A brand-new festival is set to take over Burrs Country Park in Bury for two weeks of live music, community events and artisan food beginning on the bank holiday.
Running from August 27 to September 5, Burrs Live by The Met will feature a packed programme of live performers including Beatles tribute The Bootleg Beatles, folk supergroup Show of Hands, and one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history, The Magic of Motown.
On September 3 and 4, the park will also play host to Head For The Hills festival – starring multi-instrumentalist Badly Drawn Boy, electronic afro-funk band Ibibio Sound Machine, and psychedelic trail-blazers, Heavy Salad.
Manchester’s own Everything Everything will headline the Saturday bill, with additional performances from singer-songwriter Bess Atwell, four-piece The Magic Numbers, and award-winning folk trio Harp and a Monkey.
Manchester’s Everything Everything will be making an appearance at Head For The Hills
Happy Festival, an event inspired by the work of much-loved local comedian Victoria Wood, will be taking over the grounds on September 5.
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Hosted by Britain’s Got Talent’s Steve Royle, the line-up includes Manchester comedian Rachel Fairburn along with Wood’s longtime collaborator (and Coronation Street star) Sue Devaney.
Brightside Brewery will be providing the drinks throughout Burrs Live with a selection of local food vendors on site, with the event supported by Arts Council England, GMCA, Bury Council and Bury Town of Culture.
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Charlotte Morris, Bury Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and the Economy said: “There’s something really special about the way this set of events is designed to bring the best of our borough’s culture and creativity into the heart of one of our fantastic outdoor spaces.
“I would encourage everyone in our borough to go along if they can.”
Folk supergroup Show of Hands will play an outdoor show at Burrs Live
Burrs Live will take place from Friday 27 August – Sunday 5 September at Burrs Country Park, Woodhill Rd, Bury BL8 1DA.
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Day tickets range from £11 – £30 (inc. fees)
For the full lineup and event information visit The Met website.
What's On
Popular grassroots music festival to return to hidden Manchester street with new fringe events
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s much-loved grassroots music festival is back next month, and this year, there’s some new fringe events too.
Set across a handful of popular venues up on Deansgate Mews – including The Lion’s Den, Low Four Studios and The Mews Bar – Deansgate Mews Festival is returning for its sixth year this late May bank holiday weekend.
More than 40 music artists will be performing on a mix of outdoor and intimate indoor stages.
But that’s not all, as in what’s set to be an exciting new chapter for 2026, the festival is expanding beyond its core programme with the launch of the first-ever Mews Fest Fringe too.
Popular grassroots music festival Mews Fest returns this late May bank holiday / Credit: Supplied
The inaugural Mews Fest Fringe will be hosted in a large unit within Great Northern Warehouse, which will be transformed into a ‘vibrant’ hub celebrating music, art and independent culture.
Designed as a platform for Manchester’s creative community, the festival space will welcome artists, designers, collectors, and creative entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their work while connecting with festival-goers.
At the Fringe event, you can expect everything from record sellers and vinyl collectors, to vintage clothes, arts and crafts makers, independent creatives, and even bands selling merchandise.
This year there’s also the addition of the Mews Fest Fringe / Credit: Supplied
Already known for its strong grassroots ethos and growing reputation, Mews Fest continues to champion local talent and independent culture – but now with the addition of the Fringe event, the stage is set for its most ‘ambitious and inclusive’ edition to date.
Oh and the best bit? Both festivals will be free to attend, with no need to book tickets beforehand.
Mews Fest and Mews Fest Fringe will take over Deansgate Mews next month on late May bank holiday weekend from Friday 22 – Monday 26 May.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
Peter Kay announces four intimate charity shows in Greater Manchester – but only for these postcodes
Emily Sergeant
Peter Kay has just announced four intimate shows to raise money for a very worthy cause… but you can only get tickets if you live in these particular postcodes.
Comedy legend Peter Kay is set to return home to the Bolton Albert Halls for four very special hometown shows in this summer, marking his first performances at the venue more than two decades.
Taking to the very stage where he recorded the UK’s biggest-selling stand-up DVD, it’s set to be a proper nostalgic homecoming for one of Britain’s most beloved comedians.
The summer shows – which are taking place from 9 – 11 July 2026, even including a matinee performance – this is a rare chance for local fans to be part of something incredibly special, with all funds raised going to Bolton Hospice.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… you’ll only be able to get tickets if you live in Bolton (and some parts of Bury), as it’s strictly limited to BL postcodes.
Peter Kay Live at the Bolton Albert Halls – 2026 Dates
Thursday 9 July (Evening)
Friday 10 July (Evening)
Saturday 11 July (Matinee)
Saturday 11 July (Evening)
Tickets officially go on sale Friday 24 April at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
The Manc -
17th August 2021 
