What's On
Festival in a garden centre with five stages of live music coming to Manchester
Afterparties for each date will be held at YES Pink Room and Basement
A day festival featuring live music across five different stages is coming to a community garden centre in Manchester this summer.
Green Island Festival has revealed the second wave of its 2024 line-up which will take place across June 15th, July 27th and September 7th, at Hulme Community Garden Centre.
The grassroots festival is set to present five stages across the garden centre, NIAMOS and Warwick Street. Guests can expect to hear many musical flavours as Green Island brings global sounds to the forefront.
Artists by way of Senegal, Brazil, Morocco, the Caribbean will be gracing the stages in addition to many local talents – bands, vocalists, DJs and takeovers by local legends.
Main Stage
Heading to the Main Stage this June – located in NIAMOS – will be Afriquoi, the five-piece band celebrated for their unique blend of African sounds and live electronics.
It will also play host to sets from Ku’umba, a radical arts collective, binding sounds of funk, blues, afrobeat and hip-hop, 21st century jazz singer Ni Maxine, and Ubunye, the Zulu band bringing pounding rhythms of Africa.
July will see headliners Def MaMa Def take to the Main Stage – two powerful women and rising stars of Senegal’s music scene, fusing contagious rhythms of amapiano, hip-hop and afrobeat.
They will be joined by experimental hip-hop jazz band Jointhedots as well as R&B soul singer Victoria Jane and contemporary jazz artist corto.alto.
September will see singer and multi-instrumentalist David Walters take centre stage, combining influences from his Caribbean heritage with electronic beats and acoustic folk. He’ll be joined by Soul and R&B collective Lovescene and Plant Food with their hard-hitting grooves and energy.
The Bandstand
The Bandstand, a stage built and developed by the Green Island team, now a permanent feature of Hulme Garden Centre, will present a range of takeovers.
The June chapter will be curated by DIY masters and music experimentalists FAT OUT, their line-up includes Fat Clams DJ, Lavender Rodriguez, Queer Icons Karaoke, Meme Gold, Arch Femesis and R.aggs.
Manchester legend Chunky will take the reins in July, bringing a diversity of sounds from amapiano, afro-house, afro-punk, blues-soul to rap to the forefront with Artist Lebo, Chia Kali, DeeD0t, NOT4MANY, Zhay and Troopz taking to the stage.
Rug Dug returns with Ruffy’s Lab in September, bringing on board Tia Cousins, Abigail Ward, Private Joy and a special guest to be announced! Expect, a bit of soul, electronic, afrobeat, RnB, broken-beat, reggae, jazz, synth-pop and post-punk from this mega line-up.
The Marquee Stage
The Marquee Stage will exclusively host the best up-and-coming bands and vocalists. In June, Pedro Fonte & Dada Joaozinho will be bringing a flavour of bossa nova all the way from Brazil.
Alongside them will be Benita & The Groove, neo-soul artist NinaRosa, jazz band Mangorata and flamboyant jazz-punk from Ask My Bull.
July welcomes sultry vocalist Jocelyn Knight backed by the classic soul and R&B band Natural Soul, songstress Hannah Rodriguez, duo Dia Frank, alt-soul indie band Rushbonds and rock-rap band Third Kulture.
And September will see Jamaica’s Calypso George, indie-pop artist Boo Kickz, Life Aquatic Band bringing their blended 70s pop and 2000s electro-clash sound. Plus, six-piece future soul and fusion band Mikoudi, and newly announced Gnawa bringing the spiritual sounds of Morocco to Manchester.
From 12pm – 2:30pm, the Marquee Stage will host family-friendly activities on each date.
Selector Stage
The brand-new Selector Stage – tucked away in a hidden corner of the festival to be discovered with strictly vinyl only, and an elite audiophile sound system for a proper selector experience – will be taken over by B-MUSIC-MULTI-LINGO-DISCO curated by Andy Vottel, with Stan Chow, Helene Gautier, Sean Demdike and Lee Janda.
July will bring Apricot Ballroom x Cosmic Slop, a collision of two Northern audiophile heroes by way of Sheffield and Leeds respectively. And last but not least, Lena C’s Melodic Junction enlists Cheb Mimo, Santa Leticia and Josh FB for the September festival.
The Forest Stage
The Forest Stage, a hidden gem located down the garden path will present some of the best selectors in the scene. June welcomes Una Lee, Nossa!, Supernature Disco, Dr. Jive and Murder He Wrote.
July will see Reno Collective, Tim Knight, Yohan, Levi Love, Urbi and Contours. And in September, there’ll be Rhod Parry, Zuri b2b Spinelli, Jade Li, Atiké and Shimrise.
For hungry and thirsty festivalgoers, a food and drink hub will be created at Warwick Street, which connects the venue and the garden centre.
The area will host local favourites including Midori with their delicious handmade gyoza, kimchi and dips, Tibetan Kitchen serving their fragrant, flavourful curries, stir fries and legendary momos, and plant-based, seasonal goods from Root to Flower.
Afterparties for each date will be hosted at YES, a two-floor takeover of the Pink Room and basement from 11pm till late.
In June, Rinse FM resident Arthi will be delivering a blistering mix of dancehall, baile, funky, dembow and everything in between. Accompanied by a set from Manchester’s very own SHEwillprovide and many more.
July will see Zed Bias commander the Pink Room and a takeover of the basement by Manchester label and party Left Right & Centre, with Korzi, mamba.exe and Nora.
Whilst September will have the ever hypnotic Me Gusta Collective oversee processions.
Cementing itself as an annual staple in Manchester’s grassroots music scene, Green Island is a community gathering with global sounds at the forefront.
The antithesis to festival giants, Green Island offers unrivalled up close and personal performances, and its charm lies in its relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
This year sees the festival double in size as it adds cultural institution NIAMOS to its fabric, creating space for up to 1000 festival-goers. Accessibility still remains at the forefront, with tickets starting from £20.
Tickets for all festival dates and afterparties are on sale, HERE.
What's On
Famous faces to come to life in ‘groundbreaking’ new immersive National Portrait Gallery exhibition
And it opens this week
The National Portrait Gallery is working with FRAMELESS Creative, the UK’s leading creator of immersive experiences, to create Stories – Brought to Life, the first immersive art experience of a UK national collection.
Opening at MediaCity this Friday, May 2nd, and running until Sunday August 31st, the groundbreaking new immersive, cinematic show promises to redefine the gallery experience.
Visitors will step into a world where the sitters’ stories come alive. This unique experience explores the lives behind some of the most iconic faces from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection who have shaped the UK’s history and culture.
It will feature people from royalty and cultural icons to fearless leaders and national heroes, including Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth II, Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grayson Perry, Mary Seacole, William Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Malala Yousafzai.
NPG x131784 Emmeline Pankhurst addressing a crowd in Trafalgar Square by Central Press, October 1908 –
© National Portrait Gallery, London
For its premiere in Manchester, Stories – Brought to Life will be presented in a specially designed 10,000 sq ft state of the art, immersive digital gallery in the heart of MediaCity.
Ryan Atwood, Creative Director for FRAMELESS Creative, said: “Working with a cultural institution like the National Portrait Gallery has been a unique experience, especially having the opportunity to draw upon the deep knowledge and passion of the curatorial team.
“But the magic has also come from studying the sitters and working with the families, estates and the sitters themselves to understand more about the individuals behind the portraits.
“Being able to delve deep into the life stories of the individuals and then bring them to life through the power of emotional, immersive storytelling has been a very special experience and we’re excited to share this with the public when we open in Manchester in May.”
NPG 1 William Shakespeare by John Taylor, circa 1610 – © National Portrait Gallery, London
Rab MacGibbon, Cross-Collections Curator at the National Portrait Gallery, added: “The National Portrait Gallery is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world and hanging on our walls are some of the most remarkable people to have ever lived.
“Working with the team from FRAMELESS, and through exploring new technologies and creative approaches, has allowed us to look at the Collection in a completely new light. We are embarking on a journey of discovery, which we hope will inspire and entertain a new audience.”
The experience will open to the public on May 2nd and run until August 31st at MediaCity, before going on a UK tour (dates to be announced). Grab your tickets HERE.
What's On
Ornella’s Kitchen and more coming to Freight Island as part of huge summer programme
There’s something for everyone…
Freight Island has announced its upcoming spring and summer programme for 2025, and there’s something for everyone.
This includes the arrival of one of the most difficult-to-book restaurants in Manchester, coming to the city centre for the first time.
Denton-based Ornella’s Kitchen will be joining three other new food and drink vendors at Freight, alongside their already comprehensive dining offering.
Freight Island
Ornella’s Little Kitchen will be the Italian spot’s second location, and will be music to the ears of fans, as the original venue is often booked up for months in advance.
Other new additions include authentic ‘shaokao’ Chinese barbecue from MOREJOY, delicious bakes from Gooey, and Hello Dezato, a new offering from Hello Oriental dishing up soft serve ice creams and desserts.
They’ll be joining established Freight Island vendors like Patterson’s, Mia’s Arepas, Burgerism and Voodoo Ray’s pizza.
Freight Island
And if that’s not enough, the ever-popular Kantina supper club series will be returning soon with yet-to-be-announced guest chefs and traders.
Jamie from Ornella’s Kitchen said of the move: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Ornella’s Little Kitchen to Freight Island and be part of such a dynamic food and entertainment space.
“Our pasta-deli specials have found a loyal following in Manchester, and we can’t wait to share our authentic Italian flavours in this new setting.”
Freight Island
You’ll also find a wealth of world-class DJs over spring and summer, including the likes of David Rodigan, DJ Paulette, Congo Natty, A Love From Outer Space, UK garage icon Wookie, Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura, Rich Reason’s Ghosts of Garage, and Huey Morgan.
The Sports Bar will host official takeovers and celebrations across major tournaments, including the UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 and the Woman’s Rugby World Cup, as well as Premier League fixtures, Champions League, Formula 1 and more.
Freight Island
Dan Morris, managing director at Freight Island, said: “Freight Island was always imagined as a place for innovation and pushing boundaries and this year’s update is about taking us closer to that original vision.
“With the incredible new food, a refreshed dining experience and our biggest Spring/Summer festival line-up yet, we’re set for an unforgettable season.”
Freight Island is re-opening on Thursday April 3rd. Get yourself booked in HERE.
What's On
Manchester to transform into HUGE interactive playzone for free family festival this February half term
Manchester will be transformed this half term
Manchester is launching The Super Duper Family Festival in February, a new free un-ticketed family event spread over four days.
There’ll be various activities that will transform the city into a giant, interactive playground from Saturday February 15th to Tuesday February 18th 2025.
Families can explore unique play zones scattered across Manchester, with everything from giant mazes and steam-powered carousels to retro video games and family raves.
The family festival will feature six key zones across the city, including The Garden in Exchange Square, featuring an 18m x 18m real hedge maze reaching two metres high.
Then there’s The Carnival in St Ann’s Square, a steampunk spectacle of old-school carnival games, including a traditional Victorian Carousel, a mind-bending Hall of Mirrors, and Test of Strength stand.
Other zones include The Playground with Waterloo Road, where popular schoolyard games come to life on New Cathedral Street in collaboration with BBC’s Waterloo Road, gaming at The Arcade in the Printworks, The Sports Hall at Great Northern Warehouse, and The Party at Aviva Studios.
Then there’s The Rave, bringing family raves and parties featuring a world-class sound system and dazzling lighting displays to the Great Northern Warehouse.
Venues like the National Football Museum, Stoller Hall, People’s History Museum and Castlefield Viaduct are also set to host their own exciting activities.
And families can experience the launch of CBBC’s Operation Ouch: Brains, Bogeys and You at the Science and Industry Museum.
Supported by the city’s hoteliers, Manchester Accommodation BID, the festival has been created in partnership with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, Aviva Studio, Great Northern Warehouse and Printworks.
Manchester Accommodation BID Chairman, Kumar Mishra said, “This festival is a fantastic opportunity to draw families into the heart of Manchester, showcasing the city’s vibrant culture, creativity, and its status as a world-class destination.
“With iconic attractions like the National Football Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, and the breathtaking Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester offers an unparalleled mix of history, innovation, and entertainment.
“By transforming the city into a playground of creative experiences and offering free fun for children of all ages, we’re not only celebrating the best of Manchester, but also inspiring families to explore, stay, and create lasting memories in one of the UK’s most dynamic and exciting cities.”
The festival is a free un-ticketed event, find out more HERE.
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Famous faces to come to life in ‘groundbreaking’ new immersive National Portrait Gallery exhibition
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Ornella’s Kitchen and more coming to Freight Island as part of huge summer programme
Manchester to transform into HUGE interactive playzone for free family festival this February half term
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