In case you haven’t already heard, Stockport is an absolute hive of activity at the minute.
Among the numerous selling points brought to the borough by its recent regeneration are SK1 Records’ now-legendary street parties, which might just be this place’s magnum opus.
Having been voted Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2023, many locals and those less familiar with Stockport might understandably assume the award was largely down to the likes of Foodie Friday, County being back on the up, perhaps, or Blossoms just absolutely smashing on the UK music scene.
That being said, we’d say there’s a very strong argument to be made that one of the biggest and best things about the former Cheshire town (no, for the last time, it isn’t Cheshire anymore) is SK1 Records and their unrivalled street parties.
If you’ve never been to one of these things before, then yes, you’re seriously missing out.
Based out of the record shop located on Underbank in the heart of Stockport’s Old Town, these street parties are some of the most exciting and well-attended events anywhere in the area, with numerous UK DJs, Manc musicians and local Stopfordian artists getting involved.
SK1 Records itself has only been open for a few years, soon to be celebrating its fifth birthday on 18 August, but to mark the occasion and celebrate the record store putting itself firmly on the cultural and underground music map in that time, they’re teaming up with an iconic Manchester club night later this month.
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Aficionado is a name you’ll have likely seen on countless posters plastered on pub walls and throughout different venues across town over the past twenty years or so, but for those unaware of its truly special legacy, here’s the gist.
The regular Manc music event, set up by DJs Richard ‘Moonboots’ Bithell and Jason Boardman, started as an alternative to the superclubs that began dominating the industry back in the 90s and have continued to bring unadulterated, accessible and fundamentally free-to-enter club nights to the masses for over two decades now.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder they picked this place for the next date on their calendar.
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Since both SK1 Records and Aficionado are approaching important milestone in their respective journeys, the lattermost — which has already popped up in pretty much every music venue you can think of around Greater Manchester over the years — they’ve decided to kill two birds with one stone.
SK1 has held several street parties for the Stockport locals since opening, not to mention many gigs and pop-ups around the Manchester area with the help of Boardman, but this is their first under the Aficionado banner, who just so happen to be celebrating their 25th anniversary as well.
So, with the help of another popular local spot sitting right across the narrow cobbles of Little Underbank Street, The Spinn Off, the trifecta will be coming together for what is set to be one of Stockport’s biggest street parties yet.
Owned by Emmerdale‘s Adam Thomas, the original restaurant over in Gatley which gave the bar its name might have sadly shut last month, but this Underbank boozer is still busy and bouncing, so it only felt right to get them involved with the next big party.
With that in mind, as SK1 Records celebrates its fifth birthday and Aficionado its 25th, the duo will be helping punters dance the night away on Friday, 18 August, with The Spinn Off helping provides drinks and extra tables along with Stockport Market‘s natural wine and craft beer shop, Wine Boy.
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‘Nado will also be holding a ticketed event to celebrate their incredible landmark at Escape to Freight to Island on 28 August too but this is their first free event of the year, staying in touch with their roots and also picking the home of Greater Manchester’s biggest and best street party to boot.
The street party itself will run from 6pm to 11pm and there’s also going to be food and snacks courtesy of Cafe Sanjuan, the only Colombian eatery you can currently find in the region, let alone Stockport and. Trust us, this place is worth the hype. It’s going to be a brilliant night.
Better still, we know exactly the place you want to be after the fun at SK1 Records stops…
DJ at centre of Parklife cancellations speaks out over ‘unsafe’ crowds
Daisy Jackson
A rising DJ whose set was cancelled due to ‘safety concerns’ at Parklife festival has now spoken out on his side of events.
Josh Baker is a popular Manchester-born DJ who was set to perform on the brand-new Matinee stage on the Sunday night of the local music festival.
He had the second-highest billing of the day, followed by Chris Stussy as headliner of that particular stage.
But despite being booked onto one of the festival’s smaller stages, Josh Baker’s popularity quickly saw the space becoming overcrowded.
Videos shared on TikTok show fans clambering over the safety barriers that Parklife security had installed as a queue system, desperate to get inside for Josh’s set.
The young talent has now spoken out again about the incident, saying he could see from his vantage point it ‘quickly became unsafe’.
Josh Baker said that ‘the organisers made the right call’ despite the show ‘meaning a lot’ to him.
He detailed that he has been going to Parklife since the age of 16, and playing such a big slot in the festival ‘felt like a proper full-circle moment’.
He added that he’s been looking into doing free follow-up shows, but has been unable to find a venue that would hold ‘anywhere near the amount of people who were trying to get in to see me play’.
Josh wrote on Instagram: “I’m honestly so sorry to everyone who didn’t get to see the set. It was completely out of my hands, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Just know I’ve felt every bit of frustration with you.”
He then said he’s planning ‘something ridiculous’ for his Creamfields appearance to make it up to fans.
Josh Baker said in his full statement on Parklife: “I’ve taken a few days to process what happened at Parklife last weekend, and I wanted to share a few words.
“This one was always going to mean a lot. Growing up in Manchester, I’ve been going to Parklife since I was 16, so to be booked for such a big slot felt like a proper full-circle moment. But just as I stepped on stage, the music had to be cut. When I came on there were too many people trying to get into the arena and it quickly became unsafe, and therefore the stage had to be closed for the rest of the day.
“It’s gutting, but I want to be clear – the organisers made the right call. Safety has to come before everything. After seeing a few of the videos from the crowd, I’m just relieved the situation did not escalate and everyone remained safe.
“Still, it’s hard to explain how much it hurt not being able to play. I know so many of you were excited for that set and it honestly blew me away seeing that many people turning up.
“Over the last few days, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make it right. I looked into doing a free follow-up show in Manchester, but the reality is, there are no suitable or possible venues which would hold anywhere near the amount of people who were trying to get in to see me play.
“The last thing I’d want is to announce something and end up disappointing even more people who couldn’t get tickets. After a lot of conversations and digging behind the scenes, we’ve had to accept that there’s no realistic way to do something that feels fair right now.
“I’m honestly so sorry to everyone who didn’t get to see the set. It was completely out of my hands, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Just know I’ve felt every bit of frustration with you.
“I really hope to see loads of you at Creamfields because I’m already planning something ridiculous to try and make this up to you in some way.”
Legendary funk and soul act Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester
Danny Jones
In case you hadn’t heard already, iconic funk, soul, and R’n’B artist Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester after far too long away from our musical city for a massive arena gig later this year.
Coming back to 0161 ‘For One Night Only’, the award-winning US supergroup and industry giants are set to make their first appearance here in over 15 years.
With a rich back catalogue and a career spanning six decades, not to mention multiple genres including funk, soul, disco, jazz (how they first began as an ensemble) and more, it’s only fitting they be given the top billing at the one and only AO Arena.
After Manc fans have had to wait for long, this is sure to be a night of ‘Summertime Madness’.
Though they need no real introduction if you know your music history, specifically African-American and Black music culture, Kool and the Gang are arguably one of the most influential acts to ever make it.
Having performed together longer than other R’n’B outfit on the planet, stood as one of the most sampled artists of all time and released a staggering 34 studio albums to date, they’re nothing short of foundational.
While, sadly, there is only founding member Robert ‘Kool’ Bell left from the original lineup formed back in 1964, the various iterations of the surviving live band have captured that same effortless cool, charisma, and effortless control of a crowd on the road that made the OG Gang such a toue de force.
As well as touring with everyone from Elton John and the Dave Matthews Band to The Roots and even a 50-city tour alongside equally legendary rock group, Van Halen, they have no shortage of accolades to their name.
How does two Grammys, seven American Music Awards (AMAs), a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine top ten hits in the pop charts, as well as 31 gold and platinum albums, strike you?
— Melodies & Masterpieces (@SVG__Collection) May 27, 2025
Best known for beloved tracks like ‘Celebration’, ‘Get Down On It’, ‘Cherish’ and ‘Jungle Boogie’, just to name a very small few (again, their discography is huge), you’ve most likely heard their songs or at least one of their serially sampled beats more times than its possible to count.
Yep, if there’s anyone that deserves the ‘icon’ moniker, it’s these lot.
Kool and the Gang come to the AO Arena in Manchester next month on Friday, 11 July and will have fellow British soul counterparts, The Real Thing, who looked to mirror their success throughout the ’70s, along for the ride.
General admission tickets are already on sale as we speak – you can grab yours HERE.
Danny Jones -
10th August 2023 
