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Major DJ forced to pull out of Parklife festival on doctor’s orders
'I'm so sorry to let you down'
A well-known techno and trance DJ will no longer be playing at Parklife this weekend, he’s announced, with just one day to go until his major set.
Anyone heading to Heaton Park over the weekend for Manchester-based festival, Parklife, may notice the lineup looks a little different after one distinctive DJ has pulled out due to doctor’s orders.
Marlon Hoffstadt, who also goes by the moniker ‘DJ Daddy Trance’, was expected to play out on the Matinée stage on Saturday 20 June from 6.30pm – 8pm.
The Germany-based act was taking to the decks right before Manchester’s own Morgan Seatree, who has become recognised for his material which is an ode to house music and is likely to be one of the busiest sets of the weekend.
Hoffstadt had two gigs this weekend; the first being Parklife in Manchester and the second Fête de la Musique in Paris, both of which he has since pulled out of in a newly-published social media announcement.
The Berlin-born music maker has reluctantly called off these upcoming appearances and justified his decision by saying: “As much as I hate missing shows, I need to put my recovery first”.
To much dismay, Hoffstadt received doctor’s advice who deemed him ‘currently not fit to fly’ following surgery, urging him to rest and recover.
Marlon posted today: “I’m so sad to have to share this, but unfortunately I won’t be able to play Parklife in Manchester and Fête de la Musique in Paris this weekend.
“I recently had a surgery and, following my doctor’s advice, I’m currently not fit to fly and need rest and recover.
“I know many of you made plans and were looking forward to it, and I’m so sorry to let you down.
“As much as I hate missing shows, I need to put my recovery first so I can get back to doing what I love as soon as possible.”
As much as the presence of this world-class performer will be missed, there’s still plenty of notable names set to make their mark on Parklife including Zara Larsson, Calvin Harris, Skepta and more.
The outdoor big music weekender has established itself as a rave haven with mainly dance artists and DJs making up its lineup through a variety of curated b2b sets and live performances.
If you’re after immersing yourself in some jungle music, Bradford-native Nia Archives will have you transfixed over at The Valley with her jungle-heavy tunes from 6.30pm – 7.30pm or there’s three more stages to take your pick from.
We’re sure that anyone eager to see the ‘Hands Up In The Sky’ producer live may be frustrated by this brand-new social media announcement however as Hoffstadt mentions it’s so he can “Get back to doing what I love as soon as possible”.
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Featured image: Press Shot (Supplied)
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Sam Fender to play TWO massive Etihad Stadium gig in Manchester next year
Daisy Jackson
Sam Fender has announced two massive stadium gigs in Manchester for next summer as part of a new UK tour.
The Geordie singer-songwriter will be performing at the Etihad Stadium in July 2027, along with huge venues in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin.
He’ll also be performing two nights at St James’ Park in his home city of Newcastle.
Support on all of the UK stadium dates will come from the critically acclaimed British alt-rock band, Wunderhorse.
Sam Fender released his number one selling, critically acclaimed third album People Watching in 2025, which went on to earn him the 2025 Mercury Prize.
He debuted People Watching’s ‘Rein Me In’ alongside Olivia Dean at his London Stadium Show last summer, later releasing it and setting new records, with 23 non-consecutive weeks at number one.
Rein Me In featuring Olivia Dean became the longest running number one single in British history, and took the Brit Award for Song of the Year.
Sam Fender teased the announcement earlier this week on Instagram, with a video that showed him dressed as a Lord of the Rings character ‘lighting the beacons’ across the country.
Posters were also suddenly plastered all over Manchester, including taking over the biggest screen in the city at Victoria Warehouse.
The last time he performed here, it was a headline slot at the Live From Wythenshawe Park gig series, with support from Olivia Dean.
Sam Fender will perform at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on 15 and 17 July – tickets will go on general sale from 9.30am on Friday 30 October HERE.
You can also pre-order his fourth album to access ticket presales.
Sam Fender UK and Ireland tour dates in full
- 3 June – St. James’ Park, Newcastle
- 5 June – St. James’ Park, Newcastle
- 10 June – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- 18 June – Wembley Stadium, London
- 20 June – Wembley Stadium, London
- 1 July – Marlay Park, Dublin
- 8 July – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
- 15 July – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- 17 July – Etihad Stadium, Manchester
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Featured image: Melissa Gardner
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Sam Fender teases enormous stadium gig in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Sam Fender has teased a return to the live stage – and they’re set to be his biggest shows yet.
The Newcastle-born singer-songwriter released a Lord of the Rings-inspired skit video last night, which showed him taking on the role of Frodo Baggins.
He then lit ‘beacons’ at several stadiums around the UK and Ireland, including in Manchester and his home city of Newcastle.
The Mercury Prize-winning star last performed in our city last summer, when he headlined a night at Live From Wythenshawe Park 2025.
But now he’s teasing a show at the Etihad Stadium, which will be significantly larger.
Alongside his Manchester gig, Sam Fender seems set to announce stadium concerts at St James’s Park in Newcastle (where he performed three headline shows in 2025) Malahide Castle in Ireland, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, and Wembley Stadium in London.
Posters have also popped up around Manchester city centre today ahead of the official announcement, which read ‘PROPER MASSIVE’.
Obviously, Sam Fender will be fitting his gig in around another rather large and already-announced tour at the Etihad Stadium, with Oasis already set to play a record-breaking 11 nights next June.
You can watch his teaser video HERE.
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Featured image: The Manc Group