There are some massive festivals on the way to the north west region, as the nation gears up for its first restriction-free summer in two years.
From the family-friendly to the world-famous raves, from festivals that base themselves in ground-breaking science to ones who take over a barn, there really is something for everyone this year.
We’ve rounded up here some of the best and biggest events to look forward to now.
Keep reading to find out what you need to know, from locations to line-ups to how to get tickets.
Highest Point
What is it? Lancashire’s biggest open-air festival, Highest Point was set up in 2018 and attracts around 35,000 music fans every year. Expect a range of music across multiple stages, as well as new additions this year – including the Not-tober beer hall, which will feature an immersive bingo experience with rave intervals, dance-offs and audience participation, karaoke, drag acts and more.
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Who are the headliners? Richard Ashcroft, Clean Bandit, Kaiser Chiefs, Basement Jaxx, Example, The Lottery Winners, Reverend and the Makers, Sigala, and more.
What is it? Manchester’s biggest party every year, attracting global talent and UK festival exclusives from across the worlds of dance, hip hop, grime, pop, rock, club and house music. The urban festival comes from the same team behind the Warehouse Project and pulls around 80,000 people to Heaton Park every summer.
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Who are the headliners? Tyler, the Creator, 50 Cent, Megan Thee Stallion, Lewis Capaldi, Arlo Parks, Chase & Status, Jamie xx, Four Tet, Jessie Ware and more.
What is it? Billed as a weekend of ‘quirky, hedonistic madness’, Moovin has stages including The Barn, a converted cow shed with a massive bar and hay bales to sit on. Once ‘Manchester’s best kept secret’, the independent event has become a well-established staple on the region’s events calendar.
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Who are the headliners? Orbital, Shy FX, Roy Ayers, Jazzy Jeff, Louie Vega, Moodymann, Sugarhill Gang, Sister Nancy, and more.
What is it? Taking over a corner of the beautiful Lake District, Kendal Calling is celebrating its 15th birthday this summer after a three-year hiatus. It’s one of the biggest festivals in the north west and draws in some of the biggest names in rock, indie, folk, and comedy.
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Who are the headliners? Supergrass, Stereophonics, Bastille, Craig David, The Wombats, The Kooks, Tom Grennan, The Vaccines, The Cribs, Declan McKenna, Sea Girls, Sophie Ellis Bextor, and more.
What is it? Marrying incredible countryside views with a massive indie-rock line up, plus comedy, paint fights, carnivals, an in-house cinema, great food, and a lot of fancy dress, Y Not is the Peak District’s biggest party.
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Who are the headliners? Stereophonics, Courteeners, Blossoms, The Kooks, Manic Street Preachers, Nothing But Thieves, The Vaccines, Levellers, Jake Bugg, Sea Girls, Kelis, Pale Waves, and more.
What is it? What started as a one-night-only, Proms-style concert has now swelled to a two week live music series on the banks of the Ribble Estuary. With space for up to 20,000 people a night, it’s previously been headlined by the likes of Stereophonics, Rod Stewart, and even Kylie Minogue.
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Who are the headliners? Diana Ross, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Duran Duran, Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Simply Red, The Strokes, Elbow, Tears For Fears, Paul Weller, The Charlatans, Goldfrapp, Jack Savoretti, Kodaline, and more.
Where is it? Lytham Green, Lytham St. Anne’s, Lancashire, FY8 5LB
What is it? Bluedot blends the worlds of music, science and culture in a family-friendly four-day extravaganza, with the incredible 76-metre-wide Lovell Telescope as its backdrop.
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Who are the headliners? Bjork with the Halle Orchestra, Groove Armada, Mogwai, Metronomy, Tim Peake, Spiritualized, Working Mens Club, Kelly Lee Owens, and more.
Flashback Festival is the newest to join the north west
What is it? A haven for 90s kids, 00s lovers, dance floor heroes, and underground clubbers, brand new Flashback Festival will be bringing ‘timeless tunes and fresh vibes’ to Platt Fields Park this May. There’ll be more than 60 artists across multiple stages.
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Who are the headliners? Example, Tinchy Stryder, 2 Unlimited, Tulisa, Judge Jules, Ultrabeat, Artful Dodger, Lisa Mafia and Romeo, all hosted by Kevin and Perry.
Where is it? Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, M14 6LA
What is it? A four-day knees up over the June bank holiday weekend, bringing indie rock, a craft beer festival, big top bingo, a street food village, artisan markets, and family entertainment involving a giant bubble display and circus acts.
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Who are the headliners? The Zutons, Angie Brown, Rozalla, K-Klass, Peter Hook, Clint Boon, and more.
Where is it? The Lambing Shed, Moseley Hall Farm, Knutsford, WA16 8RB
What is it? Taking over a host of small Salford venues, this underground music festival has built a reputation for bringing huge artists to the city whilst they are still at early points in their careers. A firm favourite with local music lovers since it launched in 2005, this year’s line-up will continue to champion local promoters and small independent venues.
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Who are the headliners? LayFullstop, LYR, Lovescene, GNOD, Hamish Hawk, Queer Latifah, Pip Blom, TYSON, Chande and Gracie T, Holy Other, and more.
Where is it? Various venues around Chapel Street, Salford
Manchester nightclub clamps down on no-phones policy after ‘disappointing’ rule breakers
Daisy Jackson
Amber’s, a nightclub in Manchester with a strict no-filming policy inside, has shared a strict new set of rules to prevent people using their phones.
The venue says it’s seen an ‘increased amount of phones on the dance floor’ despite its very clear policy against such a thing.
That’s included a recent set from Fred Again, where videos of his show were all over social media the next day.
Amber’s has said it’s ‘disappointing’ to see people flouting the rules of the space, leading to the venue introducing a zero tolerance policy.
Fans who are caught filming on their phones will be asked to leave Amber’s on the spot – no second chances.
There’ll even be extra members of staff patrolling the venue, to protect the ‘vibe of the space’.
“If you are spotted at any point across the night using your phone to record, you will no longer be permitted inside Amber’s,” they shared.
Amber’s wrote in a statement today: “Since our launch back in December, we have made it very clear that we are a No Phones venue. We want to create an experience for everyone where they are present in the moment and not distracted by phones.
“While the majority of people that attend Amber’s keep their phones away, there are a select few that don’t.
“This is of course disappointing.
“Over the recent weeks and months, we have seen an increased amount of phones filming on the dancefloor and we are aware of numerous videos shot on phone appearing online.
“To those that come to Amber’s and respect our house rules, thank you, you are contributing to an incredible vibe in the room.
“For those that don’t, we ask that you think about the space and the people around you before removing your stickers.
“The rules previously have been that if you are seen filming on your phone, you are politely asked to stop, if you are seen again, you are asked to leave the venue.
“From now on, as a renewed pledge to our No Phones policy, if you are seen recording in the venue, you will be asked to leave, there will be no second chances.
“There will now be extra members of staff patrolling the venue, ensuring that the vibe of the space is protected and if you are spotted at any point across the night using your phone to record, you will no longer be permitted inside Amber’s.
“Open your mind. Honour the concept. Respect the space.”
Katy Perry at AO Arena, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more
Daisy Jackson
Katy Perry will be playing a huge arena show here in Manchester this week, with a sold-out night at the AO Arena imminent.
The popstar is bringing her The Lifetimes Tour, which features an extravaganza of props and pyrotechnics, to town on Wednesday 8 October.
The Roar singer will be heading to the AO Arena this week, alongside shows in Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
Whether you’re going to watch hits like ‘California Gurls’, ‘Hot ‘N’ Cold’ or excited for the newer tracks like ‘I’m His, He’s Mine’, it’s sure to be one of the biggest gigs to hit the legendary arena all year.
Perry has the second most Diamond-certified singles in for a female artist in the U.S, four guiness world records and five UK number one hits.
Her latest album ‘143’, which is a numeric synonym of ‘I love you’ and the singer’s angel number, came out last year and stormed straight into the top 10 on the UK album charts.
If you’re heading to Katy Perry at the AO Arena tonight, we’ve rounded up all your essential information.
Stage times for Katy Perry at the AO Arena
The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed exact stage times for tonight’s show, but we do have enough information to give you a good estimate.
Doors will open at 6pm, with a show start of 7.45pm.
That will mean the support act should wrap up around 8.15pm and Katy Perry is likely to take to the stage between 8.30pm and 8.45pm.
For her Manchester show, Katy Perry will be supported by singer-songwriter Goldie Boutilier.
Goldie, who has also performed under monikers Kay, My Name Is Kay, and Goldilox during her career, will be joining Katy on most of her UK dates, before handing over the reins to Au/Ra and then Becky Hill.
Tickets for Katy Perry at the AO Arena
Katy Perry has completely sold out the AO Arena with The Lifetimes Tour, with no general tickets left at all.
However, there are a few tickets remaining on Ticketmaster’s resale platform, which are priced between £78.73 and £131.18 each.
Expected setlist
Katy has split her show into sections she’s calling ‘Levels’, as a nod to the video game inspiration behind the tour.
Each one is absolutely packed with pop bangers, as you’d expect.
Here’s the latest setlist from her most recent show in Glasgow.
Level 1: Artificial
ARTIFICIAL
Chained to the Rhythm
Teary Eyes
Dark Horse
Level 2: Woman’s World
WOMAN’S WORLD
California Gurls
Teenage Dream
Hot n Cold
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Peacock
I Kissed a Girl
Level 3: Nirvana
NIRVANA
CRUSH
I’M HIS, HE’S MINE
Wide Awake
Level 3.5: Choose Your Own Adventure (fan requests)
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena andVictoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
Getting there by car and parking
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
Daisy Jackson -
16th April 2022 
