6 Manchester acts not to miss at Parklife 2018

Parklife returns this weekend and it’s set to be bigger than ever. Over 100 acts head to Heaton Park to bring a party like no other to the thousands of festival goers who have managed to sell out the annual knees-up.

You might have your Mercury Prize-winning grime artists, underground DJ’s that you can only see in dingy venues in London and ELROW who literally bring the party to the park. But sometimes, you just have to sit back and enjoy the sounds of your city, our city, our Manchester.

Whilst most people will be going to Parklife so that they can wear their mum’s old raving gear and dance till their feet are full of blisters, some are going to catch the bands that soundtracked their teenage years.

Everything Everything are that band. They have recorded four albums since 2007, been shortlisted for a Mercury Prize and changed the way we think about what is classed as indie music.

Their futuristic sound and style has altered the typical image of a Manchester band. They’re dynamic, eclectic and a band who should be watched as well as listened to. Everything Everything play the Parklife Stage on Sunday 10th June.

Now Wave DJ’s will be warming up folk who want to dance from 11am and not stop. The group of promoters and DJ’s have offered Manchester’s music scene a diverse sound, bringing techno and alternative indie sounds to the streets of the city. Be sure to check out their soundcloud to hear a sample of what they’re going to be spinning.

Now Wave DJ’s will be taking over the Sounds of The Near Future Stage early on Sunday 10th June.

Manchester is renowned for the music produced in the city in the 90’s. 2018 shouldn’t be treated any different, considering the father of Manchester’s grime scene is promoting the genre in Manchester.

Bugzy Malone supported the Stone Roses when they played at the Etihad and it was clear then that he is offering something different that the kids of Manchester want and need.

Proudly calling himself King of The North, he earned nationwide success by the time his first EP Walk with Me came out in 2015, reminding the UK that Manchester is more than just a couple of blokes wearing bucket hats and playing guitar. Catch him on The Valley Stage on Saturday 9th June.

Dance Lady Dance, consisting of Lou Pemberton and Doré Young, are ready to get everybody grooving to a DJ set that features everything from jazz to 80’s hits.

The DJ duo from Manchester aren’t just showing that DJ’s have to play techno sounds. They’re showing that women have the right to do whatever they want.

These girls want to DJ to the masses and we’re glad they are. In an industry dominated by male DJ’s, Dance Lady Dance offer quality DJing that makes you want to dance and have fun to. No sunglasses or weird hand movements needed here. Dance Lady Dance will be on The Parklife Stage on Saturday 9th June.

Twitter has had a big influence on Parklife. Whether it’s getting people excited, answering their questions about what to take and even giving tweeters what they want when it comes to line-up decisions. You know what I’m talking about – The Piccadilly Rats.

Maybe you recognise the name from the infamous Judge Rinder episode or simply because they’re part of Manchester street culture. You can find them outside Wetherspoons on Piccadilly Gardens every Saturday, weather permitting, blasting out real rock n roll.

Liam Gallagher should take a note or two on how to really get a crowd going like these lads do. After getting their fans to tweet that they should headline The Parklife Stage, their wish came true. They make their Parklife debut sometime over the weekend so be sure to look out for them.

A year after the Manchester Arena attack, Parklife boss Sacha Lord, who has just been named Manchester’s night-time adviser, has invited the Survivors Choir and Prose (a rap trio from Manchester who mirror The Streets with an added Manc twist) to the festival.

The Survivors Choir consists of survivors of the attack who show the power of music to stop the dark times taking over. There’s no tribute more fitting than this, allowing the people of Manchester and beyond to join side by side at the city’s biggest festival and admire the bravery of those two acts performing on stage together. They will be performing on The Parklife Stage on Saturday 9th June.

Finally, the act you have been waiting to read about.

You’re walking round Manchester on Sunday, it’s busy and you come across someone with mod hair, a parka (it’s boiling but style comes before sense) and they’re walking like they gave someone a piggy back and are now regretting it. You ask them, “Where you off?” and they reply “Parklife”.

You don’t need any more because you know there’s only one reason they’re going to Parklife. To see R’Kid.

Liam Gallagher comes home on Sunday 10th June to close the festival on The Parklife Stage. This will be his biggest home gig as a solo musician. The last time he was here was in 2009 with a band whose name slips my mind. Any true LG/Oasis/Beady Eye fan would notice this and think, what a cracking show this is going to be.

Who else could close a Manchester festival like he could? (I know you’re thinking of a band who if they reunited would cause a riot on stage, but sadly I think Take That are busy setting up another tribute band in Benidorm).

Parklife is now sold out. But don’t worry, we’ll keep you up to date with what’s going on. Or you could pop round to your best mate’s dog walker who lives near Heaton Park and just listen.