Yesterday, Canadian pop-rock sensation Avril Lavigne took to the stage at Bedford Park, delivering a show-stopping performance that left the crowd in awe. The sun-kissed event, presented by TK Maxx, was a day to remember, with UK chart-toppers The Lottery Winners and US alt-pop starlet Phem getting the party started.
Phem, a rising star in the making, set the tone for the day with her high-energy set, performing hits like “American Beauty” and “STFU” from her 2021 album. The feisty singer-songwriter regaled the crowd with stories from her time touring with Avril Lavigne last year, getting the audience pumped up for the main event.
Next up were Greater Manchester’s finest, The Lottery Winners, who were visibly thrilled to be sharing the stage with Avril Lavigne. The band were particularly impressed by the event’s real-time BSL interpreter, and their excitement was palpable as they launched into their set. With a heartfelt intro from vocalist Thomas Rylance, the crowd was soon singing along to their special cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
But the pièce de résistance was Avril Lavigne’s highly-anticipated set. The pop-rock icon emerged atop a pink speaker stack, resplendent in a custom bedazzled leather jacket, and launched into a hit-packed setlist that included “Girlfriend”, “Complicated”, “Bite Me”, and crowd favorite “Sk8er Boi”. The highlight of the set came when Avril invited lucky audience members onstage to join her for a blistering cover of Blink-182’s “All The Small Things”. The crowd went wild, and Avril finished her set in style with a heartfelt ballad, “I’m With You”.
It was a truly unforgettable day of music at Bedford Summer Sessions, and Avril Lavigne proved why she remains one of the most beloved and enduring pop-rock stars of our time.
