Yes, you heard us, Greater Manchester’s newest music festival, Outwards, is set to be an all-day, all-night celebration of all things electronic, charting the past, present and future of the scene.
The inaugural Outwards Fest isn’t just an event looking to score as many big names as possible; they’re looking to span as many generations of ravers, dance music die-hards, and selectors alike.
After all, our city is so steeped in this culture that it’s hard to escape, no matter what age you are.
Releasing their first couple of teaser trailers earlier this month, sign-up for early access is live now, and while the focus is more grassroots and upwards, there are some very familiar faces attached.
The new live event has been created by Oliver Ryder, stepson of Manc music icon Shaun Ryder.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yes, as in the Happy Mondays lead singer, who also happens to front for Black Grape, a.k.a. just one of the acts set to play as part of the festival.
Set to be based at The Progress Centre over in Ardwick and spread across five outdoor stages, 2026 will see Outwards Fest finally make its debut within the large open-air space after lots of planning.
ADVERTISEMENT
As mentioned, Ryder and his Grape cohort are one of the higher-profile names on the bill, but there are plenty of other eye-catching names – be they old, current, or up-and-coming – and you can expect plenty to roll through for a couple of them alone.
Besides fellow veterans and major headliners, Orbital, bringing their beloved brand of electronica, ambient-house, techno, trance and more to the table, another one we’re looking to is the legendary A Certain Ratio. Plus, there’s still a special guest yet to be revealed…
You can see the full lineup for the first-ever Outwards Festival down below.
ADVERTISEMENT
Look at this lineup!! We are made up to be part of this major Manchester happening event. Tickets on sale // Thursday 26th February at 6pmhttps://t.co/gOPPaOUG9X Outwards Festival pic.twitter.com/91v4aIQFMz
Speaking on this new addition for Manchester’s cultural scene, Outwards’ festival director Olli said in a press release: “Electronic music has always been about more than nightlife. It’s about the music, the communities, the places and the people who carry culture forward.
“Outwards is an attempt to create a space where the past, present and future of that [EDM] culture can exist together, here in Manchester, where so much of this story began – and where there is still so much to be written.
“We hope it becomes a moment of reflection, inspiration and connection that celebrates the full breadth of electronic music: open, inclusive and shaped by many voices, while opening the door to what is still to come.” Hear, hear.
You can join the mailing list to secure priority tickets when they go up HERE, with general admission set to be available from 10am on Thursday, 26 February.
Speaking of community-led festivals, another already established cult favourite that just keeps getting better and keeps supporting the local music industry from the ground up, returns for another exciting edition this summer.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Black Grape (supplied)
Audio
Beloved cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender is coming to concert in Manchester for special anniversary
Danny Jones
Much-loved American cartoon and global smash-hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender, is coming to Manchester for a special screening live in concert.
The cult favourite Nickelodeon show turned worldwide phenomenon remains one of the most iconic animated TV franchises of all time, with a series of stunning scores that people still listen to on Spotify, YouTube and, crucially, in person to this day.
With that in mind, The Last Airbender In Concert is coming to mainland Europe and the UK, with the beautiful Bridgewater Hall set to host the special live show to celebrate a very important milestone.
You can see a short trailer of how the most recent world tour dates of Avatar Live here:
20 years since we first met Aang and the world of Avatar
With last February marking the 20th anniversary of the show’s original release date, creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, along with lead composer Jeremy Zuckerman, decided to take the show on the road with some exclusive screenings in some major rooms.
Having boxed off plenty of performances already, Avatar: The Last Airbender heads to Europe later this year, with the shows getting underway at the start of autumn.
And where else to begin but Manchester?
Heading to one of the most gorgeous theatres, not just in the city centre but the region as a whole, Bridgwater Hall is no stranger to hosting live orchestral adaptations like this.
You see the full list of Avatar live shows here in Britain on the extensive European leg of their world tour down below – we’ve even highlighted the other Northern stops for you.
The Last Airbender In Concert UK tour dates | 2026
5 October 2026 – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
6 October 2026 – Edinburgh Usher Hall
8 October 2026 – York Barbican
9 October 2026 – Sheffield City Hall
10 October 2026 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
11 October 2026 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
13 October 2026 – Swansea Building Society Arena
14 October 2026 – Bath The Forum
15 October 2026 – Portsmouth Guildhall
16 October 2026 – Poole Lighthouse
17 October 2026 – London Eventim Apollo
18 October 2026 – Bristol Beacon
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
It’s hard to believe more than two decades have passed since it first hit screens over in the US in 2005 (21 February and later that same year here in the UK); we still remember sitting cross-legged in front of the telly after school and losing ourselves in this incredible world – and now a new film is on the way, too.
As well as the heavily anime-esque art style and East Asian influences throughout, the music was always a big part of that experience, so we can’t wait to see how it translates in the flesh.
With that in mind, not to mention the wider Avatar story being continued with the next expansion in Avatar lore, ‘Seven Havens’ – a direct sequel to the original programme – it’s a great time to dive back into the world.
Tickets to see and hear The Last Airbender soundtracked live and brought to life in all its glory here in Manchester, general admission on sale already, with the showing starting from 7:30pm.
And for those parents among you looking to introduce your little ones to the next big animation, we’d start with the new one that’s set right here in our hometown and has just aired.
Two brothers from Oldham are beating out the likes of Taylor Swift in the iTunes charts
Danny Jones
A pair of brothers from Oldham who simply go by Two Connors are now holding on to the top spot in one of the biggest iTunes charts, and they’re beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and many more.
Stuff your global music stars, we’ll back a duo from Greater Manchester all day long.
Danny and Callum Connor, a couple of blokes from Oldham in their mid-30s, are currently number one in the iTunes singles charts with their latest song, ‘Familiar Faces’, but this isn’t the first time they’ve gone big with a release online.
Carving out their own little corner not only in the old Lancashire borough but a small pocket in the UK’s wider grime, drill, rap and hip-hop scene, they’ve only gotten bigger over the last 18 months or so.
After releasing their first two tracks back in 2024, Callum and Danny have been on a very gradual rise, but they quickly gained a cult local following in and around Oldham.
Writing about life and around the area, with high personal and anecdotal lyrics that feel like niche references and in-jokes specifically for‘Roughyed’ residents – it’s not just music by them but FOR them.
In addition to recording their own unique cover of ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran, they also went fairly viral for releasing a music video featuring crowds of local children.
Putting their own chant-based chorus slant on ‘Hi Ho, Hi Ho, “It’s off to Work We Go”‘, written by Mitch Miller and The Sandpipers (yes, as in the main theme from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), it was a fairly radio-friendly tune that was easy for kids and more to sing along with.
With various other natives getting involved in the music video, joining them on the town centre streets and lip-syncing the lyrics, it was circulated online all over Britain and beyond.
You can watch it in full down below.
Fast forward to February 2026, and not only have they grown their following across the region, but even further afield now, as it turns out; currently sitting ahead of ‘Opalite’ from worldwide smash-hit album, The Life of a Showgirl, who needs big label backing, eh?
Bringing smiles to even more Greater Mancs by quite literally shining the spotlight on ‘Familiar Faces’ and punters from nearby pubs such as The Up Stepps Inn and former nightclub Sruples, it is a real tribute to their homeland.
Only time will tell how long they’ll cling to that iTunes top spot, but with nearly 73,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and counting, they might be one of the biggest music names to come out of OL in some time.
In other big news over in Oldham, on the sporting side of things, RLFC are staring down yet more uncertainty, with local hero Bill Quinn also wrapping up his time at the club.
Danny Jones -
20th February 2026 
