The Manc Group has launched a new Audio North platform, created to showcase the music scene across all cities and towns in the North of England.
Through video-led content, Audio North will deliver artist interviews, backstage venue secrets, concert highlights, music-inspired vox-pops, live-streamed events and much more, bringing the thriving music scene in the north of England to life on social media.
Through The Manc Group’s websites, Audio North will also bring readers gig announcements as they happen, venue updates, festival line-ups, music reviews, artist stories and more.
We’re already behind pages including The Manc, The HootandThe Sheff, covering cultural news from Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the surrounding areas.
With a combined 2.3 million followers across our social media platforms and a million website users each month, the group is now dedicated to showcasing the best of the music scene up North.
Audio North is all about championing local and visiting talent to the Northern region, including The Manc Group’s home cities plus neighbouring icons like Liverpool, Newcastle and beyond.
It’s about celebrating the region’s rich musical histories, from Oasis and The Beatles to Pulp, Take That, Pulp and more, while demonstrating to the world that the North is still king of the music industry.
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Building on existing partnerships with the UK’s leading venues including the AO Arena in Manchester and the First Direct Arena in Leeds, as well as smaller grassroots venues, plus a long-standing partnership with StreamGM, the new channel will celebrate and amplify British Northern music.
Video series that will launch with Audio North will include ‘Short Stuff’, 60-second videos delving into the histories and origins of local music scenes; ‘On The Street’, chatting to music lovers on the streets and in the queues outside venues; and ‘Audio Meets’, where rising stars and established artists will give their own insights into the music industry, plus an ongoing partnership with Spill The Sound.
Audio North at the First Direct Arena LeedsNight and Day Cafe in ManchesterSerge of KasabianCredit: The Manc Group
Abbie Bartlett, head of brand at The Manc Group, said: “We’re so proud of our northern roots and our home cities, and especially the world-famous music scenes that exist here.
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“From The Leadmill to the AO Arena, Night & Day Cafe to the First Direct Arena, The Cavern Club to Brudenell Social Club, we can’t wait to show off all the places and events that make the North such a vibrant and lively place to live.
“Nothing can compare to the buzz of seeing live music, but we hope through Audio North we can provide the next best thing to being inside an actual concert.
“It’s about time we change the London-centric narrative around the UK’s music scene and bring all eyes up North.”
Here’s an example of the kind of exclusive content you can expect from the newly unified entertainment brand and music outlet:
Laura Graham, StreamGM’s Producer said: “The North has always produced a rich source of incredible music, and StreamGM has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with The Manc Group because we share an innate passion, pride and dedication to the region’s music scene.
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“Having worked with The Manc Group on a number of very successful music and cultural campaigns over the years, StreamGM is thrilled about the launch of Audio North, and we are here for it!
“Together, StreamGM and Audio North will promote the diversity and global acclaim of our local music and culture. This will include exclusive, collaborative content with two of StreamGM’s biggest online music series: Spill The Sound – a northern indie music show presented by Louise Schofield that platforms renowned and breakthrough talent, and MainRoom; our live-streamed underground clubbing series that brings grassroots northern dancefloors to living rooms across the world, featuring exciting new DJs and club nights from across the region.”
Audio North launches on Thursday 18 July – you can follow it on Instagram HERE.
For more information and to share local music news, email [email protected].
The Manchester 24 Hour Run raises over £70,000 for the region’s homeless community
Danny Jones
The numbers are in for the 2025 Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness, which saw hordes of runners take over the city centre to generate money for the ever-crucial cause.
Having set an ambitious target of £50,000, not only did they manage to achieve their goal, they absolutely SMASHED it, totalling more than £70k.
In fact, with last-minute donations and matching contributions still trickling in over a fortnight on from this year’s event, the final figure is actually set to surpass that by several thousands.
Simply incredible stuff. Speaking on the night, here’s what the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, had to say about another inspiring edition of the annual endurance relay.
Running in the wind and rain, dashing through puddles in the cold, the pitch black and all through the night into the fresh cold Manc morning this month, more than a thousand volunteers, locals, businesses, and more laced up their trainers for the seventh edition in six years.
For those unaware, this event is a recurring 5k relay loop around Manchester, with the route designed to run around parts of the city centre where you can witness homelessness first-hand.
Taking place in November every year – when the region is even more dark, grey and wet than usual – this also gives participants an opportunity to further empathise with the discomfort felt by rough sleepers.
Well over 4,000 individuals and 165 organisations have taken part in this initiative since 2019, funding more than 70,000 nights of accommodation through the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and its ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme. That tally is set to jump massively, once again, after this year’s run.
Here’s how the 2025 stats on the tarmac break down:
100 running clubs and organisations
Over 1,500 individual runners and walkers
44 x five-kilometre consecutive relay laps run
Over £188,700* raised across all events and years.
Multiple sponsors, including Autotrader, Accenture and Mistral
Credit: Ed Hill (supplied)
In 2025, the 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness also successfully expanded to Sheffield and Hereford for the first time, as well as returning to Birmingham for its second year.
The event unites local running communities to support local organisations. Better still, in 2026, the event is expected to expand again; for instance, after a rescheduling, the event is heading over to Yorkshire once more for the inaugural edition of The Leeds 24 Hour Run in March 2026.
Reflecting on the event’s seventh year, The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness co-founder, Thomas Lewis, says: “Every year I think we’ve hit our peak in terms of fundraising and turnout, and every year we somehow manage to surpass it. I’m completely blown away by the support and dedication of the Manchester running community. Bring on next year.”
Fran Darlington-Pollock, the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity’s outgoing CEO, added: “We’re so proud to continue supporting this incredible event and all the hard work that goes into making it such a success year after year.
“The passion and dedication of the organisers, runners, and supporters are truly inspiring, and we’re so grateful for the funds raised, which help people experiencing homelessness through A Bed Every Night.”
Anyone still wanting to make a donation can do so by visiting The 24 Hour Run website and the attached JustGiving page HERE, which will remain open for a few weeks following the event.
There are plenty of other ways we can help fight homelessness throughout the year, and it’s by pursuing vital causes like this that we truly put the great in Greater Manchester.
Attempted murder arrest and witness appeal after four injured in Altrincham attack
Daisy Jackson
An appeal for witnesses of an attack in Altrincham has been issued by police, after four people were left injured.
Shortly after 3.20am on Sunday 30 November, emergency services were called to reports of a disturbance on Railway Street.
The attack left a man in his 20s with life-changing facial injuries, a 21-year-old male with a chest wound, and a 51-year-old male and 52-year-old female with minor injuries.
The man with the chest wound remains in a serious but stable condition.
Officers have arrested a 24-year-old male from the Partington area on suspicion of attempted murder and section 18 assault – he remains in custody for questioning.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing for information and witnesses to anyone who may have seen the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Dixon said: “We are appealing to anyone in the area to come forward who may have witnessed an altercation on Railway Street before a white male in his 20s ran down the street towards Altrincham Interchange.
“Anyone with information is encouraged to call 101 or report information via our website quoting log 484 of 30.11.2025. Information can also be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“We appreciate the concern that communities may feel during an incident of this nature. We’d like to ask members of the public not to speculate and would like reassure communities that this incident is believed to be isolated.
“Thank you to the community and our retail partners for their co-operation throughout today regarding the disruption that has been caused during our investigation. Officers will remain in and around Altrincham town centre as we continue to conduct our enquiries.”
Daisy Jackson -
18th July 2024 
