One of the most legendary drum and bass nights in Manchester’s music history is returning to the city for the first time in 20 years. Yes, it’s official: Squiggle Dee Mash is back.
Arguably the best-named night of live music anywhere in the world, Squiggle Dee Mash became a local institution even in its short four-year lifespan from 1998 to 2022, sprouting from a small gig put together by a uni student to a clubland cult hit.
Having been hosted in legendary venues like Generation X (New Wakefield St.) Club Havana (now Revs de Cuba), K2 (yes, the karaoke bar), MMU Student Union, even in the depths of UoM’s Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), the drum, bass and jungle night has had many homes.
Now resurrected by its founder, Ottilia Ordog – a music promoter and director of Beats Bazaar with decades of experience under her belt – Squiggle Dee Mash will be making its comeback at the Bee House venue located on Deansgate Locks on 21 October.
The line-up includes OG residents such as Sappo, Mark XTC and DJ Prophecy, as well as the likes of the Ragga Twins, DJ Rap, MC Madrush and many more.
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Full Squiggle Dee Mash Line-Up
DJ Rap
Ragga Twins
Sappo
Mark XTC
DJ Prophecy
Outlander
Diemond’ED
Veba
MC Madrush
MC Crystalize
MC Chilla
Kerin
The comeback event also promises live PAs from Howie Jacobs of Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, who will also drum along to Sappo’s beats, as well as a new collaboration between Mandy Wigby (Lionrock, Sister of Transistors, Architects of Rosslyn) and Kerin, a.k.a. Che3kz.
Ottilia, a self-proclaimed five-foot ‘Transylvanian drum and bass and jungle fanatic’, first hosted the event back in 1998 when she was a second year at the University of Salford and helped pioneer the D and B scene in the city, aiming to bring a more fun, festival-like feeling to jungle nights.
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As she puts it, the gig’s unique name basically took on United’s mantra of ‘hated, ignored, never ignored’, but soon the somewhat niche event became a place where people from all walks of life were welcome to come and enjoy themselves.
Squiggle Dee Mash boasted the best jungle DJs and MCs, as well as dancers, drummers, fire breathers, jugglers and more, with lots of people regularly tuning up in fancy dress.
There was even an infamous ‘witchdoctor’ who regularly let people in for free if they could bring so crazy and entertaining to the party.
Spread across multiple rooms playing everything from jungle and D&B to hardcore, hip hop and house music, this year’s event promises to bring the authentic Squiggle Dee Mash experience to a modern audience.
Ottilia said she met up with friends and former MCs from the early days, and before she knew it, they were all ‘well up for it’ and things started coming together ‘like it was meant to be.’
Running from 10pm on 21 October until 4am the following day, if you’re into your drum and bass or electronic music in general, you don’t want to miss this one.
You can grab your tickets via Skiddle for £12 plus the booking fee HERE.
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 -
21st September 2022 
