Manchester rap star Aitch has taken to social media to explain his swollen face after his incredible headline set at Parklife.
The 23-year-old star closed the Parklife Stage on Saturday night, bringing out surprise special guests AJ Tracey and ArrDee.
But after wowing the crowds with his blistering set, Aitch was in a world of pain the next day (like a lot of us Parklife-goers, to be honest).
He took to his Instagram stories to write ‘Look at the state of my face though’ and spoke to the camera with a noticeably stuffy voice.
Aitch confirmed that he’d been struck down with something that pains thousands of Brits every summer – hay fever.
He joked that you could headline a massive festival in your own city, deliver a ‘f**king religious’ performance, and still be wiped out by those bloody allergies.
Aitch said: “All I’m saying is you can headline Parklike in your own city, and do a f**king… f**king… what I done last night was absolutely f**king religious, yeah, f**king trademarked the city, but you f**king still wake up with hayfever like this. F**k me.”
The young Moston-born musician is a firm fan favourite and all-round nice lad, as he also welcomed an autistic super-fan to meet him backstage at the festival.
12-year-old Marlee Matthews posed for photos with Aitch in the backstage area at Parklife, wearing ear defenders and a massive grin.
The young boy had caught the rapper’s eye at a gig last year after he spotted him dancing at one of his gigs.
Replying to @aitch12 IT HAPPENED GUYS! Marlee is literally on cloud 9! Meet & greet, backstage passes & meeting a few other famous faces too! Marlee even told Aitch some of his fav dad jokes haha! Couldn’t be more greatful to everyone who helped me make this happen! 🤍 #aitch#nq#parklife#appreciationpost#thankful#closetohome#aitchofficial#autismawareness
Marlee’s mum Chelsea has shared photos of the lovely meet-and-greet moment on social media, writing: “IT HAPPENED GUYS! Marlee is literally on cloud 9!
“Meet & greet, backstage passes & meeting a few other famous faces too!
“Marlee even told Aitch some of his fav dad jokes haha! Couldn’t be more greatful to everyone who helped me make this happen!”
Sacha Lord had previously shared a story about Marlee and wrote: “Feel good story of the day. We’re aware of this and Marlee is about to have the best day of his life this Saturday.”
Popeyes to give out FREE viral chicken sandwiches when it opens in Manchester Arndale next week
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is getting another new Popeyes next week, and this time it’s coming to the city’s biggest shopping centre.
New Orleans-born fried chicken restaurant, Popeyes® UK, has finally announced the launch date of its newest Manchester restaurant at Halle Place, on the Lower Ground of Manchester Arndale, making it the third location for the city and the chain’s 33rd opening in total this year.
Popeyes has become known for its round-the-block queues on opening day – with both the Manchester Piccadilly and Bury New Road launches attracting hundreds for their first bite of the legendary Chicken Sandwich.
This is why a ‘show-stopping’ launch day is planned for the new Arndale site when it opens from 11am next Friday (29 August), and there’ll be loads of giveaways for shoppers to get their teeth stuck into.
On opening day, not only the first three customers win the ultimate prize of free Chicken Sandwiches for a full year, but the first 50 customers in the queue will be treated to exclusive Popeyes UK merchandise and the first 100 people will bag themselves a free Chicken Sandwich.
With both dine-in and speedy takeaway options available, fried chicken lovers will soon be able to enjoy Popeyes favourites, like the iconic Chicken Sandwich, Hot Wings, Tenders, and Signature Chicken Wraps, when it opens at the Arndale.
All of Popeyes’ chicken is marinated for 12 hours in its signature blend of bold Louisiana seasoning, before it’s hand-breaded and battered to deliver that famous ‘shatter-crunch’.
Popeyes is opening its third Manchester site in the Arndale next week / Credit: The Manc Group
The new Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich will also be available from opening day, following huge demand from fans for its return to the menu.
The Sandwich is joined by the return of the bigger-than-ever Hot Honey range, featuring the brand-new Hot Honey Saucin’ Boneless, the comeback of Hot Honey Saucin’ Wings, and the Hot Honey Box Meal.
“The response to our first two Manchester restaurants has been incredible, and we’re sure our new Arndale location will be just as popular,” commented Tom Crowley, who is the Popeyes UK CEO, ahead of next week’s opening.
“The new opening marks an exciting step in our growth across the city, and we look forward to welcoming even more guests to experience the spirit of New Orleans.”
To be in with a chance of chomping down on a legendary Popeyes Chicken Sandwich for free of charge, you’ll want to make sure you’re one of the first 100 in the queue on Arndale launch day.
Popeyes opens its third Manchester site at Manchester Arndale next Friday 29 August at 11am.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Manchester Mardi Gras lineup and stage times in full – the ultimate guide to Pride 2025’s new event
Danny Jones
This year’s Manchester Pride festival is nearly here, and with the organisers introducing an all-new addition to the celebrations in the form of Mardi Gras, 2025 is going to be unforgettable.
Promising to be bigger, better and bolder than ever, this new entire sub-section/spin-off/side-event (whatever you want to call it) is designed to up the party atmosphere even further over the long August bank holiday weekend.
For anyone as yet unaware, Manchester Pride 2025 will not just boast the usual parade, Gay Village Party and numerous other specific events in and around Canal Street, but an entirely new series; this year, Mardi Gras is taking over Depot Mayfield and Freight Island too, promising a whole host of shows.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into what’s on where and when, shall we?
Now, for starters, you can see the full lineup down below, including the likes of blockbuster headliner Nelly Furtado, who was announced as the final act for the closing night of Mardi Gras 2025 last week.
The are plenty of other big names playing Pride this year – take a look for yourselves.
It’s also worth noting that wristbands for Mardi Gras still grant you entry to all of this year’s Gay Village Party events, too.
Mardi Gras stage times for MCR Pride 2025
Next up are the stage times, and while we can certainly lay everything out for you, as with any festival, having to painstakingly check all of the clashes is up to you.
Anna Phylactic – 2:45-2:50pm N-Trance – 2:50-3:20pm Louis III – 3:30-4pm K-Klass – 4:10-7:10pm Louisa Johnson – 5-5:40pm Banksie – 5:20-5:35pm Tayce – 5:45-18:00 Big Freedia – 6:30-7pm Tulisa – 7:20-7:50pm Olly Alexander – 9:40-10:40pm Nelly Furtado – 11:30pm-12:30am
The former Little Mix star is headlines the night of Mardi Gras.Gok Wan sets always go off.Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
Freight Island
Sat, 23 August
Sun, 24 August
Bongo’s Bingo – 4-5pm Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ – 5:15-35pm Yshee Black – 5:35-5:50pm Shanika Sunrise – 5:55-6:10pm Bailey J Mills – 6:15-6:30pm Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ (second set) – 7-7:20pm Charity Shop Sue – 7:20-8:05pm Queenz: ‘Drag Me To The Disco’ – 8:15-9pm Dean McCullough’s Pop Machine – 9:15-10:15pm The Danny Beard Show – 11:33pm-12:28am
Bongo’s Bingo – 3:45-4:45pm Lucky Roy Singh – 5:20-5:25pm Tequila Thirst – 5:25-5:30pm Fortune – 5:35-5:40pm Minara el Waters – 5:40-5:45pm Lady Imelda – 5:45-5:55pm DJ – Club Zindagi – 6-6:30pm Singh/Raj/Fortune/Kaan/Awas – 6:30-6:35pm Sitara Malik – 6:35-6:40pm Awais – 6:40-6:45pm Saki Yew – 6:45-6:50pm Raj – 6:50-6:55pm Duniya Dhoom – 6:55-7pm Khaan – 7-7:05pm Buffer – 7:05-7:15pm Zahirah Zapanta – 7:15-7:20pm Amirck Channa – 7:20-7:25pm DJ – Club Zindagi (second set) – 7:25-7:55pm House of MCR ‘Pride Edition’ – 9pm-12:04am
The Garden Stage is often the quieter, more laid-back part of Freight Island, but there’ll still be plenty of entertainment to be found there this bank holiday…
That’s just about everything you need to know ahead of the inaugural edition of Mardi Gras as part of the annual Manchester Pride celebrations.
We hope you all have a wonderful time this weekend – look out for one another, be happy, unapologetically yourselves, and show this city in its best light like you every year.
And last but not least, you can find out everything else you need to know from our complete MCR Pride 2025 guide right here.
Daisy Jackson -
12th June 2023 
