What's On

A family-friendly festival full of FREE interactive activities is happening in Manchester this summer

'Little HOME' will be here for two fun-filled weekends in the city.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th July 2024

A free festival with a lineup packed full of interactive activities, workshops, live music, and more is coming to Manchester this summer.

Happening in the heart of the city centre in a couple of weeks time, just in time for schools to be out for the summer holidays, families across Greater Manchester are invited to head on down to the independent arts venue, HOME, and get stuck into everything from interactive theatre and circus skills workshops, to dance, hands-on crafts, and so much more.

The family-friendly Little HOME festival is set to pop up across two weekends in August – from Friday 2 through to Sunday 4 August, and the following weekend on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August.

A musical theatre production of the much-loved illustrated book by Nick Sharratt, Shark in the Park, will open the festival on Friday 2 August, with extra performances on the following two days, and tickets now available to book from £15 each on the HOME website.

A variety of free pop-up performances will be taking place in the spaces in and around HOME throughout Little HOME festival, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

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Festivalgoers can expect to make friends with a pair of fantastical beasts, prepare to be charmed by a postman-themed puppetry production, come face-to-face with Dr Frankenstein at his work table, visit fortune teller Mystic Mog to find out the future, and meet a bunch of other mischievous madcap characters along the way.

A family-friendly festival full of free interactive activities is happening in Manchester this summer / Credit: HOME MCR

Not only will there be some special one-to-one theatrical encounters to experience, but there’ll also be an impressive choice of free creative crafts, workshops, and games to take part in too – which is ideal for those who like doing as well as seeing.

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Especially on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August, Skylight Circus Arts and their team of performers will not only be drawing gasps of amazement from festivalgoers for their special circus skills, but they’ll also be on hand to help little Mancs and their families master their own juggling, plate-spinning, and diabolo skills too.

And if the festival’s programme wasn’t already packed full of fun enough as it is, you can also expect to let off some steam through a range of interactive dance classes, and unwind by watching family-friendly films like includes Pete’s Dragon, Kung Fu Panda 4, and The Parent Trap inside HOME’s cinema.

Read more:

All the activities that form part of Little HOME are free to take part in, and you can find more information ahead of the festival next month here.

Featured Image – HOME MCR

What's On

StreamGM launch brand new livestreamed DJ series, ‘Room Two’, at The Yard

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson

Starting this Friday, 8 November, StreamGM and Audio North are bringing the next big names in dance music directly to fans through ‘Room Two‘ – a weekly DJ series broadcasting from StreamGM HQ, The Yard, over in Cheetham Hill.

This new initiative champions the freshest talents from Greater Manchester’s dynamic underground dance scene, giving viewers worldwide a chance to experience exclusive, high-energy sets across house, garage, jungle, techno, dubstep, bassline and more.

Every Friday at 7pm for the next six weeks, you can tune in for an hour-long, genre-defying mix featuring six standout artists and collectives — all handpicked for their unique takes on the UK dance scene.

Here’s their debut lineup:

StreamGM events lineup
StreamGM x Audio North + The Yard = ‘Room Two’, a.k.a. the Manc music scene’s best-kept new secret.

For fans of raw talent and boundary-pushing beats, Room Two promises a weekly showcase of Manchester’s most exciting rising stars — completely free to watch on StreamGM’s website and social channels.

Let’s get to know the talent.

Meet the artists taking over Room Two

Room Two StreamGM The Yard Manchester
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Shimrise

Kicking off the series, Shimrise is the female duo who’ve made waves in Manchester’s house music scene, known for their fearless high-energy performances and risk-taking setlists.

Recently featured at Parklife and supporting the likes of Tarsza (NTS, 6 Music), Vanessa Maria (Foundation FM), and Kennedy Taylor (Capital Xtra), Shimrise’s sets blend dance classics with unexpected twists, creating a nostalgic yet electrifying vibe.

Prepare for a captivating opener as they set the tone for Room Two. You can watch our interview with the impressive pair of DJs down below:

Oldboy

Renowned for his mastery of grime, garage, bassline and house, Oldboy merges authentic UK sounds with modern twists, capturing the gritty energy of pirate radio and evolving it for today’s club scene.

His sets, steeped in UK bass culture, showcase explosive productions on labels like Untitled Dist. and his own Front Toward Enemy, making him a perfect choice to bring the classic Manchester rave vibe to Room Two.

A top talent well worth keeping your eyes on.

Old Boy The Yard StreamGM Room Two
oldboy manchester DJ
One of the most exciting names coming to the new StreamGM event at The Yard. (Credit: Press Images/The Manc Group)

Lapalace

With dreamy synths and classic drum breaks, Lapalace’s ambient dance project combines nostalgia with cutting-edge soundscapes.

Since launching in 2020, this Manchester-based artist has built a loyal following, recently crafting a new EP that expands her sonic palette beyond breaks, ambient, and jungle, creating an introspective yet powerful listening experience.

Genre-bending and certainly one to watch.

lapalace music
Credit: Supplied

Ghoulish

Speaking of which, as one of UKF and Mixmag’s ‘Ones to Watch’, Ghoulish is also setting the UK club scene alight with genre-blurring productions and intense DJ sets.

From euphoric dance to core-rattling dubstep, he blends a broad spectrum of sounds, recently earning a release on Skream’s label I FEEL and a spot on Warehouse Project Records.

Expect a high-octane set that defies genres and pushes boundaries.

ghoulish DJ
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Me Gusta Collective

Taking fans on a global musical journey, Me Gusta Collective brings a rhythmic mix of Latin house, reggaeton, broken Beat, Gqom, afro-techno and house.

Known for uniting diverse sounds and creating an inclusive dance floor atmosphere, Me Gusta Collective’s sets resonate with anyone looking for beats that transcend borders.

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Also, goes without saying but… great f***ing name, isn’t it?

me gusta collective music
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Finn

Inspired by both Manchester’s electric dance scene and US West Coast influences, Finn has cultivated a reputation for soulful, high-energy tracks.

With hits like ‘Keep Calling’ and ‘Do What You Want Forever’, his releases have become dancefloor staples.

A regular on NTS and a curator at SOUP and A Party Called, Finn’s sets are a celebration of Manchester’s underground energy with global appeal.

finn DJ
Finn rounds out the first wave of Room 2 acts set to play for StreamGM at The Yard (Credit: Supplied)

Read more:

Join the launch this Friday, 8 November, at 7 pm with Shimrise, and catch all upcoming sets on StreamGM’s website and the Facebook pages of The Manc and StreamGM.

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With an exhilarating line-up set to redefine Manchester’s underground scene, Room Two is where the future of dance music begins.

Let’s see out a great year for music in style.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group

What's On

‘Glittering winter adventure’ set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park will be transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ this festive season.

With spooky season now a thing of the past, and Christmas merely a few weeks away, families will soon be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.

Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.

A ‘glittering winter adventure’ is set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas / Credit: Supplied

All set to transport visitors right into the heart of Yuletide tales, the exciting new event – which opens next weekend, and runs through until late December – is produced by Wild Rumpus, who you may know for other magical local events such as ‘The Lanterns’ at Chester Zoo (2018-2022) and Just So Festival.

The highlight of this new event has to be The Glittering Trail, where beautifully-illuminated puppets and performers bring legendary stories of Yuletide to life as visitors wander through the park’s popular Japanese Gardens and make the most of the stunning winter landscape.

Families can gather around an open fire to toast marshmallows, all while they watch live performances that add even more magic to the evening.

Yuletide will be running at Tatton Park on selected dates from Saturday 16 November through to Monday 23 December, and tickets are on sale now – with adult tickets costing £20, children paying just £12 each, and free personal assistant passes are also available.

Read more:

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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