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This Manchester club has been shortlisted as one of the best in the UK

DJ Mag has shortlisted Depot Mayfield as one of the UK's best nightclubs for its 2022 list

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 30th November 2022

In a coup for the city’s clubbing scene, a huge venue in Manchester has been shortlisted as one of the best of its kind in the UK by this year’s DJ Mag awards.

Depot Mayfield, the home of Manchester’s infamous party series The Warehouse Project, is the only club in the north of England to make the shortlist – sitting alongside London venues Fabric, KOKO and Printworks, and Glasgow nightclub SWG3.

First opened in 2019, the 10,000 capacity venue has been home to some huge events – including MIF and Skepta’s mind-blowing futurist rave DYSTOPIA987 and Manchester Pride’s inaugural music event  Pride Live, as well as innumerable shows for WHP over the past few years.

With three separate stages – Depot, Concourse and Archive – it has been home to an eclectic run of Warehouse Project shows, attracting ravers and gig-goers of all musical persuasions.

Image: WHP MCR
Image: WHP MCR

Now it has been recognised as one of the best large venues in the UK as part of the annual DJ Mag awards, widely considered to be one of (if not the) biggest authorities on the UK dance music scene.

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The award ceremony takes place this December 15 in London’s The Steel Yard, in what is the first IRL award show since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.

This year marks the 16th edition of the awards, an annual celebration of UK talent. Positioned as a counter-balance to the global Top 100 DJs poll, DJ Mag’s Best Of British awards are a chance to shine a spotlight on the homegrown talent that continues to place the UK scene at the forefront of electronic music.

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Image: @anthonymooney via WHP MCR
Image: @anthonymooney via WHP MCR

The 2022 nominations are split across 22 categories, and the awards show in December will also see the return of three editorial choice categories, Outstanding Contribution, Innovation & Excellence and Game Changer.

Also shortlisted in this year’s awards is Manchester’s ‘Baddest of them all’ producer and DJ Interplanetary Criminal, whose BOTA remix with Eliza Rose went viral this year and hit number one in the UK singles charts this September.

Read more: Hot Chip announce huge live Manchester show at The Warehouse Project

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Interplanetary Criminal is up for two awards this year – Best Producer and Best Track – showing that Manchester is still at the forefront of the UK music scene, decades after its Hacienda heydays.

You can see the full list of DJ Mag’s 2022 awards and nominations below.

Best DJ

Anz
Djrum
Palms Trax
Patrick Topping
Tiffany Calver

Breakthrough DJ

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Fleur Shore
Girls Don’t Sync
KILIMANJARO
Mozey
TAAHLIAH

Best Live Act

aya
Bonobo
Fred again..
Krust
The Comet Is Coming

Best Producer

Congo Natty
Dance System
Interplanetary Criminal
Loraine James
M1onthebeat

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Breakthrough Producer

Breaka
CeeBeaats
Meg Ward
Nia Archives
Soul Mass Transit System

Best MC/Vocalist

Bandokay
MC Chickaboo
Ivorian Doll
Knucks
Novelist

Breakthrough MC/Vocalist

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Bemz
Chinx (OS)
Iceboy Violet
Jim Legxacy
ShaSimone

Best Label

AD 93
ec2a
Phantasy Sound
Trick
XL Recordings

Breakthrough Label

All Centre
Over/Shadow
Pretty Weird
Sondela Recordings
Time Is Now [Shall Not Fade]

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Best Album

DJ Q ‘Est. 2003’ [Local Action]
Hagan ‘Textures’ [Python Syndicate]
Hudson Mohawke ‘Cry Sugar’ [Warp]
Kelly Lee Owens ‘LP.8’ [Smalltown Supersound]
TSHA ‘Capricorn Sun’ [Ninja Tune]

Best Compilation

PinkPantheress ‘to hell with it (Remixes)’ [Parlophone]
V/A ”Club Entry’ Vol. 1′ [Borne Fruits]
V/A ‘Hospital Mixtape: Lens’ [Hospital Records]
V/A ‘Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura’ [Mr Bongo]
V/A ‘Touching Bass presents: Soon Come’ [Touching Bass]

Best Track

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Eliza Rose & Interplanetary Criminal ‘B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All)’ [Warner Records x One House]
Hamdi ‘Skanka’ [DUPLOC]
Joy O ‘pinky ring’ [XL Recordings]
LF System ‘Afraid To Feel’ [Warner Music]
Nia Archives ‘Baianá’ [HIJINXX / Island]

Best Remix/Edit

KH ‘Looking At Your Pager’ [Ministry of Sound/Three Six Zero]
Michael Bibi ‘La Murga (Michael’s Midnight Mix)’
Nick León ‘Xtasis feat. DJ Babatr (Pearson Sound Remix)’ [TraTraTrax]
Tessela ‘Hackney Parrot (Bailey’s Techno Tool)’
Tirzah ‘Tectonic (FAUZIA Remix)’ [Domino]

Best Rap Album/Mixtape

CB ‘A Drillers Perspective 2’ [mayowahd]
FLOHIO ‘Out Of Heart’ [AWAL]
Horrid1 x Sav’O ‘Violent Siblings’ [CGM Records]
Jeshi ‘Universal Credit’ [Because Music]
Loyle Carner ‘hugo’ [EMI]

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Best Rap Track

Darkoo ‘Always feat. Black Sherif’ (Prod. by Albert kweku Koranteng) [Atlantic Records UK]
Giggs x Tiny Boost ‘The Family’ (Prod. by RichMadeRecords) [Self-released]
Kojey Radical feat. Lex Amor ‘War Outside’ (Prod. by Swindle & Kztheproducer) [Asylum Records UK]
LD x C1 ‘Hillside Demons’ (Prod. by JS OTP & Hilzz) [24 Hour Ent]
Nemzzz ‘2MS’ (Prod. by Wydsonni) [Motown Records UK / EMI]

Best Radio Show

Emma Jean Thackray, Worldwide FM
Ellie Prohan, KISS FM
Felix Joy Breakfast Show, SWU
Pure Spice with DJ Manara, BBC Asian Network
Soup To Nuts, NTS

Best Large Club

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Depot Mayfield, Manchester
fabric, London
KOKO, London
Printworks, London
SWG3, Glasgow

Best Small Club

Colour Factory, London
Night Tales, London
Strange Brew, Bristol
Sub Club, Glasgow
Ulster Sports Club, Belfast

Best Club Event

Club Blanco
Distant Planet
PXSSY PALACE
Teletech
Small Talk

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Best Festival

Houghton Festival
Naked City Festival
Otherlands Music & Arts Festival
Outlook Festival UK
Queen’s Yard Summer Party

Best Boutique Festival

Field Maneuvers
Freerotation
KALLIDA Festival
No Bounds Festival
Watching Trees Festival

Underground Hero
Recognising the champions of grassroots music communities

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Double O & Mantra
Jeremy Sylvester
Lo Shea
Man Power
Sarah McBriar

Feature image – WHP MCR

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Parklife 2025 – dates, line-up, day splits, tickets and more

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Parklife is back for 2025

Parklife is, hands down, the biggest party of the year in Manchester, luring tens of thousands of music-lovers to Heaton Park for two days of live music.

This year’s is shaping up to be the biggest in years, with huge headline slots from Charli XCX and 50 Cent, plus festival favourites like Bicep, Pawsa and Confidence Man.

With just a few weeks to go, festival-goers will be deep in their Parklife prep, whether it’s planning how to get there or what to wear all weekend.

Parklife is now releasing plenty of information about this year’s festival, including VIP upgrades, travel passes, and a few changes to the festival site, including new stages.

So we’ve rounded up a load of essential information you’ll need if you’re heading to the fields of Heaton Park.

When is Parklife 2025 and what times?

Parklife 2025 will be taking place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June, at Heaton Park.

Parklife gates open from midday on Saturday 14 and 1pm on Sunday 15 June. On both days the event finishes at 11pm.

Last entry to Parklife is strictly 5pm.

Who’s on the line-up for Parklife 2025?

It’s a whopping year for the Parklife line-up, pulling in two huge headliners – artist of the moment Charli XCX, and hip-hop heavyweight 50 Cent.

Next up will be performances from incredible talent like soul singer Jorja Smith, Parklife favourite Peggy Gou, Pawsa, Bicep, Overmono, Confidence Man, Hybrid Minds, Rudimental, and Chris Stussy.

There’ll also be slots for Mancs like Interplanetary Criminal, Antony Szmierek, and Morgan Seatree.

Sadly, one of the hottest names on the bill, Lola Young, has pulled out of the festival this year, but it’s still shaping up to be a massive weekend.

You can see the full Parklife line-up below.

The Parklife 2025 line-up poster

How to get tickets, and ticket prices

Tickets for Parklife are still on sale, with decent availability for most ticket types – but they’re selling fast as the festival gets nearer and nearer.

Below are the prices for the main ticket options.

  • Weekend tickets – £164.45 each
  • VIP weekend tickets – £218.90 each
  • Saturday day tickets – £95.20 each
  • VIP Saturday day tickets – £137.50 each
  • Sunday day tickets – £95.20 each
  • VIP Sunday day tickets – £137.50 each

How much is a VIP or Backstage upgrade, and what does it get you?

If you’ve already bought a ticket but want to upgrade yourself to VIP, it’s not too late (and speaking from experience, WORTH IT).

You can upgrade your whole weekend to VIP for £72.80 each, or £44.80 each for day tickets.

The Parklife VIP area has jumped across to the other side of the festival site this year and is now right in the heart of the action near the Valley Stage.

From here, you have an exclusive viewing area of the stage, plus exclusive food and drink, priority entry, VIP toilets, a hair and makeup pamper station, and plenty more.

Then there’s a new Backstage ticket type this year, which gets you on-stage access to the Hangar stage, an exclusive viewing area of the Valley Stage, a backstage bar and a chill out area – it’s £165.00 each to upgrade for the weekend.

How to get to and from Parklife festival 2025, plus travel pass

Parklife takes place up at Heaton Park, so it’s a little way out of the city centre – but it’s a doddle to make your way up to the fields.

The festival still advises using the dedicated shuttle bus to get there and back, which is the quickest and easiest route.

The shuttle bus leaves from Lever Street in the Northern Quarter and will drop you right outside the festival site within about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can get a Bee Network tram to Bowker Vale or Heaton Park tram stops, and walk up to the gates.

As for getting home, buses will operate from early evening until everyone has safely left the festival site.

Trams will operate on their normal schedule but note that Heaton Park station closes at 9pm on both evenings, so that crowds can be safely managed at Bowker Vale instead.

There’s a special Parklife Travel Pass that allows you to travel on any bus or tram service including the shuttle bus – it’s £8 per day, or £14 for the weekend, and is available on the Bee Network app.

Parklife 2025 festival map and stages

There are some big changes on site at Parklife this year – including The Parklife Stage disappearing altogether.

Now, The Valley will act as the main stage, and there are two brand new stages to check out too.

Both Matinee and Big Top will be new this year.

Magic Sky will move a bit more centrally into the festival site, while the truly impressive Hangar stage dominates the western side of the event.

And at the top of the hill will be the small but mighty G Stage.

What you can and can’t bring to Parklife 2025

There’s strict security in place getting in and out of Heaton Park for Parklife festival, for everyone’s safety, and a long list of what you can and can’t bring with you.

You can bring your own water bottle on site with refill stations all over Parklife, but it mustn’t be larger than 500ml and can’t be metal.

You can also take sun cream as long as it’s 200ml or less and in original containers, and if the weather goes the other way, compact umbrellas are okay.

As for the banned list, it includes obvious stuff like alcohol, drugs, knives, aerosols and flares/fireworks, as well as less obvious things like hoverboards and skateboards, hi vis jackets and selfie sticks.

Check the full list and more information HERE.

Read more

Featured image: Jody Hartley

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A huge Irish festival with iconic music stars, markets, food and more is coming to Greater Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

A massive Irish music festival with masses of food, drink, crafts, workshops and surprises is returning to Greater Manchester this summer. 

Craic by the Creek 2025 will bring together all the best bits of the Emerald Isle for a weekend-long knees-up in a gorgeous countryside location on our doorstep in July. 

There’s a huge music line-up (with plenty more still to be announced) featuring Boyzlife, made up of Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden from Westlife. 

And this fun-filled Irish Music Festival is the only one of its kind offering full weekend camping, at the beautiful village of Compstall in Stockport. 

The countdown is now officially on for this unmissable celebration of Irish music, culture, and community spirit, which will take place between 18 and 20 July. 

Craic by the Creek has been hailed as the greatest Irish music festival in the UK and is back for 2025 bigger than ever.

Craic by the Creek is back in Greater Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Craic by the Creek is back in Greater Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Craic by the Creek is back in Greater Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Craic by the Creek is back in Greater Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Already announced to perform live along with Boyzlife are The Tumbling Paddies, Derek Ryan, All Folk’d Up, Johnny Brady, The Kilkennys and loads more. 

There are still more acts to be revealed in this stacked line-up. 

And it’s not just about the music at Craic by the Creek – there’s also a bustling Irish-themed craft market with handmade goods, Irish-inspired food and drink, social dance workshops, and plenty of surprises. 

Expect a weekend of tunes, traditions, community vibes and campfire craic. 

Craic by the Creek will take place between 18 and 20 July, 2025 – tickets are on sale now via Skiddle, and they’re already flying.

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

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