The search for the Favourite Festival of the Year in the north of England is nearly over, with five incredible events shortlisted in the inaugural Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards (NMAs).
After a panel of music industry professionals selected a longlist – including one of The Manc audience’s choosing – it was then over to the public to narrow down the selection to five northern festivals.
And you lot have picked some cracking events that could end up being crowned the Favourite Festival of the Year at the NMAs.
Voting is now open for you to cast your vote, with the public whittling down an impressive list of northern music festivals to five of the very best.
Those shortlisted include Stockport’s Moovin Festival, Kendal Calling in the Lake District, Salford’s Sounds From The Other City, Sheffield’s Tramlines, and Beatherder.
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The overall winner will be revealed at the performance-packed awards ceremony on 23 April at Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall.
The awards themselves will be hosted in a different northern city each year and will continue to recognise the breadth of musical talent across the north of England, year after year.
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This year’s inaugural celebration will be headlined by Courteeners’ Liam Fray with a short and special live acoustic set, plus the legendary Lisa Stansfield, Warrington’s rising stars The K’s, up-and-coming Leeds quartet English Teacher, and spoken word, indie hip hop artist Antony Szmierek, who is to open the awards with a specially commissioned piece about the power of music therapy.
Tramlines and Kendal Calling are among the events shortlisted for Favourite Festival of the Year in the Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards (NMAs)
The Northern Music Awards have been created by the UK’s largest music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, to raise awareness of their transformative work and fundraise for more music therapy provision throughout the region, including the opening of a new dedicated music therapy centre which will open next year, in Salford.
Awards categories range from Newcomer of the Year to Artist of the Year, Band of the Year, DJ of the Year, Disruptor and the Northern Music Award.
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A special Music and Culture for Wellbeing award will showcase outstanding and innovative creative arts provision in the North, that uses music and culture to support and connect with people that face health, wellbeing and socio-economic challenges.
We here at The Manc are the proud sponsors of the Favourite Festival of the Year category.
You can cast your vote and choose the winner of Favourite Festival of the Year for the NMAs below.
Voting closes at 23.59pm on Wednesday 27 March, 2024.
India’s most beloved singer Shreya Ghoshal announces Manchester arena gig
Daisy Jackson
Shreya Ghoshal, one of India’s most celebrated singers, will be performing in Manchester next spring as part of a new UK tour.
The star will be heading out on a global run of dates on The Unstoppable Tour, performing to fans in three arenas in the UK.
She has announced a huge arena show in Manchester at the AO Arena, as well as gigs in Birmingham and London.
As well as dates in the UK, Shreya will perform across Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia, South Africa and North America.
Shreya Ghoshal will take audiences on a journey that spans from her soulful beginnings to her global stardom.
She has been an enduring force in Indian music for more than two decades, and The Unstoppable Tour will prove exactly why.
There’ll be a setlist of her most iconic hits, like ‘Dola Re Dola’, ‘Teri Meri’, ‘Deewani Mastani’, and ‘Sun Raha Hai’, as well as new music that reflects her evolving artistry.
She first became known after winning the TV singing competition Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, going on to win a National Film Award at just 18 years old with Devdas.
Shreya has more than 12 billion streams on Spotify and 42 million monthly listeners, and ranked as the number one artist on Spotify last year in India.
Shreya Ghoshal said: “I am looking forward to bringing The Unstoppable Tour to the UK! When I dreamed of The Unstoppable Tour, I wanted to create something that feels alive, something that connects heartbeats across the world.
“This tour is deeply personal to me, it’s a reflection of every note, every story, and every emotion that has shaped my journey so far.
“It’s a celebration of the people, memories, and moments that are so special. For me, that’s what makes it truly unstoppable.”
Shreya Ghoshal will perform at the AO Arena in Manchester on 10 April 2026, with general sale tickets live from 10am on Friday 28 November HERE.
Deep Purple announce huge Manchester show at the iconic AO Arena
Daisy Jackson
Rock royalty Deep Purple have just announced a huge Manchester gig at the AO Arena.
These pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock will be heading out on a tour next year that includes shows in Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
And Deep Purple will be performing on the most iconic stage in Manchester, with a gig at the AO Arena next winter.
Even five decades on, the group remain one of the world’s most revered live acts, with 50 years’ worth of chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Perhaps best known for their legendary hit Smoke On The Water, along with songs like Highway Star and Child In Time, the group are listed as one of the genre’s most influential bands of all time.
Child In Time was reworked to soundtrack Netflix’s smash-hit series Stranger Things, capturing Deep Purple’s timeless and lasting influence.
The British rockers show no sign of slowing down, releasing a critically-acclaimed album in 2024.
They’ll be supported by Mammoth, fronted by Grammy Award-winning ssongwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen.
Also joining Deep Purple for their AO Arena gig in Manchester will be Jayler, fast-rising UK rockers.
Deep Purple will play at the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday 22 November, 2026 – tickets go on sale from 10am on Friday 21 November and you can get yours HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
18th March 2024 
