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Rising Manchester DJ issues heartfelt statement after Parklife set is cancelled over safety concerns

'I can't really put into words what today was going to mean to me."

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 15th June 2025

Manchester DJ Josh Baker has issued a statement after his Parklife set was unexpectedly cancelled.

The rising star techno and house DJ was supposed to be playing on the brand-new Matinee stage on Sunday evening.

But his set attracted some huge crowds, not helped by the sudden downpour as his set was due to begin.

The area around Matinee became increasingly busy and Parklife announced that the Josh Baker performance would be paused on ‘the advice of safety team’.

Josh Baker has now issued a statement on social media to his followers as his Parklife set was due to end, signed off with a row of crying emojis.

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He wrote: “Unfortunately I will not be performing at Parklife due to reason outside of my control.

Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled. Credit: Instagram, @joshbaker

“I deeply apologise. I can’t really put into words what today was going to mean to me.”

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Next on the Matinee stage should have been Chris Stussy, another name that was predicted to pull in a big crowd.

At the time of writing, The Matinee Stage remains closed but there are again large queues of fans waiting to re-enter the space.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Soccer Aid raises more than £15 million for Unicef as a familiar face stars at Old Trafford

Danny Jones Danny Jones How much did Soccer Aid raise this year 2025?

This past Sunday saw not only the closing night of Parklife and Outbreak Festival here in Greater Manchester, but also Soccer Aid 2025, which raised yet another incredible amount for charity.

It was also one of the highest-scoring games Old Trafford has seen in a while.

This year’s edition of the fundraising match for UNICEF, which has now been running for more than two decades, saw a record-breaking 14th win for the World XI, who have also emerged as champions from the last five Soccer Aid games.

Nevertheless, with more than £15 million raised in charitable donations to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which helps protect children’s rights, provide humanitarian and all-around support to kids across the world in developing countries, that was the real victory.

As you can see, the exact amount generated following donations during this year’s Soccer Aid fixture is £15,280,163, essentially matching the record-breaking figure raised in 2024.

Better still, this now takes the total raised for UNICEF thanks to the charity match, which became annual back in 2018, to beyond £115m. Incredible stuff.

Top performers on the night included Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who got the goals underway, ex-Man City Women’s star Toni Duggan and retired England striker Jermain Defo, who managed to score a brace on the night.

However, despite taking a two-goal lead, it was the World XI’s star man who happened to be both a once-friendly face at the Theatre of Dreams and a familiar foe.

Former Red and Blue, Carlos Tevez, scored four goals on the night to get his side in the game before, including an impressive free kick – not without receiving a hefty slide tackle from Player of the Match and die-hard United fan, ‘Angry Ginge’, though.

This winning, however, was probably our pick of the bunch, purely for the celebration alone:

Speaking on the staggering 2025 total, pop star Robbie Williams, who founded the event back in 2006, said: “As an original founder of Soccer Aid, I couldn’t be more proud of UNICEF…

“From the volunteers, organisers and talent, to the team on the ground; everyone who buys a ticket or makes a donation. Together, over the years, we’ve raised over £121m. Here’s to many more games and even more fundraising.”

Well done to everyone involved with another fantastic year for Soccer Aid and UNICEF, including local comedian Paddy McGuinness, who celebrated a record ninth appearance playing between the sticks for England. Big likey, big lighty.

You can watch the game back in full HERE or all the big highlights from Soccer Aid 2025 down below.

Cracking scoreline that. Man United vs Lyon, eat your heart out.

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Featured Images — Press Shot (via Soccer Aid)/Sam Quek (via X)

News

Parklife pauses major DJ set on ‘advice of safety team’ as huge crowds swarm

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Parklife pauses major DJ set on 'advice of safety team' as huge crowds swarm

Parklife has announced it has paused one of the most hotly-tipped sets of the weekend ‘upon advice of the safety team’.

Josh Baker’s set on the brand-new Matinee stage has been attracting huge crowds from the late afternoon.

The Manchester-born DJ is a rising star in the tech and house scene and was always going to be a highlight of the festival’s line-up this year.

But his pull has maybe been a bit greater than expected, with massive crowds swarming around the Matinee stage on Sunday afternoon.

It’s been so busy that Parklife has made the decision to pause his show altogether while crowds disperse.

The warning sent on the Parklife app
The warning sent on the Parklife app
How The Matinee stage looked on Saturday
How The Matinee stage looked on Saturday. Credit: The Manc Group

Security have been managing the crowds at the stage with a queue system, but when the heavens opened (and it REALLY rained at about 7pm) the area surrounding the Matinee stage became even busier.

Parklife has issued a statement on its app that reads: “Upon advice of the PL safety team, the show on the Matinee stage has been paused. We will update ASAP.”

Parklife has described Josh Baker as ‘a versatile DJ and producer, embodying the creative essence of the new wave of electronic artists’.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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