The Brit Festival might not be as well known as some of the other festivals in the north, though what it lacks in familiarity it punches way above its weight in attracting some of the best in British pop music, food, drink, and culture.

Now in its second year at the Ashley Hall showground in Altrincham, the four-day festival this year had headliners Squeeze, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Razorlight, and 10cc.

The festival climaxed on the third day with a mixture of acts from both the seventies and eighties. Representing the former, Tony Christie proved that he still had the voice—and moves—that brought him to the charts fifty years ago.

The Yorkshire-born singer joked that he was only five years old when he first graced the charts back in 1971 with Las Vegas. The track, now given a country touch via a pedal steel guitar, worked in his favour, though it was (Is this the way to) Amarillo that got the audience in a party mood.


The singer, who is a campaigner for the Alzheimer’s Society, concluded with his cover of the Andrew Gold track, Thank You for Being A Friend—a song Christie recorded with Sting for the carers of people suffering with the disease. The solid performance silenced any doubters.

Fresh from a string of Italian gigs, Incognito brought the warmth of the Mediterranean to a chilly Cheshire afternoon. Recognising that their audience might not be familiar with their stellar back catalogue, the band, led by Jean-Paul Maunick, took a cautious approach by performing covers of Nights Over Egypt and two Stevie Wonder tracks, Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing and As, which benefited from Tony Momrelle's soulful vocals.

There are not many festivals where you can go from watching a top act to witnessing the local choir. The Music Place, led by the enthusiastic Claire, gave an impromptu performance at the busker area with powerful versions of Hey Jude and We Could Have Had It All. If this had been a request to join the Altrincham choir, who are always seeking new members, their performance would have been an open invitation.

Go West, led by the irresistible Peter Cox demonstrated why the band were regular visitors to the charts back in the eighties. Cox still possessed the commanding vocals that made Don’t Look Down and We Close Our Eyes massive hits; however, their set only faltered when they decided to play some new tracks. Fortunately, Wishful Thinking, another of their successes, helped win the audience back.

10cc has been in the business for over half a century, which was highlighted in a polished and highly crafted show. Graham Gouldman, now the only original member of the group, demonstrated why the art/rock group was way above their peers in terms of songwriting, with Wall Street Shuffle and The Dean and I being good reference points. Introducing the songs like a proud parent, Gouldman knew, along with the audience, that the songs had stood the test of time. 


Interestingly, they wrote and recorded many of their songs just down the road from the festival, in Stockport. As Gouldman and the band concluded with I’m Not in Love, the night closed on a high note, aptly by one of the best British bands to come from the north.

The festival returns from 2nd to 5th July 2026.