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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena
Danny Jones
Cult favourite frontman Joe Talbot of IDLES fame is set to for an eye-opening sit-down interview as part of AO Arena’s ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series.
The lead singer of the politically-charged post-punk band will be joining the in-conversation event opposite BBC 6 Music host and popular radio host, full stop, Chris Hawkins.
Having often drifted into hardcore, art rock and even spoken word at times, Joe Talbot and co. have become known for the cutting lyricism and insightful songwriting in general, so we can only assume that diving into his own musical influences will be just as riveting.
Joining his fellow audophile on stage at the city’s legendary live music and entertainment venue this November, Talbot and Hawkins will be running through the tracks that quite literally helped create the musician we know today.
According to the AO, the arena will host an in-depth chat with the provocative 41-year-old artist as he walks Chris Hawkins through “the most important musical chapters of his life, his stunning musical journey from resident DJ at one of Bristol’s hottest clubs, through to headlining Glastonbury festival.”
It is quite the career he’s had when you break it down.
They go on to promise “raw honesty and trademark wit” as Joe reflects on the record, acts and cultural moments that shaped him as a young performer before breaking onto the scene with IDLES.
As for the ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series itself, it may be what it says on the tin, but most interestingly, being in the crowd and hearing it from each different group/individual changes the experience entirely.
“More than a story of success—it’s a journey of resilience, passion, and community”, they go on to add. “Expect an evening of candid conversation, unexpected anecdotes, and deep dives into the music that has not only defined Joe’s career but also resonated with millions around the world.
If you’re fans of the band or Talbot, in particular, you’ll already know they’re great orators; plus, if you caught even a small clip from his own fledgling Oh Gatekeeper podcast, you’ll know he loves nothing more than diving deep into tunes that shape not just the audio landscape but people at their core.
Just casually getting the lead singer of The Strokes on for in the first season, as you do…
On a personal note, we’ve watched the IDLES x Grammy Museum interview on multiple ocassions at this point, and know how much artistry there is behind everything they do.
The same goes for Talbot, specifically – there’s no doubt about that.
If you’re interested in being part of the audience for Joe Talbot’s in conversation event with Chris Hawkins as part of ’10 Songs That Made Me’, tickets for the date at AO Arena on Tuesday, 25 November are live now, and you can grab yours via Skiddle right HERE.
Last but not least, special mention goes to the interviewing expert himself, whose recent chat with Tim Burgess about The Charlatans getting back into the studio is also well worth a listen.
Tune in to 6 Music from 1pm today, @Tim_Burgess is my very special guest and rumour has it that we might get to hear a brand new Charlatans track… pic.twitter.com/vzoGDnvS7G
Wet Leg announce huge outdoor gig in Manchester as part of landmark live dates
Clementine Hall
Isle of Wight five-piece Wet Leg have announced their biggest headline shows to date, announcing a trio of huge outdoor gigs, including one right here in Manchester at Castlefield Bowl.
The multi-award-winning indie and alt outfit rose to fame back in 2022 with iconic tracks like Chaise Longue and Wet Dream, packing out stages at Glastonbury not long after releasing their critically acclaimed debut album.
Becoming their second consecutive number one in just as many attempts, moisturizer, is equally as fun and fabulous as the first – we cannot wait to hear it live in these.
Comprised of two lead singers in Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, Ellis Durand on bass, drummer Henry Holmes and guitarist Joshua Mobaraki, this lot can make plenty of noise.
And as you can see, to make things even better, they’ll be joined by Leeds’ very own English Teacher as the main support act at each one of the landmarks shows.
As for their down south show, they’ll also be playing Alexandra Palace Park down in the capital to round out this run of live dates next summer.
It goes without saying that we’re obviously buzzing to see them become the latest name on the lineup for the 2026 Sounds of the City series, with a hometown hero also joining the ranks as of this month:
Wet Leg are in good company when they rock up to Castlefield Bowl.
Set to play the Bowl on Wednesday, 8 July, before heading to Leeds and then London for consecutive nights, we’re sure you’ll see them playing tonnes more big stages throughout festival season.
Tickets for all three of Wet Leg’s confirmed dates for 2026 go on sale this Friday, 31 October from 9:30am, and you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We reckon this one will be a real ticket scramble, so we wouldn’t mess about if you want to bag yourself a ticket; in fact, given that all of their live shows this year sold out, we know it will…
Danny Jones -
6th November 2023 
