Yes, you heard us, Greater Manchester’s newest music festival, Outwards, is set to be an all-day, all-night celebration of all things electronic, charting the past, present and future of the scene.
The inaugural Outwards Fest isn’t just an event looking to score as many big names as possible; they’re looking to span as many generations of ravers, dance music die-hards, and selectors alike.
After all, our city is so steeped in this culture that it’s hard to escape, no matter what age you are.
Releasing their first couple of teaser trailers earlier this month, sign-up for early access is live now, and while the focus is more grassroots and upwards, there are some very familiar faces attached.
The new live event has been created by Oliver Ryder, stepson of Manc music icon Shaun Ryder.
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Yes, as in the Happy Mondays lead singer, who also happens to front for Black Grape, a.k.a. just one of the acts set to play as part of the festival.
Set to be based at The Progress Centre over in Ardwick and spread across five outdoor stages, 2026 will see Outwards Fest finally make its debut within the large open-air space after lots of planning.
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As mentioned, Ryder and his Grape cohort are one of the higher-profile names on the bill, but there are plenty of other eye-catching names – be they old, current, or up-and-coming – and you can expect plenty to roll through for a couple of them alone.
Besides fellow veterans and major headliners, Orbital, bringing their beloved brand of electronica, ambient-house, techno, trance and more to the table, another one we’re looking to is the legendary A Certain Ratio. Plus, there’s still a special guest yet to be revealed…
You can see the full lineup for the first-ever Outwards Festival down below.
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Look at this lineup!! We are made up to be part of this major Manchester happening event. Tickets on sale // Thursday 26th February at 6pmhttps://t.co/gOPPaOUG9X Outwards Festival pic.twitter.com/91v4aIQFMz
Speaking on this new addition for Manchester’s cultural scene, Outwards’ festival director Olli said in a press release: “Electronic music has always been about more than nightlife. It’s about the music, the communities, the places and the people who carry culture forward.
“Outwards is an attempt to create a space where the past, present and future of that [EDM] culture can exist together, here in Manchester, where so much of this story began – and where there is still so much to be written.
“We hope it becomes a moment of reflection, inspiration and connection that celebrates the full breadth of electronic music: open, inclusive and shaped by many voices, while opening the door to what is still to come.” Hear, hear.
You can join the mailing list to secure priority tickets when they go up HERE, with general admission set to be available from 10am on Thursday, 26 February.
Speaking of community-led festivals, another already established cult favourite that just keeps getting better and keeps supporting the local music industry from the ground up, returns for another exciting edition this summer.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Black Grape (supplied)
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Two brothers from Oldham are beating out the likes of Taylor Swift in the iTunes charts
Danny Jones
A pair of brothers from Oldham who simply go by Two Connors are now holding on to the top spot in one of the biggest iTunes charts, and they’re beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and many more.
Stuff your global music stars, we’ll back a duo from Greater Manchester all day long.
Danny and Callum Connor, a couple of blokes from Oldham in their mid-30s, are currently number one in the iTunes singles charts with their latest song, ‘Familiar Faces’, but this isn’t the first time they’ve gone big with a release online.
Carving out their own little corner not only in the old Lancashire borough but a small pocket in the UK’s wider grime, drill, rap and hip-hop scene, they’ve only gotten bigger over the last 18 months or so.
After releasing their first two tracks back in 2024, Callum and Danny have been on a very gradual rise, but they quickly gained a cult local following in and around Oldham.
Writing about life and around the area, with high personal and anecdotal lyrics that feel like niche references and in-jokes specifically for‘Roughyed’ residents – it’s not just music by them but FOR them.
In addition to recording their own unique cover of ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran, they also went fairly viral for releasing a music video featuring crowds of local children.
Putting their own chant-based chorus slant on ‘Hi Ho, Hi Ho, “It’s off to Work We Go”‘, written by Mitch Miller and The Sandpipers (yes, as in the main theme from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), it was a fairly radio-friendly tune that was easy for kids and more to sing along with.
With various other natives getting involved in the music video, joining them on the town centre streets and lip-syncing the lyrics, it was circulated online all over Britain and beyond.
You can watch it in full down below.
Fast forward to February 2026, and not only have they grown their following across the region, but even further afield now, as it turns out; currently sitting ahead of ‘Opalite’ from worldwide smash-hit album, The Life of a Showgirl, who needs big label backing, eh?
Bringing smiles to even more Greater Mancs by quite literally shining the spotlight on ‘Familiar Faces’ and punters from nearby pubs such as The Up Stepps Inn and former nightclub Sruples, it is a real tribute to their homeland.
Only time will tell how long they’ll cling to that iTunes top spot, but with nearly 73,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and counting, they might be one of the biggest music names to come out of OL in some time.
In other big news over in Oldham, on the sporting side of things, RLFC are staring down yet more uncertainty, with local hero Bill Quinn also wrapping up his time at the club.
Featured Image — GRM Daily (screenshot via YouTube)
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Wigan favourites Stanleys release first single ahead of debut album next year
Danny Jones
Fast-rising Wigan band Stanleys have dropped the lead single from their debut album, which is finally on its way and will be coming sometime next year.
Entitled ‘Pass The Time’, the Stanleys’ latest outing arrived on Friday, 20 February, and while there’s still no specific release date for the first-ever full-length LP, we do know it’s coming at some point in 2027.
To simply label it as more catchy indie would be a disservice to the craft and graft these lads have put in: this is definitely a step forward and in a slightly different direction, with an even more guitar-driven feel and an extra bit of gruff about it compared to previous Stanleys material.
Our only minor complaint is that we wish it lasted a little longer – we want MORE.
An energetic two-and-a-half-minute track that we can already see becoming a fan favourite, it’s one we’re looking forward to hearing in the flesh.
We’ve caught the Stanleys boys live a few times now, both here in Manchester city centre and at their sold-out show in Wigan as part of The Monaco relaunch, as well as at the likes of Kendal Calling festival in recent years.
Safe to say, they never disappoint, and neither do their growing crowd of die-hards.
With lyrics touching on not just the passing of time but also that sense of youthful ambition and how it fluctuates with age, it feels like one of those defiant indie rallying cries we grew up listening to in our own adolescence, and it definitely has plenty of energy to it.
Both The Manc and our wider Audio North team had the pleasure of chatting with them back in November 2024, and you can tell they have big plans to take on not just the local music scene but the UK and beyond.
The release of ‘Pass The Time’ comes almost a year on from their last song, ‘Out the Door’: a similarly fast-run song, albeit with a different vibe.
Positioned as part of Wigan’s next generation of new bands and artists, Stanleys are clearly looking to keep developing as musicians, and if tunes like these are anything to go by, then we can’t wait for their first full record.
They’re also going to be playing a night here in Manchester city centre and beloved grassroots venue, Night and Day, this April; you can grab tickets HERE.
So get adding it to your Spotify playlists, watching the music video, and maybe we’ll see you at the gig.
Danny Jones -
20th February 2026 
