After another stellar edition of Neighbourhood Weekender last month, the festival’s organisers were quick to announce the first wave of artists and release tickets for the fourth instalment next year.
Moving back to its usual May dates and taking place on 28 and 29 May 2022, Neighbourhood will return to Warrington once again.
If you haven’t got your tickets yet, what are you waiting for?
In case you still need a bit of convincing, we’re on hand to give you a little push with five reasons why you should get straight onto that ticket page and get it booked.
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1. It’s less than 20 miles from Manchester
Happening at its usual home of Victoria Park again in 2022, it’s less than 20 miles from Manchester City Centre and just down the road from Altrincham too.
You can get to the festival using several modes of transport, whether it be by the local bus networks, on foot, drop off, or by car using the dedicated car park that’s just a 10 minute-walk to the festival gates.
Trains to the two stations – Warrington Bank Quay and Warrington Central – are also just a short 20 minute journey from Manchester.
Direct eco-friendly coaches courtesy of the festival’s travel partner Big Green Coach are also being put on, and with pick up points in the city centre and Stockport, your coach will drop you right at the festival site and will take you right back afterwards – it couldn’t be any easier.
2. The lineup
Known for putting together lineups of big names alongside breakthrough and up-and-coming talent, next year’s Neighbourhood will be no different.
The first wave of artists was announced last week, revealing that a handful of Greater Manchester’s very-own will take centre stage across the two days.
Courteeners, Blossoms, Pale Waves and The Lathums are all confirmed to play. Whilst Kasabian, Australian trio DMA’s, and Dublin-based Inhaler will also add the weekender to their early summer festival calendar.
But it’s not just bands and indie music, as the lineup boasts a full range of genres, with music from the likes of Example, Tom Grennan, Becky Hill and more throughout the weekend, providing plenty of listening options – so, there’s definitely something for everyone.
And as this is just the first drop of artists, there’s loads more waiting to be announced.
3. The unique experience
Drawing on its namesake, the festival’s main hub, The Neighbourhood, is a hive of activity and immersive fun.
You can grab a pint down the local at the Neighbourhood Inn, stock up on festival essentials and snacks at the Corner Shop Rave, and even experience the silent disco in The Library.
Grab a pint down the local pub in ‘The Neighbourhood’, the festival’s mini town hub.
The mini town creates a unique experience, with so much going on for you to get involved in – including solving fictional crimes with the festival’s Inspector Malaprop, chasing down a dangerous robbing duo.
And as it’s open to those five and over, it’s super friendly and suitable for the whole family.
4. Affordable ticket options
For this level of festival with this calibre of artists, you could expect to pay hundreds – but Neighbourhood offers some genuinely affordable ticket options, with day tickets costing as little as £59.50, and full weekend tickets for just £115.
On each day of the festival, the gates will be open from 12.30pm, with the music running until 22.30pm, so you’ll be getting an entire day of music action for your buck too.
Accessible tickets are also available, and there’s a dedicated free ticket scheme for carers and assistants to those who could not attend the festival without their help.
To apply for one of these, you’ll need to buy one ticket as normal through Gigs and Tours or See Tickets, and then email [email protected] with the relevant proof (e.g. PIP form or access card), along with photo ID, booking reference, the ticket agent you used and state what you’ll require: carer ticket, accessible car parking area and/or viewing platform.
5. The VIP treatment
For that added extra Neighbourhood experience, you could go VIP.
You’ll get a separate entrance away from the main gate to avoid any entry queues, and access to the main stage viewing area with great views of the crowd and artists.
As well as this, you’ll get access to a dedicated VIP area with fancy toilets – because we all know what festival toilets can end up like – and a chill out area with comfy seats, so you can give your feet a well-earned rest.
Chill out in the VIP area. Credit: Anthony Mooney
The food and drink are also levelled up too, as with your VIP ticket, there’ll be unique food vendors that aren’t available to the rest of the festival, plus an undercover bar, which is ideal should it start raining – this is the north, after all.
So, now you’re fully convinced, you can secure your tickets for Neighbourhood Weekender here and find more information on the website.
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Featured Image – Neighbourhood Weekender
Audio
Full lineup for Manchester’s city-wide summer art trail Music for the Senses announced
Emily Sergeant
The full lineup for a city-wide art trail with more than 80 artworks, murals, mosaics, and installations celebrating Manchester’s music scene has been announced.
It’s no secret that Manchester is a musical hub, with countless well-known artists getting their start here or calling our city home over the years, and in a fitting way to celebrate this incredible lineup of musical talent, an all-new multi-sensory art exhibition will be taking over the streets of the city centre this summer.
The new exhibition, which is titled Music for the Senses: an art arrangement for a musical city, is a collaboration between global art producer Wild in Art – the creators of the famous Bee in the City project – and Manchester City Council.
It’ll be running across the city centre from early July until the end of August.
Music for the Senses takes over Manchester city centre this summer / Credit: David Oates (via Supplied)
Celebrated musical acts including Busted, Doves, Elbow, Mani, New Order, Oasis, PINS, and Pixies have donated precious instruments to display in windows across the city at locations like Aviva Studios, Piccadilly Records, Band on the Wall, New Century, and many more
Manchester artist Liam Hopkins, known as Lazerian, will also create an interactive installation down on King Street called ‘Guitar Street’ that lovingly-repurposes donated guitars, as well as creating another similar how-stopping installation on St Peter’s Square called ‘Cathedral of Sound’ from 7-20 July, before it moves on to Mayfield Park from 25 July – 31 August.
Meanwhile, more guitars donated by the public have been painted or adorned by a talented collection of professional artists, turning them into individual artworks to be displayed in a wide range of shop windows and venues all across the city.
More than 80 artworks, murals, mosaics, and installations will be dotted around the streets / Credit: David Oates (via Supplied)
There will also be four brand-new murals by internationally renowned street artists Lei-Mai LeMaow (Etihad Campus tram stop), Nomad Clan (Oxford Road Train Station), and .EPOD and AKSE (Great Northern).
And all along the trail, visitors can get involved with Manchester Music Mooch – an interactive journey through the locations of the grassroots music community, with exciting interactive AR experiences at five locations around the city.
“Manchester has always been a place for music and we’re delighted to unveil Music for the Senses,” commented Ben Reed, who is the Head of Creative Development at Wild in Art. “It’s our first ever guitar trail, and we think that there is something really magical about repurposing musical instruments into stunning works of art.
“This is also the first time we’ve put together a trail showcasing brand new art while at the same time highlighting some of Manchester’s iconic music inspired artwork.
“It has enabled us to explore creativity in a range of different art forms including new murals around the city by some of the very best street artists in the business.”
When the art trail draws to close at the end of August, all the guitars featured will be auctioned off for charity, with the funds raised going to support grassroots music projects and venues across Greater Manchester.
Music for the Senses: an art arrangement for a musical city will run from 7 July – 31 August.
Featured Image – David Oates (via Supplied)
Audio
Review | Dua Lipa had Anfield levitating on her first night in Liverpool
Thomas Melia
British-Albanian performer and prolific pop star Dua Lipa is halfway through her first-ever international stadium tour, and it’s nothing shy of a spectacle – night one in Liverpool living, breathing, levitating proof.
To say I wasn’t singing more than half of this setlist verbatim would be a lie; the setlist for Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour is stacked with hits upon mega hits.
Her commanding single ‘Training Season’ kicks things off and besides getting the whole stadium hyped up, it sets the tone for the night ahead, one Dua has full control of, and also features a firework or two.
Within 15 minutes of stepping onto the stage, the unofficial anthem of Anfield’s resident football club and recently re-crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool FC, was played.
Dua Lipa performing ‘Physical’ at Anfield Stadium.Smiles all round at the ‘Radical Optimism’ tour in Liverpool.Credit: Audio North
In fact, ‘One Kiss’ was met with an unmatched electric energy that she ended up playing it again later on, because why the hell not?
This isn’t just a song: it’s a beast. When you’re playing a song that’s spent eight weeks at No.1, has 2.5 billion streams and at an arena with a legacy like Anfield‘s, there was simply no way these fans were going to be tame.
Similarly, partway through the second act, Lipa had the audience wrapped around her fingers once more as she played the dance-inducing smash ‘Levitating’. In that moment, we were all her “sugarboos.”
This was a proper crowd-pleasing moment. To be honest, they all were.
As we strut our stuff into the third act, we’re met with another dancefloor filler, ‘Physical’, fans were ready and waiting to chant “let’s get physical” with the superstar.
The fourth act, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. Ms. Lipa took some time to show her love to some of the album’s deeper cuts; I greatly appreciated being able to belt out “How looong?” as she played ‘Falling Forever.’
She finished this segment with the song that started it all, one she’s never forgotten to play since bursting onto the music scene back in 2015: ‘Be The One.’
Dua Lipa and Dave McCabe (The Zutons) performing ‘Valerie’.The superstar taking pictures with fans at Anfield.Liverpool is in for a treat if the second Dua Lipa show is even half as good as night one at Anfield.
Dua, let us tell you something, you’ll always be the one.
The encore felt like the epitome of all things Dua Lipa. It’s like when you hear that one ABBA megamix that has you shouting, “Oh, I know this one… and I know this one too!”
And rightly so, with a back-to-back, four-song medley spanning from ‘New Rules’ and ‘Dance the Night’, to ‘Don’t Start Now’ and ‘Houdini’. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
— DANIEL is calling..☎️💜 (@daniel__SG) June 24, 2025
After this medley, night one of the ‘Radical Optimism’ tour was over, but we and the fans were certainly left feeling radically optimistic.
Come on, how can you not be when the timeless classic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ by Whitney Houston is soundtracking your concert exit?
I have one last question for anyone who hasn’t splashed the cash for one of her shows yet… if you’re not watching Dua Lipa live, then ‘Whatcha Doing’?
Lipa had the crowd well and truly in her fingertips.Dua gave quite the performance in Merseyside.An increasing master of not just pop songs but stagecraft too. (Credit: Audio North)
Hannah Starkie -
6th October 2021 
