It takes a lot to cheer up a cloudy Manchester day – but Ziggy Alberts and his sunny Aussie folk proved to be just the ticket last weekend.
Ziggy Alberts is an Australian singer/songwriter whose music follows a very narrative structure. He’s an acoustic artist whose songs include elements of folk and Americana, with most tracks using stripped back instrumentals underneath the his prominent vocals.
For newcomers to this performer and even those who want to learn a little bit more about the star, he has a playlist on his Apple Music profile dedicated to his influences, where you’ll find artists including American band The Lumineers and Irish talent Hozier. The 90’s R&B group En-Vogue even make an appearance in the list with their song ‘Whatta Man’.
But this world tour is not a solo mission. Ziggy Alberts is accompanied by Steph Strings, a fellow Australian, who is supporting him on this 2024 concert run including at his Manchester show.
The 23-year-old even switched her setlist up for the ‘rowdy crowd’ as Mancs proved to be simply too energetic. On behalf of all Mancunians, we’ll accept the compliment.
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The Melbourne-based singer had all grounds covered, with guitar in hand, kick pedal on the right foot and tambourine on the left.
Keeping spirits high, Ziggy opened with ‘Days in the Sun’, with a steady drum kick which built adrenaline amongst the already bubbly crowd. Using the two elements he knows best – his voice and his guitar – Alberts brought the crowd to life, and replaced buses and bustling streets for sun, sand and sea much like the title of his 2014 debut ‘Land & Sea’.
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With 1.35 million Spotify listeners, the 30-year-old singer is no stranger to performing to packed out crowds, performing in this lovely city just over 12 months ago. Manchester’s Albert Hall is one of the city’s many iconic live music venues and Alberts definitely didn’t feel out of place, especially with his own iconic look… that impressive moustache.
Alberts has three rules for anyone visiting his shows “Don’t diss the moustache”, “Take care of each other” and “Sing loud”.
He may live a 24 hour-flight away from the UK, but he made sure to make it his home, rocking the stage with a snazzy rug and no footwear in sight.
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Steph Strings, who supported Ziggy Alberts at the Albert Hall in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupZiggy Alberts played at Albert Hall in Manchester last weekend. Credit: The Manc Group
Halfway through the show during an interlude, the Australian star ran off the stage and into the crowd. There’s a real sense of fan-love and this moment proved it. Ziggy created a call and response with an unreleased song titled ‘Where Does The Love Go?’, and fans were all for it.
The show concluded with an encore of three songs, the banjo-laced ‘New Love’ was a real highlight. The song itself opens with Ziggy Albert confessing: “Feels like I’ve been running for most my life,” and when you’re currently embarking on a world tour it’s safe to say this is more than reasonable.
His newest release and also the title of his current world tour, if Ziggy is ‘Making space for new love’ then you could say we’re making space for a permanent residency in Manchester – we don’t want him to leave.
Finishing with the Australian’s 2018 single ‘Laps Around The Sun’, Alberts found himself repeating the lyrics “Oh how much there is left to learn” with echoes from the crowd (Primary School taught us well).
The crowd have been so captivated by this man and his guitar that we didn’t realise almost two hours had passed by, and the singer’s performance had to come to an end.
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What a phenomenal show and as he said himself, he’s ‘done it all independent’.
More artists added and stage splits confirmed for Neighbourhood Weekender 2026 lineup
Danny Jones
Two waves for NBHD Weekender’s 2026 lineup have now been officially confirmed, and Greater Manchester leads the way in terms of headliners, with local music legend Richard Ashcroft and Stockport’s finest, Blossoms, both already confirmed for the big slot on the main stage.
Now THAT is how you follow up a comeback.
Yes, Neighbourhood Weekender always promises a healthy dose of Northern acts on the lineup, including plenty of Mancs, scousers and others from Cheshire and the region at large, but to get two much-loved music artists from our boroughs topping the 2026 bill is an absolute treat.
With other noteworthy appearances in the Kaiser Chiefs, DMA’s, Jamie Webster, Example and many more on there already, it feels like next year’s festival is shaping up to be a potential all-timer, with a second wave of acts being added and the stage splits now set.
As you can see, the first pair of waves of the NBHD 2026 lineup includes returning crowd-pleasers like Shed Seven, Razorlight and The K’s, as well as other additions like rising stars Basht., Better Joy and North West favourites, The Kairos, as well as fellow Manc lads, M60.
Other acts that also caught our eye include our own natives like Arkayla, The Guest List, Luvcat and The Covasettes, just to name a few, as well as rising ‘Britainicana outfit’, Westside Cowboy, who just so happen to star on our most recent round-up of what we’ve been listening to.
In fact, there are a few past Manc bands of the month features on this lineup, not to mention more nearby names in Lucvat, The Royston Club, Keyside, Nxdia and so on, who are all well worth earmarking ahead of the stage splits being announced.
As for the headliners, indie heroes Blossoms need no introduction; nor does Wigan’s most famous musical son, with Ashcroft riding a real resurgence at the moment – he’s also one of our artists of the month, naturally.
In fact, confirmation of both Ashcroft and his Oasis Live ’25 support act partners, Cast, being booked for Warrington’s Victoria Park and the next NBHD Fest comes after the 54-year-old confirmed a fellow hometown band for some very big shows of his own.
This coming May Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 23-Sun 24 May 2026) is shaping up nicely, and we can’t wait to see what else is new to the festival site this year.
General admission tickets are already available, and new for this year, there will also be different payment plans via their website.
You can grab your tickets HERE. See you in the fields!
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/Audio North
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Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family
Danny Jones
The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.
Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.
Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.
Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.
On behalf of the boys, and as their legal guardian, I want to thank everyone for the kind messages and concern for their wellbeing. There was a misunderstanding regarding the upcoming Manichester tribute concert, but we’re pleased to share that everything has now been resolved. pic.twitter.com/j8jEMrFzsD
Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.
It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.
Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.
All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.
These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.
Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.
“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.
“With love and thanks – The Family”
It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.
Thomas Melia -
6th August 2024 
