BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Manchester once again in 2024 and judging by the calibre of names played it in the past, we’re already getting excited.
Taking place at the BBC’s Northern base over MediaCityUK, the Salford Quays stages will transform into a four-day festival celebrating the best of British, up-and-coming artists across from the region, as well as a handful of other acts from all over the world.
With live music playing day and night, not to mention being broadcast on BBC Four, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Music YouTube channel, the area’s venues will be delivering non-stop entertainment all weekend.
Radio 6 Music Festival is scheduled for Thursday, 7—Sunday, 10 March, with shows taking place at all hours, featuring exclusive DJ sets and being introduced by some of the station’s best presenters.
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While the full lineup and list of venues won’t be announced until New Year, Manchester being named as a fixed hub for the ever-growing event is a huge coup for the event.
So many of the UK rising stars and most popular contemporary talents have played the festival in the past, such as Bombay Bicycle Club, Ezra Collective, Kae Tempest, Khruangbin and Little Simz, as well as veterans like the Pixies, Primal Scream, Depeche Mode, Johnny Marr, Goldfrapp and countless others.
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Last year’s lineup was just as stellar, with performances from Loyle Carner, Christine and the Queens, Arlo Parks and guest appearances from Romy and Tom Coll of Fontaines D.C. just to name a few.
Here’s an idea of what you can expect from BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, said the announcement: “Last year’s festival was a triumph – amazing artists, distinctive and world-exclusive performances and a true celebration of Greater Manchester’s ever-flourishing music scene.
“This year we’re back to the Festival’s home to bring you your favourite bands and artists with a 6 Music Festival twist. See you in March!”
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The station’s flagship festival has become a bit of a cult favourite amongst music fans over the years and us Mancs are so lucky to have it right on our doorstep for the foreseeable.
Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC
Danny Jones
2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.
Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.
Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.
Boyzone are telling us about coming back together for one final run in their most unforgettable concerts yet 🎤
After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.
Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.
Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.
Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…
Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but
Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.
As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
Danny Jones -
15th December 2023 
