More about: Noel GallagherThe CourteenersNBHD-Weekend

As soon as May hits it seems as though weekends are made to be spent in various fields around the country watching bands and sinking ciders, and the first ever NBHD Weekender this weekend provided a brilliant backdrop for just that. 

The sister event of Manchester’s inner city NBHD festival drew a 25,000 strong crowd each day, as the punters piled in to catch the likes of Blossoms, Jake Bugg, Editors and Miles Kane alongside headline performances from Courteeners and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Here’s what we learnt from our excursion to Warrington’s Victoria Park. 

Yonaka are ripping up the rule book

Opening the Second Stage on Saturday afternoon with their blistering brand of rock ’n’ roll riffs with a punchy pop bite, Yonaka knew exactly how to get NBHD Weekender started right. Teasing new material alongside latest stomper ‘F.W.T.B.’ and a selection of tracks from 2017’s glistening Heavy EP, vocalist Theresa Jarvis’ captivating stage presence got Victoria Park well in the mood for the two-dayer *insert fire emojis here*. 

Warrington love the Courteeners, a lot. 

As predicted, it seemed every single person in Victoria Park knew every single word to every single Courteeners song on Saturday night. Vocalist Liam Fray bossed the Main Stage from the moment they opened with the soaring ‘Are You In Love With A Notion?’ and upheld the momentum throughout the entirety of the set. Job done. 

Seeing Noel Gallagher up North is better than seeing Noel Gallagher down South

There’s something about a Northern crowd. The excitement and fervour exuded by NBHD’s attendees just doesn’t seem to exist in London, and it makes for a whole new way of experiencing music altogether. Ultimately it was this type of crowd that made Manchester legend Noel Gallagher’s headline performance as he closed the event with his High Flying Birds - including scissor playing lady - on the Sunday night. As you would expect, Oasis hits like ‘Little By Little’ and ‘Half The World Away’ gathered the biggest reaction, closely followed by material from latest album Who Built The Moon?

The Anteros album is going to be worth the wait

They’ve been working hard in the countryside laying down some more dazzling pop gems for their debut album and Warrington got a taste of what’s to come from Anteors in the shape of punchy new cut ‘Wrong Side’ on Sunday evening. The infectious gripper has just as much pop bite as their previous releases and fits in nicely with the likes of ‘Bonnie’ and ‘Breakfast’. Vocalist Laura Hayden struts around on stage as the four-piece showcase just how they’ve nailed an eclectic pop sound that leaves the crowd wanting more long after the band have left the stage.  

We can’t stop listening to Stereo Honey

New favourite band alert, Stereo Honey played a mid-afternoon set on the Viola Beach Stage on Sunday.  Opening with pulsating ‘The Bay’, singer Pete Restrick's delicate falsetto paired with pounding percussion and ethereal guitars made the smaller stage seem like the Main Stage and their sultry sonic echoes are definitely be big enough to fill that space in the not too distant future. 

Sundara Karma are upping the funk (and cowbell)

Taking some time out from working on their highly anticipated second album, Sundara Karma performed  not one, not two, but three new songs during their Saturday afternoon slot on the Second Stage. Currently going by the names of ‘Pack Of Dogs’, ‘Mum’s Got Big Hands’ and ‘Twat Out Of Hell’, the Reading natives have turned up the funk tenfold and more regular appearances from guitarist Ally Baty’s cowbell is a welcome addition. Set staples ‘Loveblood’, ‘She Said’ and ‘Flame’ still sizzle too with their blistering riffs and thought-provoking lyrics. 

We need to talk about King Nun

After yearning for an EP from this London quartet for quite some time now, it seems as though we could be on the cusp of getting it as King Nun’s set on the Viola Beach Stage on Sunday afternoon is littered with fresh cuts which capitalise of the distorted and jagged guitars that made our ears prick up in the first place. ‘Speakerface’ crawls through the Warrington crowd threatening to get stuck in your head, whilst ‘Hung Around’ is a joyous slice of fuzzy rock ’n’ roll. 

Don't just take our word for it though, check out our awesome photo gallery from the weekend too.

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More about: Noel GallagherThe CourteenersNBHD-Weekend