The full lineup of acts has been announced for the #SummerProm2020 festival which will be streamed live for students nationwide on the eve of exam results day.
British singer-songwriter James Bay is set to headline the special one-off celebration event which will look to unite thousands of young people across the UK ahead of A Level and GCSE results after an unprecedented and challenging school year.
This unique and free-to-access event will take place on Wednesday 12th August.
Hosted by Hits Radio presenter, Jordan Lee, the Summer Prom will also feature music from Australian musician Sam Fischer, pop sensation Becky Hill and DJ & producer, Joel Corry, who is currently #1 in the UK singles chart. The event – which will be broadcast from The Met live music and theatre venue in Bury – will also feature comedy from Bec Hill, Aurie Styla and Lauren Pattison, plus a number of surprise guest appearances.
The virtual prom has been created to raise awareness of mental health support available via One Space – a new partnership between Shout 85258, The Mix and Young Minds – for young people struggling with the legacy impact of lockdown.
#SummerProm2020 – in partnership with Manchester’s Hits Radio – has also been brought together by acclaimed Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) broadcasting platform United We Stream GM, and music & mental wellbeing festival, Headstock.
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Taking into account the recently introduced Greater Manchester restriction of no mixing of households, Summer Prom 2020 can be enjoyed by young people in their own homes through live stream via United We Stream GM across multiple social media channels.
Music performances and artist interviews will also be broadcast simultaneously across the Hits Radio network.
With the focus of providing mental health support to young people post-lockdown, earlier in the same day, GP and broadcaster, Dr Radha, will host a special mental health-themed Instagram Live ‘surgery’ on the @onespaceto Instagram page to help those who may be struggling, answer questions and offer tips and advice to anyone experiencing worry or anxiety.
Waiting for exam results is always a stressful time for young people, but this year many have also been dealing with anxiety and crisis in isolation.
Half (56%) of young people who mentioned coronavirus when contacting One Space partners for help listed anxiety as their main concern, a further 80% of young people surveyed said that coronavirus had made their mental health worse, with 87% reporting feeling lonely and isolated.
Victoria Hornby, Chief Executive of Shout 85258 – on behalf of One Space – said: “We are excited to be working with United We Stream GM and Headstock on the Summer Prom. The build up to exam results is always an incredibly stressful time for young people and this year especially so. The uncertainty is overwhelming for a lot of young people, and the summer ahead will see more challenges with exam results, a tough jobs market, and decisions to be made about university.”
“We know that a lot of young people are coping in isolation without access to their usual peer and professional support networks and that is why Shout 85258, The Mix and Young Minds are working together to deliver One Space – a space where under 25s can easily find the information they need and get the support they deserve.”
Headstock Founder, Atheer Al-Salim, added: “At a time when a lot of young people are struggling with the impact of the global pandemic on both their academic and social lives, we have the opportunity through music and shared experience to create an event that will help lift people’s moods.”
“We want people to celebrate their achievements of the past year, but also use the power of music to positively impact young people’s mental and emotional wellbeing.”
“The Summer Prom will bring young people together – albeit online – and we’re delighted that Headstock is able to play its part in this extremely special event. We’re very much looking forward to creating a summer celebration that young people from Greater Manchester and across the UK will remember for many years to come.”
United We Stream GM
United We Stream GM founder and Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord, said: “Getting exam results and entering university is already a stressful time, but the pandemic has added to the uncertainty and worry that young people across the UK are facing this year as they make big decisions about career choices, university places, moving out of the family home or getting a job.”
“The most important thing about results day is not to panic.”
“I struggled at school and left with two Us and an E at A Level, but I’ve worked hard to build a career I love. If you feel you haven’t done well in your exams, there are many alternative routes you can go down, so please remember it’s not the end of the world.”
He continued: “United We Stream brought people together throughout the lockdown, and I received countless messages from the public who said that it helped ease anxiety and bring a sense of community to the region. Because of this and acknowledging this stressful time, we wanted to do something for students who are about to get their A level results to give them something fun to look forward to and to take their minds off their looming results – a great party to enjoy safely with their own household.”
“This Class of 2020 Summer Prom event has been tailor made for them and I’m grateful to the artists who have given up their time to be involved.”
“It’s going to be an absolutely fantastic show.”
United We Stream GM / Headstock Festival
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, added: “The United We Stream Summer Prom will be a positive and celebratory broadcast for all young people to enjoy safely in their homes, and is another example of the caring spirit of people in Greater Manchester.”
“This is a fantastic idea, to give our young people in the city-region and beyond who are about to get their exam results, something really special to look forward to. This can be a pivotal point in a young person’s life, and this particular age group, have missed out on so much because the pandemic forced thousands of children and young people to remain isolated at home, with their schools and colleges staying closed for months.”
“Thanks to the innovative team of public sector and private business who are behind the Summer Prom concept, the Class of 2020 will have a unique celebration to remember.”
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#SummerProm2020 will be streamed live on United We Stream GM via website, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch, and will be simultaneously broadcast on Hits Radio.
Tune it at 8pm on Wednesday 12th August.
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Heaton Park’s ‘Gallagher Hill’ where people have been watching Oasis for free is no more
Thomas Melia
The Heaton Park viewpoint coined ‘Gallagher Hill’ which fans flocked to to watch Oasis for free has been closed off ahead of the remaining gig dates.
The particular high area of Heaton Park has gone viral online after Oasis fans have been using it to watch the Live ’25 shows for free, with a distant view of the huge screens.
But as thousands of ticket-holders flock back to the remaining Manchester gigs of Oasis Live ’25, fans who couldn’t manage to get any tickets will be disappointed to learn that the viral viewing point Gallagher Hill has been shut down.
Usually, this hill section of the Manchester green space isn’t filled with Gallagher supporters – it’s normally home to a herd of cows who use this land to graze and walk about on throughout the day.
Huge fences have now been erected around the area to prevent any further groups from gathering, with Oasis still set to perform on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Manchester City Council has said that there are also around 300 young trees that have been planted in this part of Heaton Park to develop a new woodland area.
The purpose of the fencing is ‘dual purpose’, a council spokesperson said: “Both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there. The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”
After seeing videos of fans in this particular area, one TikTok user checked it out for herself asking her followers: “Would you get on Gallagher hill now?” before panning her camera to show cows grazing on the land.
Although fans of the Manchester icons were flocking to this spot in order to join in on the Oasis fun from afar, issues have been raised via safety concerns of visitors, the cattle herd and reports of litter.
Fans are now being directed to enjoy the many, many events taking place in the city centre, including the MCR Live Hub at Piccadilly Gardens.
‘Gallagher Hill’ in Manchester today ahead of the next Oasis shows. Credit: The Manc Group
Some fans have been very understanding reasoning this fair decision admitting, “Probably because of security and threats unfortunately”, while others express their disappointment asking, “How sad do you have to be to put that up?”.
One social media user, who was planning on taking a family member to this brand new Manchester landmark commented, “They could’ve utilised Gallagher hill”.
The fan went on to pose the question of making it an official viewpoint for concerts, posing the question, “£30 entry fee, is that too steep?”.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Leisure, Manchester City Council, said: “The atmosphere across Manchester has been electric over this last week with the whole city swept up in Oasis fever and peaking over the weekend with the first two hugely successful homecoming concerts at Heaton Park.
“As you would expect given the size of the concerts and numbers of people attending, we go through a continuous process with partners of re-assessing the plans in place for the concerts to ensure both public safety and that any environmental impact on our award-winning park is minimalised.
“The steps being taken ahead of the next concert regretfully mean the distant view of the large screens behind the event stage will no longer be there. Unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place to protect the very recent extensive planting of young trees in that location as we try to establish a new woodland area in the park, and the wellbeing of our cattle herd in the field, as well as to keep people in the park safe.
“Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead. The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time. We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”
American rock band Alter Bridge announce massive Manchester gig
Danny Jones
American rockers Alter Bridge have announced a brand new album and a massive European tour along with it, including a pretty big gig here in Manchester.
Staring down the barrel of their eighth studio release, the Orlando-based heavy rock, progressive and alternative metal four-piece are bringing their brand of triumphant, in-your-face, Floridian guitar thrashing and powerful drumming to the city centre in the new year.
Veritable veterans of the industry at this point, Alter Bridge are set to drop their upcoming record – a self-titled project which will debut almost a whole 22 years on from the launch of their first, One Day Remains – at the start of 2026, and will be heading out on the road soon after.
Confirming a total of 31 dates across the continent, they’ll be getting the shows underway in mid-January before landing in the UK just over a month later.
NEW SHOW: @alterbridge ANNOUNCES THEIR HEADLINE TOUR 'WHAT LIES WITHIN'' 🔥🎸 Plus, Daughtry and Sevendust!
Fronted by lead singer and equally talented guitarist, Myles Kennedy (who also performs with fellow genre legend, Slash, as part of The Conspirators), Alter Bridge have regularly notched number one in the rock charts, and have landed as high as number three in the UK’s pop-dominated Official Album Charts.
In 2017, they cleaned up at the 6th annual Loudwire Music Awards, winning ‘Best Rock Band’, ‘Best Rock Album’ and ‘Best Rock Song’ all in one night.
Boasting more than a billion streams to their name to date, they have gradually become one of the biggest and most commercially successful rock bands in the US over the course of more than two decades now.
Other tour dates on this side of the pond include Northern neighbours Newcastle, as well as the likes of Nottingham, Glasgow, London and Dublin over in Ireland.
Alter Bridge will be joined in Manchester by fellow long-standing rock outfit, Daughtry (‘What About Now’, ‘Home’, ‘Over You’), as well as Atlanta legends, Sevendust.
With such a well-respected discography, not to mention a deep and rich back catalogue, you can expect them to play a healthy selection of the hits as well as their newest tracks, which will be available on Friday, 9 January.
Speaking ahead of their latest LP, Kennedy said in a statement: “You can’t ever rest on your past success. We’ve never allowed ourselves to get too comfortable. The only way to stay at a certain level is to be very dedicated to what you’re doing. We’ve crossed the 20-year mark.
“We’ve proven we can do this for the duration. We worked hard to get to a place where we can plant our flag. We’re still around as the four original members, so it felt appropriate to call the album Alter Bridge.”
Co-founding member and former Creed lead guitarist, Mark Tremonti, went on to add, “I think this record earns that title. The material felt strong enough, so we’re letting the music speak for itself.”
Alter Bridge arrive at the AO Arena in Manchester on 26 February 2026, with Three+ presale available from 10am tomorrow (Wed, 16 July), venue early access going live at the same time on Thursday, and general admission tickets up for grabs from Friday – again, 10am.
The Manc -
5th August 2020 
