He spent his years as an undergraduate hanging around Manchester’s cinemas wishing his work would one day be displayed on the big screen – now it’s all coming true.
Manchester director KC Locke is already well-known amongst music fans for his breathtaking music videos, created for high-profile music industry A-listers like Ed Sheeran and Stormzy.
He’s already in high demand amongst A&Rs, and regularly flies around the world to take on shoots in exotic locations.
But it’s an accolade for a Manchester music video that has seen him return to his old place of work to be awarded this latest gong (and to see his film on the big screen).
Last night, his music video for Moston rapper Aitch’s track Learning Curve was recognised with an award at the Manchester International Film Awards – leaving the young creative from Urmston and his team feeling completely overjoyed.
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Reflecting on the journey that has brought him to this point, KC Locke said of the award win: “I used to work at the Odeon cinema while at Uni wishing one day I’d have my work on the big screen.
“Last night I collected the award for best music video and the feeling was mad!
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“Very proud of the whole team who have worked extremely hard over the past 2 years grinding daily pushing the vision and crazy ideas I keep dreaming up.”
KC Locke once worked at the Odeon, now he’s receiving awards there. / Image: The Manc Group
After amassing more than eight million views on Youtube, his music video Learning Curve was featured at the Manchester Film Festival in an opening screening of northwest short films – taking home the award for ‘Best Music Video’.
The short film shows Aitch speeding around in high spec cars and, most notably, laying in bed in a designer robe surrounded by an array of curvy ladies lounging in their underwear.
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Ahead of its release, a teaser shared by the rapper – real name Harrison Armstrong – saw him attract criticism and go on to row with a number of body-shaming trolls, who he termed ‘idiots’ after some called for ‘slim girls’ in the comments.
However, many more praised the music video for its inclusivity and presentation of ‘real’ women as it shows a mixture of different races and body shapes.
Image: Youtube
Now, the music video has been validated once again for its diversity with this new award win.
At the time of the teaser’s release, Aitch told haters objecting to his inclusive casting: ‘All the man hating on the girls on my new post are iiiiidiots [sic].
‘First of all you could never even come near these girls, they don’t want you. They’re too leng for you.’
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He continued: ‘Also, chatting this s**t ain’t gonna help you get the “slim” girls. It’s just gonna make everyone hate you more lol.
‘Furthermore you couldn’t even handle these ladies with your little d**k hating a*s energy. They need the reeeeeeeal suttn [sic].’
You can watch the full video created by KC Locke for Aitch’s track Learning Curve here.
Work finally begins on site of UK’s first majority LGBTQ+ housing scheme in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Work has finally got underway on the start of the UK’s first majority LGBTQ+ housing scheme here in Manchester.
The exciting new £37 million flagship development – which is being built on the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, in the Whalley Range area of Manchester – will be comprised of 80 one and two-bedroom apartments for older people over the age of 55 for social rent, alongside an additional 40 affordable shared ownership apartments.
Plans for the scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and the LGBT Foundation.
Delivered in partnership with contractors Rowlinson, and funded through Great Places, the Homes England Strategic Partnership, GMCA Brownfield Housing Fund, and Manchester City Council, the high-quality and sustainable building will offer a ‘safe and welcome feel’ with an ‘inviting presence’.
While the goal is to create an inclusive space, the scheme has also been designed to respect the surrounding conservation area.
On top of this, the low carbon scheme will also feature shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms, and landscaped gardens.
The Council says the new scheme is part of its ambitious target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes across the city region by 2032 – at least 10,000, of which, will be social rent, Council, or considered ‘genuinely affordable’ housing.
It comes after more than 800 ‘Extra Care’ homes have been built in Manchester in recent years, and are another 1,000 are in the pipeline – to meet the demand for older people in the city.
A CGI of the newly-approved LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme development in Whalley Range / Credit: Manchester City Council
“This is a real milestone moment for this development,” commented Cllr Gavin White, who is the Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council.
“The Council has believed in the positive impact an LGBTQ+ majority housing development could have for this community for many years, and to celebrate the social rent homes officially starting on site is a great moment for the city.
“Working with the LGBT Foundation, we know that older LGBTQ+ people worry about being able to access appropriate and inclusive housing later in life. Although we hope all older person’s accommodation is welcoming to everyone, this scheme will provide safe, secure and affordable housing for LGBTQ+ people to live with dignity.
“We look forward to the completion of these homes that will complement and enhance this part of Whalley Range, and be an important part of this community.”
The project is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2027.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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Parklife shares statement after festival’s brand-new stage closed down before headliners
Daisy Jackson
Parklife has released a full statement after the festival was forced to close its newest stage, and cancel two headline performances.
The huge Heaton Park festival had been running smoothly all weekend, with blistering performances from 50 Cent, Pawsa, Jorja Smith and plenty more.
But on Sunday, local lad and rising star DJ Josh Baker took to the brand-new Matinee stage to enormous crowds.
Although Parklife installed a queue system to manage numbers inside the enclosed festival stage, the crowds outside became very large, very quickly, and the decision was made to shut the stage down for everyone’s safety.
Several people have shared videos on TikTok, like the one below, that show the scenes around the Matinee stage and audiences being told the area would need to be evacuated.
The stage was shut down for the remainder of the evening, meaning a headline performance from Chris Stussy was also cancelled.
Parklife has said this decision was taken to ‘remove the risk of any potential incidents’ and to prioritise the safety of festival attendees.
Josh Baker told fans: “I deeply apologise. I can’t really put into words what today was going to mean to me.”
Chris Stussy said in a statement on his Instagram: “Really gutted I’m unable to perform at Parklife tonight, flew straight from Barcelona to play a 3 hours closing set but due to safety reasons and the stage being over crowded, the organisation decided to shut the stage down as it may have caused unsafe situations for those who were there.
“Despite being disappointed, safety comes first and we will make this right very soon.”
Parklife hasn’t publicly addressed the incident but has shared this statement: “As a result of crowd movement at the Matinee Stage and on the advice of our safety team to remove the risk of any potential incidents, Parklife made the decision to close the stage for the remainder of the final day of the festival.
“Unfortunately it has been impossible to relocate Josh Baker’s and Chris Stussy’s performances to a new stage.
“Our teams worked quickly and diligently to address the situation and the safety of our festival attendees is always our utmost priority.”
Georgina Pellant -
21st March 2022 
