Northwich returns this year with their Annual Diversion Festival, an honorary nod to the grassroots scene with a few big hitters to spice things up. Only this year they’ve gone a bit hippy and weird on us. The Salty Dog all rounder Dom gives us the lowdown…
ANNUAL DIVERSION ***12th, 13th, 14th JUNE 2026***
!! WE’RE BACK !!
After taking a year off (we’ve been blinkin’ busy alright?!) we’re back at it with another ANNUAL DIVERSION!!
This year we’ve gone all hippie and put the whole thing together as ONE MASSIVE COLLABORATION by: Rare Vitamin Records, The Salty Dog, The Doghouse, Max Mutant, Hard Copy Studio, Kicked In The Teeth, Hazels Maze, Gas Kunst, Cold Comfort AND Half Beard, Half Poet – so there’s bound to be something you’ll like!
The whole thing will be hosted in and around The Salty Dog – be it on the main stage, in the garden or upstairs in the record shop.
So without further ado, here’s the FIRST WAVE!!
Friday Evening from 6pm on the Salty Dog stage **CURATED BY MAX MUTANT**
A hip-hop takeover hosted by Motor Mouf. Max hasn’t told us his full lineup yet but it’s bound to be a banger – what we do know is there will be freestyle cyphers and jams throughout!
Saturday 12pm till 3pm on the Salty Dog stage **CURATED BY HALF BEARD, HALF POET**
If you believe the rumours, your host Half Beard Half Poet is in fact a sentient beard wearing a human as a disguise. Born in 1900’s Manchester he now proudly represents Northwich where he runs writing groups and poetry events, even opening the world famous Pina Colada Festival in 2025 with a poem Rupert Holmes described as “pure gold”. He’s going to be bringing us an afternoon of “Wichcraft & Wordery” with performances from Kieren King, Rose Condo, Thick Richard, Lousie Fazackerley and The Bowling Green Writing Group.
Saturday 3pm till 6pm in The Doghouse **CURATED BY HAZELS MAZE**
Hazels Maze will be bringing the stripped back psychedelia to The Doghouse with a very special, and very rare drone, psych, noise set from Dave and Harry of Hazels Maze – alongside stripped back sets from Jimmy Dammage, Half Court and Dick Cable!
Saturday 6pm till 11pm on the Salty Dog stage **CURATED BY KICKED IN THE TEETH**
Rare Vitamin OG’s and Northwich’s most revered Hardcore Punk band Kicked In The Teeth have put together an evening of more punk than you can shake a stick at, with some really BIG hitters. They’ve got 3-chord Thrash Punk, Pizza Tramp all the way from South Wales. They’ve got West Midlands Hardcore Punks, Grail Guard. They’ve got themselves. AND RUMOUR HAS IT they might even have another band joining the line up.
Sunday 12pm till 2pm in the Tiki Garden **CURATED BY COLD COMFORT**
One man tour de force COLD COMFORT is a relatively new Salty Dog, Rare Vitamin and Northwich favourite. He’s going to be kicking off Sunday with a Cold Comfort and friend’s DJ set in the Tiki Garden followed by a live performance. If you’ve not caught a Cold Comfort gig yet, now’s yer chance!
Sunday 2pm till 6pm **CURATED BY GAS KUNST**
So far those pesky Kunsts are playing their cards pretty close to their chests – who know’s what they’ve got lined up. Judging by their immaculate tastes it’s going to be a real special lineup. Expect spaced out Post Garage Psych Punk jams.
So there you have it, that’s your lot…FOR NOW!!
Any shows before 6pm are ALL AGES (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief
