A festival dedicated to 90s and 00s dance music is taking place in Manchester next week.
The gloriously nostalgic Flashback Festival will be headlined by the likes of Example, Tinchy Stryder, Tulisa, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, Ultrabeat, and many more.
The outdoor festival is calling all 90s kids, 00s lovers, dancefloor heroes and underground clubbers to head back to Platt Fields Park for a trip down memory lane.
Garage fans will get to see DJ Luck & MC Neat, Artful Dodger and Sweet Female Attitude back on stage again.
The four stages will be hosted by brands such as Clubland, Hed Kandi, Back by Dope Demand, and Trance Anthems.
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The blasts from the past will continue – quite literally – in the food and drink side of things, with a stand dedicated to Tango Ice Blasts.
The site map for Flashback Festival. Credit: Supplied
Manchester’s legendary street food trader Porky Pig, home of the Yorkshire pudding wrap, will also be on hand, alongside shisha, vegan food, and ice cream.
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As well as timeless tunes, Flashback Festival will have fairground rides like a big wheel, dodgems, Super Bowl and Twist rides.
There’ll be four stages of music, a festival village, and a VIP area including a VIP bar.
12-year-old busker wins Salford Foundation Trust’s Johnny Marr Award
Danny Jones
A 12-year-old from Manchester has won the inaugural Johnny Marr Award from the Salford Foundation Trust. Get in there, lad.
Salford schoolkid, John Denton, has played the guitar since the age of eight and has been developing his skills ever since, busking on the rainy streets of the city centre and even playing gigs at Salford Lads Club.
Now the aspiring teen has been presented with a prestigious honour by one of his musical heroes, as the foundation dished out their first-ever Johnny Marr Award to the dedicated young performer.
Having met the legendary Smiths guitarist and songwriter previously at a signing of his last album, Fever Dreams Pts 1-4, where he asked his idol for advice about starting a band, we dare say this latest development is up there with one of the highlights of his career so far.
I’m pleased to be announcing John Denton as the winner of the @TheSalfordTrust ‘Johnny Marr Award’. It’s a privilege to be supporting a dedicated young musician. Well done John. pic.twitter.com/HoYXIY0IVY
Issuing a message of support on the Salford Foundation’s website, Marr said: “It’s a pleasure and privilege to give some assistance to a young musician especially when they’re as dedicated as John. Well done brother.”
John has been delighting the streets of Salford and Manchester city centre for some time now and regularly pulls in sizeable crowds with his covers of songs by popular local bands — The Smiths being one of them.
With videos of his performances often being shared online and regularly gaining thousands of views across various social media platforms, he has already started to build a passionate following.
Come rain or shine, he still belts it out all the same:
The Johnny Marr Award is chosen by a panel made up of members from the trust which supports talented young people in the city. The scheme will run for three years, selecting another young musician from Salford each year for financial assistance, each of whom will be awarded £1,000.
Peter Collins CBE, from the Salford Foundation Trust, said: “There couldn’t be a more worthy recipient of the Johnny Marr Award. Even though John is only 12 he’s already proven he’s committed to making a future in music and we’re delighted the Trust can give him a helping hand on this journey.”
John has said he will be putting the funds towards more singing and guitar lessons and future music projects, as well as hopefully levelling up his performances.
Better still, after his first chat with Marr, John has since formed his own band called, The Height – named after an area in Salford near where he lives – and the group released their first single, ‘Go’ just before Christmas. Well in, boys.
John’s dad Phil said of his son’s award: “John’s ambition is to have a career in music. He will be using the funding to have music lessons to help both his guitar playing and his singing. In these tough times, it’s a massive help and means that he can progress in his passion.
“Music is not a hobby for John but just who he is and a creative outlet he hopes to enjoy for the rest of his life. He is incredibly grateful to Johnny and the Salford Foundation Trust who have provided this opportunity.
“It is a real privilege to get this award and he is determined to make the very most of the opportunity he has been given.”
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester following the well-earned recognition, Denton told John Sweeney that after having started out asking cafes to let him play, “it’s going great now” and that he has another gig lined up in March.
“Not being big-headed but we hope to be like Johnny Marr and go on tour and get a big following.”
We wish you and your band every success, John — go out there and keep killing it.
We are absolutely loving how much this city is doing for its wonderful pool artists at the minute.
Featured Image — Johnny Marr (via Instagram/Twitter)
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Radio 1’s Adele Roberts to perform DJ set on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National
Emily Sergeant
BBC Radio 1’s Adele Roberts has been confirmed to perform a DJ set after racing finishes on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National.
The Southport-born DJ has worked for a number of Northern radio stations throughout her career, including Rock FM, Galaxy, and Hits Radio Manchester, before she moving to national radio and becoming a regular presenter of Radio 1’s Early Breakfast Weekend show since January 2021.
The 43-year-old first found fame in Channel 4’s Big Brother in 2002, and has appeared on ITV reality competition series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2019, and won the sixth series of Celebrity Coach Trip in 2020 too.
Adele is also a bowel cancer survivor, announcing back in June 2022 that she’s now cancer free, and a passionate supporter of LGBT rights, having been named as role model of the year at British LGBT Awards last year.
But away from all of that, she is also a massive sports fan.
Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National 2023 is taking place on Friday 14 April / Credit: The Jockey Club
Also throughout her revered career, Adele has impressively competed in the London Marathon, and has formed part of BBC Sport’s coverage of the event – which is why getting to combine her love of sport and her love of music by performing a DJ set after racing finishes on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National is something she “can’t wait” to do.
“I can’t wait to be at Aintree on Ladies Day to celebrate with everyone,” Adele said.
“I know how much the people of Liverpool turn out for that day, I’m excited to perform my DJ set and get everyone dancing, and as a Southport girl it’s a real thrill for me to be involved with the Randox Grand National Festival.”
Radio 1’s Adele Roberts will be performing a DJ set on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National / Credit: The Jockey Club
Dickon White, Regional Director at The Jockey Club North West, says the Festival is “thrilled” to have Adele performing.
“Ladies Day is very much the day at the Randox Grand National Festival that attracts the strongest local crowd, and with Adele hailing from Southport it is the perfect match, so we look set for what should be a party to remember.”
The three-day 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse runs from Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 April inclusive, with Ladies Day taking place on Friday 14 April.
Joining House of Cavani as The Jockey Club’s men’s competitions style partner, popular fashion retailer QUIZ has been announced as the Official Style Partner for Ladies Day this year, and is hoping to “inspire all women to look fabulous and feel confident on any occasion” by offering a constantly-updated choice of affordable fashion, both casual and formal, all with a touch of glam.
Ladies Day Style Awards prizes 2023 🚨
🥇 prize is ALL of this…
🏝 £5,000 holiday & £1,500 spends 🏇 2 Garden Club Tickets to Ladies Day 2024 🤝 £1,000 donation to your chosen charity 💆♀️ @RandoxHealth full-body Everyman/woman package
Of course, a huge part of Ladies Day every year is the style competition, which gives the best-dressed attendees at the Festival the chance to take home some incredible prizes.
Some of the prizes lined-up for first, second, and third place in this year’s style competition include a holiday worth £5,000 along with £1,500 spending money, £1,000 donation to your chosen charity, ticket bundles to next year’s Grand National, and a £500 QUIZ voucher, to name just a few.
Daisy Jackson -
13th May 2022 
