What's On

The huge lineup for the world’s ‘most immersive’ cycling festival in Cheshire has been released

Velio Festival is coming to Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire on 17th - 20th September 2021.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 9th April 2021

Fancy gearing up for an all-inclusive weekend of music, dancing, feasting, comedy and wellness at the world’s most immersive cycling festival?

The 2021 lineup for Velio Festival has just been announced.

Taking place at the picturesque setting of Cholmondeley Castle on 17th – 20th September, this “pioneering” and world-first festival celebrates life on two wheels for three days and three nights of immersive activities, and provides cycling enthusiasts with the perfect opportunity to escape, switch off and unwind in the Cheshire countryside.

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With cycling the main attraction of course, festival-goers can enjoy five stunning cycle routes with options for beginners, experienced riders, disabled cycling, and children too.

Novice riders can take it easy on the 3km or 14km routes, while the more experienced can test themselves on the 30km, 60km or 100km.

The highlight of these will be the headliner ride, Velutopia – a world-first event that stretches across 14km of closed roads, taking cyclists on an immersive cycle tour packed with entertainment and an abundance of surprises along the way – with festival organisers having said to expect “weird and wonderful oddities, mid-ride games and tasks, and music and celebrations”.

There’ll also be an indoor cycling arena hosting virtual races throughout the weekend, as well as giving you the chance to try out the latest technology or spend time lusting after the array of next-generation bikes and accessories on show.

Not mad keen on cycling though? Just going along for the ride?

You’ll be pleased to know there is also set to be plenty of music, comedy, wellness, feasting and activities to enjoy both day and night, and you can even take the opportunity to chill out in the hot tubs, do a yoga class, go wild swimming or paddleboarding, or even visit the Cuddle Club for some doggy-themed therapy. 

There’s also a carefully-curated programme of international music artists, comedians and immersive moments across five stages.

Velio Festival

Now, this is where it gets interesting.

Renowned vocal group Sister Sledge will be taking over the centre stage, alongside fellow headliners Everything Everything, and also hitting the main stage will be a range of live acts including Elder Island and The Futureheads, stellar DJ sets from Friendly Fires and Norman Jay MBE, a host of incredible tribute performances – including The Bootleg Beatles and Da Funk (Daft Punk Tribute) – and Mr Motivator will be on hand to get the party started too.

The infamous La Discotheque will host their own stage – with acts such as Crazy P Soundsystem and Disco Classics – featuring a live orchestra, with “fabulous flamingos, soul sergeants and queens to match”.

A stream of cherry-picked comedians will also be taking to the stage, including Manchester’s finest, Jason Manford, Marcus Brigstocke, Shappi Khorsandi, and Lou Conran. 

The ‘Velio Village’ will host an eclectic mix of brass bands, DJs, cabaret and burlesque, a late-night jazz cafe, film screenings, karaoke, kids entertainment, chill out areas and more.

When it comes to feasting, the award-winning restaurant Volta will be collaborating to produce the banquets at the festival, with foodies enjoying “the finest local produce”, alongside speciality bars serving up a variety of tempting tipples, ranging from wine and gin, to craft beers and cocktails.

Velio is also proud to be the first ‘Flexi-Distanced’ festival.

This means that all the measures and teams are in place to run the event either socially distanced or non-socially distanced, whichever the guidelines dictate, so you can book in confidence and have something in the diary to look forward to.

Tickets are set to go on sale next Wednesday 14th April at 9am.

Included in all tickets is standard camping for three days and three nights, with access to a spacious campsite, toilets and showers.

Motorhomes and campervans are welcomed, and you can also arrive to pre-erected tents. 

For an enhanced camping experience, the boutique village offers a range of Bell, Lotus or Mahal tents for up to eight people – which all feature memory foam mattresses, premium bedding, bedside lights and tables as standard, with optional upgrades of electricity, toiletries, mirrors, and towels available – and campers also enjoy exclusive access to speciality food vendors and bars in the area, along with VIP toilets and showers.

Velio Festival
Velio Festival

Prices for tickets start from just £150 for the entire three days and nights, including camping, and payment plans are available from just £32 per month.

Early birds can also bag a 25% discount by signing up to the Velio newsletter here.

You’ll also be entered into a competition (worth £2,500) to win:

  • x4 Weekend Festival Tickets
  • x4 Luxury Boutique Camping Experiences
  • £500 voucher to spend on cycling gear

You can find the full lineup, more information, FAQs, and prepare to book your tickets by visiting the Velio Festival website here.

Follow Velio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

What's On

A huge record fair is coming to Manchester city centre this bank holiday

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

There’s a record fair making its way to Manchester next weekend, and it’s taking over one of Manchester’s iconic live music venues.

Record lovers and music fanatics this one’s for you.

Whether you’re after growing your own record collection back home, or showing off your DJ skills, this event has everything you could ever ask for.

The Very Good Plus record fair is arriving in Manchester city centre, and it’s coming to none other than independent live music venue, New Century.

You’ll be able to browse through some of the best vinyl in the region and hopefully spot some releases by some of your musical icons.

There’s even family-friendly stations which give little ones and grown-ups alike the chance to try their hand at making and designing their own record sleeve, as well as getting stuck in with a screen-printing workshop.

A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group

If you cant find any LPs you’re after, you’ll definitely find a caffeinated drink or two at Sadler’s Yard and even have a go at creating your own track on the open decks.

There will be a variety of food and drink options, as well as some food for the soul too, thanks to an array of DJ sets running until the evening courtesy of Ded Luvly on a Pulp Coffee sound system.

Live music lovers can rejoice as just for this record fair event, they’ll be able to roam around this huge gig space and if you head downstairs there’ll be a DJ workshop and sound system experience taking place.

This music-oriented event is a collaboration between iconic music venue New Century, city centre neighbourhood NOMA, and DJ and music aficionado, Living Room Dance Club.

So get ready to dig through the crates, create a few demos of your own, design an album cover or two and enrich yourself in all things music because this event has it all.

The Very Good Plus record fair is coming to NOMA and New Century in Manchester on Saturday 23 August from 11am until 6pm, and it’s completely free – apart from all the money you spend on some good quality vinyl, of course.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Jamakassi via Unsplash / Phillip Blocker via Unsplash

What's On

A mobile Manc cocktail bar is rolling into a thriving new Greater Manchester neighbourhood

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mobile cocktail bar coming to Middlewood Locks Salford

Greater Manchester has plenty of up-and-coming areas both here in the city centre and out in the boroughs, and one of those – Middlewood Locks over in Salford – is about to be treated to its own mobile cocktail bar.

You’ve got to love a Manc-born and bred independent business.

The canalside New Makers Yards apartments on Middlewood Locks are some of the most desirable new homes and flats you’ll find on the outskirts of the city, but with their on-site Seven Brothers pub sadly closing earlier this year, it is lacking one key thing: somewhere to drink.

However, with Cocktail Cartel MCR rolling into town for National Rum Day, residents can get a taste of, hopefully, what’s more to come.

Cocktail Cartel is a brand new, completely independent mobile bar that’s already starting to take the events industry by storm.

Serving unique and innovative creations (including plenty involving Captain Jack’s go-to tipple), they’ll be slinging cocktails to the New Makers Yards natives along the stunning and ever-thriving Middlewood Locks this month.

Created by Katie and Erik, who have been working in Manchester’s hospitality scene for nearly 20 years combined, these two have a passion for supporting fellow local indies and bringing amazing drinks to the table wherever the opportunity presents itself.

From their ‘Grown Up Coke Float’, which has all the punch of a classic Long Island Iced Tea only with a scoop of toffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles thrown in there, to a Pedro Pascal-inspired tequila numbers (yes, really), they have a lot of fun behind that bar.

Better still, most of their spirits are coming from local legends, Spirit of Manchester, and for this particular upcoming event, it wouldn’t be right to host National Rum Day in 0161’s second city without a gorgeous bit of Salford Rum.

Credit: Cocktail Cartel (via Facebook)

But it doesn’t stop at just cocktails; the Cartel will also be pouring pints from nearby Track Brewery among various other regional favourites.

Once again, they’ll be popping up at New Makers Yard on Saturday, 16 August from noon onwards, promising rum, cocktails, beer, wine, cider and softies – so let’s just hope we get plenty of sun for it.

Keep an eye on their socials for how you might be able to grab some freebies also…

If you visited the most recent edition of Middlewood Locks Fest, you know this place is buzzing when the weather hits just right and the drinks are flowing. See you there.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Cocktail Cartel MCR/Karen Wright Photography (supplied)

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