Greater Manchester’s vital Factory Sounds programme is back for 2025 and is once again hoping to help platform up-and-coming musicians and more around across the region.
The development scheme created by world-leading arts organisation Factory International, now housed permanently at Aviva Studios, has returned for another year and looks to invest in the Manchester music scene from the ground up.
An annual initiative, Factory Sounds aims to support and raise the profile of musicians and the music industry across the 10 boroughs, with a total of 15 applicants picked to take part and make the next step up in their careers.
With applications now open for the 2025 programme, those who prove successful in the process applicants will be granted a potentially life-changing £1,000 towards their work.
Applications for the next Factory Sounds cohort are now open 🎵
We’re offering financial support of up to £1,000 for anyone based in Greater Manchester involved in music – professional or amateur (including musicians, DJs, producers, promoters, label owners and managers). pic.twitter.com/a0CBWztyPm
Starting back in the pandemic when arts funding was under even more threat than it is today, Factory Sounds has been a crucial lifeline for many artists and creatives looking to get their start in the local industry, as well as providing a key learning outlet.
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The money given to each chosen individual goes towards things like the creation of a new project, recording studio access; peer-to-peer support, networking opportunities and a series of regular masterclasses in artist management, promotion, fundraising and more.
Better yet, 2025 promises to be their biggest to date not only in terms of scope but also the size of the cohort itself, with the number of places more than doubling from this past year, when there were just six grants up for grabs.
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2024’s intake included the artist and producer RenzNiro, community station STEAM Radio MCR; the soulful R&B performer, Rumbi Tauro, Reggae rap artist and spoken word poet, J.Chambers, electronic producer and vocalist Caitlin LM and many more, with one of our favourite up-and-coming bands, Loose Articles, having also benefited from the scheme in the past.
Applications for the next are now open, as is the Factory International Fellowship, which offers six artists from the North the opportunity to shadow the creation of major new work at Aviva Studios, receiving a financial bursary as well as mentoring tailored to their specialism, needs and goals.
The programme is one of our many artist development programmes, which also include:
👉 Factory International Fellowship 📆 Deadline to apply: Monday 9 December
👉 Artist Takeover 📆 Deadline to apply: Monday 16 December
But it doesn’t stop there either, as Factory International‘s Spring 2025 Artist Takeover is also open, welcoming groups and collectives of South Asian descent from any discipline who are based in the North of England – not just Greater Manchester – to join the programme.
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Applicants in this case must have a minimum of five years professional practice but, come May 2025, they will hand over the keys to the vast Warehouse space at Aviva Studios for use by a South Asian artist or group looking to experiment, play and create work on an epic scale that is not possible elsewhere.
Promising even more financial aid through this limited scheme, selected artists will be offered financial support of up to £10k to explore and realise their ideas, as well as receive dedicated guidance from industry experts within the Factory International team.
Again, the prospects that these various schemes are bringing to real people looking to bring their art to life cannot be overstated.
Speaking on the announcement, Factory Sounds 2024 artist and co-creator of queer electronic music night FLUFF, Markus Hetheier,said: “It felt amazing to have the chance to take a risk using the Factory Sounds funding.
“We also had mentorship and advice which helped us grow FLUFF from a small to a bigger, more professional project. It was useful receiving training on different aspects of being an artist and it felt nice to connect with like-minded people.”
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Factory International’s Head of Music, Rivca Burns, added: “Supporting the development of musicians based locally – as well as those from across the globe – to grow within our spaces is at the heart of what we do at Factory International…
“We recognise there’s a huge demand for schemes like this to exist and we are really excited to say that this year we have both increased the number of places as well as added industry mentors to give expert guidance and the opportunity for creatives to thrive.”
Applications close at 12 noon on 20 January, so if you or someone you know is looking to break into the Manchester music scene and could benefit from the extraordinary opportunity, send them HERE.
Featured Images — Factory International (supplied)
Audio
Shed Seven announce 10th anniversary of ‘Shedcember’ tour
Danny Jones
Music veterans, Shed Seven, are set to bring a special edition of their ‘Shedcember’ live shows to Manchester as they celebrate 10 years of the now annual tour.
The beloved British band has been around for more than three and a half decades at this point, and for nearly a third of those, the alternative rock group have been putting on regular winter gigs for their loyal fan base.
Having developed a fervent cult following during that time, Shed Seven‘s dedicated run of November and December dates has become a bit of a phenomenon, and since 2025 was one of their most significant 18-month periods ever, they’re toasting recent success at the end of this calendar year.
If you’re ‘Shed Head’, you’ll already know all about this event; if not, get to know…
Announcing this year’s 10th anniversary tour – fittingly dubbed ‘Shedcember X – alongside a new short film/teaser written and directed by long-serving guitarist, Paul Banks, those who have been listening since the start
Equally, thanks to this would-be trailer, even those who’ve never been to one of the shows or are yet to fully dive into their discography have had their attention caught.
Focusing on their die-hard crowds who now make sure to attend each Shedcember night, if not every single one of their gigs whenever they come to town, the mini social media movie captures just how passionate their audiences are even after all this time.
Part of the reason that the York-founded outfit has been enjoying somewhat of a resurgence of late is as a result of back-to-back number one albums
Notching the top spot for their A Matter Of Time in January 2024, a whole 29 years on from their maiden release (the longest gap between a debut and a no.1 record in UK history), they then did it again with Liquid Gold, which saw some of their biggest hits remastered and reimagined with orchestral backing.
These two massive and long-overdue moments of recognition arguably deserve a tour all of their own, but we will absolutely take Shedcember X.
Announcing an extensive run of performances for the de facto festival, the 10th anniversary edition of Shed Seven’s – we’ve also highlighted all of the Northern dates for you.
Shedcember X tour dates – 2026
Fri 13 Nov 2026 – Nottingham Rock City
Sat 14 Nov 2026 – Birmingham O2 Academy
Tue 17 Nov 2026 – Norwich The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
Thu 19 Nov 2026 – Aberdeen Music Hall
Fri 20 Nov 2026 – Glasgow O2 Academy Glasgow
Sat 21 Nov 2026 – Edinburgh Usher Hall
Mon 23 Nov 2026 – Leicester O2 Academy
Tue 24 Nov 2026 – Brighton Dome
Thu 26 Nov 2026 – Cardiff University Great Hall
Fri 27 Nov 2026 – Sheffield Octagon
Sat 28 Nov 2026 – Newcastle O2 City Hall
Mon 30 Nov 2026 – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Tue 01 Dec 2026 – Bristol Beacon
Thu 03 Dec 2026 – Stockton Globe
Fri 04 Dec 2026 – Liverpool Uni The Mountford Hall
Sat 05 Dec 2026 – Manchester O2 Apollo
Mon 07 Dec 2026 – Lincoln Engine Shed
Tue 08 Dec 2026 – Stoke-On-Trent Victoria Hall
Thu 10 Dec 2026 – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Fri 11 Dec 2026 – London O2 Academy Brixton
Sat 12 Dec 2026 – Leeds O2 Academy
Pre-sale is now open to those signed up to the band’s mailing list, and as for general admission, tickets for Shedcember X go live 10am on Friday, 24 April; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We had the pleasure of speaking to lead singer and songwriter, Rick Witter, not too long ago, and it was great to hear how motivated he and the gang still are.
Featured Images — Audio North/Press shot (supplied via SJM Concerts)
Audio
A live concert version of The Muppet Christmas Carol is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
We know it’s not even the summer yet, but we’re about to drop the C word, because a live concert version of The Muppet Christmas Carol is coming to Manchester.
An all-time classic, adored by children and adults alike, Disney’s Muppet Christmas Carol is arguably one of the best seasonal watches of all time.
Set to be hosted right here in the city centre at one of the most magnificent entertainment venues, the much-loved, festive and musical will be celebrated in its true glory, courtesy of a full orchestra.
It isn’t the first time special screenings of this family-friendly favourite have been held here in Manchester – nor is it the first time the UK has been treated to this particular tour – but if you haven’t tried a Disney Concerts experience before, this is an ideal opportunity.
Announcing not one but two dates at the beautiful Bridgewater Hall, The Muppets’ twist on the legendary Charles Dickens tale, which will see the visuals brought to life with the backing of strings, brass, percussion – the whole shebang.
If you’ve ever been to see one of these ‘live in concert’ type shows, you’ll know how magical they can make rewatching even something you’ve seen countless times before.
With Disney Music Group’s regular troupe of touring players taking on the original score and well-known soundtrack, you won’t be able to help but sing back every word.
Originally composed by Miles Goodman (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Little Shop of Horrors), along with songs by Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy-winning songwriter, Paul Williams (Rainbow Connection and Evergreen), there’s a reason the sound of this film, specifically, has stuck with so many people.
Just imagine this on the big screen as all the instruments kick in right then and there, in the flesh…
Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert – 2026 UK tour dates
We’ve also highlighted some other Northern options for you:
28 November – London Eventim Apollo
29 November – Poole Lighthouse
1 December – Bradford Live
2 December – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
3 December – Edinburgh Usher Hall
4 December – Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
5 December – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
7 December – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
8 December – Birmingham Symphony Hall
9 December – Birmingham Symphony Hall
10 December – Sheffield City Hall
11 December – Bath Forum
13 December – Brighton Centre
14 December – Portsmouth Guildhall
17 December – Manchester Bridgwater Hall
With performances booked for 7pm on 7 December and the same time on 17 December, Members’ pre-sale goes live this coming Thursday, 23 April at 10am.
As for general admission, tickets will be available from the same time on Friday, 24 April; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
It’s not the only big Christmassy concert coming to town this year.
Danny Jones -
4th December 2024 
