One of the most popular city centre venues is back with another edition of its new music festival this May bank holiday weekend.
In case you missed it, award-winning Spinningfields bar and one of the city’s best-loved sun traps, The Oast House, has launched a brand-new music festival, and it kicked-off for the first time over the extended Easter bank holiday weekend, with a full day of tunes provided by local musicians throughout the one-day event.
And now, it’s back once again for the upcoming May bank holiday on Sunday 1 May.
The festival, which is named ManiFest, takes over The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace area, with a dedicated stage set up.
Set to run from 1pm right through until 10pm in the evening, a packed roster of acts are lined up to perform on Sunday, including bands, solo artists, and duos, all taking to the stage throughout the day, with interludes provided by a number of resident DJs.
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The Oast House says that festival-goers can expect a “party atmosphere” and sounds of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco and blues – with headline acts and full artist lineups set to be announced over the next week.
The event is not ticketed, and is free to attend on a first come, first served basis.
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ManiFest is taking over The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace every bank holiday weekend this spring and summer / Credit: The Oast House
Given the fact that the event is not tickets and knowing how popular The Oast House is on most weekends in general, the venue is recommending that people get there early to avoid disappointment.
If the tunes weren’t enough of a draw as it is, The Oast House’s unique street food menu will also be on offer to try out throughout the weekend for those looking to line their stomachs during the festival, which has a wide range of signature dishes such as the Northern Poutine, Crispy Chicken Burger, and the famous Hanging Kebabs.
Some of the vegan options on the menu include Cauliflower Wings, Salt and Pepper Fries, and the Plant Based Gyro Wrap.
Festival-goers can expect a “party atmosphere” provided by a packed lineup of local musicians / Credit: The Oast House
Festival-goers will also get a glimpse at a new street art mural by Northern artist Sam Porter, which was unveiled earlier this month to celebrate the launch of the new festival, and has seen iconic Manchester scenes painted onto the inside of The Oast House stage.
ManiFest is set to return to The Oast House on each bank holiday weekend throughout the spring and summer.
More details of individual events will be released in due course on The Oast House website.
Featured Image – The Oast House
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Tom Grennan confirmed as latest Castlefield Bowl act for Sounds of the City 2024
Danny Jones
Indie pop favourite Tom Grennan has become the latest artists confirmed for next year’s Sounds of the City festival at Castlefield Bowl, set to play the large outdoor space on 7 July 2024.
The Bedford-born singer-songwriter has come along from playing small venues across the country and featuring on the FIFA soundtrack way back in 2017 and is now a chart-topping musician with two number-one albums to his name.
With that in mind, following his first successful run of headline UK arena shows back in March — which included a sold-out crowd at the AO here in Manchester — Grennan is now set to play the mighty Castlefield Bowl for the very first time as part of Sound of the City 2024.
Joining the likes of Hacienda Classical, made up of legendary Manc DJs Graeme Park, Mike Pickering and the Manchester Camerata, as well as electronic duo Jungle, the 28-year-old is just the third act to be confirmed for next year’s already impressive festival lineup.
LEEDS & MANCHESTER, can't wait to be back up North with you all for Sounds of the City 2024!
This will be Tom Grennan’s first visit to Castlefield Bowl.
Playing an identical show for Leeds’ parallel festival in Millenium Square on Saturday, 6 July, the two dates follow the announcement of his biggest-ever UK headline show to date, set to take place at London’s Gunnersbury Park on Saturday, 10 August 2024. He’s even got Blossoms supporting.
Now a BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated artist, not to mention a current number-one holder with his recently released third studio album, What Ifs & Maybes, it’s safe to say he’s flying high at the minute.
What better way to toast his success than with another sell-out Manc show — at the one and only Castlefield Bowl no less?
Tickets go on sale at 9:30am on Friday, 6 October and given how big this lad has gotten over the past couple of years, we’d recommend you be quick because they’re going to go even quicker.
Selling over 180,000 tickets throughout his previous UK tour, the roughly 8,000 tickets that’ll be made available for this one, so best of luck if you’re a fan looking to get your hands on one.
When the time comes, you can try and grab yours from Gigs and Tours.
Busted at Manchester’s AO Arena — tickets, support acts, stage times and more
Danny Jones
Guys, we don’t know if you heard but Busted are back on tour— or, more accurately, back on top and they’re bringing all the hits and unparalleled energy levels to Manchester’s AO Arena for a second night in less than a week.
The Busted boys played an initial sold-out show last weekend but had to add a second Manchester date due to the massive demand and although they received rave reviews the first time around, it might as well have been a warm-up for the main event which is already shaping up to be a belter.
With some seriously good supports, another soon-to-sell-out crowd of 20,000+ and the trio now having had a ridiculously good practice run only a few days ago, Busted at the AO Arena night two is going to be insane.
That being said, here’s everything you need to know about their 20th-anniversary tour date and greatest hits show.
If you’re still scrambling around in the hope of getting a last-minute ticket to hear the likes of ‘Year 3000’ and ‘What I Go to School For’ live, you’re in luck: there’s still a very small handful of tickets to be snapped up if you’re quick enough.
There are still a few seats floating about, ranging from £42.50 to £53.50 on Ticketmaster, and you can obviously splurge on the AO Arena’s Champagne Experiences in the Electric Lounge if you fancy it.
As always, if you end up missing out you can also check out resale sites like Twickets and TicketSwap, we advise steering clear from ticket touts at all costs.
You better do one better if you’re going to night two — don’t let us down!
Support acts
Busted have brought some truly great support acts along with them this time, including 90s and 2000s US pop favourites, Hanson — remember them?
As well as the equally iconic trio, Manc pop band New Hope Club are playing the home crowd too. Go on the local lads!
Throwing together some of the era’s most iconic pop-rock together with another three-piece from the modern generation, you’re getting a proper value-for-money and for-all-ages show this Saturday.
As for when you can expect to see each of these fantastic acts take the stage, doors will open from 6pm and New Hope Club will be getting things started at 7:30pm.
Finishing a quickfire set just a few minutes before Hanson, the American throwback best-known for ‘MMMBop’ with be playing from 8pm until 8:30pm — and you might even have a surprise in store. We’re saying nothing else…
Then, at 9pm, the main event gets underway with Busted set to play up until curfew around 11pm and we literally can’t wait.
20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits setlist
Thanks to the ever-reliable Setlist.fm (and the fact we already had multiple members of The Manc office go along to the first night), we even know what they’ll be playing:
Air Hostess
Meet You There
Loser Kid
You Said No
Everything I Knew
MMMBop (Hanson cover)
Sleeping With the Light On
Good One
What I Go to School For
Who’s David
Falling for You
Thunderbirds Are Go
She Wants to Be Me
3am
Crashed the Wedding
Encore
Video (Brit Awards 2004)
Teenage Kicks (The Undertones cover)
Interlude
Year 3000
All the hits — what more could you ask for? Oh yeah, and did we mention they’re number one!?
Emily Sergeant -
21st April 2022 
