Photo Credit: Cuffe & Taylor
Words: Tom Sunderland
Pet Shop Boys brought their Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live tour to Lytham Green on Saturday night, delivering a spectacular headline performance that perfectly suited the unique atmosphere of Lytham Festival. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Lancashire coastline, the open-air venue once again proved why it has become one of the country’s most distinctive festival locations.
The day itself was a classic British summer affair. Sunshine, rain showers, grey clouds and strong coastal winds all took turns throughout the afternoon, leaving festivalgoers constantly reaching for sunglasses one moment and waterproofs the next. By the time Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe took to the stage, however, the weather had settled enough to allow thousands of fans to fully immerse themselves in a celebration of four decades of synth-pop brilliance.
Lytham Green was packed from early evening, yet the event remained impressively well organised. Despite the huge crowd, bar queues moved quickly and service was remarkably efficient, ensuring nobody spent long away from the music. The spacious layout of the arena also helped maintain a comfortable atmosphere, even as attendance swelled ahead of the headline set.
One of the most charming aspects of any Lytham Festival show is the way the event extends beyond the arena itself. Throughout the evening, residents watched from balconies overlooking the site, enjoying an elevated view of the stage and light show. Outside the festival walls, families gathered along surrounding streets and green spaces, setting up camping chairs and picnic blankets to listen from afar. Children played while parents relaxed and sang along to familiar hits drifting across the town. It created a sense that the concert belonged not just to ticket holders, but to the entire community.
The Pet Shop Boys wasted little time launching into a hit-filled set, opening with “Suburbia” before moving through fan favourites including “Can You Forgive Her?”, “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)”, “Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)” and the timeless “Rent”. The Dreamworld production remains one of the most visually impressive touring shows around, combining striking video screens, theatrical staging and dramatic lighting effects with the duo’s unmistakable catalogue.
As the evening progressed, classics such as “Left to My Own Devices”, “Domino Dancing”, “New York City Boy”, “The Pop Kids” and “It’s a Sin” kept the audience dancing from start to finish. Newer tracks including “Dancing Star” and “A New Bohemia” blended seamlessly with the older material, demonstrating the depth of the band’s songwriting across multiple
generations.
The emotional peak arrived during the encore, with “West End Girls” and the beautiful “Being Boring” bringing thousands of voices together beneath the evening sky. It was a fitting conclusion to a performance that celebrated not only one of Britain’s most successful musical partnerships, but also the unique community spirit that makes Lytham Festival so special. Long after the final notes faded, music could still be heard echoing around the town as fans, balcony spectators and families in camping chairs shared an unforgettable summer night.
Taped Magazine 