Free music festival celebrating Lemmy heading to a Stoke-on-Trent town
By Liana Snape 3rd Apr 2026
A free music festival in celebration of Motörhead frontman, Lemmy Kilmister is heading to a Stoke-on-Trent town this May.
IFK Legacy CIC, the team behind the Lemmy statue, are now organising the Burslem Urban Rock Festival which will take place in Market Place – also referred to as Lemmy Plaza – on 23 May.
The headline act, Motörheadache, a tribute band recommended by Motörhead Official, will be joined on stage by original drummer and Motörhead founding member, Lucas Fox.
Director of IFK Legacy Andy Edwards, said: "The statue is like a flag in the ground – something concrete – but the legacy project is ongoing. It's a living tribute to Lemmy.
"Ultimately the plan is to try and grow new Lemmies and give people opportunities to get into music, whether that is as a spectator or as a participant."
IFK Legacy hopes that the festival will offer a boost to grassroots music in the city, something inspired by Lemmy himself, who was born Ian Fraser Kilmister in Burslem.
Almost all of the bands performing at the festival are from Stoke-on-Trent including Bang Bang Firecracker, Mercury and Wolves in Alcatraz.
Bang Bang Firecracker, the main support act to Motorheadache, are a three-piece band who formed in Stoke-on-Trent in 2018 and have since released two studio albums and toured the UK and Europe.
Kieron Berry of the band said: "It's fantastic to be invited to play in Burslem square in tribute to Lemmy and Motorhead again this year. We had such an amazing show last year and we're confident that this year will be even bigger!
"The IFK and Motorhead Management have really pulled out the stops this year inviting a whole host of original bands to play throughout the day."
He added: "Expect a blistering performance of loud and unapologetic Very Heavy Rock n' Roll. We'll also be raising glasses in tribute to Lemmy and former members of Motorhead including guitarist Phil Campbell who recently passed away."

Additionally, there will be live music in venues across the town over the weekend (22 to 24 May) including Grumpy's, The Old Post Office and Hog Noggins.
Andy Edwards explained that this is part of a push to attract visitors to Burslem and support local businesses.
He said: "It's unique that for a festival you're in an urban environment rather than a muddy field. You've got all the facilities you'd expect whether it's a curry house, a burger bar or a pizza place.
"So I hope that people who are travelling will start to feel at home and feel like it's worth hanging around."
The MC for the day will be Krusher Joule, well known rock raconteur and album cover designer.
He will also host the Krushanory event, which is available to book online for £10, during which he will discuss the time he spent with Lemmy, Ozzy as well as his TV show and album designs.
Tracks Memorabilia will also be hosting a Rock Memorabilia 'Antiques Roadshow' to give visitors an opportunity to have their prized rock memorabilia appraised for free.
IFK Legacy has also announced that free parking will be provided by Port Vale FC at Car Park C and Hilton Garden Inn are supporting the event with a discounted rate for people staying overnight.
The Lemmy visitor centre, another project by IFK Legacy, is set to open ahead of the event.
Andy added: "Burslem has rightly earned its reputation as somewhere that you can very pleasantly spend the night and go from pub to pub or bar or restaurant.
"I hope that as time goes on, what we do will inspire other people to use the same space and put their own events on.
"My dream is that there's something going on every weekend."
To find out more about IFK Legacy or the Burslem Urban Rock Festival, visit the website here.
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