Spirit guide to summer events 2024.

Manchester isn’t just a rainy city, in the summer months it erupts with street parties, festivals and parades throughout the city and beyond.

This is our guide to the best summer events including the incredible independent, grassroots events that the North West has to offer.

Beatherder

In the heat of mid-July one of the most spellbinding grassroots festivals is held at Dockber Farm, just outside of Clitheroe. Originating from free parties in the early noughties, the first beat Beat-Herder was in 2006 with just 1200 attendees. Now boasting over 16 areas for music, 14 bars, 40+ stalls, fairgrounds, tunnels, bells, whistles and even a heated swimming pool…

The festival is intricately designed to excite you inner-child with immersive sets throughout. There’s an adult sized Fortress stage, Hotel California, the Parish Church, The Laundrette, The Garage, a Bubba Gumma mirror disco and much more…

The music is equally as expansive with this years line up featuring Orbital, The Wailers, Denis Sulta, Bailey Ibbs, Special Request, Utah Saints, K-Klass and so many more…

Manchester Caribbean Carnival

Taking place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August 2024, Manchester Caribbean Carnival is a vibrant and colourful celebration of community, heritage and music. Last years event was headlined by Stylo G the iconic dancehall artist known for carnival anthems “Call Mi a Yardie” and “Dumpling”.

The carnival is also a great way to get involved in the local music and event scene. With all sorts of opportunities including designing and making costumes, supporting with event management, or performing as a live artist or DJ. If your are interested visit the website and enquire on their contact page.

Moovin

Self-proclaimed as ‘big names, booming basslines, a boutique festival in a bull field’. Moovin festival is a grassroots music festival just outside of Stockport at Etherow Country Park in Compstall. The festival prides itself on it’s friendly atmosphere thanks to it’s limited capacity and the eclectic array of entertainment.

Expect national favourites, local talent, drumming outfits, walkabout performers, gong baths, holistic healing treatments and more. The 2024 headliners include Leftfield, Sampa the Great, and Souls of Mischief alongside hundreds of quality acts from all genres of music.

Manchester Day

A celebration of all things Mancunian centred around a spirited parade through the city bursting with arts, dance and music. Weird and wonderful costumes and samba bands take over the streets and a number of stages pop up throughout Deansgate and the Northern Quarter. This year taking place on Saturday 27 July, expect the city to be filled with music, colour and dance.

Manchester Pride Festival

Taking place across the full August Bank Holiday weekend, Manchester Pride Festivals is one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the UK and part of a global Pride movement celebrating LGBTQ+ equality and challenging discrimination.

Pride has grown exponentially in its 50+ year history as a movement for queer liberation. But the fight is far from over. With LGBTQ+ youth increasingly experiencing bullying, self-harm and homelessness and the recent rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, it’s more vital than ever that Manchester Pride celebrations remain strong. The festival has events such as the iconic Parade, Superbia (an arts and culture programme throughout the city across the weekend), the Gay Village Party and a Candlelit Vigil to close the festival.

There are also lots of independent events and Pride celebrations at grassroots venues across the city so make sure too keep an eye out nearer the time.

Green Island Festival

Hosted in the vibrant urban oasis that is Hulme Community Garden centre, Green Island is a festival like no other. Adventure through the twisting hedgerows, flowerbeds and vegetable patches to find a selection of intimate stages showcasing a carefully curated line up of grassroots talent. This years festival will be headlined by Afriquoi bringing an uplifting fusion of African music and live electronics.

Progress Centre

Located just meters up the road from Spirit is one of the cities largest open air venues hosting a jam packed schedule of summer events. Featuring day-to-night sessions, immersive lighting installations a Funktion One sound system and a view overlooking the city as you dance. The venue has recently expanded to facilitate 3 stages creating the atmosphere of a street party or festival. Their calendar is carefully curated with quality artists from all ends of the spectrum. Notably an upcoming Percolate takeover featuring Job Jobse, Anz and Manchester-based collective, Ordinary Friends.

Manchester Jazz Festival

The city’s longest running music festival, first staged in 1966, now features hundreds of musicians across over 60 free and ticketed events throughout the city’s music venues and public spaces. Taking place from 17-26 May 2024 featuring nightly events at Matt & Phreds, RNCM, Stoller Hall, St Ann’s Church and The Carlton Club. This years event will also feature a piano trail with 14 pianos dotted throughout Manchester available to all to play.

Now that we’re all bursting with excitement for the summer lets get some dates in the diary. Don’t forget there are lots of ways to get involved with summer events without paying for a ticket. You could get work experience or even perform, have a look at our article on How to make the most of this summer.