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The Warehouse Project reveal huge New Year 2021 closing party lineups

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are always two of the biggest dates in the WHP season calendar - and this year the team has gone even bigger.

Hannah Starkie Hannah Starkie - 27th October 2021

Thankfully, our Manchester New Year celebrations are shaping up to be a damn sight better than last year’s locked-down version. 

Now that more and more New Year events are getting announced, it’s looking like we’re going to be stuck for choice – and we would not have it any other way right now.

As always, The Warehouse Project comes through strong with their New Year agenda – and they’ve just dropped another cracking set of shows to celebrate the end of another tough year getting back to ‘normal’.

In a first for the city, four of Manchester’s biggest music brands will come together to round off what has been an unforgettable return to live music and events this year on New Year’s Day, whilst the New Year’s Eve event also has some big tricks up its sleeve.

Here’s what to expect.

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New Year’s Eve  

The biggest party night of the year, New Year’s Eve is always one for making memories with some huge music lineups. Whilst we weren’t able to see in the new year at Depot Mayfield last year, WHP has pulled off one to remember for the big night on Friday, 31 December 2021.  

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Fat Boy Slim and Radio and DJ legend Annie Mac will headline the night, bringing in the new year with another prime NYE slot, alongside Yousef. 

Over on the Concourse, Hannah Wants, Redlight, Low Steppa, My Nu Leng plus loads more will be responsible for a house, tech, and bassline driven soundtrack. Then in the Archive, it’ll be over to Emerald, Big Miz, and Joe Motion to spin some funky beats.

With an early start from 8 pm, there’ll be plenty of time to get the drinks in before midnight strikes, too, before rounding things up by 4 am – if you can make it that far.  

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New Year’s Day 

On New Year’s Day, an extra special party is set for the Depot. 

In a first for the city, four of Manchester’s biggest music brands will come together to round off what has been an unforgettable return to live music and events this year. 

In a collaboration named ‘The Riot’, Homoelectric, Electric Chair, Repercussion, and The Warehouse Project will join forces to produce the biggest NYD lineup the Depot has ever seen.  

Credit: WHP 21

If your New Year’s Eve hangover allows it, from 3 pm until 2 am, you can enjoy five stages of music, each with a different takeover all day and into the night.  

The Depot’s usual three rooms will be open for business, with music from the likes of The Blessed Madonna, Todd Terje, Jayda G, and Krystal Klear in the Depot’s main room, with Louie Vega, Hunee B2B Palms Trax headlining the Concourse.  

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Over in the Archive, a Homoelectric takeover will see Horse Meat Disco, Leon Vynehall, Shanti Celeste, Sherelle and more.  

What’s more – one of Manchester’s most famed pubs, The Star & Garter, will play host to a WHP lineup again.

The venue was recently taken over as part of the inaugural Repercussion Festival back in September, where Sassy J, Greg Wilson, Krysko and Space Afrika took to the decks at The Star & Garter for a special day of music. 

Repercussion Festival took over a number of venues in and around the Depot, including the Star and Garter and Temperance Street pictured here / Credit: Zed Bias

For The Riot, though, the pub will have two stages.  

Upstairs in ‘The Loft’ you can expect to see Erol Alkan B2B Ivan Smagghe, alongside Nancy Noise and Maurice Fulton. Meanwhile the ‘Downstairs’ stage will feature the likes of Manc legend DJ Paulette, Abigail Ward, and Aficionado.  

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And with that extra bank holiday on Monday, 3 January, you might just get away with the hangover for your return to work.

Micheal Bibi Presents Isolate

A third night has also been revealed today.  

The brand-new show, Michael Bibi & WHP presents Isolate, has been added to the calendar on 18 December. Although we know there are some very special guests in the pipeline, the lineup announcement and full details will follow soon. 

Credit: WHP 21

How to get tickets

Getting hold of tickets for the closing parties is simple. 

For previous WHP21 ticket holders, limited pre-sale tickets will go on sale at 6 pm tonight (Wednesday, 27 October).  

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The remaining tickets will go on general sale to everyone else from 10 am tomorrow (Thursday, 28 October). 

For links and more info, head over to the Warehouse Project website. Here, you’ll also find tickets for the final 20 events that are still to come, featuring Bicep – Live, The Chemical Brothers, Honey Dijon, Jamie xx, Solomun, Avalon Emerson, and hundreds more.  

To read more like this, head to our music tab. And don’t forget to stay up to date with music and events in Manchester over on Instagram with The Manc Audio.

Featured Image – The Warehouse Project

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Manchester institution ‘a little emotional’ after receiving a visit from rock icon Hayley Williams

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hayley Williams spotted in Afflecks in Manchester

Rock icon Hayley Williams has been spotted shopping at Manchester institution Afflecks.

The legendary independent retail emporium said it was ‘feeling a little emotional’ after its halls were graced with rock royalty.

And not only did the Paramore frontwoman and acclaimed solo singer-songwriter come for a browse, she even gave Afflecks a shout-out on stage later that night.

Hayley Williams headlined two solo shows at Manchester Academy on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The shows are in support of her third studio album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.

And despite being known globally as one of music’s best lead vocalists, this is actually Hayley Williams’ first solo tour (her previous dates were cancelled because of Covid).

While on stage in front of fans last night, she said: “I’ve learnt some Mancunian, and I’ve been to Afflecks!”

It sounds like she’s as lovely as she is legendary, with Afflecks saying that the star hung around to chat and take photos.

Sharing photos of the star inside the building, Afflecks wrote: “So a very special visitor stopped by Afflecks yesterday…

“A huge thank you to Hayley Williams for taking the time to visit us, say hello, and pose for a photo. She was so super lovely, kind, and welcoming, and to top it all off she even gave Afflecks a shout-out during last night’s show.

“Safe to say we’re feeling a little emotional about it. Thank you again Hayley for supporting Manchester’s small businesses.”

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Featured image: Instagram, @afflecks_Manchester

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Secret stages, surprise sets and non-stop sunshine – here’s what went down at Parklife 2026

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Parklife 2026 has officially wrapped up, and dare we say it might have been the best one yet?

Well, that’s it folks. One of the biggest weekends on Manchester’s musical calendar has been ticked off, and what a time we had.

The rolling hills of Heaton Park welcomed thousands of ravers who two-stepped from the moment the gates opened until the final vibrations echoed from the speakers.

So, while we nurse our sore feet and slap on the aftersun, let’s reflect on Parklife 2026 and catch you up on what you might have missed.

Images: The Manc Group

For once, the weather actually delivered.

Blue skies and glorious sunshine stuck around all weekend, giving festival-goers the perfect excuse to stay out from open to close and making Heaton Park look more like Ibiza than north Manchester. We’re exaggerating, of course, but you get the picture.

While headline sets from pop princess Zara Larsson and grime MC Skepta drew huge crowds, some of the biggest moments happened away from the main stages.

Images: The Manc Group

After all, when else can you watch Manc icon Bez DJing on a rooftop at a secret garden party? It truly was a sight to behold.

The festival introduced three brand-new secret stages this year, which we think were a fantastic addition. Our favourite was the Bossmans Tent – an exclusive stage hidden behind the facade of a corner shop, where festival-goers had to enter through a fridge to discover the music inside.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without a few cheeky surprise sets thrown into the mix. Enter Aitch.

At this point, the Manchester rapper is basically a Parklife resident, popping up each year to surprise crowds with a song or two. This year, our hometown hero joined Bou on stage, sending fans into a complete and utter meltdown.

Images: The Manc Group

The city was also well represented through a number of stage takeovers across the weekend. Ghosts of Garage, the Manchester-born brand that has built a loyal following across the region, brought together a host of local DJs on Sunday for a takeover that felt like a celebration of the city’s thriving dance music scene.

One of the most anticipated additions for 2026, the new Panorama stage was a real standout. Featuring a belting 100m LED screen, huge dance platforms and behind-the-booth access, there wasn’t a quiet moment there all weekend – and it’s not hard to see why.

Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa drew one of the busiest crowds of the weekend at Panorama, creating relentless energy from start to finish. Fans were packed shoulder-to-shoulder as one of the UK’s fastest-rising names delivered a set worthy of all the hype.

Parklife 2026, you’ve set the bar very high.

We’ll see you next year.

Read more: What people are wearing at Parklife 2026 – ruffles, cowboy boots, football shirts and bandanas

Featured image – The Manc

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