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Highest Point Festival 2023 – everything you need to know as summer of live music kicks off up north

Who's ready to kick off festival season then?

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th May 2023

Our favourite time of the year is about to kick off, as Highest Point launches us head-first into festival season.

The massive open-air music event begins tomorrow and promises another bumper weekend of music, food and activities, as well as a whole day dedicated to families.

Set in one of the most picturesque locations of any northern festival, Highest Point will lure in around 35,000 music-lovers over the next few days.

It paves the way for the summer of live music across the north west, including Parklife, Bluedot, and Kendal Calling, plus the Sounds of the City series at Castlefield Bowl.

Highest Point Festival was first set up in 2018 as a tribute to the late Chris Glaba, who started A Wing alongside Richard Dyer and Jamie Scahill but tragically lost his short battle with cancer in 2016.

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Now, it says its ultimate goal is to ‘create a legacy music festival, to join all of the other amazing events that happen in the city, that the people of Lancaster can be proud of’.

So if you’re digging out your best festival fit and getting ready for a weekend of dancing in the fields, here’s what you need to know about Highest Point Festival 2023.

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When and where is Highest Point Festival 2023?

Highest Point Festival. Credit: Robin Zahler

This year’s festival will run between Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 May, back at the beautiful setting of Williamson Park in Lancaster.

The entrance to the park is located on Wyresdale Road, LA1 3EA.

If you’re using public transport, get the train to Lancaster and then either walk the 30 minutes to the park or take a 10-minute taxi.

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Road closures are in operation so if you’re driving, follow the signs to the customer car park at North West Auctions, Wyresdale Road, LA1 3JQ.

Who’s on the line-up for Highest Point Festival 2023?

Anne-Marie. Credit: Publicity picture
Bastille. Credit: Publicity picture

Headliners at Highest Point 2023 will include Bastille, Anne-Marie, Sub Focus, Freya Ridings, Friendly Fires, Craig Charles, and Wigan’s very own chart-toppers The Lottery Winners.

There’ll also be a special launch night on Thursday, headlined by Hacienda Classical.

The music is split across six stages – the main stage, the Chris Glaba Memorial Stage, The Sundial, The Woods, The Dell Inn and Bushrocker HiFi at the Waterfall.

Keep reading for the full line-up, including who’s playing which day.

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Highest Point Festival 2023 tickets

Highest Point Festival
Highest Point Festival. Credit: Robin Zahler

Tickets for Highest Point 2023 are priced as the following:

  • Adults: £145 for weekend tickets, £39.50 Thursday, £69.50 each for Friday and Saturday.
  • Teen tickets: £80 for weekend, £20 for Thursday, £35 each for Friday and Saturday, .
  • Children aged 0-12: go free with an adult ticket.
  • The Big Family Day Out from £12. 

Tickets are on sale through Skiddle here.

What about the food and drink?

Festival food will take the shape of a regional street food offering.

The full line up of street food stalls features Supper by Sanah, Cubbins, Kitchen Tap, Pizzarana, Eat Like a Greek, Veggie Republic, Furness Fish, Senor Paella, Yardies, Halloumination, Spoon Crepes, La Petite Crepe, and Mac and Wings.

What is the Big Family Day Out?

Taking place on Sunday 14 May, this low-cost, all-inclusive day out is geared towards families to want to soak in the atmosphere at a lower ticket price.

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The theme this year will be Kings and Queens of Pop, inspired by the Coronation and Eurovision.

Visitors are encouraged to dress as their favourite pop icon from years gone by, with prizes awarded to the best-dressed.

There’ll also be music on the main stage, craft zones, vintage markets, carnival parades, dinosaurs, Paw Patrol, birds, bees, and loads more.

Stage times and day splits

Thursday 11 May (gates open from 4pm)

Main stage

Hacienda Classical 21:00-22:30
House Gospel Choir 19:45-20:30
K-Klass (DJ) 18:00-19:30
Dobbo (DJ) 17:00-18:00

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The Woods

Matt Thiss 19:00-21:00
Summer Jenkins 18:00-19:00
Sam T Harper 17:00-18:00
Ryan Gould 16:00-17:00

Friday 12 May (gates open from 1pm)

Main stage

Bastille 21:30-23:00
Friendly Fires 20:00-21:00
Freya Ridings 18:30-19:15
General Levy 17:00-18:00
Phoebe Hall 15:45-16:30
Delights 14:30-15:15

Memorial

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D.O.D 21:30-23:00
Girls Don’t Sync 20:00-21:30
Bklava 19:00-20:00
Matt Thiss 18:00-19:00

Sundial

Binx 23:00-0:00
Sub Focus 22:00-23:00
Charlie Tee 21:00-22:00
AMA 20:00-21:00
Emily Makis 19:00-20:00
Nathan X 18:00-19:00
Lasko and T.Lee 16:30-18:00
Monika & NafroB 15:00-16:30

Dell Inn

Jamie McCool 20:15-21:00
Pub quiz with The Lovely Eggs 19:30-20:00
Lowes 18:45-19:15
Melanie Williams House Party 17:45-18:30
In Conversation with Gordon Raphael 16:45-17:30
In Conversation with DJ Paulette 16:00-16:30
Lois 15:00-15:30

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The Woods

Craig Charles 19:30-21:00
DJ Paulette 18:00-19:30
Audiowhores 17:00-18:00
Sam Redmore 16:00-17:00
David Dunne 13:00-16:00

The Waterfall

North Fire Soundsystem 19:00-20:00
Daddy1Love 18:00-19:00
Chris Holt 17:00-18:00
John Hayward 16:00-17:00
Jojo & Jnr Jahvis 15:00-16:00
Miss Chop 14:00-15:00
The Buddhakkan Headset 13:00-14:00

Saturday 13 May (gates open from 1pm)

Main stage

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Anne-Marie 21:30-23:00
Lottery Winners 20:00-21:00
Cuban Brothers 18:45-19:30
Gok Wan 17:15-18:15
Toploader 15:45-16:45
Elvana 14:30-15_15
Jamie McCool 13:30-14:00
The Native Cult 12:30-13:00

Memorial

Danny Howard 22:30-00:00
Ki Creighton 21:00-22:30
Arielle Free 19:30-21:00
Pirate Copy 18:15-19:30
Murphy’s Law 17:00-18:15
Matrefakt 15:45-17:00
Beth 14:30-15:45
Nico Balducci 13:15-14:30
Eldon 12:00-13:15

Sundial

Binx 23:00-00:00
Sigma 22:00-23:00
Goddard & MC XL 21:00-22:00
Turno & MC Dreps 20:00-21:00
A Little Sound 19:00-20:00
Binx 18:00-19:00
DJ Clumsy 17:00-18:00
Rek:law 16:00-17:00
Charlie Tee 15:00-16:00
Coded 14:00-15:00
Grimsey 13:00-14:00

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Dell Inn

Vicky Radio 1 (pub quiz) 20:30-21:00
Sk Shlomo 19:30-20:15
Mike Garry 18:45-19:15
Andy Ellis / Thomo Turgoose 17:45-18:30
Cuban Brothers in convo 16:45-17:30
Lowes 16:00-16:30
Rich & Jamie In convo 15:00-15:30
Chris DJing 14:00-14:30

The Woods

Guilty Pleasures 16:00-21:00
Bucky 15:00-16:00
Les Croasdaile 14:00-15:00
Mark Hogg 13:00-14:00
Ginny K 12:00-13:00

The Waterfall

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Jinx in Dub & Cheshire Cat 17:30-19:00
Catch a Fire & MC Dandy Dizzle 16:30-17:30
Matty Banton 15:00-16:30
Prof P 14:00-15:00
Impressa Soundsystem 13:00-14:00
Ranking Miss P 12:00-13:00

Featured image: Robin Zahler

Audio

The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for New Year’s Eve

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

One of the UK’s most popular new club events and pioneering ‘day rave’ is returning to Manchester this New Year’s, featuring founders Jon and Vicky McClure, as well as some very special guests.

The Line of Duty star and Reverend and the Makers frontman started the parent-friendly event back in January of this year as an alternative day out for those looking to have a party and still manage an early bedtime. Since then it’s gone on to become a real phenomenon and is only getting bigger.

With Vicky swapping UK dramas and crime thrillers for the discotheque and ‘Big Jon’ switching lanes from his usual rock, indie and alternative roots to favour timeless dance tracks to still get people up on their feet, Day Fever has gone down a storm all over the country.

With their first year coming towards a close, they now look set for arguably their biggest day rave to date as Day Fever will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve for their final hurrah of 2024 right here in Manchester city centre – and no, you don’t need to be able to stay up until midnight.

The two McClures – unrelated, by the way, they just share a name and a fantastic taste in music – and the rest of their crew will be partying between 3-8pm for a much more tame and friendlier night (day) out, commanding the decks alongside some other special guests.

Not only does this alternative way to party promise a more responsible curfew, meaning clubbers don’t have to worry about missing the last train home but it’s also geared towards over 30s whilst still being super inclusive.

This day-time clubbing event is designed to reminisce on the old days and all those dance-filled memories of evenings spent out on the tiles, just minus the late-night finish – and hopefully the hangover but that’s down to you really, isn’t it?

In their words: ‘There’s no dress code, no egos—just pure positivity’; there’s nothing we love to hear more than the sweet relief of not having to get dolled up for a big night when we just can’t be bothered.

With New Century Hall hosting the Day Fever once again for their first-ever NYE party here in Manchester, along with two other events being held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Birmingham, you can get all your partying done way with plenty of time to get cosy in bed before the calendar turns over.

Just in time to watch Jools Holland’s famous Annual Hootenanny, as they put it.

Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin Compston
Vicky McClure leading the dance routines

This is guaranteed to be an evening to remember for everyone in attendance, especially when you’re joined by stars of stage and screen who will be powering you through with some proper dance bangers as they have done all year long.

The New Year’s Eve party isn’t just the last dance of the year either, it’s also effectively the prequel to next year’s raft of shows as Day Fever has already announced more than a dozen big dates in January and February.

This batch of 2025 dates sees the gang taking on lots of other cities, including North West neighbours Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull over in Yorkshire, two Newcastle shows and plenty more.

Read more:

So, if you’re feeling those clubbing blues, that pesky seasonal affective disorder or just still not booked up for NYE 2024, why not make the most of this day-time opportunity?

Tickets for both the New Year’s Eve and the rest of their 2025 events are available on the official Day Fever website HERE.

Oh yeah, and help get Rev to Christmas number one – it’s for a good cause and they deserve it!

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

Featured Images — Publicity Picture via Supplied

Audio

Sean Paul and Ashanti are hosting a massive Manchester show in 2025

Danny Jones Danny Jones Sean Paul Ashanti Manchester AO Arena tickets

The one and only Sean Paul is coming to Manchester next year and we’re about to be smashing that buy ticket button it’ll be left sticking like glue.

A terrible pun, we know, we’re just very excited.

Better yet, he’s bringing a fantastic co-headliner along with him as fellow noughties and R’n’B throwback Ashanti will be sharing the stage too.

Landing at the AO Arena in spring 2025, they’ll be upping the ‘Temperature’ ahead of the summer and just in time for the festival season to start getting underway.

Having both enjoyed the scene for many years back in its 2000s heyday and each still boasting their own long-serving fan bases no matter how long it’s been, we wouldn’t think of this as a Sean Paul headline gig with a support act but two very special guests doing what they do best.

The Jamaican-born rap, reggae and dancehall artist as well as all-round popstar needs no introduction really but we’ll give him one anyway: you have to pronounce his name funny and he’s best known for countless club classics like ‘Got 2 Luv U’, ‘Get Busy’ and ‘Gimme The Light’, just to name a few.

As for Ashanti – who came close to a highly-anticipated studio collab with Sean Paul back in the day – the ‘Foolish’, ‘Rock Wit U’ and ‘Always On Time’ singer hasn’t put out new music of her own for a couple years but celebrated two decades since her debut album with a deluxe version re-release in March 2023.

Coming back to Manchester for basically a celebration of what many still revere as one of the golden eras for the genre will no doubt be an unbelievable night and playing the AO Arena after all this time is no mean feat.

Read more:

General admission goes live from 10am, Friday 20 December but presale will be available for Three mobile users who want exclusive early access from Wednesday onwards from the same time.

The ‘Bring It’ Tour comes our way on 13 April 2025, with other dates including Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and a massive London show with Fat Joe joining too.

You can get ready to grab your tickets for Sean Paul and Ashanti’s AO Arena date HERE.

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

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

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