First wave of artists announced for Penny Lane Weekender as much-loved music festival returns

Penny Lane will celebrate its timeless global legacy this August with a three-day music festival dedicated to showcasing local and independent artists and bands.

Coinciding exactly with the 60th anniversary of The Beatles’ legendary Revolver album, the event is set to take over various venues on and around Liverpool’s most famous street. Now in its fourth year of operation, Penny Lane Weekender has grown into a smash success that continues to discover fresh new music and widen opportunities for emerging musicians from both Liverpool and the rest of the UK.

The 2026 lineup promises an eclectic mix of Indie, Rock, Punk, Electronica, Dance and Pop – this year’s headliners include Scottish psychedelia band Helicon and British-Jamaican grime and UK-drill artist Reptile B.

Lovingly conceived in 2023 by Liverpool post-punk band Pleasure Island, the grassroots community festival was created to showcase Liverpool-based acts from the local community.

Much more than just a weekend of music, the setting of the festival with its myriad of bars, delicious food offerings and sunny beer gardens on and around the iconic Penny Lane area, provides everything required for a trip out of the heart of the city, to this pleasant suburb known the world over.

Early Bird First Release tickets are priced at just £10 and available from Eventbrite.

Initially billed as a one-off event in the upstairs area of Dovedale Towers, a pub famous for being the residence of Freddie Mercury before his Queen glory days, the event immediately blossomed into a festival in its first year, taking on a second venue and a few extra days to accommodate the demand.

Organiser (and frontman of Pleasure Island) Sean Regan says: “We’re having a great time here, we started out as punk squatters in an amazing derelict mansion, having fun in a wonderful piece of heritage… It almost felt like we were juggling with the crown jewels!

Then the penny dropped, to excuse the pun, that we have an opportunity to do something really great and we shouldn’t waste it. So for this year’s festival, we’ve got one of Glasgow’s most stellar guitar bands down as a nod to the genre we built the festival upon, then spiked the rest of the weekend with all the up-and-coming stars to remind us to keep looking forward always.”

In the wake of increasing financial pressures – resulting in the loss of 155 grassroots music venues across the UK from 2024-2025 (Music Venue Trust) – the role that events like Penny Lane Weekender represent are even more crucial, dedicated to platforming new music and local talent.

The festival continues to honour Penny Lane’s significance in Liverpool’s musical history, as a hotspot for budding musicians and bands.

Announced so far:

• Helicon
• Reptile B
• Mumbles
• The People Assembly
• Paint Me In Colour
• Jamesena and the Rabbits
• Cheery
• Tom Collins
• Maybrick
• Aggressive Soccer Moms (Swe)
• Ellie Moon
• Oranj Son
• Holy Pictures

This grassroots festival allows Liverpool bands and independent acts from further afield to showcase their talents to the local community of Penny Lane and the surrounding areas.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Find out what’s on in Liverpool this week here.

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