This year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 March in Greater Manchester.
Featuring world premieres of new live shows, new musical debuts, unique collaborations and surprise guests, the station’s flagship event returns to the location of the station’s first festival in 2014. Greater Manchester will also be the permanent home of the 6th Music Festival. .
Live performances will come from Loyle Carner presenting a new collaboration with Manchester’s AMC Gospel Choir (Friday March 24), Christine and the Queens the world premiere of her new live show (Saturday March 25) and Arlo Parks. , the world Cup. premiere of new music, with special guests (Sunday, March 26). More live performances will come from Wu-Lu, Lava La Rue and The Big Moon.
There will also be DJ sets throughout the weekend from AFRODEUTSCHE, Erol Alkan, Daniel Avery, Don Letts, Good Future, Hot Chip, Jamz Supernova, Steve Lamacq, Tarzsa, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess, Yard Act and BBC Introducing DJs, Emily Pilbeam and Phoebe IH.
The festival line-up was announced on the air today by Mary Anne Hobbs, including 6 Music Festival Presents with live performances at the O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester and club nights at Band on the Wall and Victoria Warehouse, themed after Indie shows. Forever and Rave Forever by 6 Music. and a live broadcast of Morning After Mix on Sunday in RAMONA.
Highlights of the festival will be broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Manchester from MediaCityUK in Salford, as well as BBC Sounds, BBC Four, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Music YouTube channel.
Tickets for each separate event will be available from 10am on Thursday 16 February at bbc.co.uk/6musicfestival, where the full festival line-up can also be found.
Manchester radio mainstay Mark Radcliffe said: “It’s great to welcome 6 Music festival back to Greater Manchester and it’s particularly exciting that the focus this time around is on new work. It’s all at Victoria Warehouse. It’s pretty dark in there so I’ve booked an eye exam to make sure I have the right glasses to see everything.”
Samantha Moy, Director of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “6 Music will take root in Salford over time, so we are bringing the festival back to Greater Manchester, where it all started, with some incredible acts. You may have seen Arlo Parks, Christine and the Queens, and Loyle Carner before, but you haven’t seen them like this before. In fact, it promises to be a very special weekend.”
Greater Manchester Mayor and part-time DJ Andy Burnham added: “There is a rich musical heritage in Greater Manchester and real pride in the independent music scene, and as BBC Radio 6 Music has always supported new and alternative artists, it’s a perfect fit for the festival to make its permanent home in the city for years to come.There’s so much new music from Greater Manchester right now that deserves to be heard, which is why we started Artist of the Month with BBC Radio Manchester, and by Like BBC Radio 6 Music, we want to provide a platform for emerging talent.”