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Young Fathers, Gossip and The Smile announced as headliners for BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2024

6 Music have delivered yet another stellar lineup — the headliners are just the tip of the iceberg.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 18th January 2024

The first acts for this year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival lineup have been announced with Young Fathers, Gossip and The Smile, featuring Radiohead legends Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, all confirmed as the headline act on an absolutely stacked roster.

Set to return to 0161 from 7-10 March, with the organisers confirming that Greater Manchester will now be the permanent hub for the festival moving forward, the 2024 venues have also been revealed, including O2 Victoria Warehouse.

With the lineup being announced live on-air by Lauren Laverne earlier this week, the headliners are set to play the iconic old Warehouse Project venue across the three days.

Other big names include Hak Baker, Jordan Rakei and DJ Seinfeld, as well as rising local artists Porij, Witch Fever and the DJ collective Not Bad For A Girl.

There will be further shows like BBC Music Introducing night at Band on the Wall and a debut appearance at YES for the ‘New Music Fix Live’ at YES, as well as club nights at Band on the Wall, Archive and Depot Mayfield.

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There are also ‘Morning After Mix’ Live events set for Saturday and Sunday dates at RAMONA, with 6 Music host Jamz Supernova broadcasting her show live from the venue on Saturday 9 March (1pm-4pm) — including a live DJ set from Konny Kon (Children of Zeus) — and Cerys Matthews presenting from RAMONA on Sunday (10am-1pm), also featuring a live DJ set from Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective.

Speaking on their headline slot, Young Fathers said, “A 6 Music stage has been given to us and the door of endless possibilities has been opened. Beyond anything else, it will be a night to celebrate a wide mix of folk coming together. GERONIMO!”

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Another act who is beyond stoked to be playing the festival is CMAT, who added: “My performance at the 6 Music Festival will be the best show you’ll see in your whole entire life!  Expect camp, gay people, energy, country music as well as mediocre guitar playing from me and very good guitar playing from other people.”

We were buzzing with last year’s 6 Music Festival lineup and they haven’t let us down for 2024 either.

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With shows starting from as early as 10am and running all the way up to 3am the following morning, the four-day festival, which starts on Thursday, 7 March and concludes on Sunday, 10 March, is practically going be non-stop music from some of the biggest and best up and coming artists all weekend.

You can find the full lineup, schedule and stage splits across the multiple venues hosting this year’s festival HERE.

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Tickets go live from 10am on Thursday, 18 January and, unsurprisingly, they’re set to fly, so grab yours HERE whilst you can.

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

Featured Images — WFUV Public Radio (via Flickr)/Gossip (via IG)/The Smile (via IG)

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Five Greater Manchester-based artists we’ve been listening to this month | October 2025

Danny Jones Danny Jones New Greater Manchester music artists October 2025

Surprise, surprise, it’s that time again: we’re rounding up the best music from in and around Greater Manchester that we’ve been listening to over the past few weeks, and this month’s been a belter.

In fact, we actually got a lot of our favourite stuff of late all in one day, and that just so happened to be Halloween 2025, a.k.a. one of the best new music Fridays we’ve had in ages.

We had a few new releases on our radar come 31 October, and they didn’t disappoint, with regional artists both new and old dropping some tasty new material.

So, without further ado, here is the Greater Manchester-based music we’ve been enjoying recently.

Music from in and around Manchester we’re listening to lately

1. Richard Ashcroft

Where else to start than with the man of the moment, in our opinion: the almighty Richard Ashcroft, who recently came back to not only the live circuit in the biggest way as the main support act on the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour, but who finally returned with new music since 2018.

Releasing his seventh studio album, ‘Lovin You, this October, we’ll admit that we much prefer his classic Britpop style to the few attempts at more modern poppy rock on the record, but the second you get onto the second track ‘Out Of These Blues’, you know that his timeless sound hasn’t depreciated one bit.

Now 54 and a music industry veteran, we still firmly believe he’s one of our greatest artists and songwriters. We’d recommend ‘Find Another Reason’ and ‘Heavy News’ off the new LP, as well as ‘All My Dream’ for old time’s sake. All hail “King Richard” and here’s to more long-overdue recognition for Wigan‘s finest.

Some Oasis fans are only just discovering who ‘Cast No Shadow’ is dedicated to
We never tire of ‘They Don’t Own Me’, nor listening to the Oasis that pays tribute to him, either.

2. The Charlatans

From one local icon to another legendary British band with deep roots here in Manchester. This year’s big music story may have been the Oasis reunion, but there’s another band of Britpop/Madchester survivors that recently reared their heads again, too, and that’s The Charlatans.

Led by frontman Tim Burgess, the veteran alternative band always had one foot in the indie side of the Manc music scene, meanwhile keeping the other in the more psychedelic sub-section of UK rock, and nothing has changed with this satisfying return.

Even from the instantly recognisable and heavily processed keys in lead single ‘Deeper Deeper’, you’re immediately reminded of ‘The Only One I Know’, and the title track of their first new album since 2017, ‘We Are Love’, is one of the best in years; ‘You Can’t Push The River’ is also a quiet delight.

It’s good to have you back, lads. (Credit: Cat Stevens)

3. The Maple State

Now, this is a band that we always felt never really got the recognition back in the day, but since they’ve also been on an understated comeback trail of their own, we’d like to think they’ve picked up a few new fans – and that’s part of the reason they’re included this month, because they deserve it.

We’d argue that The Maple State never quite fully took off because the emo/American-influenced scene here in Greater Manchester didn’t either; back in 2004, when the band was formed by two brothers and some school friends who started playing regularly in college, it was still mostly a transatlantic export.

Either way, we always had a soft spot for this unsung act that tried appealing to fans of that style over here, and their debut album, At Least Until We’ve Settled In, became a cult favourite of some famous names. ‘Temperate Lives’ is a timeless track for us, and we love ‘Canonball’ from their long-overdue 2018 follow-up, but we couldn’t be happier to hear them back in the studio again. Hear more below.

4. Westside Cowboy

Speaking of US influences, one group that has arguably benefitted from that same climate shifting over the years is the hugely exciting Westside Cowboy. As a kid who grew up somewhat awkwardly straddling a love for the big bands in the States and our domestic rock artists, the ‘Britainicana’ movement is right up my street.

Delivering the exact kind of sound you’d expect with a name like that – blending those more American, perhaps even ‘Midwest emo’ sounds with more familiar UK vibe and context – this isn’t a culture clash: it’s a contrast that really works and we’re hoping to see more of, with the guys at the forefront.

Expect twangy, metallic guitar riffs, staccato snares mixed in with marching drum patterns that steadily build behind the joint vocals of their different vocalists and more. Our favourite songs so far include ‘Don’t Throw Rocks’, ‘Drunk Surfer’, and ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Love (Until I Met You)’. How very 1975 of you, WC.

5. Gustaffson

Last but not least, this one is almost more of a special mention as they’re more North West than Manc per se, but they’re only based down the road in neighbouring Warrington; plus, since we’ve already written about other bands from Cheshire and other nearby outposts, we’re making an exception.

‘Why so keen to include them…’, you ask? Well, for one, they’re so bloody brilliant we couldn’t not talk about them, and two, they already have strong roots here in Manchester. Besides, regularly visiting and performing here, they recorded their first-ever EP in our city and even feature a tram on their single art.

Speaking of their material, Gustaffson‘s debut album, Black & White Movie, was even produced by Elbow’s very own Craig Potter, which only reinforces that local connection further. The LP itself has soulful notes similar to The Teskey Brothers and St Paul and the Broken Bones, and really is a joy from start to finish – get a load of their latest track, which was also recorded and visualised in Manchester:

A soulful, funk throwback with contemporary blues and a dancey feel. What a vibe.

We hope you give this October’s round-up of new Greater Manchester music a go and find these names in your rotation for months to come.

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As always, the best part about doing this is sharing artists people may not have heard yet, so please feel free to ping your own suggestions our way.

You’ll find us here again the same time next month, but until then, why not check out September’s picks?

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | September 2025
It’s been a brilliant year for Greater Manchester music.

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

Featured Images — Press shot/Cat Stevens (supplied)/Gustaffson (screenshot via YouTube)

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A rave in a chippy is happening in Greater Manchester this weekend

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A rave in a chippy is happening in Greater Manchester this weekend. Credit: The Manc Group

We have always loved a weekend trip to the chippy, but that trip might look a little different this week – because there’s a rave going on inside.

A collective of local DJs will be putting their decks alongside the fryers at one of Manchester’s top-rated fish and chip shops, Chips @ No. 8 in Prestwich.

The one-off event is part of the latest instalment of Love Dose, which has been hosting parties all over the North for more than a decade.

This week, Love Dose will be upstairs in Cuckoo until the early hours, with a number of DJs playing alongside special guest Simba.

Before the main event kicks off in Cuckoo though, they’ve announced a pre-party at Chips @ No. 8 to get warmed up.

“You’ve seen the recent trend of parties popping over in coffee shops, why not a chippy!?” they said.

Kerrie DJing at a previous Love Dose rave
Kerrie DJing at a previous Love Dose rave

Love Dose was founded back in 2012 and is run by Ste Evans, Ste Nalty and Pete Asiaw, DJs who all live around Prestwich.

They said: “We’ve always loved the vibe at Chips@No8 and thought it would be a great pre party spot.”

Previous Love Dose events have taken place everywhere from warehouses and rooftops to disused car garages and even a prison.

They’ve also appeared in legendary local venues like Hidden, Ramona and The White Hotel (before it was known as The White Hotel).

Once they finish with the chippy rave, it’ll be over to Cuckoo to dance into the early hours.

Love Dose is promising quality beats to go with your batter from 5pm til 8pm on Saturday 1 November.

Featured image: The Manc Group

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