Since its inception ten years ago, Parklife has grown from a small one-day event in Platt Fields to a fully-fledged weekender in Heaton Park. Now the festival attracts more than 80,000 people and draws international headliners such as Cardi B and Solange. But the festival’s roots are loud and proud this year, with a spate of Northern acts taking to the stage next weekend.

Stockport-born Blossoms were among the first acts to be announced this year. The indie pop/rock boyband will play their biggest gig to date just a couple of weeks after the festival with a sold-out homecoming gig at Edgeley Park Stadium. They haven’t played Parklife since 2016, so their performance on Sunday will be a big one.

Parklife’s pioneering Sounds of The Near Future stage will be headlined by Christine and the Queens and Loyle Carner, but it’s worth heading over early to hear some Manchester talent. Now Wave are presenting Jonny Dub, unsung hero of the Levelz collective, alongside their resident DJs. Legend has it he spent his entire student loan on synths and vinyl.

Speaking of student loans, did you know drum and bass duo Chase & Status met at the University of Manchester? Catch their highly anticipated Return II Jungle DJ set on the Temple stage.

As the UK’s largest metropolitan festival, Parklife is also bringing local venues along for the ride. For Manchester-based promoters Now Wave and Zutekh, the main event is the after parties.

Now Wave will be firmly on home turf at their new multi-purpose venue, YES. Sound designer Yosi Horikawa will be performing in the venue’s ‘Pink Room’ on Saturday night alongside Now Wave and OHR DJs, whilst Kero Kero Bonito Soundsystem is lined up for Sunday.

Local DJ Willow and Warehouse Project regulars Greg Lord and Krysko are on the Zutekh ticket at Soup Kitchen on Saturday night, with Mella Dee and Cromby taking the reins at Gorilla to close the festival on Sunday.

By Isabel Webb

Main image by Justine Trickett 

 

Parklife 2019: June 8-9, Heaton Park, Manchester

parklife.uk.com