let alone perform, however the crowd warmed to them and went to see the lads again at the Time Square Stage later in the day so ‘hats off ‘ to them. Around 4 pm, The Beamonts brought a useful Indie Rock break with their Americana style, which was well received and young Billy Howard also continued his impressive development as a performer, leading his band through a confident set that highlighted his growing songwriting and stagecraft.
As the day progressed, several performances elevated the festival to another level.
Olivia Booth is no stranger to the Music Fest and delivered another strong performance, combining power and control with a stage presence that commanded attention.

Perhaps the most remarkable transformation, however, came from Indie-Pop band Freight. Having appeared at previous festivals, the young Warrington band displayed a dramatic leap forward in both confidence and professionalism since I last saw them nearly 2 years ago, infact I interviewed the lads in 2023 when they hadn’t long picked up their instruments! Their stage presence was polished, their performance assured and their growing fanbase impossible to ignore. Equally impressive was the band’s commitment away from the stage, spending considerable time at their mum – led merchandise stand engaging with supporters and reinforcing the commitment that is needed from a band in today’s digital world.

Sadly, The Ambersons faced adversity before they even played a note, performing without their keyboard player, who was taken ill in the morning. The keyboards are a large part of the new sound, yet the setback barely registered with the crowd during an enforced shorter set built around strong musicianship and excellent vocal harmonies. Their loyal following responded accordingly, creating one of the most appreciative atmospheres of the day.

Closing the Main Stage was Winachi, whose high-energy funk-infused set provided a fitting finale, which had the crowd dancing in unison, and I must make a quick reference to the chap doing the ‘robot’ in the middle of the crowd with a pint balanced on his head, Peter Crouch has nothing on him! Despite the absence of percussionist Inder Goldfinger, through illness, the band delivered a performance that was both visually engaging and musically exceptional. It was a superb way to conclude a very well-organised day.
Times Square Offers a Different Vibe
While the Main Stage provided the festival’s louder moments, the Times Square Stage offered a more relaxed experience, helped by its proximity to the popular market food stalls and large social areas.
Minor sound issues during the early part of the day did little to dampen spirits, and the stage soon found its rhythm – this is live music after all and even the best festivals have technical problems! Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to catch the opening act but saw Folk Rock outfit The Lower Angel Band just as they were opening up with a very strong performance from Vicky, Nick and the rest of the band before they departed for a second engagement in Leeds later that evening. Their professionalism set the tone for the day and a ‘newbie’ to the festival stage followed with Marti Wilde performing songs from his new album.

Red Light Racers returned for a second appearance, demonstrating both determination and versatility, while Junior Dayvis—better known to many through his work with The Brindley Rats and Jumada —showcased a different side of his musical personality. It was then time for me to make an excursion back to the main stage, but I believe the Time Square stage’s headline slot The Bogtrotters, drew a sizeable crowd with their trademark mix of Irish classics and crowd-pleasing covers. Their set provided the perfect soundtrack to the festival’s relaxed atmosphere and ensured Times Square ended on a high.
One of the festival’s greatest achievements remains its accessibility. The use of hard-standing areas and covered stages once again proved invaluable when late-afternoon rain threatened to interrupt proceedings, allowing audiences to continue enjoying the music in some comfort.
What was perhaps most encouraging throughout the day was the noticeable improvement in the standard of local musicianship. Across both stages, performers appeared more confident and technically accomplished in front of large audiences than on previous occasions.
Warrington Music Festival has always been about showcasing local talent, but it now feels as though the event is entering a new phase. The infrastructure is stronger and certainly look professional and as a free community event, it continues to provide a platform for emerging artists while attracting increasingly accomplished performers. I was present at a Manchester live music venue the night before and promoters and punters alike are starting to notice what is happening on the Warrington music scene, long may this continue.