Newport’s Nineties and Noughties Christmas: Meet Your Headliners

Official photo of the 2025 Christmas lights switch on in Newport

Newport city centre is about to get a retro Christmas kick-off...

and we can finally tell you who’s topping the bill. Three artists with more than 25 million worldwide record sales between them are headlining Countdown to Christmas on Saturday 14 November, with a Nineties and Noughties music theme. They are Bradley McIntosh from S Club 7, Amelle Berrabah from Sugababes and chart toppers Liberty X.

Meet the headliners

Bradley McIntosh is best known as a member of S Club 7, who were rarely out of the charts in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They had their own TV show, four number one singles, 11 top ten singles and more than 14 million albums sold worldwide, and won two Brit Awards before splitting in 2003. The band reformed in 2015 for the sell-out “Bring It All Back” arena tour, and Bradley has kept performing at festivals and as a solo artist.

Amelle Berrabah joined Sugababes in 2005. During her time the group sold more than 12 million albums, with 26 top ten hits and two number one singles. She is the only Sugababes member to have a number one outside the band, with “Never Leave You” with Tinchy Stryder, the biggest selling single of 2009. She has since starred in the touring musical Club Tropicana and has a nightly show on DAB station MKFM.

Liberty X currently features Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young. Formed in 2001 by finalists from Popstars, they had eight top ten singles, three albums and more than three million records sold worldwide. Their 2002 number one, “Just A Little”, won an Ivor Novello award and Best British Single at the Brit Awards. They will also help Mayor Councillor Deb Harvey switch on the lights.

Who’s opening

Our own main stage opens the afternoon with three rising stars of Welsh music: Ernie Emmanuel, Emma Mac and Cally Rhodes, with the Newport City Radio team hosting.

What else is on

Fairground rides in Commercial Street and along the riverfront
Face painters in Kingsway and Friars Walk
Costume characters in the streets around the stage
Main stage at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street, 2pm to 5.30pm
The Christmas lights switch-on at 5.15pm, then a breathtaking laser light show at 5.30pm in John Frost Square, produced in partnership with the Principality Building Society
Two hours of free parking in all council-owned city centre car parks, every day until January

Organised by Newport Now BID in partnership with Newport City Council, Newport City Radio and the Principality Building Society.

Keep listening to Newport City Radio for more.