Gigs & Nightlife

Manchester Pride announces major new Mardi Gras event at Depot Mayfield

Let's get this party started!

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 4th March 2025

There’s a brand new event launching that coincides with Manchester Pride and it’s coming to Depot Mayfield.

Manchester Pride is adding a completely new event as part of its summer showcase which gives us one more reason to look forward to those sunny skies and warmer months.

Titled ‘Mardi Gras’, anyone interested in attending the event can expect two days of high energy live performances and unity.

The name of this new event pays homage to the origins of Manchester Pride before the celebration adopted its official title.

‘Mardi Gras’ will be hosted between two neighbouring venues, both of which are popular for their ability to create outstanding shows, Freight Island and Depot Mayfield.

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Freight Island is renowned for its use of indoor and outdoor spaces, and this two day spectacular will utilise all areas of the venue meaning everyone gets a chance to party.

Then Depot Mayfield, best-known for hosting the enormous Warehouse Project season, will also be used for Mardi Gras.

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As well as this new concept, Manchester Pride will be running its usual joyous occasions in the Gay Village.

Once again, partygoers will live get the chance to see live entertainment across two stages, including the Alan Turing Stage and the Indoor Arena, both of which are set to be electric.

Cheaper Early Bird tickets are already on sale for Manchester Pride Festival 2025. Credit: The Manc Group
Gay Village will be adorned with various decorations this summer for Pride. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Pride Parade is back for 2024. Credit: Carl Sukonik
Some of the festivities you can expect for Pride. Credit: Carl Sukonik
The huge main stage at Manchester Pride Festival as 2025 tickets go on sale. Credit: The Manc Group
The huge main stage at Manchester Pride Festival as 2025 tickets go on sale. Credit: The Manc Group

Guests who are looking forward to Manchester Pride can expect a roster of independent food vendors, market stalls and funfair attractions helping to celebrate the festival in style at the Gay Village Party, keeping the city’s LGBTQ+ heart at the heart of the festival.

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While Mardi Gras is expected to be a big part of the festival, Manchester Pride will also see the return of much-loved events such as the Manchester Pride Parade, Gay Village Party, The Rally, Candlelit Vigil, Superbia, Family Pride MCR, and Youth Pride MCR.

The celebration will, as usual, close with the Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens on Monday 25 August, in partnership with George House Trust.

David McGovern, Chair of the board of trustees at Manchester Pride, said: “Manchester Pride has always been about pushing boundaries, creating new opportunities for people to come together, and celebrating the incredible diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Mardi Gras represents the next step in this journey. Every year our audience has grown and with that, the demand for more ways to celebrate Pride has increased. Introducing this new dedicated venue at Depot Mayfield will mean we can invite new audiences and make Pride even more accessible for all to enjoy.”

Phil Burke, Chair of the Village Licensed Business Association, said: “The VLBA is thrilled to support this exciting new addition to Manchester Pride. It’s fantastic to see the celebrations expanding across the city while keeping the Gay Village at the heart of the festival.

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“Mardi Gras was originally organised by Village venues back in the 1990s, so it’s wonderful to see our community’s rich history celebrated with this revival.

“Our members are proud to host the street parties, showcasing the brilliant LGBTQ+ venues and talent Manchester has to offer. We look forward to welcoming thousands to the Gay Village Party this August and remind attendees to purchase a ‘Gay Village Party Supporter Band’ which will give them access to all the venues within the Village, and ensures the safe delivery of the celebrations.”

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester Pride is one of the biggest and best Pride events in the country. It gives an opportunity for Manchester residents from all walks of life to celebrate LGBT+ culture and to continue the fight for equality and against injustice. It also sees huge numbers of people visit our city and shows us in our best, most inclusive light.

“As both Manchester and the event continue to grow, we look forward to seeing Pride celebrated across even more of the city this year whilst keeping the things we value most such as the Parade and the Vigil.”

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The festival will kick off on Friday 15 August lasting 10 days until Monday 25 August, featuring the notable annual parade which still champions the fight for equality.

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To register for tickets and to be on the mailing list for updates about Manchester Pride you can sign up HERE.

Featured Image: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

Gigs & Nightlife

Massive Attack set to return for huge gig in Manchester later this year

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Massive Attack are set to return to Manchester for an incredible live show later this year.

The multi award-winning Bristol collective, currently formed of Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, will be touring the UK again for the first time since 2019, and will be taking to the stage at Manchester’s newest – and largest – live entertainment venue Co-op Live in the summer.

These outspoken musicians have released five studio albums spanning from 1991 all the way to 2010, with some of their biggest hits needing no introduction – such as ‘Unfinished Sympathy’, ‘Teardrop’, and ‘Angel’.

Massive Attack performing in 2009.
Massive Attack are set to return for huge gig in Manchester later this year / Credit: Supplied

The duo has been crafting a legacy since they debuted in the early 90s, even winning a prestigious Ivor Novello award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to British Music’ in 2009.

The band’s discography is just as bold and recognisable as their incredible activism campaigns.

No strangers to speaking up for what they believe in, Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament and Stop The War Coalition are some of the organisations the band has supported over the years – with anti-war and reducing carbon emissions being some of the causes they care about.

Fans can expect to see these causes represented, as well as hear the greatest hits from the band’s celebrated back catalogue when they arrive in Manchester in June.

Massive Attack will step on the stage in Manchester this summer on Thursday 5 June.

Tickets will go on sale this week, with the pre-sale going live this Wednesday 5 March from 10am, before the general on sale happens just two days later on Friday 7 March.

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You can get tickets here.

Featured Image – Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

Gigs & Nightlife

There’s a big 90s rave happening in Manchester this summer

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

A music-oriented event is taking place in Manchester later this year dedicated to everything about the unforgettable 90s rave scene.

Relive the ‘Madchester‘ glory days all over again as you and your mates can now get tickets to the 90’s rave of the summer happening right here in Manchester.

This event is going big or going home with a runtime of 10 hours and with the amount of acts that have been announced, you’ll wish you had 24 hours.

Presented by the same team that put together ‘Sanctuary Forever’, ravers are at the heart of everything they do, and with a turnout of 8,500 attendees, you certainly won’t be dancing alone.

There are four different ‘arenas’ at this rave all catering to different soundscapes of the 90s rave scene, from hardcore to classic DnB, no music genre has been forgotten.

We all know Manchester was the cultural epicentre for electronic music and with the help of iconic music venues including The Hacienda.

Now, the capital of the North is back in its prime with this event featuring much-adored DJs such as Fabio and Grooverider, Ratpack, Danny Rampling and more.

Acts like Scott Brown, Hype and Slipmatt who were instrumental in shaping rave culture in the 90’s will also be playing sets on this very night.

Rave culture is nothing but praised for around these quarters with The Prodigy playing two very special gigs in the current club highlight, The Warehouse Project back in December.

Taking place at Bowlers Exhibition Centre, this 84,000 square foot space is deeply rooted in the rave scene too, with shows like Helter Skelter, Life, Asylum and Fantasia happening here once upon a time.

You can see the lineup in full HERE get a quick rundown of the setup down below:

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With a lineup this stellar, while making sure to look back on Manchester’s musical history and 90s rave culture, in particular, there’s a reason why this event is titled ‘Manchester Forever’.

‘Manchester Forever’ is coming to Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester on 3 May 2025 and tickets are already on sale.

You can grab yours HERE.

It’s not the only big music event we’re looking to forward catching at the BEC this year:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

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