Lytham Festival takes place on the banks of Lancashire's Ribble Estuary; it has grown from a one-night-only community Proms-style concert to an amazing five-day live music event which now draws music-loving crowds in excess of 120,000 each summer. Lytham Green is expansive and a beautiful part of Lytham village providing an ideal setting for shows and festivals.
Wide-ranging headliners have performed at the festival through the years ranging from big name music stars such as Shania Twain, Lionel Richie, Billy Ocean, Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Kylie, Lewis Capaldi, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Madness, Rod Stewart, Stereophonics and Tom Jones.
This year will see live music light up Lytham Green once again with headliners Stevie Wonder on 3rd July, Alanis Morissette on 4th July, Justin Timberlake on 5th July and Simple Minds and Texas on 6th July.
Lytham Green is a peaceful beauty spot near the seafront in Lytham which is usually home to people jogging, walking their dogs and enjoying the pleasant surroundings close to the iconic lighthouse but for one week each summer it is converted into a lively music arena as music performers from across the globe present their talents to crowds of up to 20,000 people a night.
I was privileged to see Stevie Wonder, the Michigan-born superstar perform as part of his ‘Love, Light and Song’ UK tour on the first night. Support act, Corinne Bailey Rae, the talented 46-year-old singer/songwriter opened the festival with a beautiful performance. Dressed in a purple sleeveless jumpsuit, playing her guitar and tambourine, with one female backing singer she delighted the audience for an hour ending with her hit song, ‘Put Your Record On.’
75 year old Stevie Wonder, the fabulously talented and 25-time Grammy Award winner known as Little Stevie Wonder when he first emerged onto the music scene, took to the stage to rapturous applause and kicked off as festival headliner and wowed the excited music-loving crowd dressed in a fabulous red sequinned jacket, dark glittery black shades with his trademark braided hair beneath a cool black beret.
He has a powerful professional stage presence and the crowds cheered as he took his place at the piano with the opening number, ‘Love's in Need of Love Today’ and voicing a somewhat political comment about his disappointment with the leaders of certain world countries today.
His voice, musical prowess and stage presence was just as magical as it was in his early days, only his movements onto the stage gave away this performer as the older, more mature gentleman he is now. Stevie was assisted onto the stage and addressed his audience saying, “Hello. I am so happy to have with me some of my family”, to my right is my daughter Ayesha, to my left is my son Kyleigh. To all of my family, I love you”.
He kicked off his amazing set with a song reflecting his apologetically philosophical view and thoughts about the state the world currently finds itself in. Before performing ‘Love’s in Need of Love Today’ he explained it is a fitting song because it is all about love and compassion and that our world is currently filled with conflict amongst leaders, impacting its fallout. Saying “You were given a purpose to make the world better and too many times, you have not”, he went on to ramp up the beat and mood by delivering ‘Master Blaster (Jammin)’ and ‘Higher Ground’ to an elated audience. He went on to include a moving tribute to Sly Stone with the song ‘Everybody Is a Star’, performed with Corinne Bailey Rae.
Corinne Bailey Rae accompanied him on stage throughout the show; he however lightened the mood and made many funny quips in between songs, allowing the audience to see his boyish charm and charisma, and openly laughed at himself. The audience were captivated and loved it reciprocating in roars of laughter, whistling and clapping joyfully.
He delivered many of his hit
songs from, ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’, ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered, (I’m
Yours)’, ‘Don’t You Worry About a Thing’, ‘My Cherie Amour’ to ‘Overjoyed’ plus
many more with charm and personality. The two and a half hour set didn’t
disappoint, cheers swirled across the usually sedate seafront, it was star
quality for all to enjoy and embrace. Stevie’s outstanding singing talent and versatility
on piano and harmonica have not
diminished and were delivered with aplomb.
The Lytham Festival site was split into two sections with a Standard Area and VIP Area and entry was extremely slow in both due to extensive security searches. Both areas provided a great selection of refreshment tents, with the VIP area being sectioned off and named ‘The Garden’ which provided better views of the stage and was nearer to amenities including flushing toilets. There were also vendors providing organic steaks and posh nosh snacks and a champagne bar with some tables and seating areas plus lots of deck chairs.
The festival is on all weekend with many other artists gracing the stage, such as Train, Jess Glynn, Dagny and Liz Phair.
I recommend you check out their website www.lythamfestival.com
Reviewer: Jill Mathers
On: 03.07.25.
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