Audio

Beat-Herder Festival 2026 – the wonderfully weird festival we can’t stop coming back to

We’ve ‘herd’ this might just be the best festival in the North West.

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson - 21st July 2026

Another weekend done in the magical, mystical world that is Beat-Herder.

For one weekend every year, a farm in Clitheroe transforms into what the organisers describe as “a place full of beats and barminess” – and honestly, they couldn’t have summed it up any better.

Big enough to keep you discovering something new all weekend, yet small enough that you’ll keep bumping into the same friendly faces, Beat-Herder strikes the balance perfectly.

Every corner has something different going on, every stage has its own personality, and every sound system is absolutely dialled in.

Credit: Audio North

Where else can you go for a swim, get a tattoo, pop into church, visit Paris and dance until sunrise? No, we’re not describing a chaotic stag-do… we’re talking about Beat-Herder.

ADVERTISEMENT

Every stage deserves a mention, but a few really stood out this year.

Julie’s Barn, a.k.a. ‘Gay Paris’, remains one of the festival’s best-kept secrets. Hidden away in the woods, it’s worth every wrong turn trying to find it.

ADVERTISEMENT

A glowing dancefloor, disco balls hanging from the trees and a crowd that somehow never seems to leave. We even stumbled across a secret ‘Samurai Breaks SSBB’ set that had the place bouncing all the way through until sunrise.

Credit: The Manc Group

Over at Stumblefunk At The Factory, Breakage delivered one of the sets of the weekend. The bass rattled the roof, the crowd never stopped moving, and the whole place felt like it was about to lift off.

It’s also home to one of Beat-Herder’s many weird little surprises, with hidden missions and the chance to spy on other festival-goers. If you know, you know.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Garage is another annual favourite. DJs squeezed into the front seat of a car while everyone else danced on the bonnet of old scrapped cars, bouncing to the bass that rattled from White Noise Audio’s soundsystem. It’s those ridiculous little details that make this festival unlike anywhere else.

Then there’s Beat-Herder’s Got Talent, which has become a non-negotiable part of our weekend. The winner earns a slot on the main stage, so every act gives it everything. This year’s line-up featured everything from incredible harmonica performances and live bands to rap duos.

But one contestant completely stole the show.

She walked on stage, admitted she wasn’t sure her talent was quite as impressive as everyone else’s, and the crowd fell silent. No instrument. No backing track. You could hear a pin drop. What on earth was this contestant about to do? And then she proceeded to fit her entire fist in her mouth.

Credit: The Manc

The crowd absolutely erupted.

ADVERTISEMENT

If that doesn’t sum up Beat-Herder, we’re not sure what does. The wonderful woman didn’t win the contest unfortunately, but let’s hope she can get booked for next year, ey?

One of this year’s new additions was The Dub Tub, which quickly became one of our favourite discoveries. Artists like Woody Cook swapped high-energy sets for slower, dub-inspired sessions, creating the perfect place to reset before diving back into the madness.

Oh, and of course, in true Beat-Herder fashion, the DJs were performing in a bathtub, of course. 

And speaking of madness… all the classics are still there. The famous tunnel leading to hidden stages, the weird and wonderful walkabout performers, the random discoveries you’ll never find on a map, the hidden swimming pool, fancy dress costumes, and the constant feeling that you’re about to stumble across something completely unexpected.

Massive credit has to go to everyone behind the scenes. From the organisers to the volunteers and crew, everything runs incredibly smoothly, despite how wonderfully chaotic it all feels. Beat-Herder, you’ve done it again; roll on 2027.

ADVERTISEMENT
Credit: Audio North

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Audio

Andy Burnham’s favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Andy Burnham's favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast

Andy Burnham’s favourite pub, restaurant, neighbourhood, and Sunday roast have been revealed – and the man’s got taste.

Old footage of now-PM Andy Burnham chatting to content creator Isaac Likes has been doing the rounds again, and while the interview dates back to before Andy left us and headed down to the big smoke, his Manchester recommendations still stand.

From his go-to neighbourhood and favourite pub to where he heads for a Sunday roast, and even the song he likes to play when he gets behind the decks, Burnham gave us a glimpse into his ideal Manchester day.

First up, there’s the Northern Quarter, which Burnham reckons has to be his favourite neighbourhood in the city.

He said: “Got to be the Northern Quarter. It’s the place where it’s all happening.”

When it comes to food, he singled out Firehouse, sitting on the edge of the Northern Quarter, as one of his favourite places to eat. He also gave a shoutout to its sister venue Ramona, where he’s been known to get behind the decks.

Andy said: “On the edge of the Northern Quarter, Firehouse is a place I love to go. Ramona Pizza, I’ve DJ’d there – if the mayor DJs there it’s gotta be alright.”

For a proper pint, Burnham’s choice is a little more traditional, saying his favourite pub is the ‘proper old school’ Peveril of the Peak.

The beautiful tiled pub was recently named the best in the UK, just days before its legendary landlady Nancy passed away.

When Sunday rolls around, Burnham said he has a couple of options up his sleeve. The Wharf in Castlefield gets a mention, as does Edinburgh Castle up in Ancoats.

The Peveril of the Peak pub in Manchester
The Peveril of the Peak pub in Manchester
The Edinburgh Castle has ranked highlight in the Top 50 Gastropubs list. Credit: The Manc Group
The Edinburgh Castle
Firehouse
Firehouse
Some of Andy Burnham’s favourite places in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

He said: “We love our gravy, we drink it by the pint in Manchester.”

Of course, no conversation with Burnham about Manchester would be complete without talking music.

Asked to name the best Manchester band of all time, he offered a few contenders – The Smiths, New Order, and, ultimately, The Stone Roses.

“The band I think are quintessentially Manchester is The Stone Roses. That was peak Manchester,” he said.

Read more

Featured image: Shaun Peckham (via GMCA)

Audio

Fontaines D.C. announce massive return to Manchester on new European tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Fontaines D.C. are heading back to Manchester on their new European tour

Fontaines D.C. have just announced their biggest headline tour to date, including a massive arena gig here in Manchester.

The wildly popular Irish rock band are set to play a whopping 20 arena shows across Europe and the UK this autumn.

The tour has been announced in celebration of their upcoming fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber, which is set for release this October.

Fontaines D.C. will hit the road just five days after the album drops, kicking off their European tour in Lisbon on 21 October.

Then they’ll make their way over to the UK, with shows in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.

Fans in their home country of Ireland are told to stay tuned for live news very soon.

As we speak, Fontaines D.C. are warming up to play one of the country’s biggest festivals, with headline slots at Reading & Leeds Festival.

They’ve already released Marianne, the first single from their new album, and frontman Grian Chatten says of the album: “The album itself is a dopamine chamber. You step inside and we test these different mind- or mood-altering pieces of music on you.”

The new record has been recorded between London, the English countryside, and Palermo, where Chatten recorded vocals in a makeshift booth built from mattresses and cushions.

He said: “There’s a poignant sense of us being on the brink of some other kind of form of humanity, or non-humanity.”

Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Thursday 3 September, with pre-sale live from 10am on Tuesday 1 September.

You can access tickets for Fontaines D.C. in Manchester HERE.

Fans who pre-order Dopamine Chamber from the official store by 6pm on Monday 31 August will gain access to the UK pre-sale.

Fontaines D.C. UK tour dates in full

  • Friday 20 November – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
  • Saturday 21 November – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Sunday 22 November – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Tuesday 24 November – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
  • Wednesday 25 November – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Friday 27 November – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Read more

Featured image: Elizaveta Porodina

More Audio

Manchester Village Pride headliner Nadine Coyle has pulled out

Audio

Major headliner pulls out of Manchester Village Pride

Reeves Gabrels from The Cure wearing a The Empty Page t-shirt on stage in Manchester. Credit: Aaron Law

Audio

Independent Manchester band describes ‘absolutely massive’ moment The Cure wore their band tee on stage

Audio

Iconic Salford music venue The White Hotel to reopen under new ownership from 2027

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches