It looks set to be one of the highlights of this year’s events calendar here in Manchester, and tickets are now on sale.
90s kids, 00s lovers, dance floor heroes, and underground clubbers can kick-start the summer season by grabbing tickets to go back to that time they love so much as Flashback Festival – Manchester’s newest and only outdoor music festival celebrating dance music from the last two decades – is bringing “timeless tunes and fresh vibes” to Platt Fields Park.
Some of the biggest names from dance music across the globe, some chart-topping local throwbacks, and some of the elite North West residents from over the years will be gathering in the city for one day only this May.
They’ll be blasting out all the “old skool anthems” you know and love at what is set to be the hottest festival this summer, come rain or shine.
No matter what it is that you’re in to – whether it be euphoric trance and Clubland Classics, to retro house, garage, jungle, hardcore, and just about everything in between – Flashback Festival’s “jaw-dropping” lineup of headliners and pioneers will showcase a full spectrum of dance music royalty from the past 30 years.
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There’s over 60 artists on the lineup, spread across five stages.
Flashback Festival is taking over Platt Fields Park / Credit: Flashback Festival
Headliner Example will be taking to the ‘Main Stage’ with his hits ‘Kickstarts’ and ‘Won’t Go Quietly’, and he’ll be joined by other throwback chart toppers Tinchy Stryder, 2Unlimited, Tulisa, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, Ultrabeat, and so many more.
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For the Garage fans, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Artful Dodger, and Sweet Female Attitude will be there to take it back to the most iconic era in music.
Stages will be hosted by legendary brands such as Clubland, Hed Kandi, Back by Dope Demand, and Trance Anthems.
The ‘Main Stage’ will be a huge open-air outdoor stage with SFX, laser shows, and pyrotechnics, and there’ll be huge big top arena featuring a well-known national brand that fills up clubs and dance floors every week.
There’s over 60 artists on the lineup, spread across five stages / Credit: Flashback Festival
And the music is only part of what makes this festival an unmissable event too.
There’s also set to be a VIP bar and plenty of different fairground rides spread across the dedicated ‘Festival Village’, as well as an official after party on the cards, and lots more exciting things to be announced over the coming months.
Flashback Festival is coming to Platt Fields Park on Saturday 21 May 2022.
Tickets are priced at £44.50 for standard entry, £61.50 for a VIP package, and £10 if you just fancy going to the after party, with booking fees added onto each.
Watch live: Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, Steve Rotheram and more take part in DJ battle
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham is set to take to the DJ decks again, facing off against Angela Rayner, Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram, and Manc legends including Clint Boon and Rowetta.
The huge event has been created with the support of Warehouse Project to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity for A Bed Every Night.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has now been added to the bill and will be getting behind the decks at the charity event, alongside Manc music legends.
The event will see Burnham battling against Steve Rotheram in a musical head-to-head between Manchester and Liverpool.
It’s taking place at Depot Mayfield, the home of Warehouse Project, on Friday 2 December – and we’ve got an exclusive discount for £1 tickets for The Manc readers.
All proceeds from bar sales on the night will go to support those who are experiencing or at risk of rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.
The line-up will be headlined by Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram (who first battled behind the DJ decks in lockdown), with guest appearances from Angela Rayner, Nihal Arthanayake, Stanley Chow, Clint Boon and Rowetta, plus guest DJs from the Warehouse Project.
Andy Burnham doing a live-streamed DJ set during lockdown. Credit: GMCA
Angela said: “I can’t wait to get on the decks and show everyone why Manchester is clearly the best city when it comes to music. I’ve got a lot of love for Scousers, but Team Liverpool will be second best on Saturday night.
“I’m delighted to be taking part in this event and helping to raise money for such a fantastic cause. I hope you like the songs I’ve picked. It was hard to narrow it down to three because there are so many Manchester music legends!”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “We all know Manchester has the greatest musical heritage and I’ll be giving it my all in the set to prove that point once and for all. There’s serious pride at stake here.
We're raising money for the brilliant @GMMayorsCharity initiative A Bed Every Night & powered by @WHP_Mcr
“But competition aside, our passion for music unites our two city regions. What better way to put on an amazing celebration of our region’s culture and raise money for important causes, to support those who need it most at what is a really difficult time.”
Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram said: “There can be no debate: the Liverpool City Region is the undisputed home of British music. We’ve given the world some of the greatest artists, albums and songs of all time – no area has had more number one hits than us.
“The fact we beat off competition from cities across the UK to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine speaks to our world-leading reputation as the UK’s premier music scene – and it’s a legacy we’re continuing today.”
The battle is supported by The Warehouse Project, Elevate and Badger & Combes.
Launched in 2018 by Andy Burnham and supported by the Charity, A Bed Every Night provides emergency accommodation for anyone rough sleeping across the city-region, regardless of status, as well as vital personal support.
Since its launch, A Bed Every Night has helped over 4,000 people and been instrumental in reducing rough sleeping in the region since its peak in 2017. But due to the current cost of living and energy crisis, there is an increased need to offer support this winter.
Currently, there are 619 people in A Bed Every Night accommodation across Greater Manchester who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping, with 21 organisations across the region providing accommodation.
To get your ticket for £1 (plus fees), use the code: TheManc – get yours here.
Featured image: Ramona / Supplied
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69% of Manchester students want to try a plant-based diet – but ‘cost and inconvenience’ is putting them off
Emily Sergeant
Soaring costs, the inconvenience of the lifestyle, and the potential risk of isolation have been named as the top three barriers preventing Manchester students from giving veganism and plant-based diets a try.
According to a new study of students in Manchester byMeatFreed – an app connecting the plant-based community for students in key student cities across the UK – less than one in 10 say they would be able to commit to a fully plant-based diet, despite 69% claiming they want to try more plant-based meals, and a further 23% keen on becoming plant-based full-time if possible.
35% of Manchester students say they also like to eat more sustainably, and a quarter (25%) already making sustainable meal choices – but it’s not so easy for everyone.
And it’s all down to several different barriers standing in their way, according to the study.
MeatFreed’s recent study found that 48% of Manchester students named having less options for meals on-the-go as the main reason why they’re put off trying a plant-based diet, with a further 36% feeling it would be too tricky to eat out in restaurants and at takeaways.
20% also said they felt concerned they would be the only vegetarian or vegan in their friendship group or families – which could lead to an element of social isolation.
Plant-based app and community MeatFreed has now launched in Manchester / Credit: MeatFreed
With the rising cost of living crisis also sadly continuing to make its impact felt, 44% of Manchester students surveyed said they felt worried about the cost of a plant-based lifestyle, and another 43% said they felt a little anxious about how that could impact their diets.
Because of this, 60% of students believe their diets will change as the cost of food increases.
Yet despite all these identified hurdles, MeatFreed also found that a whopping 92% of students surveyed would like to see more plant-based options on the menu when they’re dining out, and so, to help them find the most sustainable meal options out there in our city, the MeatFreed app officially launched in Manchester last month.
This new app brings together discounts, menus, and offers for students from over 50 restaurants in Manchester, as well as offering rewards to users who choose more sustainable meal choices.
The app connects the plant-based community for students in key student cities across the UK / Credit: MeatFreed
“It’s not surprising that students are growing more concerned about the cost of living and rising food prices as it’s everywhere in the media and trying to find sustainable meal choices can be trickier than ever in all that noise,” admitted Patrick Huang – co-founder of MeatFreed.
“We chose to launch in Manchester as it’s one of the biggest student communities in the UK, and with so many Manchester students keen to try plant-based and more sustainable dishes, we wanted to help them discover the options they have right on their doorstep.
“And it doesn’t have to drain the student loan either.”
Mr Huang said the launch of the MeatFreed app is hoping to make the barriers of cost, inconvenience, and potential social isolation “distant worries” for Manchester students.
MeatFreed offers students in Manchester a community that’s open to anyone keen to try a more plant-based and sustainable diet – from flexitarians, to full-time vegans.
Emily Sergeant -
4th February 2022 
