Dude, My Dude
Originally hailing from London, Benjamin Lyth and Matthieu Thienpont have adopted the slightly unusual monicker of Dude, My Dude and they have been rattling around our collective radar since the catchy ‘Loser’ was unleashed back in 2021. Since then, tracks like ‘Eleanor’s Detour’ added further flourishes to their blossoming sound before their ‘Brave It Together’ EP showcased their full potential. Crafting alt-pop bangers and sitting them within a fuzzy haze, the duo manage to feel both lo-fi and multi-colour simultaneously. Wherever their new material takes them, their early set at Bingley Weekender is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Liam Fender
In the world of nepo babies and the ways in which they can be maligned just as unfairly as they might be over-promoted or excessively celebrated, it feels like a famous relative might be equal parts blessing and curse at this point. As such, Newcastle’s Liam Fender (join the dots folks) finds himself in a challenging position. While his famous brother might have inadvertently opened doors for him purely by surname alone, there’s no doubt that the music he has released to date is more than capable of standing on its own. Dripping with a romantic nostalgia, Liam Fender’s song catalogue has echoes of legendary artists like Richard Hawley and there is certainly no suggestion that he has any intention of deviating from his own artistic style to hitch himself to anyone else’s ‘hypersonic missile’.
Afflecks Palace
In one of the more unusual success stories of recent years, Afflecks Palace (a name lovingly chosen to commemorate an alternative haven in their Manchester base) were probably better known as The Total Stone Roses until very recently; one of the premier ‘Madchester era’ tribute acts, the band started to dabble with original material back in 2019 before ‘What Do You Mean It’s Not Raining’ (likely another titular Manchester nod!) put them firmly on the map in their own right in 2021. Earlier this year they unleashed the (wordy) ‘The Only Light In This Tunnel Is The Oncoming Train’ and the anthems contained within have truly captured the imagination; ‘Dancing Is Not A Crime’, they declare from the opening track and the Bingley massive will be thankful for that by the time Afflecks Palace grace Friday’s stage.
Tickets for Bingley Weekender 2023 are available now from the festival website. Day tickets and weekend tickets are available, with camping and Opening Party (Thursday 3rd August) also available as add-ons.
The full lineup for the event is shown below: