The 20 longlisted festivals for the Favourite Festival of the Year award at the inaugural Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards (NMAs) have been announced.
Some of the biggest music events from across the north of England have been selected, with The Manc’s audience completing the list this week.
Among those up for the title are huge names like Kendal Calling, Leeds Festival, Parklife, Creamfields North and Bluedot, plus smaller locally-loved festivals such as Highest Point and Moovin Festival.
After 19 festivals were selected by the NMA’s panel of music industry professionals judges, it was over to you to pick the 20th.
And we can now reveal that you’ve clubbed together to nominate Right to Roam festival in Bolton to complete the Festival of the Year Award shortlist.
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You can cast your vote below to choose the overall winner of the award.
The Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards will be the first of its kind to celebrate the northern music scene, and will take place on 30 November at Aviva Studios, the home of world-renowned Factory International.
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The performance-packed show, headlined by Special Recognition Award winner Melanie C, will kickstart a new chapter in celebrating diverse talent from the North of England, year after year. Tickets will be on sale soon – sign up for early bird access.
After the inaugural event, the awards will be hosted in a different northern city every year and will continue to recognise the breadth of musical talent across the north of England.
The Northern Music Awards have been created by the UK’s largest music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, to raise awareness of their transformative work and fundraise for more music therapy provision throughout the region, including the opening of a new dedicated music therapy centre which will open next year, in Salford.
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Awards categories range from Newcomer of the Year to Artist of the Year, Band of the Year, DJ of the Year, Disruptor and the Northern Music Award.
A special Music and Culture for Wellbeing award will showcase outstanding and innovative creative arts provision in the North, that uses music and culture to support and connect with people that face health, wellbeing and socio-economic challenges.
We here at The Manc will be proud sponsors of the Favourite Festival of the Year category.
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston, head of brand partnerships at The Manc, said: “We at The Manc are incredibly excited and proud to be sponsoring the Favourite Festival award at the Northern Music Awards.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to really champion the awesome festivals we have across the North of England. We have always been proud supporters of Northern music talent and events and we are thrilled that Nordoff and Robbins are bringing these awards to Manchester in November.”
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Fall Out Boy announce huge Manchester gig on Twilight of the Punks Tour
Lydia Mastrolonardo
The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum rock group, Fall Out Boy, have announced a stop over in Manchester as part of the biggest global tour of their career to date.
The Twilight of the Punks 2027 tour announcement follows the release of the bands newest song ‘ACES,’ marking the end to their long-awaited return to music production.
The band began subtly hinting at a tour earlier last month, sparking excitement among fans worldwide.
‘ACES,’ produced and mixed by Neil Avron, channels the nostalgic, unmistakable energy of the band’s early days, as a nod to the sound that solidified the band within the pop-punk scene all those years ago. It also marks a particularly special time for the band as they celebrate their 25th year together.
And now Fall Out Boy are celebrating the milestone with a 15-date live tour across Europe and the UK, including a night at Co-op Live in Manchester.
That’s all before completing the tour in North America next summer, including a landmark hometown stadium performance at Chicago’s legendary Soldier Field.
Fall out Boy will be joined by special guests A Day To Remember and Neck Deep on all European dates.
For those of you that aren’t familiar – A Day To Remember are an Floridian rock band specialising in metal-core and pop-punk music.
Neck Deep are a Welsh pop-punk band that will be bringing some of their hits such as ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘In Bloom,’ to the stage next summer.
Fall Out Boy will perform at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Thursday 3 June 2027.
Tickets will go on presale tomorrow from 12pm midday, before general sale begins on Thursday 12 November from 12pm HERE.
Fall Out Boy UK and Ireland tour dates in full
Sunday 30 May 2027 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Tuesday 1 June 2027 – Dublin, 3Arena
Thursday 3 June 2027 – Manchester, Co-op Live
Saturday 5 June 2027 – London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ to support Girls Don’t Sync member at XLR
Lydia Mastrolonardo
It’s no secret that Manchester has gained a surplus of aspiring DJs in recent years – well now it’s time to put those skills to use and show the rest of the UK what Manchester is made of.
Soopa Hooch has just launched Soopa Charged Sounds, an exciting competition, aiming to uncover emerging talent across the UK, offering one lucky winner the opportunity to perform at XLR, supporting member of Girl’s Don’t Sync, Gaia Ahuja aka G33.
Not only would the winner gain the platform to showcase their skills but they would also gain a year’s supply of Soopa Hooch drinks and a home DJ set up – now have I got your attention?
Come on, it seems only right that a Mancunian should win considering the event would be hosted inside our very own iconic nightclub, XLR Manchester.
So, if it’s always your job to supply the music wherever you go, you’re the friend that never fails to know the track ID or you simply practice in the safety of your bedroom – this is your time to shine. Dust off those decks, brush up on your mixes and get applying.
Soopa Hooch, the wild, bolder cousin of the classic Hooch, is an 8% ABV sparkling vodka mix available in five different flavours – Blue Raspberry, Twisted Tropical, Electric Lemonade, Darkest Berry and Cherry Cola, providing the perfect flavour for every kind of playlist.
Sam Watson, Brand Manager at Soopa Hooch and Hooch, commented: “We know there’s a huge amount of undiscovered DJ talent out there, whether they’re creating mixes at home or already making waves in their local scene.
“We’ve launched Soopa Charged Sounds to give that talent a platform to get their skills heard, and we can’t wait to shine a light on DJs who are bringing energy to pre-drinks and parties across the country.”
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ. Credit: The Manc GroupThe chosen DJ will support Girls Don’t Sync member G33 at XLR. Credit: Supplied
Think you or someone you know has what it takes? Simply create a 15-20-minute mini mix and submit it via the Soopa Hooch website to enter by Thursday 26 November 2026.
The mixes will be reviewed by a panel of experts, from regional DJ radio stations up and down the country, on the following five key criteria: creativity, originality, ability, energy and overall suitability. Five finalists will then be announced on Sunday 20 December, before the lucky winner is crowned on Thursday 28 January 2027.
The Soopa Charged Sounds winner will then swap their bedroom desks for the big stage, for a live performance at XLR nightclub, on Friday 26 February 2027.
Daisy Jackson -
15th August 2023 
