Newcastle-under-Lyme is gearing up for one of its biggest weekends of the year as Lymelight Festival returns this late May Bank Holiday, bringing a packed programme of free live music, creativity and activity in the town centre across Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May.
Now in its 13th year, the annual festival will once again transform the town centre into a celebration of grassroots music and culture, with more than 60 live acts performing across three outdoor stages, plus additional evening performances in local independent venues.
Delivered by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, Lymelight has grown into a major fixture in the local calendar, drawing around 16,000 visitors across the 2025 festival weekend and continuing to champion Staffordshire’s grassroots music scene.
Music will take place across the Guildhall Stage, Ironmarket Stage and the 6 Towns Radio Acoustic Stage, with the wider festival extending into The Rigger, Artisan Tap and The Crossways across the weekend.
Festival fringe events begin on Friday 22nd May, with live music at The Rigger and Artisan Tap helping kick off the weekend early.
Alongside the music, visitors can expect a programme of free and family friendly activity designed to create a proper festival feel across the town centre.
Castle Artisan Market will return with independent traders on the Ironmarket, alongside street food, children’s funfair rides and pop up activity from Drop City Books, who will bring their Lit at Lymelight programme to the weekend. Activity from Drop City Books starts with a free author event with Lisa Blower at 12pm on Saturday, alongside a kid’s Kitchen Disco story time sessions on Saturday 23rd May at 2:30pm and Sunday at 11am.
Free creative workshops at the Lancaster Building include an Album Art session with Ian Mood on Saturday (2pm–5pm) and a Block Printing workshop with Le Peche Art on Sunday (1pm–4pm), delivered in partnership with ArtsKeele.
Sunday morning also offers something a little slower, with Stretch & Start, a free gentle movement and breathing session led by Jess from Divinity Studios in Queen’s Gardens.
1st Jorge Wilson, 2nd KOALA, 3rd Mara Liddle
Music begins from midday each day, with the first acts taking to the 6 Towns Radio Stage at 12pm, followed by the Ironmarket Stage at 12:30pm and Guildhall Stage from 1pm, with outdoor programming continuing through to 9:30pm.
Charl Pearce, BID Manager at Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, said:
“Lymelight has become one of the highlights of the town’s calendar because it brings together so much in one weekend.
Across the three stages and venue programme, there’s a real breadth of music on offer, from acoustic and indie through to rock, alternative, rap, electro pop and everything in between giving emerging artists a platform, while making sure there’s something to appeal to all kinds of audiences.
What makes the weekend special is that it’s completely open and accessible. People can plan their day around acts they already know, or simply wander through town, discover something new, grab food, browse the market, join a workshop and make a full day or weekend of it.
Events like Lymelight are about creating energy across the whole town centre, giving people a reason to spend time in Newcastle and supporting the brilliant local businesses, venues and independents that help make weekends like this possible.”
Supported by stage sponsors NSCG, Keele University and Heywoods Property, alongside 6 Towns Radio and Valcato Entertainment as well as a range of local venues and partners, the festival continues to showcase Newcastle-under-Lyme as a vibrant cultural destination while driving footfall into the town centre.
Full line-ups and programme details are available at www.lymelightfestival.co.uk and via @lymelightfestival on social media.
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