One of the very best festivals in Greater Manchester, and we guarantee the only one that takes place inside a garden centre (yes, really), is returning: that’s right, Green Island Festival is back again this year and we cannot wait.
The unique three-part music festival spread over three months is quietly becoming the best music event you’re missing out on if you live in and around Manchester, but if 2023’s edition was anything to go by, this thing won’t be staying a best-kept secret for much longer.
Green Island Fest 2024 descends upon Hulme Community Garden Centre, a beloved artistic and cultural cornerstone for the local area, from June and will see repeat parties all day and all night in July and September.
Soak up the sun in the day and then dance the night away — how all good festivals operate.
If you’ve never come across the concept before, let us fill you in. Five stages, (the most ever) around 50 musical acts from all over the UK and plenty of artists too, don’t you worry; three chapters, three of the most sun-soaked months in the year, food, drinks, dancing, A LOT of plants and plenty more.
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On the face of it, it might sound a bit odd to have a music festival inside a place where people usually buy pots and flowers, but if you’ve ever been to Hulme Garden Centre you’ll know it’s much more than that. The local institution is a hub for creatives, crafters and people from all walks of life.
When you get in there and see the whole vibe for yourself, you actually realise it’s kind of the perfect place for a music festival.
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Partnering with the likes of Reform Radio, the nearby NIAMOS Centre, as well Salford and Manchester-based promoters Fat Out, among many others, this really is set to be the biggest year for the festival to date. That also makes it a better time than ever to give it a try if you haven’t before.
But don’t be fooled into thinking this is just another one for those with the energy to dance non-stop for 24 hours, the pop-up food vendors, on-site cafe, various comfy and communal areas and stalls still selling stuff from the garden centre like any other work day mean its super family-friendly too.
In fact, last year we were genuinely taken aback a bit to see just how many parents came along to have a boogie with their kids wearing cute little ear defenders, pot plants, or simply lay back on the bed of chamomile grass and stare up at the sky. It’s just a great atmosphere all around.
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We always end up spending most of our time at the Forest stage — which is even better than you think it is — but that’s the perk of having it spread over three different dates, you still have plenty of time to try out all the different spaces around the roughly 1000-capacity venue.
You can see the full lineup for Green Island Festival 2024 down below:
We always stumble across so many up-and-coming artists at this thing.
Green Island Festival returns to Manchester on 15 June, 27 July and 7 September and boy are we praying for hot weather and clear skies — there’s plenty of coverage across the garden centre coverage if not, but there is nothing better than when the sun shines down on this thing.
You can grab tickets for either of the three chapters and the following afterparties over at YES this year via SeeTickets HERE, with day passes starting from just £20. Mint.
We really can’t speak highly enough of this festival and if you don’t believe us, you can read our full review from last year’s event down below and, hopefully, we’ll see you there.
Fast-rising alt-rock cult favourites Keo announce Manchester gig on new UK tour
Danny Jones
Up-and-coming alternative rock band Keo have just announced a new UK tour and “most ambitious chapter yet” in terms of live performances, including a Manchester gig that we CANNOT wait for.
Combining the likes of post-grunge, garage rock and more, Keo are one of the most exciting and fast-emerging new acts in the space right now, having seen their recent run of half a dozen domestic shows sell out completely.
Pulling influences from artists of The Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden, as well as most notably fellow contemporaries and former tour partner, Wunderhorse, they’re well-positioned at the front of the guitar-driven revival and are bound for big things. We’re by no means the only ones banking on it either…
Having been described as “already that band” by Dork and delivering “a sound that has given UK guitar its biggest kick up the fretboard in years” by Rolling Stone, you can bet tickets for these shows will be snapped up in seconds, too.
UK and Europe spring 2026. Pre-sale: 03 Nov 2025 10AM GMT On Sale: 05 Nov 2025 10AM GMT pic.twitter.com/Xz1km0Z93O
Set to play their biggest Manchester venue to date, Keo will be playing the O2 Ritz on Whitworth Street next spring, and let us tell you, that sprung floor is not ready…
Co-fronted by two brothers, Finn and Conor Keogh (originally from Devon before ultimately getting their music careers underway in the capital), the now London-based group make quite a racket for just the four of them.
That being said, they also do quiet moments well, too, as seen in several of the ‘calm before the storm’ breakouts in songs like ‘Thorn’, ‘Fly’, ‘Crow’ and many more.
If you like anything close to grunge or even just shoegazey riffs, trust us, they’ll be right up your street.
One of the most exciting parts about this lot is how feverishly their fans have packed out their audiences all over the country, somehow learning every single word to every song before most of the material had even been released on any kind of platform. They’ve led with their live reputation – and it shows.
Case and point – the crowd at The Key Club in Leeds, where our mates over at The Hoot got to witness them up close and personal as the entire room erupted in a chorus of screams about a girl called Amber:
“To be playing venues like these with only five songs out still feels surreal”, says lead singer Finn Keogh. “We always imagined we’d reach this level after years of supporting other bands, but somehow we’ve skipped that step.
“It’s mad, come March, our biggest indoor shows will have been our own. Electric Ballroom [in London] is a special one for me personally; I’ve seen some life-changing gigs there. To be on that stage this time around is going to feel unreal.”
Listing a total of 16 live show dates up and down the country throughout March and April of 2026, it’s fair to say we Mancs are excited to see them playing their biggest room in our city to date, having absolutely smashed Gorilla this past October.
Tickets for Keo at the O2 Ritz in Manchester go on sale next Wednesday, 5 November at 10am; you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
The debut release from Keo has delighted fans and critics alike, and their Manchester gig is sure to be a stormer.
IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena
Danny Jones
Cult favourite frontman Joe Talbot of IDLES fame is set to for an eye-opening sit-down interview as part of AO Arena’s ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series.
The lead singer of the politically-charged post-punk band will be joining the in-conversation event opposite BBC 6 Music host and popular radio host, full stop, Chris Hawkins.
Having often drifted into hardcore, art rock and even spoken word at times, Joe Talbot and co. have become known for the cutting lyricism and insightful songwriting in general, so we can only assume that diving into his own musical influences will be just as riveting.
Joining his fellow audophile on stage at the city’s legendary live music and entertainment venue this November, Talbot and Hawkins will be running through the tracks that quite literally helped create the musician we know today.
According to the AO, the arena will host an in-depth chat with the provocative 41-year-old artist as he walks Chris Hawkins through “the most important musical chapters of his life, his stunning musical journey from resident DJ at one of Bristol’s hottest clubs, through to headlining Glastonbury festival.”
It is quite the career he’s had when you break it down.
They go on to promise “raw honesty and trademark wit” as Joe reflects on the record, acts and cultural moments that shaped him as a young performer before breaking onto the scene with IDLES.
As for the ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series itself, it may be what it says on the tin, but most interestingly, being in the crowd and hearing it from each different group/individual changes the experience entirely.
“More than a story of success—it’s a journey of resilience, passion, and community”, they go on to add. “Expect an evening of candid conversation, unexpected anecdotes, and deep dives into the music that has not only defined Joe’s career but also resonated with millions around the world.
If you’re fans of the band or Talbot, in particular, you’ll already know they’re great orators; plus, if you caught even a small clip from his own fledgling Oh Gatekeeper podcast, you’ll know he loves nothing more than diving deep into tunes that shape not just the audio landscape but people at their core.
Just casually getting the lead singer of The Strokes on for in the first season, as you do…
On a personal note, we’ve watched the IDLES x Grammy Museum interview on multiple ocassions at this point, and know how much artistry there is behind everything they do.
The same goes for Talbot, specifically – there’s no doubt about that.
If you’re interested in being part of the audience for Joe Talbot’s in conversation event with Chris Hawkins as part of ’10 Songs That Made Me’, tickets for the date at AO Arena on Tuesday, 25 November are live now, and you can grab yours via Skiddle right HERE.
Last but not least, special mention goes to the interviewing expert himself, whose recent chat with Tim Burgess about The Charlatans getting back into the studio is also well worth a listen.
Tune in to 6 Music from 1pm today, @Tim_Burgess is my very special guest and rumour has it that we might get to hear a brand new Charlatans track… pic.twitter.com/vzoGDnvS7G
Danny Jones -
29th February 2024 
