Parklife has just dropped the line-up for its 2024 festival, with some massive headliners performing in the fields of Heaton Park in Manchester.
The city’s biggest music event has lined up huge names like Doja Cat, Disclosure and J Hus to perform over the weekend of 8 and 9 June.
Tens of thousands of music fans will head to Heaton Park this summer for the festival, which comes from the team at Manchester’s famed global clubbing institution The Warehouse Project
And this year, Parklife has reduced the price of tickets – a first for the industry and part of its commitment to keep festivals financially accessible.
Returning Parklife favourites Peggy Gou, Becky Hill, and Four Tet are also heading up the huge 2024 Parklife line-up.
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The pop and R&B side of the line-up will be taken care of by names like Sugababes, Anne-Marie and Mahalia.
Also on the bill will be Kaytranada, Camelphat, and the previously announced European exclusive debut of Fisher & Chris Lake present Under Construction.
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Back to those Parklife 2024 headliners though…
Crowds for Fred Again at Parklife 2023 as festival announces its 2024 line-up. Credit: Sam Neill
Doja Cat, one of the biggest artists on the planet, will take her first ever UK festival headline set, performing hits from her four albums like Paint the Town Red, Tia Tamera, Say So, Kiss Me More and Woman.
Disclosure will make a UK festival exclusive appearance at Parklife 2024, promising to kickstart a bold new era. Their previous performances at the festival have always seen The Valley stage packed out for their explosive live shows.
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Mercury Prize-nominated British star J Hus will also return to the stage for one of his first live shows in almost four years.
Elsewhere on the bill, there are names like Digga D, Rudim3ntal, Nia Archives, Hybrid Minds, Patrick Topping, Barry Can’t Swim, Folamour, Dom Dolla, Casisdead, Wilkinson, Shy FX: Specials, Interplanetary Criminal, Sammy Virji b2b Interplanetary Criminal, Kenya Grace, ANOTR, PAWSA, TSHA, Girls Don’t Sync, Max Dean, Hedex, Bou, Uncle Waffles, Skream, Jyoty, Loco Dice, Sub Focus and more.
This year’s Parklife will also come with a brand new main stage, less line-up clashes, and a fresh new look.
Early Bird tickets sold out quickly after Parklife announced a festival-first reduction on ticket prices in December 2023.
The Parklife 2024 pre-sale will be open from 10am on Thursday 25 January to anyone who has registered (registration closes at 6pm on Wednesday 24 January).
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Remaining tickets will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 26 January, via parklife.uk.com.
Beyond The Music moves to MediaCity for the first-time ever
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester arts festival and conference Beyond The Music is back for 2026, but this time it will be heading to MediaCity for a Salford debut.
The long weekender is still a relative newcomer when it comes to the Manc events calendar, but it’s quickly gathered plenty of repute not just in the North West but within the industry as a whole.
Holding just its third edition later this year, Beyond The Music ’26 is set to be the most ambitious yet, spread across the three days and promising an impressive lineup both in terms of live performers, but also speakers, industry experts and wider activities.
With MediaCity and dock10 hosting their inaugural Beyond The Music, it’s another big win for the second city, with Sports Personality of the Year sticking over Salford way for the foreseeable future, along with other events like the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Awards moving to the Quayside.
Much of the BBC’s World Cup coverage is also being hosted at their Salfordian studios and main Northern base this summer, too.
Given that so many big annual dates have now made the switch to central Manchester – the BRITs and the MOBOs, just to name two recent examples – you could say it only makes sense to spread things out across the surrounding boroughs and their equally rich heritage.
Not that you should need reminding, but Salford isn’t just part of the region: it’s a city all of its own right that boasts an immense amount of pride over what is nothing short of a sterling musical history.
As for the 2026 Beyond The Music programme, besides both the local artists and more international creatives than ever, there’ll be keynote conversations, industry showcases, and wider networking opportunities for anyone looking to immerse themselves deeper in this world.
You’ll have to wait a little while longer for a full live music lineup, but watch this space…
Mayor Andy Burnham and friends help launch Beyond the Music at MediaCityUK (Credit: Mark Waugh)
Sarah Pearson, Co-founder of Beyond The Music, said in an official statement: “Beyond The Music’s mission is to seize this moment, to come together and drive meaningful and lasting change in the music and content industry.
“It’s undeniable that the impact and importance of music and content are stronger than ever, but this is not reflected in their perceived value.
“The ethical and economic infrastructure of the music and content industries demands urgent attention and bold reform… It is our responsibility to protect creativity in order to ensure it doesn’t just survive but thrives. Things may feel difficult, but they are still possible.”
Mayor Burnham added: “Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of cultural innovation, and Beyond The Music is a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and address the challenges and opportunities facing music and content creation…
“With its move to MediaCity and a bigger-than-ever programme, Beyond The Music is helping to cement our city region’s place at the centre of the creative economy.”
Taking place between 7-9 October 2026, you can register for early bird tickets right HERE. Roll on an even more extensive festival season than ever.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall Manchester – groovy, hazy and effortlessly cool
Clementine Hall
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall proved exactly why they’ve built such a cult following over the past decade.
Formed in 2010 by frontman Ruban Nielson, the band first broke through with their scrappy, lo-fi self-titled debut and since then, they’ve become known for their signature blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and warped pop.
I first saw the band back in 2023 at Glastonbury, and yes sorry I am one of those annoying people that bring it up all the time.
They’re the perfect band to close your eyes, sway your head and tap your foot to – and that’s exactly what the crowd were doing in unison last night at the Albert Hall.
Image: The Manc Group
From the second they stepped on stage, there was no rush – just that signature hazy groove met with enough stage lights to sink a ship.
You could barely see them on stage, but that made it even cooler. And you can only imagine how gorgeous the Albert Hall looked with hundreds of spotlights in different colours whizzing all over it.
Early tracks simmered and pulled us in before the band stretched out into crowd pleasers like ‘Multi-Love’ and ‘Hunnybee’. What an absolute tune by the way.
Image: The Manc Group
There wasn’t much crowd interaction but, again, there didn’t need to be. They let the music do the talking and by treating us to some of the most epic guitar solos we’ve ever heard (no, seriously), we’ll forgive them for not talking to us.
Each song melted into each other as the band oozed effortless charm and talent throughout the almost two hour set, which is no mean feat.
Of course, a sea of phones shot up for ‘So Good at Being in Trouble‘, their most popular track which prompted a harmonious audience singalong. Not very harmonious by me, admittedly.
It was a fantastic ending that left the audience feeling united by the laidback brilliance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and I hope they don’t leave it too long to come back this time.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd January 2024 
