Featured image: Kelsi Luck

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Manchester’s biggest multi-venue festival returns this weekend.

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Kick off your NBHD Festival experience early doors by grabbing your wristband from Circle Square reception in Symphony Park (M1 7FS) from 10am. This central hub is just a short walk from Oxford Road train station – simply head behind the towering accommodation buildings, turn right at Tesco next to Hatch, and you can’t miss it!

This year, NBHD 2024 is spread across some of the city’s most beloved venues, from intimate 60-capacity spot, to sprawling 2,600 sites. Smaller venues like YES Basement and Pink Room, Lions Den, Mother Mary’s, Revolution and Deaf Institute set the stage for rising acts, while larger spots such as Albert Hall, O2 Ritz, Gorilla, The Bread Shed, and Manchester Academy 1 and 2 host the festival’s headline performances.

Start your day with The Sheratons at 12:15pm at The Bread Shed. Other early-opening venues include Revolution, YES, Deaf Institute, Lion’s Den, Mother Mary’s and Gorilla.

With most venues situated along Oxford Road, you’ll find plenty of quick eats nearby. YES is famed for its pizza slices, and The Bread Shed backs onto the budget-friendly Flour and Flagon. Don’t linger too long – there’s a packed line-up to of artists to discover.

We round up aAh!’s recommended artists by venue. Let us know if your favourite made the list.

Revolution

Vincent’s Last Summer will kick off the day off at Revolution on Oxford Road at 1:15pm. With energetic post-punk beats and a sound much akin to New York’s The Dare, start your day off with a 1990s rave era show.

Following at 2:15pm, Fred Roberts will grace the stage with his anthemic pop-rock discography. This may be the only time you can catch Fred in such an intimate venue, as his rise in the next few years is surely concrete.

O2 Ritz

Catch afternoon headliners The Royston Club for a fun indie boogie at 4:15pm. Stay till 9:15pm to watch Manchester’s Antony Szmierek close the Ritz with an introspective indie-hip-hop spoken word performance.

Gorilla

Manchester-based artist Chloe Slater takes to the Gorilla stage at 2pm, with interesting indie beats, lyrics, she’s penned as a rising star in the Manchester scene – don’t miss her! Multi-instrumentalist Pixey will be on at 4pm, bringing a synth-pop dream to ease you into the busy evening. Liam Gallagher’s son, Gene, and his band Villanelle will take the stage at 6pm. With no release yet despite an impressive touring history, check out their heavy indie rock sound.

Deaf Institute

Alessi Rose, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Derby, will perform at 3:15 pm. Her indie-pop songs explore the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl. Soft Launch debuted earlier this year while supporting James Marriott on his UK tour. Four singles later, and they’ve cultivated a solid fan base. Their live shows are becoming highly anticipated so don’t miss them at 7:30pm.

Academy 2 

Alex Spencer is a 17-year-old Manchester artist who performs with confidence beyond his years. On at 6pm, get ready to be in for an alternative/indie set from Spencer. The Vamp’s Bradley Simpson will be on at 9pm. A veteran of the stage, he will for sure put on a captivating and fun performance. With only three singles out, catch his set to discover his solo work and maybe a few covers to dance the night away to.

YES Pink Room

With their first song only released ten days before neighbourhood, Bug Eyed will be introduced to Manchester at 4:30pm. With a coming of age movie soundtrack vibe, the self-proclaimed ‘post-pandemic pop duo’ are ones to keep an eye on.

Siobhan Winifred is on at 5:30pm and is the perfect artist to transition into the evening, with her soft vocals and cool indie-pop aura. Performing at Neighbourhood only days after releasing her first EP, Siobhan is a rising star waiting to be discovered.

Mother Mary’s

Yuneki is a London-based alternative indie rock artist, following in the footsteps of other black female artists like Rachel Chinouriri showing everyone that black women belong in the alternative indie space. With soft airy vocals and relatable songs, make sure to see Yuneki at 3:45pm.

Leonie Biney will be on at 4:30pm, showcasing her light acoustic songs that are reminiscent of a Beabadoobee sound, with her own sprinkling of individuality baked into the lyrics.

Lion’s Den

Armed with her guitar, Fiona Lee will be on at 5:30pm, with a set of emotional rock-laced ballads that showcase her stunning vocals and songwriting abilities. Halifax’s Ellur performs indie-pop songs at 6:30pm with her mesmerising and theatrical stage presence.

Deaf Institute

Adding to the festival’s insane list of Manchester talent, 20-year-old indie pop artist DellaXOZ is on at 8pm. With drum and bass inspired beats with an indie lean, DellaXOZ marries the two main music scenes of Manchester.

YES Basement 

Sibling-duo Esme Emerson will be on at YES Basement at 6pm. Showcasing wholesome indie-pop songs with a unique synergy that only happens when the right pair of siblings form a band together. Andy Goodwin’s music brings back the 90s Brit-pop sound that’s becoming immortal. Full of cheeky Manchester spirit, make sure to get down to his set at 8pm.

The Bread Shed

Denver County Council will be on at 2:15pm. If Catfish And The Bottlemen and Kings of Leon are for you, then make sure to catch this Americana indie band. Balancing Act are on at 5:15pm, with a discography that ranges in sounds like the pure indie sounds of Arctic Monkeys to new age indie as seen with Fontaines D.C.

Albert Hall

Afternoon headliners for the Albert Hall are Merseyside’s Red Rum Club at 4:30pm. Love a full band with a trumpet and a Blossoms-esque sound? Red Rum Club is for you. Brooke Combe follows at 6pm. The Scot will astound you with her deep soulful vice and fun R ‘n’ B tunes. She is renowned for her amazing covers of songs such as ‘Redbone’ by Childish Gambino.

Seb Lowe and his band are on after at 7:15pm and will add to the high calibre of performances before them. Another artist that performs with a full band and the talented violinist/vocalist Katie Couriel. With politically charged indie bangers, they are not to be missed!

Academy 1

Neighbourhood Festival veterans Pale Waves will headline at 9pm. Fresh off the release of their new album, Smitten, and backed by an already impressive catalogue of synth-pop-rock songs, the energy of Pale Waves with a hometown crowd behind them will be unforgettable.