Manchester Jazz Festival has announced it will be bringing three days of music right to Escape to Freight Island this summer.
With the government’s “irreversible” roadmap for lifting England’s current national lockdown now set out, the team behind the region’s longest-running music festival will bring the very best in contemporary jazz to three stages – ‘The Ticket Hall’, ‘The Round’ and ‘The Pavilion’ – at the highly-popular Depot Mayfield venue this June.
Taking place from Friday 11- Sunday 13 June 2021, general release bookings will be available from Thursday. If you're a mailing list subscriber check your inbox now for an exclusive booking link!
— manchester jazz festival (@ManJazzFest) April 6, 2021
On Friday 11th June, audiences can catch sets from soul artist and favourite from the Manchester scene, Yemi Bolatiwa, storming sets from Mr Wilson’s ‘Second Liners’, and one of the brightest and boldest jazz talents in the UK, Rebecca Nash.
DJs Pablo Blanquito and Danielle Moore will also be providing some tunes.
Saturday 12th June will kick off with Ain’t Misbahavin’ – an interactive concert for 6-11 year olds and their families – followed by sets from fast-rising, global-infused Leeds band Yaatri, MOBO-nominated saxophonist Camilla George and nine-piece afro-beat collective Nubiyan Twist.
Saturday audiences can also enjoy Manchester-based singer songwriter Marco Woolf, the synthesised soundscapes of Rafe’s Dilemma, pounding brass parades from Back Chat Brass and Young Pilgrims, and DJ sets from Debra Richards and Harkirit Boparai.
Sunday 13th June will see The Untold Orchestra ft special guest Mali Hayes, high-energy beats and traditional African vocals from Ubunye, the Binker Golding Band led by the multi-award-winning saxophonist and composer, and sessions from Jazz North’s northern line bands Nishla Smith Quintet and John Pope Quintet.
There’ll also be high-energy brass covers of pop gems from Twisted Tubes and Break Out Brass, along with a DJ set from Jenna G and her Freight Island favourite, From MCR with Love.
A selection of street food and open-air bars will complete the festival vibe.
mjf @ Escape to Freight Island
Speaking ahead of the event, Steve Mead – Chief Executive and Artistic Director at Manchester Jazz Festival – said: “As it became apparent we couldn’t stage our usual festival across the city in May, we wanted to do something that still embodied the spirit of Manchester Jazz Festival, and our weekend at Escape to Freight Island will do just that in what will be one of the first live music events with an in-person audience this year – three days full of unmissable, surprising musical moments teamed with a relaxed festival vibe and the best food and drink.
“Whether you’re first in line to book a table to see a new band or you simply want to surround yourself with live music again, the weekend promises great music and a good time all from the comfort of your own seat.
“We’re so excited to work with the team at Freight Island and can’t wait to show audiences what’s on offer”.
mjf @ Escape to Freight Island
Fancy booking tickets?
Audiences can book socially-distanced tables with their household bubble free of charge for up to 2.5 hours in the different areas of the venue in advance, and there’ll be no entry on the door during the festival without a table booking.
In line with COVID-19 restrictions, table service will be available for food and drink during the event.
Audiences must not roam around the venue.
You can book your tickets for mjf @ Escape to Freight Islandhere.
Featured Image – Escape to Freight Island
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 30 June – 6 July 2025
Emily Sergeant
July? July, really genuinely? Flipping heck, this past month’s gone by quickly.
That’s right, June has passed us by, and July has arrived in all its glory, so there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester this month, as you’d expect – we’re talking festivals, themed events, new foodie openings, and loads more on the horizon in the coming weeks.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries.
We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, both free things, and those that’ll set you back a few pennies too.
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MCR Live ’25
Manchester City Centre
Monday 30 June – onwards
MCR Live ’25 / Credit: MCC
A massive music-filled takeover of Manchester arrives this weekend ahead of 1.3 million music tourists descending on the city centre this summer.
MCR Live ’25 will celebrate what promises to be a sensational summer of sound.
There’ll be everything from a pop-up bar in Piccadilly Gardens with surprise live acts doing sets, and markets in St Peter’s Square selling vinyl and vintage goods, to block parties in the Northern Quarter, and the already-announced Music for the Senses art trail dotted around all the well-known city centre sights.
The Science and Industry Museum has got a spectacular summer holiday programme packed with all sorts of things to be getting up to.
At the heart of it all, you can explore the world of senses inspired by the museum’s latest exhibition, Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You.
With events running up until 31 August, whether it’s disco dancing around a giant brain, unveiling the science behind optical illusions, or journeying through a giant ear canal, there’s something for everyone during the museum’s ‘sense-sational’ summer.
A free open-air cinema has arrived Manchester city centre for the summer.
With a backdrop of the modern Manchester skyline, Screen on The Square the go-to hangout for Mancs this summer, as audiences can recline in deck chairs surrounded by one of the city’s best views, and watch everything from classic and family films, to music, sporting events, and so much more.
It’s launched down at New Jackson – Renaker’s world-class skyscraper district and thriving new neighbourhood that’s taken shape at the southern side of Manchester city centre.
Clocking Manchester: 130 Years in the City’s Evolving Skyline
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Monday 30 June – onwards
Clocking Manchester: 130 Years in the City’s Evolving Skyline / Credit: Supplied
A new free exhibition is now open allowing visitors to open the door into the rich history of one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, the Refuge Assurance Building, which is now the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.
Clocking Manchester: 130 Years in the City’s Evolving Skyline has transformed the walls of the hotel’s Refuge bar and dining space to chart the building’s remarkable journey, from its beginnings in 1895 to its current life as one of the city’s most loved luxury hotels.
Alongside the story of the building itself, the exhibition also highlights the people who have shaped the building over the decades.
National Trust – Sky Gardening Challenge / Credit: The Manc Group
It’s time to get your green thumbs out, as the National Trust has challenged city dwellers to ‘green’ their balconies this summer.
We know the city is a little lacking in greenspace, so why not bring the greenspace to you? If you need some tips and tricks on how to get a little greener, and what plants would work best in your mini oasis, then you can grab yourself booklets, seeds.
Plus, they’re also running free workshops across Greater Manchester.
Oh and hey, if you think you’ve got a bloomin’ lovely balcony, then you can now enter the National Trust’s Sky Gardening Challenge and be in with the chance of winning some exciting prizes.
From the streets of Bangkok to the streets of Manchester – Zaap Thai has arrived.
Imagine the delicious street food of a Bangkok street market, but without the rampant humidity and scorpions on sticks, and you’ve got an idea of Manchester’s newest opening down on the popular Lincoln Square.
This vibrant spot is filled top-to-bottom with neon signs, graffiti, tuk-tuk seating booths… and even a Moo Deng mural.
The expansive menu features 80 dishes from across Thailand, with some of the highlights including chicken satay, crispy pork belly, stir-fries like Pad Ga Prao, and sweet dishes such as mango sticky rice and pandan custard pancakes.
NEW OPENING – Oasis Live ’25 Fan Store / Credit: The Manc Group
The UK’s first official Oasis merch store has now opened in Manchester.
Officially throwing its doors open in Spinningfields, the Oasis Live ’25 Fan Store is stocked full to the brim of all the official merch for the hotly-anticipated reunion tour this summer, and it’s also launching online as well as in store.
As well as the official tour merchandise, the store sells exclusive brand collaborations, limited-edition products, and items not available to buy anywhere else.
Stories – Brought To Life / Credit: The Manc Group
A major new National Portrait Gallery exhibition has arrived in Salford.
The ground-breaking new experience by FRAMELESS Creative has opened at MediaCity, bringing some of the world’s most famous portraits to life like never before.
Stories – Brought to Life will explore the fascinating lives of these figures, who have shaped the UK’s history and culture all the way since the Tudor period, and will combine the highest quality digital projection, Hollywood-style visual effects, and the latest audio technology, along with specially created musical scores and creative narratives to shine a new light on each individual.
Visitors will be able to step inside iconic portraits including Grayson Perry, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst, Queen Elizabeth I, and William Shakespeare.
Kargo on the Docks / Credit: Supplied | Mark Waugh
Kargo on the Docks is back for the summer.
MediaCity’s al fresco dining pop-up has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester’s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 / Credit: Jon Shard (via Kimpton Clocktower Hotel & British Culture Archive)
A new free photography exhibition showing never-before-seen pictures of Oasis fans from the 90s is opening in Manchester this week.
As Manchester gears up to welcome Oasis back home once again, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s new free exhibition is set to take music fans a trip down memory lane.
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 will showcase a series of exclusive photographs by renowned photographer, Jon Shard, to the public for the first time ever, opening the door to a world before online sales, dynamic ticket pricing, and frantically refreshing a website to get the hottest ticket in town.
MIF is back for 2025 this week, and all the fun’s heading out to the boroughs too this year.
Manchester International Festival (MIF) is all about showcasing Manchester as a global hub of creative innovation, this year’s lineup presents some of the most exciting creative minds of our generation.
MIF25 is set to be a celebration of homegrown artists returning to the region, with many of the names on the lineup originally coming from, or having important ties to, Greater Manchester and the North West.
Eric Cantona, Juan Mata, The Royal Ballet, Blackhaine, Shilpa Gupta, Richard Russell, Edgar Davids, and Ella Toone are just a handful of the well-known names contributing to this extraordinary bi-annual celebration of creativity this summer.
The SmileyWorld® Art Trail / Credit: Scott Kershaw Photography
Stockport will transform into a playful outdoor gallery this summer as a colourful new art trail takes over the town.
Visitors are being told to get ready to explore a full spectrum of emotions this summer, as the SmileyWorld® Art Trail is making its North West debut and taking over the town centre with a colourful collection of quirky, fun, and exciting sculptures, each reimagined by a different artist to reflect the full range of human emotions including joy, pride, surprise, anxiety, and lots more.
The trail is created by trailblazing global arts producer, Wild in Art, in partnership with Totally Stockport BID and SmileyWorld.
Did you see that Manchester Museum has been named European Museum of the Year for 2025?
Talk about a prestigious title.
Yes that’s right, congratulations are in order, because Manchester Museum – which is part of The University of Manchester (UoM) – has received one of the most prestigious museum awards in the world, the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).
Not only that, but it’s made history in doing so too, as it’s the first university museum to ever receive the annual prize.
Manchester Museum has been named the European Museum of the Year for 2025 / Credit: Manchester Museum
It beat out 41 other cultural hubs across the continent to claim the coveted prize.
Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises new or redeveloped museums that showcase the best in excellence and innovation in their field.
UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 / Credit: Molly Darlington / The FA (via England on Facebook) | Wikimedia Commons
England’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 matches are to be shown on big screens for free in Manchester this summer.
As England women’s national football team look to retain their title and continue to build on their ever-growing success as one of the best national football teams in the world, Manchester’s National Football Museum is set to host a series of family-friendly watch parties after hours for the UEFA Women’s Euros this summer.
Not only will the matches be shown in all their glory for free on a big screen, but you can also expect an on-site bar, and even the option to pre-order pizza ahead of time to feast on while you’re watching the action.
This is Street Life – a brand new one-day community festival taking over Ashton-under-Lyne town this weekend.
From giant Star Wars machines to a full-scale wrestling ring, life-sized dinosaurs roaming around, and everything in between, this bold new community celebration hits Market Avenue in the Tameside town this Saturday… and as you can tell, there’ll be something for visitors of all ages to get involved with on the day.
Free to attend and open to all ages, event organisers are promising that it’ll be an ‘explosion’ of creativity, culture, and big day-out energy, all to celebrate the very best of what Ashton has to offer.
Featured Image – Science Museum Group | The Manc Group | Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
What's On
You can sleep in a luxury train carriage at an old railway station in Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s an Airbnb listing in Delph where you can stay in a classic converted train carriage, and it’s even situated in an old train station, so someone buy my ticket ASAP.
Get ready to have the best train experience of your life, as the only cancellation you have to worry about is booking the day off work.
The Carriage at The Old Station is a two-person character property in Delph, Saddleworth that offers you the chance to live out your vintage fantasy by stepping back in time on a luxury static train coach.
It may be situated at an old station, but the interior is refreshing and light with mint blue beams, fuchsia cushions and a royal red carpet and curtains.
As well as a majestic interior, this carriage has an equally impressive amount of amenities, including a Bluetooth sound system, board games and its own indoor fireplace.
This Airbnb is fairly new too, with only 44 reviews to its name – the first only dating back to September of last year; don’t say we don’t find you some absolute gems.
Inside the Airbnb that’s an old converted train carriage.The interior of this Airbnb listing is bold and impressive.
One user even stated, “We regularly stay in five-star locations and this surpassed five-star easily! We highly recommend a stay here.”
While another opened her review with three simple adjectives that we also feel perfectly sum up this train carriage property perfectly: “Opulent, indulgent, extravagant”.
It should come as no surprise that this place is beautiful inside and out, as in the description, host of the property Nigel states he’s a retired designer.
The train carriage stay is also close to a proper country pub, The Old Bell Inn, as well as the Diggle canal walk if you fancy a stroll and a pint before tucking into bed in your old train carriage for the night.
Even the bathroom has pops of colour throughout.You could stay in this train carriage at an old train station.
If you’re after boarding The Carriage at The Old Station and having a fabulous overnight stay or mini holiday of your own, you can find the Airbnb listing and everything you need to know HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
15th April 2021 
