Creative agency Big People Music is putting on a special weekend of music for the ‘Music That Makes You’ festival in the city. And best of all, it’s totally free!
Known for producing top quality artists, Big People Music has curated an unbelievable lineup of the freshest hip hop, neo-soul, R&B and electronic musicians putting local music on the map over the last couple of years.
St Ann’s Square and HOME’s sister venue Homeground have been chosen to host a stage each. Both venues will be fully outdoors, creating the perfect setting for some festival feels right here in the city centre.
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Since opening its doors at the end of May, the new Homeground – situated on First Street – has been providing Mancunians with a brand-new means of enjoying live music, DJs, comedy and theatre with a weekly programme of entertainment to get stuck into.
On Saturday, you’ll find the silky soulful sounds of KinKai and LayFullstop, plus DJ Jomo, Children of Zeus’ tour DJ Gyalex, Maniaco17 and producer glue70 playing here as part of the Music That Makes You festival.
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Meanwhile, Sunday will see some powerful performances from The KTNA twins, and Ceeow, alongside Be!ng Rasheed, Meme Gold and Sham Steele.
Homeground has been running a massive summer programme of live music, DJs and theatre / Image: Homeground
If you’re over in St. Ann’s Sq, you can expect the same good music vibe. There’ll be appearances from DJ Gardener, Drew, Jali, Retroneek, Slowpo, Subzero & Pyper on Saturday.
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And then on Sunday, they’ll have EvaBee, Me Gusta, Lobé and Nxdia.
It all kicks off from 12pm at both stages on both days, before finishing at 7pm on Saturday. On Sunday, things will wind down at a slightly earlier time of 5pm.
Although all the events are free, capacity is limited. So, head down early to make sure you secure a space.
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Tunde Adekoya, Director of Big People Music, said: “This event is for those who rate quality, have a passion, and feel what they do.
“Especially those who understand that art can make you; performing can make you; literature can make you; and music can make you feel.”
Big People Music is well versed in putting together these open-air occasions. Last month, the agency hosted a series of live performances as part of Manchester International Festival’s finale at Cathedral Gardens on July 18. Manchester artists Misha B and Abnormal Sleepz both performed alongside the Big People Music Orchestra to see out the epic 18-day festival.
For more details on Music That Makes You head to Big People Music’s Instagram page, and for all this music in Manchester, follow The Manc Audio.
Feature image: Big People Music / KinKai
Music
Thousands of FREE tickets to The Big Night of Musicals at AO Arena have been released
Thomas Melia
There are thousands of free tickets up for grabs to attend ‘The Big Night of Musicals’ in Manchester next year which features a variety of theatre classics.
The curtain has risen once again as returning favourite, The Big Night of Musicals, is coming to AO Arena for a fourth year.
Hosted once again by the one and only Jason Manford, this event contains segments from some of the world’s greatest theatre productions.
Fronted by The National Lottery, this showcase is a thank you to all players whose money has supported more than 20,000 theatre-related projects totalling £1.3 billion.
These funds have been used on many performing arts resources including restoring theatres and enabling hundreds of musical-related projects to commence.
This isn’t something to be missed out on as the bill is shaping up to be one of the event’s biggest to date featuring stars from the West End and some of the most notorious shows.
Attendees can expect to hear some familiar favourites in the likes of Bat Out of Hell, Here & Now: The Steps Musical, Mean Girls and more.
There’s even an exclusive preview of the upcoming theatre adaptation of a Disney superhero as snippets from ‘Hercules’ will be performed live.
Guests even have a chance to be in the same room as musical theatre legend Carrie Hope Fletcher as she takes on the role of Calamity Jane in the theatre show of the same name.
Dear Evan Hansen is also on the bill and if you aren’t free for the musical ensemble, it’s running at Palace Theatre Manchester from 18-22 February next year and tickets are available right now.
This event has a super varied lineup too, from throwback pop bangers to Wild West heroines, this night really caters to everyone.
In true musical style, there will be big, bold performances and, of course, lots of excellent surprises all set to make a fantastic night of live music at the AO Arena.
All National Lottery players have the chance to reserve up to four tickets, the only cost is proof they’ve purchased a product from the National Lottery and a £2 booking fee per ticket.
Tickets for the ‘Big Night of Musicals’ on 25 January are already on sale you can try your luck at grabbing some free seats HERE.
The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for New Year’s Eve
Thomas Melia
One of the UK’s most popular new club events and pioneering ‘day rave’ is returning to Manchester this New Year’s, featuring founders Jon and Vicky McClure, as well as some very special guests.
The Line of Duty star and Reverend and the Makers frontman started the parent-friendly event back in January of this year as an alternative day out for those looking to have a party and still manage an early bedtime. Since then it’s gone on to become a real phenomenon and is only getting bigger.
With Vicky swapping UK dramas and crime thrillers for the discotheque and ‘Big Jon’ switching lanes from his usual rock, indie and alternative roots to favour timeless dance tracks to still get people up on their feet, Day Fever has gone down a storm all over the country.
With their first year coming towards a close, they now look set for arguably their biggest day rave to date as Day Fever will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve for their final hurrah of 2024 right here in Manchester city centre – and no, you don’t need to be able to stay up until midnight.
The two McClures – unrelated, by the way, they just share a name and a fantastic taste in music – and the rest of their crew will be partying between 3-8pm for a much more tame and friendlier night (day) out, commanding the decks alongside some other special guests.
Not only does this alternative way to party promise a more responsible curfew, meaning clubbers don’t have to worry about missing the last train home but it’s also geared towards over 30s whilst still being super inclusive.
This day-time clubbing event is designed to reminisce on the old days and all those dance-filled memories of evenings spent out on the tiles, just minus the late-night finish – and hopefully the hangover but that’s down to you really, isn’t it?
In their words: ‘There’s no dress code, no egos—just pure positivity’; there’s nothing we love to hear more than the sweet relief of not having to get dolled up for a big night when we just can’t be bothered.
With New Century Hall hosting the Day Fever once again for their first-ever NYE party here in Manchester, along with two other events being held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Birmingham, you can get all your partying done way with plenty of time to get cosy in bed before the calendar turns over.
Just in time to watch Jools Holland’s famous Annual Hootenanny, as they put it.
Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin CompstonVicky McClure leading the dance routines
This is guaranteed to be an evening to remember for everyone in attendance, especially when you’re joined by stars of stage and screen who will be powering you through with some proper dance bangers as they have done all year long.
The New Year’s Eve party isn’t just the last dance of the year either, it’s also effectively the prequel to next year’s raft of shows as Day Fever has already announced more than a dozen big dates in January and February.
This batch of 2025 dates sees the gang taking on lots of other cities, including North West neighbours Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull over in Yorkshire, two Newcastle shows and plenty more.
So, if you’re feeling those clubbing blues, that pesky seasonal affective disorder or just still not booked up for NYE 2024, why not make the most of this day-time opportunity?
Tickets for both the New Year’s Eve and the rest of their 2025 events are available on the official Day Fever website HERE.
Oh yeah, and help get Rev to Christmas number one – it’s for a good cause and they deserve it!
Hannah Starkie -
12th August 2021 
