Manchester-based street fashion and footwear retailer size? has revealed plans to bring some huge headliners to the city as part of a new music festival that’s launching this summer.
What first began as a series of intimate in-store sessions has now grown into size?’s very-own day festival, and it’s building on the retailer’s reputation for representing a range of up-and-coming talent from multiple genres.
Taking place right here in the retailer’s hometown of Manchester, the size?sessions all-day festival will take over the O2 Victoria Warehouse this August.
Chart-topping rappers AJ Tracey, Nines, and Knucks will play headline sets.
Chart-topping London rappers AJ Tracey and Nines have been confirmed as two of the headliners / Credit: Supplied
As well as the headline names, the first wave of acts have just been announced for the show today – with further rap artists Comfy and Juice Menace, singer-songwriters MIraa May and Tamera, and Manchester’s very-own ‘sisterz of darkness’ duo The KTNA all confirmed on the bill.
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Kennedy Taylor of The Electric Pancakes band, who also has a show on London’s ‘Foundation FM’, is also down to play a DJ set at the festival.
Set to take place on Saturday 20 August, the new size?sessions festival plans to unite music and streetwear fans under one roof as it brings a mixture of heavy hitters and up-and-comers to the city in a brand new format.
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Festival-goers will not only be able to witness some of their favourite acts, but attendees can also socialise and document their time at the festival via the Homegrown room – a social space sponsored by the newly launched fashion brand Homegrown.
With a solid line up and a further second wave of artists set to drop soon, we don’t doubt that this is going to be a big one on the city’s event calendar this summer.
To make sure music fans bag their tickets, tickets will first go on presale to size?access members at 10am on Wednesday 22 June via the size? website here.
This will be followed by general sale on Friday 24 June here.
Iconic Salford music venue The White Hotel to reopen under new ownership from 2027
Clementine Hall
After announcing plans to close at the end of the year, famed Manchester club The White Hotel is changing hands.
Just a couple of months ago back in May, it was announced that one of Greater Manchester’s most cutting-edge and best-loved nightlife venues would be closing its doors for good.
Despite ‘continuing to draw full houses’, co-founder Ben Ward told The Guardian that the venue had found itself in a flood-risk zone, saying: “Basically, it’s a swamp.”
He added that it was better ‘to go out on our own terms, long before we became a museum’.
But it seems the swamp may live on…and although it is the end for the cult favourite nightclub as we know it, the former garage in Salford will be reopening in new ownership from 2027.
From January onwards, the disused Dickinson Street space will be known as BASTION according to a social media post shared to Instagram yesterday.
It will be run by the team who operate neighbouring venue The Bag Factory and will be supported by the Strange Art Collective CIC.
Images: The Manc
The Bag Factory shared a black and white illustration of the iconic White Hotel’s exterior, along with coordinates to the venue, stating: “The underground has a new stronghold”.
Rather cryptic we must say, and although we hope The White Hotel that we know and love could stick around forever – we hope the new owners will keep some of its magic alive.
Violet Grohl addresses fans after cancelling Manchester gig just hours before doors opened
Daisy Jackson
Rising rock star Violet Grohl has addressed fans after cancelling her sold-out Manchester gig just hours before fans entered the venue.
The singer (who, yes, is the daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl) had been set to perform to a packed-out crowd at Band On The Wall last night.
But just hours before doors opened, Violet announced that the show would be postponed, along with tonight’s show in Glasgow.
She said in a statement that she was ‘really f**king bummed’ to be cancelling the shows.
Violet told fans that the gigs had to be cancelled because she ‘doesn’t have a voice right now’.
She is due to perform on The Canopy stage at Leeds Festival this Friday, and its sister site Reading Festival on Sunday.
The star added ‘it pains me to make this decision’ as she officially postponed her Manchester show.
Those who had tickets will receive updated information soon, with the plan to reschedule them.
She wrote: “hey everyone. really f**king bummed to have to let yall know i’m canceling tonight and tomorrow’s shows in Manchester and Glasgow.
“i don’t have a voice right now and it pains me to make this decision, but i just can’t perform.
“we’re rescheduling these shows and everyone who bought a ticket will receive the updated info. looking forward to seeing you soon xx i’ll be back!!!”
Violet Grohl released her debut album, Be Sweet To Me, back in May, produced at the home of acclaimed producer Justin Raisen.
Her music takes influence from late 80s and early 90s rock, including Pixies, Soundgarden, Bjork, PJ Harvey, and more.
When she announced her UK tour dates, demand was so overwhelming her Manchester show was upgraded from The Deaf Institute to Band On The Wall.
Georgina Pellant -
21st June 2022 
