Manchester record label Scruff of the Neck has launched their brand-new music festival in the city centre, Year’s End, as dozens of up-and-coming bands from the North and beyond are set to close out 2023 in style.
Debuting this December, the inaugural Year’s End Festival is 0161’s newest metropolitan music event, promising nearly 50 different artists playing across eight different beloved stages in central Manchester, all within the space of less than 24 hours.
The day-night festival will be taking place along the city’s iconic Oxford Road Corridor, considered not only student central but home to some of our most iconic venues where countless bands and solo acts have made their name and continue to play to this day. Here’s the final lineup for Year’s End 2023.
Credit: Liam MaxwellThe lineup for the first-ever Year’s End Fest.
Playing across the following locations — The Bread Shed, Canvas (two rooms), The Deaf Insitute (also two rooms), Hatch, Thirsty Scholar (indoor and outdoor) and Zombie Shack — each gig will be just a short walking distance from another and boast a capacity of 2,000 guests in total.
If you’ve ever been to any of these venues, be it the legendary Deaf Institute or the shiny new surround that is Circle Sqaure‘s Canvas bar, restaurant and events space, you’ll know that each of them offers up their own unique charm.
Better still, with a host of Scruff of the Neck bands signed up like BLOXX, Shambolics and All the Young, plenty of local acts such as The Covasettes, UNO MAS and Cassia just to name a few, as well as big names in general like The View, there is going to be some serious talent on display.
Set up not only by Scruff but with the help of BBC Introducing, Fatsoma; Marshall, 42nd Street and music-fuelled beer brand, Signature Brew, there is a lot of collaboration and celebration of the ‘up-and-coming’ about this exciting new event — that’s what we like to hear.
Credit: Lewis WolstenholmeCredit: Scruff of the Neck
While early bird passes (which cost just £15) have already sold out, there are still plenty of tier one general release tickets available for £20 before tiers two and three drop at a different price point.
It goes without saying that you need to be quick if you don’t want to miss out on Manchester’s newest music festival. Each ticket grants you access to every single venue all day and night long, plus a free wristband that will get you into the afterparty. You can grab yours HERE.
Year’s End Festival kicks off at 12pm and will run until 11pm on 9 December, followed by the afterparty which will be hosted by none other than Scruff of the Neck themselves, who’ll be on decks until late.
The label’s founder, Mark Lippmann, is tipping the unique music industry and community concept as the perfect way “to end the year with one big blowout and a chance to spend quality time together whilst enjoying our artists before the music industry Christmas break.” We couldn’t agree more.
See you there. In the meantime, there’s plenty of gigs on the schedule for the rest of the month:
Featured Images — Year’s End Festival/Scruff of the Neck
Audio
Kaiser Chiefs continue debut album’s 20th anniversary celebrations with more tour dates
Danny Jones
Northern music veterans Kaiser Chiefs are set to continue the celebrations of their debut album’s 20th anniversary with even more milestone tour dates next year.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since their very first LP, Employment, was first released, just before the onslaught of indie landfill took over the UK and beyond back in the 200s, but it really has been that long.
2025 has seen the beloved Yorkshire band rolling back the years and playing all the hits from the seminal debut record, and since the scenes at Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Latitude and more have been such good vibes, they’ve decided to keep the party going even longer.
Announcing further tour dates next February, the Leeds legends will be heading back on the road before you know it and playing all of the hits.
Confirming a dozen new live shows, the noughties hit-makers behind ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Oh My God’ and many more will be heading to Manchester for just the second stop on their upcoming tour.
Heading to O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, 14 February, the ever-familiar British five-piece haven’t yet announced a hometown gig.
That being said, we have a feeling you can expect something extra special – perhaps a Temple Newsam 2.0 – to be revealed for them not too far down the line.
Speaking on the tour extension, frontman Ricky Wilson said: “This summer, we played a load of shows to mark the release of our debut album, Employment. It went well. Probably better than our first summer 20 years ago.
“It was the year after that first year that things really took off, so we hope you will join us in February to help celebrate with us ‘the year it really took off’.
“If you were with us the first time, or unfortunately missed out due to other commitments, we hope you will join us for a joyous lap of honour. (Plus, I spent quite a bit on a new blazer and want to get my money’s worth)”.
NEW: @kaiserchiefs NEW: Kaiser Chiefs are heading on the 'MORE Employment' tour, playing their debut album in full plus their greatest hits at #O2VictoriaWarehouseManchester on Sat 14 Feb!
— O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester (@O2VicWarehouse) August 15, 2025
Our Audio North followers will be glad to hear that there a plenty of gigs taking place up at the top end of the country, and you can see the full list of ‘More Employment‘ shows down below.
Kaiser Chiefs’ 2026 UK tour dates:
13 Fri – Bradford, Live
14 Sat – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
15 Sun – Stockton, Globe
17 Tue – Dundee, Live House
18 Wed – Glasgow, Barrowland
20 Fri – London, Eventim Apollo
21 Sat – Hull, Connexin Live
23 Mon – Norwich, UEA
24 Tue – Swansea, Building Society Arena
26 Thu – Bournemouth, International Centre
27 Fri – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
28 Sat – Wolverhampton, The Halls
Tickets for the Kaiser Chiefs’ show here in Manchester, as well as all other nights live on Friday, 22 August from 9am; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We’ll see you there.
And until then, why not see what the lads had to say to our friends over at The Hoot when we interviewed them back in May?…
Featured Images — Cal McIntyre (supplied)/press shots/The Manc Group
Audio
Manchester Pride announces Nelly Furtado as surprise headliner
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Pride has just dropped another huge headliner for this year’s festival – and it’s only global pop superstar Nelly Furtado.
The huge LGBTQ+ festival, celebration and protest had kept its final headliner under wraps for months, but has today announced the Maneater star will be joining the line-up for 2025.
Nelly Furtado will co-headline Manchester Pride alongside Olly Alexander, with tickets for both the Gay Village Party and Mardi Gras already on sale.
Also announced on the line-up today are DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly.
Manchester Pride 2025 will take place from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August, with four days of live music, celebrations, the parade, parties, and the candlelit vigil.
Already-announced headliners include Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne, Billy Porter, and Tulisa, alongside loads more queer artists.
Nelly Furtado is known for her anthems like Maneater, Promiscuous and I’m Like A Bird, and will bring Mardi Gras to an uplifting, powerful end on Sunday 24 August.
Homegrown legend DJ Paulette will also join the Sunday Mardi Gras line-up, along with South African trailblazer Moonchild Sanelly on Friday at the Gay Village Party.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “Welcoming an Icon like Nelly Furtado alongside DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly further showcases the diversity of musical tastes that we’re catering for. They’re each sure to create some unforgettable moments.
“Manchester Pride 2025 will be bold, brilliant, and bursting with Pride energy, but it’s at a tipping point.
“Pride can only thrive if our community shows up: by attending events, joining the Parade, and buying supporter bands.
“We’ve seen what happens when we don’t rally together, and we cannot let that happen in our City. This is the moment to stand up, come together, party as a protest and ensure Pride continues to shine long into the future.”
For full-day line-ups and more information on Manchester Pride 2025, download the Manchester Pride app.