Moovin Festival has released its line-up for its 2023 festival, back in the fields of Whitebottom Farm.
The boutique festival is set to take over the beautiful countryside in Etherow Country Park once again this August bank holiday weekend, with a line-up of returning favourites and some hotly-tipped newcomers.
Widely considered one of the region’s best music events, Moovin has gone from being ‘Manchester’s best kept secret’ to a staple in the calendar every year.
This year’s line-up includes headline performances from Laurent Garnier, house music mainstay Toddy Terry, plus local legend Mr Scruff.
The bill also includes Mungo’s HiFi feat Eva Lazarus, David Holmes, Massive Attack’s Daddy G performing a DJ set, Craig Charles, plus hip hop royalty Big Daddy Kane, Goldie live with his orchestra, Sister Nancy, Chali 2Una from Jurassic5, Children of Zeus, Gilles Peterson, Stanton Warriors, Plump DJs, Jaguar Skills, Krafty Kuts, Freestylers, DJ Paulette, Graeme Park and many more.
ADVERTISEMENT
Moovin Festival is famed for its bespoke and friendly atmosphere, and for its stunning setting in the Stockport countryside, just a stone’s throw from both Manchester and Sheffield.
The site is transformed into an ‘adult playground’ with world-class sound systems across several stages, including the Barn Stage – a large open-sided cow shed where festival-goers can relax on actual bales of hay.
ADVERTISEMENT
Moovin Festival 2023. Credit: SuppliedMoovin Festival 2023. Credit: Supplied
Moovin also brings an ethically-sourced food and cocktail offering to the site, plus yoga classes, live performers including magic and circus, and plenty more surprises along the way.
This will be the first year that techno pioneer Laurent Garnier plays the festival, with an extended set that will celebrate his 30-year career DJing at major clubs and festivals across the globe.
There’ll be a strong drum and bass presence too, with Metalheadz founder and scene pioneer Goldie playing a special show with a full live orchestra.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Moovin Festival line-up. Credit: Supplied
Moovin said on announcing its line-up: “One of the best mic men in the game in Manchester’s DRS will also be on stage to drop his deeply profound bars with a full band in support. He has been on records with all the greats such as Calibre, Marcus Intalex, Lynx, LTJ Bukem, Icicle and LSB so do not miss.
“Hip hop legend Big Daddy Kane is one of the most requested and talked about acts to perform on the Barn Stage so makes a welcome return to do it all again this year. Other hip hop royalty to play include Chali 2Una from the iconic US outfit Jurassic5, plus local heroes and new school innovators Children of Zeus.
“Funk fans will be glad to hear that 6 Music tastemaker Craig Charles is back again this year, while anything goes when Mr Scruff digs deep into his vast collection. Expect on point world music, jazz and broken beat from the one and only Gilles Peterson, while Massive Attack’s Daddy G also drops plenty of beat-based knowledge and the hugely influential New Yorker Todd Terry serves up one of his house masterclasses.
“Then there is the unequalled David Holmes who is famed for his left of centre mix of trip hop, big beat, electronic and rock, plus breakout Manchester star Anthony Szmierek who is a firm 6 Music favourite and introspective poet /hip-hop talent is certainly a name to watch out for plus the turn of Mungo’s HiFi with Eva Lazarus and the one and only Jamaican dancehall DJ and singer Sister Nancy.
“Breaks are well represented by pioneers Stanton Warriors, Plump DJs, Jaguar Skills, Krafty Kuts and Freestylers, and old school house comes from Hacienda Graeme Park while DJ Paulette, who also played the famous club and recently got a lifetime achievement award from DJ Mag, also lines-ups for an irresistible day of music.”
Gig tickets, signed merch and more up for grabs in important Headstock charity fundraiser
Daisy Jackson
Some huge music-related prizes have been announced as part of a major charity fundraising campaign for the music industry.
Headstock, a Manchester-based music and mental health social enterprise, is running a Crowdfunder campaign with prizes including tickets to huge arena shows, signed merch, and loads more.
Headstock has announced the campaign to raise funds for the support of MUSIC 85258, a 24/7 confidential text support service launched last year to support those working in the music industry.
The text support service is run in partnership with Music Minds Matter and delivered by Shout.
Headstock’s mission since its inception has been to deliver music-led solutions to tackle the growing mental health crisis, both within the music industry and beyond.
The dedicated mental health text support service has already drummed up loads of support, including being signposted back-of-house in key venues like the AO Arena, Co-op Live, and Warehouse Project.
Now, Headstock is running a fundraiser campaign to keep this vital service thriving, pulling together some major prizes across multiple prize draws.
These prizes have been donated by local Manchester bands and venues, and include VIP Parklife tickets, VIP to shows at the AO Arena and Co-op Live, season passes for WHP, and signed merch from the likes of Elbow, Courteeners and New Order.
To enter each prize draw, make a donation to the Crowdfunder – the bigger your donation, the more entries you will receive.
You can see all the prizes up for grabs and make a donation below – or you can just donate to Headstock HERE.
All the prizes in the Headstock fundraiser
Aitch – A pair of tickets to see Aitch’s headline show at Mayfield Depot + 4x signed albums – HERE
Parklife – 2x pairs of VIP tickets to Parklife 2026 – HERE
All money raised will be donated to mental health charity, Shout, who deliver MUSIC 85258 – a free, confidential and 24/7 text support service for anyone working within the music industry.
MUSIC 85258 is a de-escalation service for anyone working in the music industry who is struggling with their mental health. It is a partnership between Headstock, Music Minds Matter and Shout, with Mental Health Innovations providing the underlying service through Shout’s network of trained volunteers. To use the service, anyone that is struggling simply needs to text the word “MUSIC” to 85258 to connect with a volunteer for in-the-moment support.
Richard Ashcroft announces all-North West lineup of support acts for Alexandra Palace headliner
Danny Jones
Wigan’s finest, Richard Ashcroft, has announced an all-North-Western lineup for his upcoming headline show at ‘Ally Pally’.
The former Verve frontman is not only riding a fresh wave of popularity thanks to supporting Oasis on their incredible Live ’25 world tour, but also recently released his long-awaited new album, Lovin’ You.
Not just a Manc music icon but one of the biggest names to have come out of his borough, specifically, the legendary lyricist is finally getting more like the kind of recognition he deserves, and is making sure to pay that exposure forward in the best way possible.
He could have picked from all manner of big British acts as supports at Alexandra Palace, but Richard Ashcroft has chosen to keep flying the regional flag by picking a group he’s spent the last few months with, as well as a fellow Greater Manchester act.
That’s right: as well as signing up Liverpool’s very own Oasis Live ’25 openers, Cast, as one of the warm-up acts, the 54-year-old has also chosen another native Wigan artist in the form of The Lathums to join him for the momentous headline show.
Much-loved not only in their hometown but across Manchester and beyond, the indie favourites – who also released their latest studio LP, Matter Does Not Define, back in February – the young band are only getting better and becoming more established as time goes on.
Having already played the likes of the AO Arena here in Manchester and booked numerous big festival slots of the past few years, we reckon you can pretty much bank on them headlining this historic and bucket list venue for themselves in the future.
In terms of Cast, the scousers continue one of the busiest years for touring in their career by supporting ‘King Richard’, having followed up supporting ‘LG’ in 2024 to both Gallagher brothers over the summer.
As for Ashcroft himself, we’re glad to see him back releasing new music, and can confirm his seventh record is a great listen.
By no means our favourite, but just a taste of his latest sound.
Now, if you were wondering why we’re talking about this show over any of the other gigs (namely the Northern ones) on his upcoming UK run, it’s because most of the tour has now sold out.
His Co-op Live date was obviously the first to go, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium going shortly after, and extra dates being added in the likes of London, Liverpool and over in Leeds.
If you do happen to be in the capital already or are willing to make a trip to London for the show, there are still some tickets left for Richard Ashcroft at Ally Pally in July 2026.
Cannot wait to hear how this sounds in that storied room:
Daisy Jackson -
22nd February 2023 
