Festivals are unreal places, aren’t they? Not just for the music, the memories, and the 10am tinny from breakfast, but for the people you meet and the friendships you cement for life.
One person that can vouch for this is Harry James.
A few years back, Harry and his mates attended Houghton Festival. Lost in the hedonistic mood that a festival can so easily induce, they were inspired by the non-gimmicky simplicity of the weekend.
They realised the key was to strip things back and focus on the music and the atmosphere.
The same night, they cooked up the concept for a brand-new Manchester club night, bred from a pure passion for music and the community of people it brings together.
Harry DJing at the very first Partial event held at The Whisky Jar in November 2019.
They spent the best part of a year nailing it all down before launching at The Whisky Jar at the back end of 2019. With a clear ethos for the brand, they directed their attention into nailing the simple things first. And in doing so, they’ve created something worthy of our attention.
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“We put a lot of care and thought into the environment that we’re creating for people to dance in,” Harry told The Manc Audio.
“We make sure the venue, the décor, and the overall atmosphere are the kind of settings where people can really let loose and enjoy big tunes from top DJs on a quality system.”
Now – after what’s felt like forever – we can actually contemplate the idea of clubbing again.
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We’re finally able to sample some Partial party action later this month. The third Partial instalment will take place in the Progress Centre courtyard on 31 July. They’ve got Youandewan and The Ghost spinning tunes between 2pm until 11pm.
“Our upcoming bookings Youandewan and The Ghost seem to have all carved their own corner into the scene in Berlin and the UK,” said Harry.
“We love the sound and style that these guys are pushing. So, we feel very lucky to have them play at our first few events. It’ll be exciting to see how the sound of Partial evolves and develops over time.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMsMhj7BsDD/
German Youandewan has – in his words – forged his own “tender brand of deep house”. He’s also released tracks on Butter Side Up before now, a UK label which is owned by Harry’s friend. So, he makes an ideal booking for the comeback occasion.
British but Berlin-based duo The Ghost have been mates since they were 10-years-old. Both of them went on to Leeds University where they threw some legendary student parties in their time.
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On relocating to Berlin, they began DJing together under the alias The Ghost. Within just a couple of years, they’ve undoubtedly become ones to watch. Not only for their sound, but for launching Berlin’s first mobile record store, built from a vintage camper van, as well as starting Ghost Records.
This will be the pair’s first time in Manchester for quite a while. So, the Partial boys are buzzing to welcome their groove-fuelled house back to the city.
On the day, they’ll have the best sound system set up, too, courtesy of Neuron Pro Audio who will be supplying a next level Danley Sound Lab system.
“This next event is a step up for us in terms of capacity and production value,” said Harry.
“The Progress Centre is a venue we’ve had our eye on for a while now. So, it’s something we really look forward to bringing to life. But all will be revealed on July 31.”
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Tickets are still available, but they’re on final release. Get yours booked here.
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Featured image: @stillsfromraz/IG
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Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC
Danny Jones
2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.
Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.
Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.
Boyzone are telling us about coming back together for one final run in their most unforgettable concerts yet 🎤
After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.
Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.
Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.
Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…
Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but
Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.
As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
Hannah Starkie -
19th July 2021 
