IN a year that has seen them score a Number 3 debut album, play their biggest shows to date, and win a Breakthrough music award, it seems fitting that the K's are coming back to where it all began.

After the infectious debut single 'Sarajevo' grabbed the attention of local musos and staked a claim as the new ones-to-watch, The K's have been on a steady rise to the top since forming in 2017.

Following the release of debut album 'I Wonder If The World Knows?' in April, this rise launched into an exponential leap as the Earlestown four-piece battled for chart positions with Beyonce and The Libertines.

And as the band has gone on to play to bigger crowds, bigger venues, and bigger festival stages, they have never forgotten where they came from - and did "everything they could" to be able to play at this weekend's Newton Music Festival.

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The K's with the former mayor of St Helens at their Church Square pop-up shopThe K's with the former mayor of St Helens at their Church Square pop-up shop (Image: The K's)
Taking place at Mesnes Park on Saturday, August 3, Newton Music Festival is a reincarnation of an event that last took place more than 20 years ago.

With vague memories of family trips to the festival, lead singer Jamie Boyle and guitarist Ryan Breslin said it feels like a "full circle" moment as they are returning as the headline act more than two decades later.

At a time when the band has consistently hit new heights, this idea of a 'full circle moment’ feels profound; not only because the K's are coming back as hometown heroes, but because their heart-on-sleeve lyrics frequently reference - either directly or indirectly - these places where they grew up.

'Landmines', for example, speaks about the park where they will now head out as headliners, while 'Hometown' and 'No Place Like Home' chronicle the characters and experiences of growing up and going out.

The band after a performance at the Isle of Wight FestivalThe band after a performance at the Isle of Wight Festival (Image: The K's)
With the festival coming at the end of a busy schedule - with the band set to play in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Kendal Calling over consecutive days - Jamie said that the Newton show will be the "icing on the cake".

Jamie said: "From Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Kendal Calling, headlining this festival feels like the perfect end to an amazing week, it's the icing on the cake.

"It's going to be surreal because we never play shows where we know loads of people, and now we're going to play this gig full of people that we know.

"I've seen people talking about coming who I haven't seen since primary school, it's mad!".

The K's have been playing to bigger crowds since their debut album releaseThe K's have been playing to bigger crowds since their debut album release (Image: The K's)
Noting the success that the band has enjoyed this year, as well as the early gigs they played along Newton's High Street, the Cricket Club, and the Sunbeam Hotel, Ryan said that the festival's headline slot feels like a "celebration of everything that they have achieved so far".

”It will a bit of a thank to everyone who has supported us, and a big party afterwards!”, he added

With a few festival performances and support slots with Jamie Webster planned for the rest of the year, the musicians were coy about their next moves, but promised it will be "bigger and better" than all they have achieved so far.

With limited tickets remaining for Newton Music Festival, you can buy tickets online here.