LISTEN: Lancaster Music Festival 2026 set to begin

Beyond Radio's Matilda Walden will be among the performers on the opening day of Lancaster Music Festival 2026. Photo: Wendy Elle Photography/The Tap House

Lancaster Music Festival returns after a year away with the first of four days of live music across the city today (Thursday October 8).

More than 300 artists will perform more than 500 shows in more than 50 venues across Lancaster from Thursday to Sunday, and most of it is free.

The festival's official launch party is tonight from 7pm with the Haffner Orchestra at the White Cross pub.

But before that, the first performances on Day One at LMF 2026 will be at the Gregson Centre, with interactive family music show Dare at 11am and 1.30pm; with other venues joining in from 5pm.

Lancaster Music Festival took a one-year hiatus in 2025, with the Love Lancaster Live event - run by Lancaster BID - stepping in.

Now the team behind the festival are back and raring to bring back the popular celebration of live music to the city.

LISTEN to Lucy and Holly from the LMF team talking to Rachel Banks on Beyond Radio about this year's festival

Performances this evening will include Sam Frank, Lauren Armiland, Blake Cateris and Harrison Rimmer at the John O'Gaunt; Diverted Traffic and Baby Minerals at the Tite & Locke at Lancaster Railway Station; Our Mike and Alex Akiba Turner at the Three Mariners; Molly Warburton and James Candlin at The Borough; 20th Century F*xes, Run it Up, Hummus, The Limes (below) at the Gregson Centre; and Amy Rae, Sooz Blooz and Beyond Radio's own Matilda Walden will appear at the Tap House.

The first of the weekend's Busk Stops - performances in places you might not expect - will be at Aquila Wood Fired Neapolitan Pizza and the Accidental Brewery and Micropub, while there will be open mics at The Gregson and Stonewell Tap– plus the Blood Moon rock music DJs at The Bobbin.

The Stonewell also have the Tasting Notes beer-and-music pairing talk with Pete Brown, with just a few tickets left.

The Tommy Scott Duo will perform hits from the top 90s band Space at Kanteena, supported by Filthy Laugh; Ska Face will be on the outdoor stage at The Pub, the Lancaster Funk Club comes to the Golden Lion, and the Women's Music Collective will be at the Gregson's Olive Bar.

Brochures are available from festival venues and there will be info and highlights throughout the weekend at Lancaster Music Festival and Beyond Radio social media.

Or you can check out the full weekend line-up HERE.

Read more: Packed programme planned for return of Lancaster Music Festival - Beyond Radio

Have you got a local news story? Email us now, newsdesk@beyondradio.co.uk

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