PHOTOS: Our tour of the biggest ever Morecambe Music Festival

Morecambe Music Festival 2026 was the biggest ever in the popular event's nine-year history and Beyond Radio went to all 40 venues over four days!

The free celebration of live music pulled tens of thousands - both from the local area and from right around the UK - to enjoy everything Morecambe has to offer.

We criss-crossed the town in sizzling temperatures, discovering a party atmosphere, positive vibes and top quality music everywhere we went.

The festival launched on Thursday night with a flamboyant performance from superb Elton John tribute, Jimmy Love, at The Old Bank.

Jimmy Love as Elton John

Another highlight of Night 1 was psychadelic prog rock group Teri and The Electric Sunrise featuring Beyond Radio's Matt Panesh, who brought Woodstock to the West End with their hypnotic gig at The Exchange.

The festival kicked into an even higher gear with more participating venues joining in on Friday.

Our tour included a floor-filling show at Johnny's Warehouse Bar by The Commitments-style soul group Soul of the North, a night of local bands on stage at The Platform, an energy-packed gig at The Boardwalk by the duo Ska Madness with Beyond Radio's Phill Hayward DJing upstairs, and a terrific set by top singer Ashleigh Wood at The Brittlestar.

Phill Hayward

Day 3 saw many of the town's cafes playing host to live music.

Our Saturday morning kicked off with Lancashire's first ever coffee shop rave, as DJs Matt Thiss and Summer J took to the decks at The Salty Bean on Marine Road West.

DJ Matt Thiss at The Salty Bean

Michael Gradwell and Kizzy played ukulele outside Miogelato gelato shop on the Prom while the singing sister duo Gabriella T and Jasmine T entertained customers at Rita's Cafe, and talented vocalist Rachel McGrath sang at the new Olly's Bistro 57 and Tea Rooms in the West End.

Gabriella T and Jasmine T

Meanwhile Beyond Radio's Beth Pipe and Luke Edmondson hosted a special three-hour live broadcast from festival venue The Winter Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

Here is Beyond Bear with Professor Vanessa Toulmin, chair of the Winter Gardens Preservation Trust.

Festival founder Stuart Michaels himself performed a teatime show at a very busy Chieftain pub on Pedder Street, while singer and saxophonist duo Elena May and Clara Sax packed in the crowds at The Royal Bar & Shaker on the Prom.

Clara Sax

Outrageous drag artist Bonnie la Blue brought party hits and plenty of banter to The Palatine, while More Music hosted a Stages Live showcase of young bands to wild appreciation from fans at the aptly-named Hothouse on Devonshire Road - as the weather certainly was hot!

Highway Maintenance performing at Stages Live at More Music on Saturday

Another standout act we saw on Saturday was Green Day tribute GreenDays 2.0 at Alhambra Live, whose on-stage presence, sound and look authentically reproduced that of the real band.

GreenDays 2.0

On Day 4 there was plenty more to enjoy right across the town.

Varying musical genres were covered, including Balkan/Klezmer/Folk by trio Tabuka who appeared at the Beach Cafe near The Battery on Sunday.

Tabuka having fun at the Beach Cafe on Sunday

Morecambe's new Irish bar Duffy's offered a warm welcome for fans of traditional Irish music, including a rousing set from The Bear O'Sheas.

Other impressive Sunday performances came from duo Baton Rouge at the Pestle and Mortar, and country vocalist Kassidy Kiernan at the Bradford, while long-time Morecambe singer and entertainer Ady was in cheeky form at the Joiners Arms.

Laura from Baton Rouge

One of the most talked-about acts of the weekend was 13-year-old Taylor Goode, who played a half-hour set on Sunday evening at The Pier.

The teenager has been raising money from his gigs for Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, and received rapturous applause both for his talents as a musician, and when he announced he'd just beaten his fundraising target of £20,000.

As the sun set on a memorable festival, we ended our tour on Sunday night by taking in a high energy, crowd-interactive set by local duo Fuse in Smokey O'Connors.

We also enjoyed the live music at many other venues over the weekend, including The Masons, The Bull, Harry's Bar, Regent Park Pavilion, The Bath Tap, The Station Promenade, Shore Thing, Grow Kitchen, the Lord Nelson, Coffeys, the Festival Market, The Hurley Flyer and The York.

The back of the Midland Hotel's Rotunda Bar and the riverside setting of the Golden Ball at Snatchems were among the most picturesque locations for live music, with top class acts and stunning views. 

Shelly's Bane at The Golden Ball on Saturday

The Trimpell Club and the Morecambe Hotel also provided ideal facilities for families wanting to sit in the sunshine and soak up the sounds.

Ian and Lynn celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary by wearing their own celebratory festival polo shirts! Here they are at the Morecambe Hotel on Sunday.

Here are some of our photos from Morecambe Music Festival 2026. Many more can be found at Beyond Radio social media.

The team at Duffy's Irish bar in the West End

Happy festival-goers in Regent Park on Saturday

Dream Weapon band at the Eric Morecambe Statue ahead of their Saturday gig at The Platform

Dancing to About Time Jazz Band at Morecambe Winter Gardens on Saturday

Singer Matt Appleton performed at the Festival Market on Saturday. Here he is (right) with longtime collaborator and friend Cameron Seddon.

Amanda and her bearded dragons are festival regulars, pictured here at The Station Promenade on Saturday

Olly's Bistro 57 and Tea Rooms was a new festival venue this year

Soul singer T-Kay at the Trimpell Club on Saturday 

Beyond Bear having fun at our live broadcast at the Winter Gardens

Quiffless and The Pony Tails enjoying the festival at the Lord Nelson

Festival founder Stuart Michaels and friends outside the Midland

Life in Neon have a water pistol fight in scorching temperatures after their gig at The Platform on Friday evening!

The Hut relaxing at The Bath Tap after their gig earlier on Friday evening at The York

Happy bar staff at The Hurley Flyer on Westgate

Enjoying the music in the beer garden at Coffey's on Lancaster Road on Friday

Festival fans who'd travelled from Banbury in Oxfordshire and Keighley in Yorkshire

Contracoustic performing in The Bath on Sunday afternoon

DJs from The Bay Motion Takeover at Shore Thing on Friday

Rachel Mercer singing outside the Midland Hotel on Sunday

Beyond Radio's Greg Lambert meets festival fans at The Masons on Saturday

Stuart Michaels with festival main sponsor Mark Prada from Local Choice

Morecambe band The Limes and friends relaxing after their gig at The Exchange on Thursday

Rob Dorrington from Soul of the North at Johnny's Warehouse Bar on Friday night