For music fans up north who love the festival vibe but aren’t too impressed by the concept of camping, Neighbourhood Weekender is the perfect compromise.
The lineup is made up of some of the biggest names in music, and 2019 includes the likes of You Me At Six, The Hunna, Yonaka, and Slaves, to name just a few, all taking to one of the three stages at Victoria Park, Warrington.
Neighbourhood has all the features of a massive camping festival – think fairground rides and glitter a-plenty – but with the added bonus that you get to go home, shower, and sleep in an actual bed at the end of both nights.
With such impressive names gracing this year’s lineup, we’ve put together a list of the bands that should absolutely, under no circumstances, be missed!
The Hunna
This Hertfordshire four-piece are one of the best things to come out of British guitar-fuelled music right now. Their album ‘Dare’, released last July, was made up of 10 faultless tracks that could easily make up the soundtrack of your latest heartbreak. These guys know how to write songs that both cut to the core and get you up off your seats and their live shows take you on an emotional journey that somehow leaves you simultaneously breathless yet energised. If you make it your mission to see one band you maybe haven’t heard of before, make it The Hunna.
You Me At Six
You Me At Six have been everywhere since the release of their latest album ‘VI’ back in October. From a nationwide tour in support of the album, to a nostalgia riddled 10-year anniversary tour of their debut album, ‘Take Off Your Colours’, You Me At Six have been unavoidable. And there’s a reason for that. The band’s stage presence is second to none, and the festival environment is where they appear to be most at home. With a back catalogue of massive arena hits, You Me At Six are likely to be the highlight of the weekend.
Sea Girls
If you haven’t yet heard of Sea Girls, you haven’t been paying attention. This band has been on the lineup for almost every festival you can think of over the past year, and they’re blowing up. Having just embarked on a UK tour that saw most shows sold out, there’s a reason this band is all over Radio 1. They are, quite simply, phenomenal. With an ever-growing catalogue of accessible and relatable tracks, and a live show that demands to be heard, Sea Girls are going to go on to do huge things over the next 12 months. Don’t miss out on experiencing their magic while they’re still flying somewhat under the radar.
Pale Waves
Pale Waves are continuing to grow with every day that passes. While they’re often spoken of in relation to The 1975, this band has so many qualities that make them stand out in their own right. Most importantly, front woman Heather Baron-Lacie has one of the most unusual and incredible voices in the industry right now which, when combined with the band’s über cool aesthetic, makes for one of the most entertaining live shows you will experience in 2019. With lyrics that make your heart sing with joy and ache with longing, Pale Waves know exactly how to reach their audience, but at the same time, they seem to never loose their authenticity. Be sure to check out this incredible four-piece on Saturday 25th.
Yonaka
This is a band that describe themselves as “dark alt pop with heavy riffs” and boy, do they deliver exactly that. Having graced a number of high profile festivals over the past year, and being set to embark on a full UK tour this June, Yonaka are becoming the ones to watch in the indie-rock scene. The stage presence of front woman Theresa Jarvis is arguably second to none, presenting herself as badass yet vulnerable – an image many of us wish we could convey. Ultimately, though, Yonaka’s live shows are just a lot of fun, so if you’re wandering around, beer in hand, wondering where to go next – let your legs lead you straight to Yonaka’s stage.
Slaves
There are many bands today that claim to be ‘punk rock’ but no one does it quite as well in 2019 as Slaves. The Kentish duo continue to put out music that is as close to 70s punk as you can get and have been growing ever more popular since their inception in 2012. As well as pulling from punk influences, Slaves also incorporate garage blues into their music, giving it a individual edge that much punk lacks. Having recently headlined London’s Alexandra Palace, as well as heading over to Australia for Download Festival, it’s clear that this band knows how to put on a live show, and with festivals acting as an opportunity to win over new fans, they’re sure to make it one of their best yet.