What's On
What's On
You Are Not Alone Festival deliver gutting delay news
Danny Jones
You Are Not Alone Festival has reluctantly had to inform Greater Manchester music fans that this year’s comeback event has sadly been delayed.
After debuting back in 2019 and hosting just their second-ever festival after lockdown, You Are Not Alone, or simply YANA Fest, was hoping to get back on track following another hiatus.
Having relocated from Manchester city centre to Stockport for their return festival this spring, where founder Benji Taylor first drummed up the idea and has gone on to build a strong local reputation thanks to the success of Bask, it’s an exciting prospect for the borough’s growing arts and cultural scene.
However, those hoping to go along to the event will have to wait a little longer as Taylor and his team have announced that You Are Not Alone 2025 has been officially delayed.
An update on YANA Fest 😔💛 pic.twitter.com/Rzc6HLG0CU
— You Are Not Alone Festival (@YANAfest) February 12, 2025
Sharing the unfortunate update on social media this week, they explained that having “lost four stages, of fairly big capacities”, they have been left with no choice but to postpone the event until further notice.
This comes after Blackbird Brewhouse and Kitchen, Syndikat, AMP – formerly Remedy Bar and then Dr Feelgood (a sister site of the short-lived Glass Spider, both of which closed) – joined the ever-growing list of Manc hospitality and venue casualties.
Syndikat is currently set to be transformed into a new music-forward space but some uncertainty around the project remains, meaning it could not be guaranteed as a venue.
All told this means that YANA Fest has suddenly found itself without four of its key stages; they go on to reassure that they are continuing to search for replacement spots in the area to stand in their place but, for the time being, the whole thing is on hold.
With a great selection of acts and all in aid of a fantastic cause, with proceeds going directly to mental health charity Mind, we sincerely hope it’s rescheduled sooner rather than later.
![](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dr-dr.png)
![](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dcc.png)
Read more:
- BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Greater Manchester next month
- Noel Gallagher says he ‘switched off’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘nonsense’ Super Bowl performance
- Sounds From The Other City is celebrating 20 years in Salford
Signing off the statement, they continue: “Working hard to get this resolved quickly and to keep the lineup in place, and hopefully you can all do the new date once confirmed. Original tickets will remain valid. Lots of love and thanks for understanding. YANA x”
It’s unclear when exactly we can expect it to get back on track or whether Stockport will remain the home base for the festival given the struggle for suitable local venues but we’ll be keeping our fingers firmly crossed.
For now, anyone needing support during these difficult times, please reach out to services like Mind, Samaritans on 116 123; contact the NHS via the 101 service and in the event of any emergency, please dial 999 immediately.
YANA x
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — YANA Fest (supplied)
What's On
Sam Fender to play massive outdoor gig at Wythenshawe Park this summer
Emily Sergeant
Sam Fender is set to play a massive outdoor gig at Wythenshawe Park this summer following the release of his next album.
The North Shields singer-songwriter has undeniably made a name for himself since bursting into the mainstream back in 2019 with the success of his debut album, followed by the even more successful release of his second, and so-called ‘coming of age’ record, Seventeen Going Under, in 2021, as well as several memorable festival headline slots and appearances, and arena and stadium shows.
Only recently, Fender blew the roof off Manchester’s newest – and largest – live entertainment venue, Co-op Live, last December, playing to tens of thousands of adoring fans and cementing his place as one of the greatest live acts of the moment.
But now, with his forthcoming third studio album, People Watching, merely days away from release on 21 February, it’s been announced that he’ll headline Wythenshawe Park this summer.
The 30-year-old indie rocker and his band will take to the stage at what is quickly becoming one of Manchester’s most popular outdoor venues in August.
Fender fans will get to sing along to the band’s most well-known hits, from title tracks ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ and ‘Seventeen Going Under’, to everything in between, as well as here the tracks from the upcoming People Watching album – which is being billed as “a collection of colourful stories and observations of everyday characters living their every day, but often extraordinary, lives”.
Sam is currently gearing up for a sold-out tour of Europe in March, ahead of a US tour in the spring, and then a trio of sold-out shows at his boyhood football club’s stadium, Newcastle’s St James’ Park, as well as his biggest headline show to date at the London Stadium.
The boy really is bigger than ever.
Support at Wythenshawe Park will come from acclaimed neo-soul singer, Olivia Dean – with further opening acts to be announced soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
![Sam Fender on stage](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sam_Fender_Leeds_2019-1600x1068.jpg)
![Wythenshawe Park gig](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/437713494_7322625681163490_1852557510763545801_n-1600x1067.jpg)
Sam Fender will play Wythenshawe Park on Saturday 16 August 2025, following the likes of Noel Gallagher and Blossoms as the names to have graced the massive outdoor stage so far.
Rather unbelievably, he’s playing just a day after the equally massive Fontaines D.C., who will also be playing one of their biggest shows to date to Wythy locals and the thousands of others set to descend on the venue from all over Greater Manchester.
Keen to get yourself some tickets then? Fans are advised to register or pre-order the album for the opportunity to get their hands on pre-sale tickets, with the registration period for this open now until Monday, 17 February at 10am.
The pre-sale itself starts on Tuesday, 18 February at 11am and concludes the following day on (Wednesday 19 February) at 10am.
All remaining tickets will then go on general sale on Friday 21 February at 10am, the same as the album release date. You can grab tickets HERE.
Read more:
- Sam Fender at Co-op Live, Manchester – one of the world’s greatest live acts | Review
- BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Greater Manchester next month
- Three iconic Manchester bands nominated to join the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Image – Press photo (supplied)