When you look back at the sea of mid-noughties indie bands, there are few still standing and even fewer, some fifteen years later, who are still experiencing career highs. But this was the precise spot The Kooks found themselves in, four years ago.

After a worldwide arena tour, the release of their 2018 UK Top Ten album ‘Let’s Go Sunshine’ saw the Brighton band topping the bill at festivals across Europe and at home. The streaming boom had opened up The Kooks up to a new audience of young fans who loved their distinctive brand of indie rock and were itching to see them play live.

Coming off the back of a punishing tour schedule, frontman, Luke Pritchard – vowed to take a bit of a breather. But instead, found himself right back in the studio.

“I started going to Berlin for three or four days at a time. I was really affected by Brexit and I wanted to make a bit of a statement by creating a European record,” he explains. “We’re a European band, we practically lived out there and have so much love for Europe, so we wanted to keep that connection.” 

Berlin has long been something of a creative Mecca for artists from all over the world and Pritchard found himself moving in those circles, meeting the collaborators he would work with on their behemoth of a sixth album, ‘10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark’. The period was one of work, inspiration and creativity as opposed to partying. “I wasn’t doing any drugs,” Pritchard attests. “It was more dive bars and a bottle of whiskey than Berghain.”

The environment quickly started to work its magic. “A lot of songwriters have found refuge in Berlin”, he says. “It’s a free place, it’s not so consumed by commerciality. I was looking for something a bit rawer, a little bit more minimal. Sometimes you just pick up these nuances somewhere. It’s not necessarily the people, it’s the place.”

As The Kooks, continue to reach an ever-growing audience of young fans, ‘10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark’ feels like a mission statement. It’s a celebration of getting through troubled times and a rallying cry for our future. 

This is a band whose career highs are still to come. They’re right to feel optimistic about what’s next and that the future, might be a little bit brighter.

And the key to seeing fifteen years of success as a band?

“Hard work,” says Pritchard. “And a lot of luck.”

We've teamed up with Big Green Coach once again to offer hassle-free and sustainable travel options directly to the festival. 

Your carbon neutral coach will arrive at the gates before the music starts and leave after the headliners. You won't need to worry about being the designated driver, leaving early to catch the last train or forking out on expensive hotels. 

Pick up locations: Birkenhead, Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester, Southport and Stockport. 

Secure your seat from just £33 with the UK's largest events travel company here.

Lytham Festival Park and Ride is located on the South Promenade Green, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1NP.

The Park and Ride is located approx. a 8-10 minute drive from the festival. 

The Park and Ride will open at 2pm with the first bus leaving to the festival at 3pm.

You must pre-purchase park and ride tickets in advance to be guaranteed availability.

Park and Ride Car Park open from 3pm. 

First shuttle bus at 3.30pm. 

Service will resume at 21:30 with the last bus at 00:30

To purchase a Park and Ride ticket (per car) please click here. 

What 3 Words Location:  https://w3w.co/commutes.glides.everyone

 

Blackpool Festival Flyer

Lytham Festival are working in partnership with Blackpool Transport to deliver the ‘Blackpool Festival Flyer’.

Purchase a ‘Blackpool Festival Flyer’ ticket and you will be able to access any Blackpool Transport route into Lytham Town Centre. 

Pick Up and Return Locations: Blackpool, St Annes, Ansdell, Fairhaven.

On leaving the festival, your ticket will be valid from the Lytham Festival transport hub located on West Beach. 

Bus services will begin at 21:30 dropping off at the below route.

You must pre-purchase your Blackpool Festival Flyer in advance to be guaranteed availability.

To purchase, please click here.

 

Preston Festival Flyer

Lytham Festival are working in partnership with Preston Busses to deliver the ‘Preston Festival Flyer’.

Pick up and drop offs will be on a dedicated service for the Festival. 

There are two Preston route options which are below:

-        Preston Flyer Kirkham Route: Preston, Kirkham, Ribby Hall, Lytham Festival

-        Preston Flyer Warton Route: Preston, Freckleton, Warton, Lytham Festival

A full timetable will be released in due course.

You must pre-purchase your Preston Festival Flyer in advance to be guaranteed availability.

To purchase, please click here