Music
Festival Guide: Parklife Festival
With festival season drawing near, we’re guiding you through this summer’s best. Here’s everything you need to know about Parklife Festival.
Tell me more.
Starting out as the Parklife Weekender, the festival has grown over the years to inhabit Heaton Park on the outskirts of Manchester. In fact, it’s only five miles out of the city centre. It’s now an annual two-day non-camping event, welcoming huge names in pop, hip-hop, dance and indie.
There will be bars selling alcoholic drinks to those of age and non-alcholic drinks to all, plus a range of food including organic, vegetarian and vegan options.
For that added extra, there’s the New York VIP area, themed around the decadence and glamour of 1980s downtown NY.
Where is it?
It’s up North. Well, it’s in Manchester. Heaton Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, and celebrates a history full of live music. The Stone Roses and Oasis have performed headline gigs there, as well as it being integral in the Madchester scene. It’s central location makes it great for public transport, and it’s right on the M60 for those drivers. There’s also the Parklife Travel Pass which allows you to travel on either the direct Parklife Shuttle bus or Metrolink services from Manchester City Centre. The Parklife Shuttle bus drops off right inside the festival site. Perfect.
Who’s playing?
There’s some seriously huge names at Parklife this year. The first act to be confirmed was the soulful Frank Ocean, with a very rare appearance in the UK, never mind Manchester. He’s joined by fellow headliners The 1975, as well as the likes of Boy Better Know, A Tribe Called Quest, Jess Glynne and loads more from the worlds of pop, hip-hop, dance and indie.
Grime master Stormzy will be making an appearance, pretty much dominating the globe with the phenomenal Gang Signs and Prayer. There’s some brilliant curveballs in there too. The undisputed Queen Of Funk, Chaka Khan, will take to the festival, as will superstar DJ Fatboy Slim.
There’s a seriously eclectic mix of new and old, guitar and decks. From Two Door Cinema Club to London Grammar, and from Pete Tong to Nightmare On Wax, there’s enough variety here to really curate your own festival experience. What are you waiting for? Just look at the full line-up.
OK, I’m in.
And you should be. You can grab day tickets and weekend tickets for both standard and VIP. Day tickets are £59.50 for general admission, and £85 for Planet VIP. Weekend tickets are £119 for general admission and £125 for Planet VIP. That’s some seriously good value. As ever, booking fees are added to this, and price is subject to change.
Grab tickets now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.