The Manchester International Festival has announced its music and food line-up for the all-new Festival Square. Where it’s previously taken over Albert Square, this year it will be happening at Factory International’s new riverside location.
The open air stage will play host to 190 artists, bands, DJs and musicians over the course of the festival fortnight, with all the events free of charge and a host of food vendors providing the sustenance. Highlights will include gigs from iconic Manchester band A Certain Ratio, The Orielles and Dutch Uncles, as well as an ‘in conversation’ on-stage interview with Canadian artist Peaches.
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There will also be takeover sessions by the likes of Band On The Wall, Reform Radio, Brighter Sound, Feel Good Club and YES, as well as performances from the likes of OneDa, Planningtorock, The KTNA, Werkha and Bay Bryan.
Food, meanwhile, will be coming from plant-based Caribbean kitchen ARMR, the Hip Hop Chip Shop, Zouk and Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, as well as Super Serve, who will be taking on the hospitality arm of Factory when it opens properly in October.
Rivca Burns, Festival Square programmer for Factory International, said: “We’re super excited to share the 2023 edition of Festival Square, featuring more voices than ever before from across Greater Manchester.
“It is an honour to curate the programme for the hub of Manchester International Festival, the talent in this city is huge and bringing over 190 acts to this international stage. The programme will excite, inspire and fill you with joy daily, get down to Festival Square to enjoy your new favourite artist.”
Family entertainment will come from the likes of Babyrocksampler, Born To Be Wild Child, Playhouse Project each weekend, with song and dance workshops, interactive music-making and storytelling.
You can find full details of the festival events and buy tickets at the MIF website. Among this year's key events are shows from Janelle Monae and Alison Goldfrapp, a new project from Maxine Peake at the John Rylands library and the world premiere of United player Juan Mata's art project.
Here is the festival square schedule in full:
Fri 30 June
Zola Tec
The Get Up
Manchester School of Samba
James Holt
Werkha
A Certain Ratio
Dave Haslam
Sat 1 July
Our Kids Social
Guacamaya
B!tez
Cariss Auburn
Nakhane
Bay Bryan
Homoelectric
Sun 2 July
Agbeko
Dub Smugglers
Mother Sugar
HUSK
Caitlin LM
E&I Collective
Force of Nature feat Sarah Yaseen, Emmanuela Yogolelo & Meduulla
The KTNA
Agbeko feat Mali Hayes
Me Gusta
Tues 4 July
Vulva Voce
John Haycock
Karis Jade
Women in Hip Hop feat OneDa, Lady Ice, Envy & more in collaboration with musicians from the One Education Manchester Youth String Orchestra
Women in Hip Hop with Veba
Wed 5 July
Mabon Jones, Dan Springate & Carmel Smickersgill
Anna McLuckie
Chrysalid Homo
Lavender Rodriguez
In Conversation with Peaches
Planningtorock
Rojak
Thurs 6 July
MIRO & The Michael Cretu Trio
Evie Moran
JK
The Rally
Trans Creative takeover
Fri 7 July
Simmi Singh
Zola Tec
The Two Stubborn Nigerians Podcast
Motto Estate
Prido
GOMID
The Joy
Artist Lebo, Masted Ced, Kwexi, Ms Dee, Terrie T, G2, Joe Shams, Toots, Soweto Boy & Live PAs from Kahreign, 0710, EBII, Sho Sho & Squad 9 hosted by Malume Nez
Sat 8 July
Jubacana
Sens Sagna & the Kajamor Family
Voices Beyond
Desi Fusion
Keltio, Daniyaal, Riya, Medley, Martha Pryer, Arjun & Co, Danny H, Anamelia & HMD
Ruf Dug, Lupini & Tom Sharkett
Sun 9 July
Born to Be Wild Child
Chips with Everything
Plus44KALIGULA
Nightbus
Angel Meadow Soul Club
Fauna
Trapaganda
The Orielles
Hold Tight
Tues 11 July
K'in Ensemble
Salford City Radio present Women on the Waves
Coruja Jones
Living Room Dance Club presents the Vinyl Sessions
H.U.M.A.N
Foxglove
The Red Stains
Heartworms
Mx W0rld
Wed 12 July
Jenny Dyson, Lady Lamp, Alice Roberts & Carmel Smickersgill
HERchester: A Podcast
Krin
FREEQUENCY3
Meduulla
feat DARKA, Abnormal Sleepz & Ebii
Thurs 13 July
So Many Beauties
Women For Iran
Zacc Rogers
Mutalism
Nxdia
Jasmine Issaka
Soundcamp Showcase
SHEwillprovide
Fri 14 July
Polly Virr
Ada Grace
Overdrawn
iamkyami
Queer as F*ck feat
Miss Chief Cabaret feat Banksie, Lil, Violet Blonde & more
Dutch Uncles
DJ Paulette
Sat 15 July
Kusama Fashion Show
NIA Choir
Marcus Hercules & The Ruff Neck Band
Balmy Army
Shaq Rayes
Rohaan
Samrai & Guests
Vindya ft Mithushan
Taxi Cab Industries, Trayner, G33 & Chandé
Sun 16 July
We Gather
JD Dance
Colin Curtis
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