MIF has revealed its festival square music programme for summer – and it’s jam-packed with local artists.
This year’s festival runs from July 2-18 and sees over 100 free gigs taking place at the new Festival Square hub on Cathedral Garden – which returns in a safe, seated format for 2021.
MIF has also partnered with United We Stream this year to broadcast a selection of its live Festival Square performances directly into people’s homes.
Our highlights include performances from rappers Abnormal Sleepz and LayFullStop, Children of Zeus’s Konny Kon, soul singer Pip Millett and The Untold Orchestra, plus Homoelectric, Katbrownsugar, Lovescene, Matthew Halsall, SheBeKeke, Swing Ting and OneDa – but there are so many amazing artists set to perform here over the course of the fortnight.
This year’s Manchester International Festival runs from July 2-18
Underground Manchester music champions Reform Radio and Thirty Pound Gentlemen will present some of the finest young emerging talent, arranging nine performances ranging from afrobeat to French electro at The Festival Square over three days.
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Dave Haslam will also present three specially-curated nights of Manchester talent, starting with a showcase of local record label Griot City Records (July 4). His Griot City Experience will feature performers like DJ Werkha, and poets SheBeKeke and Reece Willams, followed by further showcases with artists like Lounge Society, Blanketman and DJ Mark Rae.
And in a unique piece exploring the experiences of black women within the creative industries and society at large, The Untold Orchestra join up with singer Yemi Bolatiwa, original Hacienda resident DJ Paulette, poet Shirley May, dancer Maisha Kungu and contemporary circus performer Seren Marimba to present a tribute to Nina Simone’s Four Women.
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Grove will be bringing their black, queer and feminist sounds to Manchester as part of a curated lineup by DJ and broadcaster Jamz Supernova.
And of course Manchester’s infamous LGBTQ+ club night Homoelectric will be bringing the party – albeit for one night only – with DJ sets from residents like Will Tramp and Gina Breeze, plus performances from vogue house House of Ghetto.
100 free gigs taking place at the new Festival Square hub for MIF 2021
Also curating at MIF’s Festival Square this year isthe legendary Manchester DJ and producer Mr Scruff, who’s bringing the likes of Rebecca Vasmant and Secret Night Gang down on July 16. He’ll end the night with a special B2B DJ set withhip hop pioneerMikey D.O.N.
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BBC Music Introducing has also selected four of Manchester’s rising stars to play across four nights: singer, songwriter and producer Caoilfhionn Rose (July 8), electro dance music quartet Porij (July 10), singer-songwriter Ellysse Mason(July 11) and R&B artistFemi Tahiru(July 15).
And Manchester record label Swing Ting host a takeover with MCs, DJs, and live performances from residents and special guests playing everything from afrobeat and bashment to dancehall, including Tai Chi Rose, Tarsza and label founder Samrai.
Dave HaslamPip Millett
Fabaret will return on July 17, curated by Greg Thorpe, with a celebratory showcase of Manchester-based LGBTQ+ artists including drag legend Cheddar Gorgeous and dancer and choreographer Jason Andrew Guest.
Manchester’s legendary spoken word night One Mic Stand also returns for another year with ten spoken word artists including Ella Otomewo, Billie Meredith, Isaiah Hull, and Jardel Rodrigues.
Residents from Greater Manchester will take over Festival Square for Our City Our Festival on July 3 – a free day-long event of music, conversations, performances and participatory activities, celebrating the diversity and talent within Greater Manchester communities.
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Last but not least, in an epic Festival Square finale, grime club night turned creative agency Big People Music will present a big show with Manchester singer Misha B and rapper Abnormal Sleepz performing alongside the new BPM Orchestra.
Norman Jay
The night will close with a handful of special guest DJ sets from some of the city’s best selectors.
Manchester International Festival (MIF) will take place across indoor and outdoor locations in Greater Manchester from July 1-18. It features a vibrant programme of original new work from across the spectrum of visual and performing arts and music by artists from over 20 countries.
Further DJ sets include DJ Paulette (July 2), Konny Kon (July 4), Kat Brown Sugar (July 6), Jane Weaver (July 7), Matthew Halsall (July 8), Kath McDermott (July 17) and High Hoops (July 17).
Keo play Projekts: garage and grunge revivalists crush Manchester skatepark for new music video
Danny Jones
This past Thursday evening, fast-rising rock band Keo took over Projekts MCR skatepark for a special pop-up gig and to film a brand-new music video for their latest single, ‘Pistol’, starring some of their biggest fans here in Manchester.
In fact, it didn’t take long for us to suss out that plenty of them had flocked from far and wide to be there, and let’s say we’re sure they’ll say it was worth the journey.
We caught Keo’s well-attended festival set inside the Woodlands at Kendal Calling 2025, not to mention their completely sold-out show at the O2 Ritz back in March – their biggest headline date up to that point – and we’re more certain than ever that they’re going to be absolutely massive.
And if they keep up doing more memorable stuff like this, it’s just a matter of how soon…
Packing out Projekts to the point that people were literally hanging off fences and standing on electrical boxes at the side of the street to try and get a peek at the post-punk, grunge and garage rockers, some of their most enthusiastic young fans had been waiting outside the location as early as noon.
For context, doors opened six hours later, and the boys didn’t come on until 7:30pm.
Those who signed up to Keo‘s mailing list were sent information regarding securing a spot at the one-off performance earlier this month.
While you would have seen the place fill up even if they were just standard concert tickets, the fact that the band were taping the whole thing to use as the visuals for their newest single, as mentioned, meant that Keo’s avid followers were literally clamouring AND clambering to get the best view position possible.
Turning the popular skaters’ hub’s central bowl into a makeshift stage, with lights, camera, booms and various crew surrounding the entire venue, it was a surreal experience to say the least.
And, of course, they were absolutely brilliant – just as they were at the Ritz at the start of the year and Kendal before that, playing a short but sweet set that left everyone wanting more and choruses of punters chanting Keo long after the final song.
We can’t wait to see how the video itself turns out, especially seeing how much the people who wrapped around them and the skatepark were lost in the moment, and we’re also looking forward to them headlining Neighbourhood Fest in Manchester city centre this October.
You can grab a ticket to see them and the rest of the NBHD lineup right HERE, but until then, give the full studio version of ‘Pistol’ a play and get ready for their debut album.
Oasis’ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? named biggest UK studio album EVER by Official Charts
Danny Jones
You’re damn right: Oasis continue to be MASSIVE as new figures from the Official Charts Company have confirmed that (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? has clocked in as the biggest UK studio album of all time.
The Britpop icons and history go hand in hand.
Yes, according to the latest numbers by our domestic chart-crunchers, only two other albums surpassed Oasis‘ second LP – and they’re both greatest hits collections.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 22 July, just over a whole year on from those reunion world tour shows at Heaton Park. How fitting.
Starting off by channelling Liam Gallagher energy and quipping that “Oasis vibes are in the area”, they go on to explain the colossal cumulative record.
“Oasis claim one of the biggest honours in British music history, they write, “as (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is named the UK’s Official biggest studio album of all time, according to new Official Charts Company data.”
Combining UK sales of the record – both physical and digital over the years – along with modern streaming statistics, the sophomore outing from the Britpop giants has amassed approximately 6.2 million UK chart units. Staggering stuff.
Last year’s Live ’25 shows have no doubt helped give an added boost to their metrics, but it’s still gargantuan stuff from the local band.
Yet another incredible stat not just for the Burnage boys but the Manchester music scene as a whole.
2026 looks to be just as big a comeback, by the looks of things.
In case you were wondering who beat them out in the race for the top spot, they were pipped to the post by Queen’s Greatest Hits and the same again from ABBA, two worthy opponents to take third place after.
You can see the rest of the list in full right HERE.
Oh, and Definitely Maybe also made the list, too, coming in at number 39 – making that two in the top 50 even amongst all the compilations.
It feels like last July all over again, doesn’t it? And if now isn’t the perfect time to stick on the title track, we don’t know what is.
Actually, sod it – we’re sticking the full thing on…
Georgina Pellant -
17th June 2021 
