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.
Gay Village will be adorned with various decorations this summer for Pride. Credit: The Manc GroupSome of the festivities you can expect for Pride. Credit: Carl SukonikThe 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.”
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
JLS announce huge UK tour including Manchester gig
Daisy Jackson
Boy band JLS have just announced a huge Manchester gig as part of a new UK tour.
The Everybody in Love singers will be heading out on a new tour, The Club Is Alive Tour, this autumn.
Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill shared the exiting news of the new tour dates this afternoon.
JLS will be performing at cities including Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield, as they head to arenas right across the UK.
And support will come from fellow noughties legend Example, who’s behind massive songs like Last Ones Standing, Kickstarts, and Changed The Way You Kiss Me.
JLS formed on the X Factor back in 2008, when they placed as runners-up to Alexandra Burke.
Then they went on to release five chart-topping angles and hit singles like Everybody in Love, She Makes Me Wanna, and One Shot.
The group parted ways in 2013 but reunited for a huge Beat Again tour in 2021.
And now they’re back again, heading to the Co-op Live this November.
Announcing the news this afternoon, they said: “It’s official! We’re hitting the road this year for “The Club Is Alive Tour” with our very special guests Example.
“Get all the info on JLSofficial.com and make sure to click the link and sign up for presale access to tickets. If you miss that, tickets will go on sale to the public on March 28th at 10 AM.”
Bastille announce blockbuster Manchester arena date for special anniversary show
Danny Jones
Alt and indie-pop band Bastille are coming back to Manchester for another big gig, only this one is set to be bigger than ever as they celebrate a huge music milestone.
Having played Castlefield Bowl back in 2023 and recently returned to the city for a pair of more intimate shows at Manchester Cathedral and as part of Amazon’s ‘City Sessions’ at Aviva Studios, the Bastille boys have frequented 0161 pretty often of late.
With their latest LP Ampersand (or simply “&“) having dropped back in 2024, the London-formed outfit are now five studio albums and dozens of songs into their career. That being said, they’re set to look back on the journey up till now with some huge UK arena dates.
Announcing the ‘From All Sides’ tour this week, Bastille will be coming to Manchester and several other major cities to play their biggest, best and most beloved songs from the first 15 years.
Effectively being marketed as a greatest hits so far gig, these will be the band’s first UK arena tour in over three years.
With each show featuring songs from across Bastille’s entire discography – everything from fan favourites to deep cuts and rarities from the Other Peoples’ Heartache mixtapes, as well as seminal moments from Bad Blood, Doom Days and more – it’ll be a long journey down memory lane.
Bastille will be returning to the AO Arena for their Manchester date, a venue they’re more than familiar with, but with a decade and a half of music to get through, it’ll be one of their biggest Northern gigs to date.
Speaking on the tour, the band said: “We’re really excited to announce that we’re going on tour for the first time in a while to play the songs we all love from our first 15 years and beyond. Hope to see a load of you in November.”
You’ll definitely be seeing a fair few of us there, lads.
JUST ANNOUNCED🎸 @bastille 'Songs From The First 15 Years'
Bastille arrives in Manchester for one momentous anniversary night on Friday, 14 November and you can bet the arena will sell out quickly.
They are also showing their support for grassroots youth music spaces by giving a tour donation to Youth Music’s ‘Rescue the Roots’ campaign, which helps raise money for the next generation of young creatives.
As mentioned above, there will be two opportunities at pre-sale: first for Three+ mobile members from 10 am on Wednesday, 26 March, and then again via the venue at the same time the following day; as for general admission tickets, they will go live next Friday (28 Mar), also at 10am.
Thomas Melia -
4th March 2025 
