A second wave of artists has been added to the lineup for this year’s Green Island Festival, the hidden gem Manchester music festival tucked away inside a garden centre.
Genuinely one of our favourite festivals anywhere in the region, Green Island Festival 2024 is already looking set to welcome more people through its verdant doors at
Taking place for its fourth year, the fundamentally grassroots Manchester music festival takes place across three parts over at Hulme Garden Centre just on the outskirts of the city centre and has quickly become a cult classic.
Promising three spectacular days and nights this summer and championing all things new and local on the music scene, you won’t find many more diverse lineups or crowds on this year’s calendar. Speaking of, here’s a look at who they’ve added as part of their second wave:
Taking place on 15 June, 27 July and 7 September this year, Green Island 2024 is now set to welcome nearly 100 acts from Greater Manchester and beyond as well as more than 1000 festivalgoers in their biggest edition yet.
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Local experimental hip-hop jazz band Jointhedots have been added to the main stage in July, joining the likes of Def MaMa Def – two powerful women and rising stars of Senegal’s music scene – as well the smooth as silk R&B soul singer, Victoria Jane and contemporary jazz artist, corto.alto as headliners.
As for the other four stages spread throughout the beloved Manchester garden centre, which has served as a significant cultural hub in the Hulme neighbourhood since the Millenium, names like Ni Maxine, Ubunye the Zulu, Manchester legend of Finders Keepers Records fame, Andy Votel, upcoming DJ Jade Li and many more will be leaving their mark. Even local artist Stanley Chow is getting involved.
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With the Forest Stage firming itself as instant success from day one and The Bandstand stage now a permanent fixture at the garden centre even outside of the festival, this thing just keeps growing every year and it won’t stay the best-kept secret for long, so don’t miss out what is sure to be a belter.
Better still, Green Island Festival serves up great food from local independent vendors every year, plenty of sunny cocktails and alcohol-free options, places to chill like the soothing chamomile bed and so much more. Trust us, when the sun shines on this thing it is unmatched vibes.
As well as live music at NIAMOS next door, there’s also a whole host of afterparties for each of the three all-day festivals over at YES in the city centre and the organisers are encouraging everyone to donate an extra quid for every ticket sale to local charity Eat Well MCR, because they’re a sound bunch as well.
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In case we haven’t made it abundantly clear already, we’re very big fans of Green Island Fest not just simply because of the live music or the slightly quirky setting, but because of the all-day schedule, family-friendly approach and the immensely wholesome summery atmosphere it gives off every year.
Get yourself down there to at least one of them, if not all three, and we’ll see you there (most likely at the Forest Stage). Grab your tickets HERE.
Lola Young shares first public statement since cancellations and stepping away from the spotlight
Danny Jones
UK pop star Lola Young has shared her first public statement since cancelling the remainder of her tour and stepping away from the spotlight.
Lola Young, 24, took a break from her still-burgeoning career after numerous concerning incidents on stage, including throwing up and even passing out in the middle of a performance.
The BRIT School graduate announced the unfortunate cancellation of her upcoming shows “for the foreseeable future”, including a gig here in Manchester, at the end of September.
Breaking her silence after the best part of three months, the London-born singer-songwriter took to social media in a fairly brief but heartwarming statement.
As you can see, the time away from the public eye certainly seems to have been beneficial, telling her followers that “it has helped more than you will ever know”.
In addition to embracing ADHD – even labelling her hit song ‘Messy’ as an “ADHD anthem” in multiple anthems – she was also diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at just 17.
The latter can include symptoms such as psychosis, hallucinations, intense mood swings, bipolar mania, depression and more.
All that being said, we’re glad to hear that she’s on the mend; we saw her back in March, and you could tell from the crowd that she’s already got a very passionate cult following.
Both conditions and their associated obstacles have obviously affected her, but have equally helped influence her music and lyrical material, certainly, too.
Responding in the comments, fellow artist SZA wrote: “Love you, starfire angel. Your music is FULL of longevity and substance! We’re so grateful for you”.
Joining in support, ‘dark pop’ musician Carter James added, “Your wellbeing comes before anything. So excited for your next chapter whenever it arrives!”
We hope she’ll be doing better enough soon to get back on stage when she’s ready.
Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Danny Jones -
9th April 2024 
