The search for the Favourite Festival of the Year in the north of England is nearly over, with five incredible events shortlisted in the inaugural Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards (NMAs).
After a panel of music industry professionals selected a longlist – including one of The Manc audience’s choosing – it was then over to the public to narrow down the selection to five northern festivals.
And you lot have picked some cracking events that could end up being crowned the Favourite Festival of the Year at the NMAs.
Voting is now open for you to cast your vote, with the public whittling down an impressive list of northern music festivals to five of the very best.
Those shortlisted include Stockport’s Moovin Festival, Kendal Calling in the Lake District, Salford’s Sounds From The Other City, Sheffield’s Tramlines, and Beatherder.
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The overall winner will be revealed at the performance-packed awards ceremony on 23 April at Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall.
The awards themselves will be hosted in a different northern city each year and will continue to recognise the breadth of musical talent across the north of England, year after year.
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This year’s inaugural celebration will be headlined by Courteeners’ Liam Fray with a short and special live acoustic set, plus the legendary Lisa Stansfield, Warrington’s rising stars The K’s, up-and-coming Leeds quartet English Teacher, and spoken word, indie hip hop artist Antony Szmierek, who is to open the awards with a specially commissioned piece about the power of music therapy.
Tramlines and Kendal Calling are among the events shortlisted for Favourite Festival of the Year in the Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards (NMAs)
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.
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.
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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 are the proud sponsors of the Favourite Festival of the Year category.
You can cast your vote and choose the winner of Favourite Festival of the Year for the NMAs below.
Voting closes at 23.59pm on Wednesday 27 March, 2024.
Charli XCX announces massive Manchester arena gig as part of long-awaited UK and European tour
Emily Sergeant
Charli XCX has finally given UK fans the news they’ve been waiting for.
After the genre-bending popstar announced back in June a series of US gigs this autumn to support and celebrate the release of her eighth studio albumMusic, Fashion, Film – which was met with critical acclaim following its release in late July – fans in her home country were wondering when she would announce UK dates to accompany these.
The 34-year-old been had hinting at a UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour on social media over the past couple of months, but nothing was set in stone as of yet.
Then last night, Charli took to Twitter to announce that she ‘finally’ had some information coming today (11 September), and then followed it up with a teaser video – sending fans into a frenzy.
And now, it has been announced this morning that Charli XCX will be taking to the Co-op Live stage early next year.
Support on the UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour will come from US popstar Audrey Hobert.
Hobert has been having somewhat of a star-making year herself in 2026 following the release of her own critically acclaimed debut album, Who’s The Clown?, last year – with her streams racking up daily and drawing in massive crowds on the festival circuit this summer.
Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film Tour UK & EU Dates 2027
13 February – 3Arena, Dublin
15 February – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
17 February – Co-op Live, Manchester
19 February – The O2, London
22 February – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
24 February – Accor Arena, Paris
Upon release back in July, Music, Fashion, Film the album received acclaim from music critics, who praised its lyrical honesty and experimental production, as Charli took a sonic journey away from the undeniable mega hit that was her 2024 album BRAT, and into ‘Rock Music’ territory.
Music, Fashion, Film topped the charts in the UK and Australia, as well as in Belgium, Hungary, and New Zealand, while reaching the top 10 in countless other countries – including the US.
Charli XCX will be bringing the Music, Fashion, Film Tour to Manchester‘s Co-op Live on Wednesday 17 February 2027, and tickets will go on sale next week.
Featured Image – Henry Redcliffe (Publicity Picture)
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Oasis 2027 tour announcement is imminent, as drone show lights up Manchester
Daisy Jackson
An Oasis tour announcement appears to be officially on the way, with a huge drone display lighting up the skies above Manchester.
The Manchester band sent up drones above their beloved Manchester City’s home ground, the Etihad Stadium, which just so happens to be the venue that rumours are tipping for their 2027 tour dates.
And after weeks of teasing and cryptic videos, hints on X, and leaked dates, we finally know when Oasis will be announcing their 2027 tour for real.
The drones above Manchester late last night spelled out ‘Oasis. 4pm BST. 14.09.26’.
The display took place around 11pm, just as thousands of music fans were leaving an Evanescence gig as the nearby Co-op Live.
Liam and Noel Gallagher finally put aside their differences back in 2024, announcing an Oasis reunion tour for the summer of 2025.
Oasis Live ’25 set the world alight, and included five massive nights at Heaton Park in their native Manchester.
And it’s looking like their 2027 tour will be even bigger, with rumours suggesting a whopping 12 night residency at the Etihad Stadium next summer.
Daisy Jackson -
18th March 2024 
