As part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations, New Century Hall has announced a brand new scholarship opportunity for one student to attend the dBs Institute of Sound & Digital Technologies, located right within the building and their fledgling Manchester campus.
Located in the basement of New Century over in NOMA, which has quickly become one of Manchester’s best entertainment venues and food halls, the dBs Institute’s brand new state-of-the-art Manc campus offers a range of courses including Music Production, Sound Engineering, Sound Design, Game Development and more.
In this instance, the upcoming scholarship will see one person enrolled on their BSc (Hons) Live Sound degree: a full-time, three-year course designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical application of all the skills required to design, build and operate professional sound systems at a range of live events.
Both organisations are particularly interested in hearing from prospective students who might not have felt able to apply for this or similar courses previously due to personal or financial reasons.
Credit: New Century x dBs Institute of Sound & Digital Technologies
Promising a jam-packed course full of exciting opportunities and access to various industry connections, as well as giving graduates all the skills needed to progress onto a successful career in sound, students will learn everything from current mixing technologies, acoustics and modern speaker systems, to sound system optimisation techniques, as well as analogue and digital live sound production.
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Alongside practical skills crucial to working in live sound, the course also includes guidance on what it takes to succeed in the industry, including how to set up your own business, work within a team, hone communication skills and more to give you the best chance of earning employment in the industry.
They aren’t just dumping a load of technical skills on your plate, the dBs Institute and New Century are aiming to provide the full package. Perhaps the best part about this collaboration is the fact that the course is studied in-house at the popular gig and events space.
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With the dBs’ £3 million Manchester base opening up in 2022, boasting four studios, four production suites and many more specialist facilities, not only will you be learning right in the city centre but you’ll also be gaining practical industry experience throughout the degree by simply heading upstairs.
The dBs x New Century scholarship goes far beyond teaching the Live Sound curriculum.
The venue isn’t just housing the course, New Century will also support the chosen student with mentoring sessions by working professionals, shadowing key industry events, industry connections, work experience and further career support.
Built in 1963 as a state-of-the-art dance hall before being reopened as the multi-purpose space we know and love today, New Century wants to continue to be at the forefront of the music and events industry — which includes helping burgeoning talents develop and establish their careers.
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Managing Director Abby Moore said of the scholarship: “We’re really excited to be able to partner with dBs Institute to offer this place – the student community located in our basement is a key part of our ecosystem at New Century… This scholarship feels like the perfect way to celebrate the city’s incredible live music history, and look ahead to its exciting future.”
As dBs Manchester, Head of Centre Dom Kane added: “We’re proud to be collaborating with New Century to offer this exciting opportunity for one student to join us on the Live Sound degree this coming September.
“dBs is all about challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries in terms of sound, music and digital technology and we’re always excited to hear from passionate individuals. Working in this industry is for everyone. If you have the drive and enthusiasm to work in live events, we want to hear from you.”
To apply for the scholarship, eligible students will need to submit an application statement which demonstrates their passion for live sound and their future career aspirations in the industry. As per the brief, the statement should be “original, engaging and provide a clear and concise insight into their motivation for pursuing a career in live sound.”
A selection committee will then review all application statements and create a shortlist of the most compelling and deserving applicants, at which point the remaining candidates may be invited for an interview or asked to provide additional information as part of the final selection process.
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The deadline to apply is 30 April 2024 and applicants can submit their application HERE. You check out all available courses on dBs Institute’s website.
Featured Image — New Century Hall/dBs Institute Manchester
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More artists added and stage splits confirmed for Neighbourhood Weekender 2026 lineup
Danny Jones
Two waves for NBHD Weekender’s 2026 lineup have now been officially confirmed, and Greater Manchester leads the way in terms of headliners, with local music legend Richard Ashcroft and Stockport’s finest, Blossoms, both already confirmed for the big slot on the main stage.
Now THAT is how you follow up a comeback.
Yes, Neighbourhood Weekender always promises a healthy dose of Northern acts on the lineup, including plenty of Mancs, scousers and others from Cheshire and the region at large, but to get two much-loved music artists from our boroughs topping the 2026 bill is an absolute treat.
With other noteworthy appearances in the Kaiser Chiefs, DMA’s, Jamie Webster, Example and many more on there already, it feels like next year’s festival is shaping up to be a potential all-timer, with a second wave of acts being added and the stage splits now set.
As you can see, the first pair of waves of the NBHD 2026 lineup includes returning crowd-pleasers like Shed Seven, Razorlight and The K’s, as well as other additions like rising stars Basht., Better Joy and North West favourites, The Kairos, as well as fellow Manc lads, M60.
Other acts that also caught our eye include our own natives like Arkayla, The Guest List, Luvcat and The Covasettes, just to name a few, as well as rising ‘Britainicana outfit’, Westside Cowboy, who just so happen to star on our most recent round-up of what we’ve been listening to.
In fact, there are a few past Manc bands of the month features on this lineup, not to mention more nearby names in Lucvat, The Royston Club, Keyside, Nxdia and so on, who are all well worth earmarking ahead of the stage splits being announced.
As for the headliners, indie heroes Blossoms need no introduction; nor does Wigan’s most famous musical son, with Ashcroft riding a real resurgence at the moment – he’s also one of our artists of the month, naturally.
In fact, confirmation of both Ashcroft and his Oasis Live ’25 support act partners, Cast, being booked for Warrington’s Victoria Park and the next NBHD Fest comes after the 54-year-old confirmed a fellow hometown band for some very big shows of his own.
This coming May Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 23-Sun 24 May 2026) is shaping up nicely, and we can’t wait to see what else is new to the festival site this year.
General admission tickets are already available, and new for this year, there will also be different payment plans via their website.
You can grab your tickets HERE. See you in the fields!
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/Audio North
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Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family
Danny Jones
The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.
Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.
Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.
Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.
On behalf of the boys, and as their legal guardian, I want to thank everyone for the kind messages and concern for their wellbeing. There was a misunderstanding regarding the upcoming Manichester tribute concert, but we’re pleased to share that everything has now been resolved. pic.twitter.com/j8jEMrFzsD
Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.
It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.
Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.
All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.
These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.
Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.
“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.
“With love and thanks – The Family”
It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.
Danny Jones -
23rd October 2023 
