Manchester International Festival reveals full Festival Square lineup

Factory International has unveiled this year’s Festival Square lineup ahead of the return of Manchester International Festival (MIF).

Taking up residence at Aviva Studios on the banks of the River Irwell and throughout The Social, the space will become the central hub of MIF from Fri 4 Jul – Sun 20 Jul.

Festival Square will host free performances from almost 200 artists, bands, DJs and musicians, as well as family entertainment and a wide variety of food and drink.

With over 160 artists in the line-up hailing from Greater Manchester, the programme is a massive celebration of grassroots initiatives, venues, collectives and sounds from across the region.

Some of the highlights of the Festival Square programme include an exciting new collaboration between Rian Treanor and Kathleen Allott, Anne Goss, and Mick Gladwin from Rotherham Sight & Sound, a charity supporting blind and visually impaired people, a DJ set from Lady Shaka whose music is a representation of both her queer identity as a femme queen and her connection to the moana (ocean) and her diaspora, and Transmission Towers; a Liverpool-based duo blending machine-driven rhythms with deeply human energy, drawing from Motor City techno, cosmic jazz, and Afrofuturism.

Elsewhere, Manchester-based MC, producer and singer-songwriter Renee Stormz, who draws on classical and traditional Nigerian music, will be performing, Brown Wimpenny, an 11-piece traditional folk ensemble, will breathe new life into old jigs and there’ll be disco punk from Ninja Tune-affiliated PVA.

Throughout MIF25, Festival Square will present takeovers from some of the city’s best artists, promoters, collectives, venues and radio stations, including: Carlton Club, Renee Stormz x Raise The Bar, Crop Radio, YES, South Asian Music Summit, Green Island, Night & Day, Sounds From The Other City, Adele Tondu & Friends, Reform Radio Sweet Vibrations and SWAGGA, and Under One Roof.

Across the weekend, the festival hosts some of the best DJ’s and clubnights from across the city, including Haçienda legend Dave Haslam with Colin Curtis; and takeovers from Eves Drop Collective B2B The Social Service, HOMOBLOC x Homoelectric, Suffragette City, High Hoops, Swagga and Kiss Me Again.

Following an open call-out earlier this year, in which over 350 artists and community groups from the region applied, 25 were selected to join the bill including: Our Kids Social, Brown Wimpenny, Secret Night Gang, See Thru Hands, Hamsaz Ensemble, Bethlehem Casuals, IRIS, Desi Fusion, Algernon Cornelius, Muzi Swaks, Tay Temple, La Familia, Rhod Parry, May & Hunte, Krin, NONUNONU, Holly Redford Jones, Third Kulture, NEKONEKO, E&I Collective, True Aubz, Rumbi, DJ EKUA, RUBIX & Beau Mec.

Rising stars from Factory International’s annual artist development programme, Factory Sounds, will also be taking to the stage. Meanwhile, Factory International’s Neighbourhood Organisers, who help connect people from their communities around Greater Manchester to the work and events taking place throughout the year at Aviva Studios, will be curating the Festival Square for an entire day.

Joy on the Square, a family-friendly, joy-themed afternoon, includes the world premiere of Joy as Resistance – a film by REELMCR and a young people’s film crew at Salford Lads and Girls Club, as well as up-cycling workshops with CDM UK, a Brazilian carnival and more.

Other family activities will include kids clubbing, storytelling, crafting and a Sports Day with a difference. Z-Arts present an Alice in Wonderland themed Family Jam (Sat 5 Jul) with soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa and dance-pop artist Adam Westley, Born to be Wildchild, host a space themed party (Sat 12 Jul) and Ray Bubbles presents an immersive Giant Bubble Show blending science, art and storytelling (Sun 20 Jul).

Each day food and drink on the square will feature Indian street food from Bundobust, Hot Chicken from Trading Route and Thai food from Superserve, as well as regular appearances from Ginger’s Ice Cream. On Sun 6 Jul Honest Crust will be serving up limited edition pizza in collaboration with celebrated chef Shaun Moffat (Winsome) from 1pm until they sell out in aid of EatWell MCR.

Visitors to Festival Square will also be able to visit the summer exhibition Football City, Art United. in the Warehouse space at Aviva Studios with free entry for those aged 16 and under. Curated by Juan Mata, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Josh Willdigg, the exhibition features 11 new works created by pairings of internationally renowned artists and footballers, including interactive play arenas, sound installations, manga and sculpture.

Rivca Burns, Head of Music at Factory International and Manchester International Festival, says: “Festival Square is a vital part of the annual music programme at Factory International. It’s where we celebrate our fantastic city and its musicians on an international stage.

“For many of us – including myself as a programmer – it’s where the journey begins. Festival Square tells the story of Greater Manchester’s sound, both on stage and behind the scenes. I’m incredibly proud that this year we’re working with more promoters and curators than ever before and celebrating some of our most cherished music venues, shining a light on independent voices.

“The variety of performances is incredible – a true reflection of Manchester, with something for everyone. Come and discover your new favourite artist!”

You can read more about the full Festival Square schedule here.