At Aviva Studios, Fatboy Slim showed that even after decades in the game, he’s still finding new ways to electrify a room.
Set against a backdrop of lasers, confetti cannons and LED Screens Fatboy Slim felt less like a DJ and more like the lord of acid ballroom, ready for the tidal wave of fans in front of him.
Whether you’re an old-school Mancunian rave head or a new kid on the block you knew he was always in control, issuing a constant bombardment of psychedelic colours and smiley faces.
Long before he stepped up to the decks, anticipation had been building and when the first beat dropped the response was immediate.
From the very beginning it was clear he knew his Manc audience were hooked. Pictures of cultural iconics like Chadwick Bosman, Idris Elber and Andy Warhol were totted on the screen behind him.
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He played The Rockafeller Skank, setting out his set with an obvious hit.
It was Ya Mama (Push the tempo) to bellow out across the vast floor of Aviva Studios next, accompanied by the original 2010 music video on the backdrop behind him.
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Fatboy Slim at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
From there, the set unfolded like a guided tour through decades of dance floor dominance, old and new blending seamlessly.
The crowd was then hit by ‘Groove Amada – I see you baby (Fatboy Slim Remix)’ the shift that occurred at that moment is something only a tune of that stature can deliver.
Throughout the set, he doubled down on the heavier moments. ‘Weapon of Choice’ landed like a controlled explosion with lights strobing, bass reverberating through your chest, while a remix of ‘Mr Brightside’ originally by The Killers showcased his ability to stretch a breakdown just long enough to keep thousands hanging in suspense.
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The emotional high point arrived with ‘Praise You’. Phones lifted, arms wrapped around shoulders, strangers turned into temporary best mates. For a few minutes, Aviva Studio’s felt less like a room and more like a shared memory in the making.
But sentimentality didn’t linger for too long. This is Fatboy Slim, after all. The pace soon ramped back up with ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat’ delivering that spine tingling, hands in the air, friends on shoulders moment that defines nights like these.
Even between tracks, he worked the crowd with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing, after 40 years it’s absolutely no surprise to us. A Hawaiian shirt , a well-timed rewind, a teasing fake drop and not to mention a for airhorns it’s showmanship at it’s finest.
As the main set drew to a close, ‘Right here, Right Now’ felt like a finale in itself. The track even these days feels defiant, euphoric, and was shouted back in fragments by a crowd that’s lived with this track for years, while a percentage of the crowd hearing it live for the first time.
The encore didn’t mess about. One final surge of energy, one last seismic drop, and boom! More confetti, fireworks, lights and smoke than even Greater Manchester Fire Department could handle. It sent Aviva Studios into a closing frenzy. Fans were sweat-drenched, smiling, and reluctant to see the lights come up.
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Fatboy Slim at Aviva Studios wasn’t just another tour stop. It was a reminder that while trends shift and scenes evolve, few artists understand the architecture of a great night out quite like he does. Decades in, and he’s still orchestrating chaos with pinpoint precision. Once again proving that some acts don’t fade with time, they just refine the formula.
Neighbourhood’s city centre festival returns to Manchester with promising first wave
Danny Jones
Neighbourhood Festival’s city centre all-dayer is returning to Manchester for 2026 after a year off, and this first wave of the lineup is looking promising already.
Following teasers over the past month or so, it didn’t take long for us to figure out that NBHD Festival was coming back, especially with the Weekender in Warrington having taken a similar hiatus in 2024.
However, when festivals like these take time out, it can be easy to worry whether or not they’ll lose momentum or come back stronger.
Judging by this initial batch of acts alone, there’s no doubt NBHD Fest ’26 will be another cracker.
Neighbourhood Festival 2026! Manchester’s biggest multi-venue festival returns on Saturday 17 October. The first wave of acts just announced with many more brilliant artists to be revealed. Sign-up for exclusive pre-sale which goes live 10am Tue 10 Mar. https://t.co/Qq0c7Ibuxqpic.twitter.com/8CQoeqdpWm
As you can see, as well as the fast-rising grungey alternative and garage rock quartet, KEO, being announced as one of the first big hitters on the list, there are some other familiar names on the lineup.
Especially for us Mancs.
With both Bolton and Altrincham youngsters, Florentenes and The Guest List, both joining the roster, as well as the likes of Bury-born ‘rockabilly’ revivalist Elliot James Reay also featuring on there, there’s a good deal of local talent to be enjoyed as always.
That goes for the regional delegation in general, too, with the likes of Jos River heading back up this way from her base in London, and Leeds’ fittingly named indie four-piece, The North, also booking a slot.
We’ll admit there are plenty of bands and artists coming up from the capital for the all-day festival, but at least they know where the UK’s real home of music is.
You only have to look at the festival vibes up here to know that…
It’s worth reminding, once again, that since its inception in 2016 (yes, it really has been a decade now), Neighbourhood Fest has continued to serve as a proper launchpad for the next wave of superstars, not just here in the North West but across the country.
We still remember seeing the likes of Sam Fender, Holly Humberstone, Declan McKenna, Mahalia, The Lathums and more – some for the very first time – on these city centre stages, and it’s crazy to see how big some of them have gone on to become.
Set to take over some of Manchester’s most iconic venues along the Oxford Road Corridor once again, this is, without a doubt, one of the best dates for independents on the annual live music calendar.
Hosting a total of 11 stages on Saturday, 17 October for a full day of live music, tickets for this year’s Neighbourhood Festival go on sale HERE at 10am on Friday, 13 March – and remember, there’s still plenty more to be added to the 2026 lineup.
A (completely subjective) ranking of Harry Styles’ new album, based off one listen
Daisy Jackson
Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally is finally with us – HS4 really did drop at midnight this time.
We all expected the fourth album from pop megastar Harry Styles to be a disco album (… because of the title, and the disco ball on the cover), and it is, in places. But there’s a lot more going on here too.
You can tell he’s spent a lot of time in Berlin, which means the disco here is pretty modern, but it’s all still quite tame. This is a pop album at its core and it needs to be one that will fill stadiums (that are already sold out).
And long-time Harry Styles fans will be pleased to find a few stripped-back ballads alongside the heavily-produced bigger tracks.
He kept us waiting for this one, but was it worth the wait?
Here’s my (completely subjective) ranking of every track on the album, based off precisely one listen. I might end up eating my words after a second go-around…
Every song on Harry Styles’ Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, ranked
I’m finding this one a bit annoying until it gets to about the 1.45 mark and builds. I’m all for experimenting with new sounds but it’s all a little disjointed and messy. ‘What drum effect would you like for this one, Harry’ – ‘All of them please’.
You know that feeling you get when you’re boiling the kettle and the extractor fan’s on and the microwave’s going and then your phone starts vibrating and it’s too much noise? Same energy.
11. Paint By Numbers (Track 11)
Bored. Have gone to make a cup of tea.
10. The Waiting Game (Track 6)
I know the girlies have been crying for a Harry ballad like Matilda, but you can’t really have one now because he’s been to Berghain and it’s changed him. He likes synths now.
This one is a close contender though. It’s nice enough but there’s not a whole lot of substance.
9. Are You Listening Yet? (Track 4)
Oh no, speak-singing, in his odd Cheshire-LA accent too (listen to the way he says ‘dancing’). Even with that crescendo with the choir near the end it’s a bit of a plodder. NEXT.
8. American Girls (Track 2)
Idk much about music terminology but whatever key he’s singing in here is scratching my brain just right. I feel like a dog when you scratch the part of their belly that makes their leg shake.
This is a really nice second track and I already know I’m going to regret ranking it so low after a few more listens. But that’s not the point of this ranking. Eighth place for you, American Girls.
7. Coming Up Roses (Track 8)
OH HANG ON, we have a string section! I’m awake again! YES HARRY STRIP IT BACK!! I take back what I said for The Waiting Game, the sad ballad girlies will lap this up. Can’t wait to hold my phone torch up in Co-op Live for this one.
6. Pop (Track 9)
The baseline on this has melted my spine (complimentary). I want to put my head inside the subwoofer. I much prefer the verses to the chorus but can imagine this one will go off in a live setting. To the dance floor!
5. Dance No More (Track 10)
Dance No More? Don’t tell me sh*t like that then hit me with a funky beat like this, Harry! I’m a sucker for a funky indie band (see: Parcels, Phoenix, Jungle, etc etc) so this was always going to work for me.
4. Aperture (Track 1)
Obviously this is not my first listen of this song. Now that we have the context of the rest of the album I can see why this was the lead single. I’ve liked it from the get-go and still do. But if you don’t like this song, you might not love what’s coming.
3. Ready, Steady, Go (Track 3)
More like OK Go, amirite?! Again, the harmonies in this are simply heavenly in the verses, I have been beamed right up. The megaphone vocals in the chorus might divide some people though. Funky little baseline may even tempt me off the couch even at this hour (it’s 7am).
2. Taste Back (Track 5)
This a bit more like old Harry. I can absolutely imagine myself walking to the tram in the morning with this in my ears feeling like the world’s not so shite after all. Might even frolic in a field to this one in summer. Very lovely.
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1. Carla’s Song (Track 12)
Talk about saving the best til last! This is really reminiscent of another song, can’t put my finger on it, but I feel transported and immersed and all other good things music should make you feel. His vocals are stunninggggg in this.
Lonnie Bowes -
14th February 2026 
