UK’s biggest free music festival Darwen Live returns once more

Next week will see the return of Darwen Live – the UK’s biggest free music festival.

Headlining this year will be The Blow Monkeys and The View who will perform to crowds of thousands from the main stage in the Market Square over the two day event – running across Saturday (May 27th) and Sunday (May 28th).

Darwen Library Theatre will also be busy hosting the second stage and Sunbird Records, which has recently re-opened as a live music venue and other local places and spaces will also have bands performing.

Darren James, Senior Programmer at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said:

We’re pleased to present a packed line-up for Darwen Live 2023. Every year we work hard to make it even bigger and better despite rising costs. We’re proud of the fact that Darwen Live is the UK’s biggest free music festival and we look forward to welcoming visitors from far and wide. It’s always a super popular event which showcases local talent while supporting businesses right across the town.

This year more than 500 acts applied to perform on the main stage with 90% of them being local artists.

Over 15 local venues in the town will be open to showcase acts over the weekend and this year in the Market Square there’ll be refreshment and food stalls as well as an official merchandise and beer tent.

Darwen Live first launched in 2000 as an annual event for artists and the community to come together.

Darren, who’s been involved in organising Darwen Live since 2013, added:

Every year the support for this event is amazing. Crowds turn out in their droves and enjoy the fact that there’s something for everyone. Here’s to this year’s event being another huge success.

Here is the line-up for Darwen Live 2023:

Saturday 27th MAY

12:00pm – Leah Haworth

12:45pm – McNally Music Act

1:45pm – Body Water

2:45pm – Kerrang’d

3:45pm – Inciders

4:45pm – Kind Hearted Thieves

5:45pm – Tokyo Storm

6:45pm – Bonfire Radicals

7:45pm – Lanterns

8:45pm – The Blow Monkeys

Sunday 28th MAY

11:30am – Darwen School of Music Showcase

12:45pm – Gvani

1:45pm – Lyra

2:45pm – This is War

3:45pm – Rafters

4:45pm – Kooky

5:45pm – D-Kel and Los Bandidos

6:45pm – Design Rewind

7:45pm – Northern Soul Train

8:45pm – The View

Visit  Darwen Live for more information.