Liberty X headline third night of Bolton Food and Drink Festival

Taking advantage of today’s bank holiday, crowds once again filled Le Mans Crescent for the third evening of the annual festival.

It was touch and go around 7pm, when the heavens opened, together with lightning and thunder.

The music on the main stage had to be shut down for a while, only to return shortly after to cheers from the crowd, many of whom were under umbrellas and ponchos.

Liberty X backstage at Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026 (Image: Bolton News)

Ahead of their performance, Liberty X told the Bolton News that they were “very excited” about the show.

Kelli Young added: “We’re gutted we weren’t here earlier for all the food, I have to say — very envious. We’ve been given some bits and bobs to try, so that’s exciting.”

Commenting on what it means to be performing 25 years on from their Popstars breakthrough, Michelle Heaton said: “I think it’s a combination of being really flattered to have people still coming out to see us, and also feeling really old.

“When we look out at the crowd now, especially I’ve noticed the last few months when we’ve been doing gigs, is that they really are reciprocating all the song lyrics and the music and the dance routines.

“And I don’t think it’s just people our age — it’s the younger generation as well. So they’ve introduced them to our music, and that’s amazing.”

Liberty X at Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026 (Image: Bolton News)

It was particularly special for Jessica Taylor to be performing in Bolton.

She said: “It’s amazing to be here on the 21st anniversary. We’re so chuffed.

“My mum is actually Bolton born and bred, so it’s nice for me to be here and do a show she’s come to watch. It’s lovely.

“Our message to the people of Bolton generally: thank you for your support for the last 25 years. The fact that we’re still able to come here and do shows like this is a treat.”

Liberty X hit the stage at 9.15pm, playing a selection of their biggest hits from the early 2000s – an era which seems like yesterday to some of the audience members, who were singing along word-by-word.

While food and drink is the main focus of the annual four-day festival, the event also offers a cracking line-up of entertainment, with live music across two stages and other activities throughout the weekend.

The previous night’s headliners, 70s soul icons The Real Thing, went down a storm, with people dancing in every corner of Le Mans Crescent.

Other highlights from the weekend have included the impressive line-up of top chefs, including James Martin and Marco Pierre White.

Elsewhere, the festival featured hundreds of independent food and drink traders, selling everything from pasties to paella.

Liberty X formed in 2001, after losing out to Hearsay members on the reality TV singing contest Popstars.

Throughout the early 2000s, the band had a number of hit singles, including ‘Just A Little’, which reached the top of the UK charts in 2002 and won the BRIT Award for Best British Single.

Liberty X transported crowds back to the noughties with their set (Image: Bolton News)

Having first started out as a five-piece band, Liberty X now consists of three original members Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young.

The trio reformed Liberty X in 2017 and have been playing events and festivals all over the country ever since.

The final day of Bolton Food and Drink Festival is Monday, August 31.