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Popular live music festival returns to The Oast House this bank holiday weekend – and it’s FREE

ManiFest is back once again this Sunday 28 August to celebrate the August bank holiday weekend.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd August 2022

One of the most popular city centre venues is back with another edition of its new music festival this August bank holiday weekend.

In case you missed it, award-winning Spinningfields bar and one of the city’s best-loved sun traps, The Oast House, has launched a new live music festival this year – which kicked-off for the first time over the extended Easter bank holiday weekend, with a full day of tunes provided by local musicians throughout the one-day event.

It then returned for the early May bank holiday, and was back once again to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.

Now, to mark the final bank holiday weekend of the year, ManiFest returns this Sunday 28 August and will take over The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace area with a dedicated stage set up.

ManiFest returns this August bank holiday weekend / Credit: The Oast House

Set to run from 1pm right through until 10pm in the evening, a packed roster of acts are lined up to perform, including bands, solo artists, and duos all taking to the stage throughout the day, with interludes provided by a number of resident DJs.

As always, the Oast House says that festival-goers can expect a “party atmosphere” and sounds of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco and blues.

The event is not ticketed, and is free to attend on a first come, first served basis.

It will take over The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace area with a dedicated stage set up / Credit: The Oast House

Given the fact that the event is not ticketed and knowing how popular The Oast House is on most weekends in general, the venue is recommending that people get there early to avoid disappointment.

And if the tunes weren’t enough of a draw as it is, The Oast House’s unique street food menu will also be on offer to try out throughout the weekend for those looking to line their stomachs during the festival – which has a wide range of signature dishes such as the Northern Poutine, Crispy Chicken Burger, and the famous Hanging Kebabs.

Read more: The Oast House launches new street food menu with gyros, poutine and more

Some of the vegan options on the menu include Cauliflower Wings, Salt and Pepper Fries, and the Plant Based Gyro Wrap.

The Oast House says that festival-goers can expect a “party atmosphere” / Credit: The Oast House

Festival-goers will also get a glimpse at a new street art mural by Northern artist Sam Porter, which was unveiled to celebrate the launch of the new festival earlier this year, and has seen iconic Manchester scenes painted onto the inside of The Oast House stage.

Find out more about the final ManiFest of 2022 on the Oast House website.

Featured Image – The Oast House

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Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer

A brand-new pub has opened slap bang in the middle of the Northern Quarter – take a look inside The Faraday. 

This pub is just off the bustling Stevenson Square and has bags of stuff on offer. 

Spread across two floors on the site that was previously 7Sins, you’ll find live music, games, cocktails, and of course plenty of pints. 

The Lever Street venue has been totally transformed into a cosy space inspired by traditional British boozers. 

We’re talking vintage pub mirrors, mismatched bar stools, wood paneled walls, deep burgundy leather banquette seating and a fresh lick of dark green paint. 

And this smart pub has got the space to become a live music gem for the Northern Quarter, with live music every Wednesday to Sunday.

Downstairs, there’s still a wide range of games to keep you entertained, including pool tables (which are unlimited play for your booking), electric darts, and shuffleboard. 

The Faraday’s drinks menu boasts loads of classic cocktails, including margaritas, old fashioneds (including a tequila version), and a selection of sours. 

In pictures: The Faraday pub opens in Manchester

Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub, the Northern Quarter’s newest boozer
Inside The Faraday Pub

When happy hour rolls around (6pm til 10pm every evening but Saturday) you can get £5 drinks including pints of Guinness, and a selection of spritzes.

On draft there are fan favourites like Guinness, Mahou, Corona, Lowenbrau, Jubel Peach, Camden Pale, Kopparberg, and Camden Hells.

There’s a decent amount of outside seating for when the sun has got his hat on, too, with full sunshine in the afternoons.

The Faraday is open until 1am during the week, and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. 

It’s open now at 43-45 Lever Street in the Northern Quarter. 

They’ll be giving away a free pint to the first 100 people to visit on Friday 1 August from 5pm. You just need to show you’re following The Faraday on Instagram. 

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

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Here & Now – The Steps Musical is coming to Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Here & Now - The Steps Musical is coming to Manchester

A musical inspired by pop band Steps is coming to Manchester this year, and the principal cast for Here & Now has now been confirmed. 

The musical features Steps’ most beloved hit songs, including Tragedy, Heartbeat, Stomp, the One For Sorrow, Better Best Forgotten, 5,6,7,8, Last Thing On My Mind, Love’s Got A Hold Of My Heart, Chain Reaction, and many more. 

The story is set in seaside superstore Better Best Bargains, where it’s Friday night, the vibe is right, and everyone’s dancing in the aisles. 

But when Caz discovers the shelves are stocked with lies and betrayal, the summer of love she and her friends dreamed of suddenly feels like a tragedy. Have they all lost their chance of a ‘happy ever after’? Or does love have other plans in store…?

Here & Now has an original book by Shaun Kitchener and is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with choreography by Olivier Award-winning Matt Cole and Matt Spencer-Smith as musical supervisor, orchestrator and arranger.

The show is produced by Steps themselves, ROYO, and pop legend Pete Waterman.

Producers have now confirmed that Rebecca Lock will star as Caz, returning from the original run in Birmingham. 

Here & Now – The Steps Musical is coming to Manchester

Finty Williams will play Patricia, Blake Patrick Anderson will be Robbie, River Medway (fan favourite on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, BBC) is Jem, Edward Baker Duly (The King and I) as Max and John Stacey as Lesley.

There are new cast members joining the principal cast too, including Jacqui Dubois (Ghost The Musical UK tour) as Vel, Chris Grahamson (NOW That’s What I Call A Musical UK and Ireland tour) as Gareth and Rosie Singha (& Juliet UK and Ireland tour) as Neeta.

Set design by Tom Rogers, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Adam Fisher, wigs, hair and makeup design by Sam Cox, casting by Will Burton for Grindrod Burton Casting, Music Technology by Phij Adams with Production Management by Setting Line.

Steps are one of the biggest pop bands of a generation, made up of Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee. 

In their career they achieved 14 top five singles, four number one albums, 22 million record sales, 500 million streams and 11 sold-out national arena tours.  

Steps’ 2017 comeback tour was one of the biggest pop tours of that year, with 300,000 tickets sold, and they’ve continued to release new music.

You can find out more about Here & Now and book tickets HERE. 

Featured image: Supplied

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