This time next week, the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will be well underway, as a string of Manchester’s best music venues open their doors and prepare to host a variety of world-class acts, according to Manchestereveningnews.
The music festival, which has featured the likes of Depeche Mode, Royal Blood, Christine and the Queens, Idles and Belle and Sebastian in the past, will take place across the city-region from March 7 to 10. Last year’s festival was also held in the city, as the station confirmed Manchester as its permanent home after several years away.
Taking place across venues including Victoria Warehouse, Band on the Wall and YES, the four-day event will feature an array of international talent and some of the region’s best up-and-coming acts - from Young Fathers and Gossip to Manchester's own OneDa and Porji.
Ensuring the Manchester link shines through, this year’s programming features a number of local acts and collaborations. On opening night, Young Fathers will be joined by the Hulme and Moss Side-based NIA community choir as well as Hak Baker and Sherelle for a sold out show at O2 Victoria Warehouse. Over at Band on the Wall, Hulme-born, Gorton-raised rapper OneDa will take to the stage alongside Witch Fever.
The Friday night will see American indie rock outfit Gossip headline, alongside Irish singer-songwriter CMAT and BBC Radio 6’s very own Afroduetsche, with a very special DJ set. On March 9, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood will join Tom Skinner as part of The Smile, who will headline a sold-out Victoria Warehouse with support from Jordan Rakei, Mary Anne Hobbs, Anna Phoebe at Victoria Warehouse, and the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Launched in 2014 with Damon Albarn headlining, the festival quickly became a highlight of the UK’s music festival calendar. Since then, the 6 Music Festival has stopped off in a number of cities including Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool, and a wide range of acts have graced the stage from Foals and Wet Leg, to Goldfrapp, James Blake, Self Esteem and many more.
Commenting on the festival’s return to Manchester, Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music said: “Last year’s festival was the first in its new permanent home of Greater Manchester and since last year, we have been doing the festival a bit differently. We’ve been working closely with the artists to bring our listeners something unique, be that with one-night-only collaborations or brand new songs being debuted live.
“This year, we’ll be back at Victoria Warehouse, Band on the Wall, Ramona and we’re excited that YES will host our New Music Fix Live club night on Thursday - and Archive, Depot Mayfield will feature our Rave Forever club night on Friday, in partnership with The Warehouse Project, a true Manchester institution. 6 Music is all about celebrating and representing a huge variety of music and this new partnership, along with two new venues being part of the bill, will really help bring the 6 Music Festival to more people than before. We cannot wait!”
For Camilla Pia, Commissioning Executive at 6 Music, it’s crucial for the festival to reflect the city too. “Manchester has a rich musical history and remains a hotbed of buzzy new talent. The festival is a chance to celebrate that and give a platform to local artists we’re tipping for the future."
6 Music presenters including Chris Hawkins, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Mary Anne Hobbs, Don Letts, Amy Lamé, Lauren Laverne Stuart Maconie, Cerys Matthews, Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, Mark Radcliffe and Tom Ravenscroft will all be broadcasting live over the festival weekend from MediaCityUK in Salford and the festival venues.
