The team behind one of Manchester‘s best-loved festivals has launched a new clubbing series in the city centre.
The organisers of Moovin’ Festival – which is known for taking over the fields of Stockport every summer – are bringing the festival’s eclectic vibes to dance floors across the region with a new series of unique club shows, which is aptly named ‘Moovin-In’.
Popular Manchester city centre venue O2 Victoria Warehouse is set to become the host of one of the year’s biggest parties.
The third edition of the Moovin-In clubbing series at O2 Victoria Warehouse on Friday 5 May sees previous Moovin residents and pioneers bring a mix of Drum and Bass, Jungle, Reggae, and Dub to headline what sounds set to be an unbeatable night.
The legendary David Rodigan, who is known as the original Reggae selector and soundclash champion, and is famous for his electric on-stage energy, is set to make his Moovin-In debut, and joining him in a rare Manchester appearance is Congo Natty, aka Rebel MC, who is widely-respected as one of the trailblazers in Jungle music.
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The team behind one of Manchester’s best-loved festivals has launched a new clubbing series / Credit: Supplied
Also on the lineup for the night is Mad Professor – a Guyanese-born British dub music producer known for leading the second generation of dub reggae through his ‘Dub Me Crazy’ album series, which helped take Dub to a mainstream audience.
Alongside him is another true veteran of the urban music scene, General Levy – who is still one of the most in demand MCs in the country, and is famous for his exhilarating sets.
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British Jungle and D’n’B duo, Micky Finn & Aphrodite, who are known for their long-standing anthems and have been a mainstay on the worldwide rave scene after living and breathing underground music for over 30 years, will also be making an appearance.
Dillinja, who is one of the more prolific producers in Jungle music with records on over 10 different labels – including his own – will also bring his innovative and ever-evolving style to Moovin-In.
O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester will host of one of the year’s biggest parties / Credit: Supplied
As mentioned, some of the residents, locals, and upcoming acts who always play their part in Moovin Festival will remain to do so at the new club shows – with some of the names on the lineup set to bring a taste of their Mancunian D’n’B flavours to the stage including Mikey D.O.N, Mark XTC, Dawn Raid, Helen K, Jazzy Lioness, Indika, Woodstar, and Cameron Saccani.
Featured Image – O2 Victoria Warehouse (Academy Music Group)
Gigs & Nightlife
Noughties throwback Lemar announces special 20th anniversary gigs in Manchester and London
Danny Jones
The one and only Lemar is back now only with new album but two special shows to mark his 20th anniversary in music.
A chart-topping, BRIT and MOBO award-winning artists who rose to popularity in the early 2000s, Lemar has sold millions of albums worldwide and is now returning with his first new record in nearly eight years.
Having released his latest 80s funk inspired new single, ‘Future Love’, today (7 February) and officially announced his upcoming seventh album, Page In My Heart, the noughties pop and R&B artist is back on the scene and thought it only fit to pay tribute to 20 years in the biz.
Two decades on from his debut album, Dedicated, Lemar is hosting a pair of anniversary shows in London and right here in Manchester. Now this is going to be quite the throwback.
Best know for hit tracks like ‘It’s Not That Easy’, ’50/50′, ‘What About Love?’, ‘Another Day’ and many more, the 44-year-old returns to the stage with a new sound but one that also calls back to his roots and early work.
Speaking in a statement, Lemar says: “With this new album, I wanted to make something for anyone who ever bought Dedicated, as this year is 20 years since its release. I thought I’d like to make something for the people who got behind that album, something that they would appreciate and like.
Descirbing his new single, he went on to say, “it’s more uptempo, it’s got that soulful feel, it’s a bit looser, a bit Chaka Khan. A bit ‘Dance (With U)’… it’s got that kind of energy to it.”
The Tottenham-born singer hasn’t been ‘away’ per se, having continued to perform up and down the country in recent years, but both he and his fans have been waiting “patiently” to get the right collection of songs together to release new material.
His last album, The Letter, released back in 2015 and delighted die-hards but he says this latest project is about reconnecting with his fans, insisting that “it really is a page from my heart.”
Lemar will celebrate two decades of music and the 20th anniversary of Dedicated live with two special nights at O2 Ritz here in Manchester and London indigo at The O2 on the 27 and 28 of April, respectively. You best believe we’ll be getting one.
Tickets go on sale on 10 February at 10am. Tickets will be available HERE and at Ticketmaster.
Neighbourhood Weekender announces massive warm-up show with Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and more
Danny Jones
Neighbourhood Weekender has announced a warm-up show on the Friday before the festival proper kicks off, with the likes of Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and more already confirmed.
With Neighbourhood 2023 set for the weekend of 27-28 May as festival season gets into full swing, the increasingly popular Victoria Park-based crowd-pleaser is effectively starting a day early with their ‘Live At The Big Top’ event.
Although the local favourite has previously put on a number of performances on the Friday before the Warrington Weekender as we know it, this is the first time this event has been held and will serve as a warm-up show for the impending gig-goers.
What better way to get the party going?
We're so excited to announce Neighbourhood Weekender presents ‘Live At The Big Top’ featuring @ianbrown, @Happy_Mondays, @castofficial & @CVCband_ at Victoria Park, Warrington Fri 26th May!😎
Effectively acting as a warm-up party for the main event, the North West crowd will be treated to the likes of 80s and 90s Manc music icons Ian Brown and Happy Mondays, as well Liverpool indie band Cast and up-and-coming Welsh psych-rock band, CVC, a.k.a. Church Village Collective.
The lineup also denotes a landmark occasion, with this being the first time that Brown and Happy Mondays — two of pioneering artists of the ‘Madchester‘ scene — are sharing the same bill in their long and illustrious careers. Well, aren’t you a lucky lot?
While we’d say this is an absolute must if you truly want to make a full go of Neighbourhood Weekender, this is technically a separate event and it’s well worth attending if you can’t make it on the Saturday or Sunday for whatever reason.
Tickets go on sale at 9.30am on Friday, 10 February. You can grab yours HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
18th January 2023 
