EVENTS


MEWS FEST RETURNS FOR ITS FIFTH YEAR
A CELEBRATION OF MANCHESTER’S GRASSROOTS MUSIC VENUES AND ARISTS SPONSORED BY AO ARENA
FREE-TO-ATTEND OUTDOOR FESTIVAL WITH AL FRESCO DINING, LIVE MUSIC, AND “MINI MEWS” FOR FAMILIES
Great Northern Warehouse is kickstarting the summer season with the return of free annual Deansgate Mews Festival.
Located on Deansgate Mews, Manchester’s hidden pedestrianised street nestled above Deansgate, the festival will take place from 23rd – 25th May.
Expect a lively outdoor celebration of food & drink, entertainment, live music and a pop up market of talented local traders
Sponsored by Manchester’s AO Arena, Mews Fest is a celebration of authentic grassroots music venues housed atthe iconic Great Northern Warehouse. The festival will host 40+ talented artists and creatives across four stages curated by live music venue Lion’s Den, production studio Manchester One Media, venue, bar, recording studio and online music platform Low Four and neighbourhood venue The Mews Bar.
On the main outside stage, Lion’s Den will host a showcase of the finest up-and-coming Manchester bands and live music artists. Inside, Low Four will welcome music lovers to discover new experimental sounds, DJ sets, live performances and much more. Manchester One Media will host DJ talents playing into the evening, and Mews Bar will host a mix of acoustic sets. Artists performing Mews Fest this year include indie rock band Strawberry Lemonade,rock band Delights, plus many more. The AO Arena’s funding ensures all acts are paid to play over the weekend.Artists performing will also be offered opportunities to sell their merchandise over the weekend.
Along Deansgate Mews, local restaurants and bars will have outdoor seating for visitors to enjoy al fresco drinking and dining all weekend. Enjoy the finest wines, cocktails and sharing plates from The Mews, book in with Another Hand, or dine out on impressive Thai dishes at Siam Smiles.
Added to the mix will be the Mini Mews Festival in the atrium with Little Northerners meaning families wanting to enjoy the music will also be able to entertain their children while they visit.
And in true Mancunian spirit, Great Northern Warehouse will be collecting donations for Forever Manchester, the only charity that supports community groups and activity across Greater Manchester.
Mark Schofield, Centre Director for Great Northern Warehouse, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting Deansgate Mews Festival for the fifth year. We are proud to have created a festival which celebrates Manchester’s grassroots music, providing a raft of opportunities for them to play and reach new audiences. Each of our venues is very different in terms of the line up s they have curated, meaning there really is something for everyone to check out.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy a free weekend of music, alongside the best of outdoor dining, drinks and shopping that Great Northern Warehouse has to offer.
Ellice Eadie, Head of Marketing at AO Arena, added: “The talent pipeline starts with grassroots artists. If we’re not protecting the spaces that allow them to play and grow, who will be headlining our iconic stage 20 years from now? We’re committed to future-proofing our industry, and that starts at home.
This year is our 30th birthday and with that we’re keen to support the festival, as we know how important it is to protect the pipeline of Manchester’s growing and diverse music scene as we look forward to the next 3 decades in Manchester “
The Great Northern Team are still inviting local businesses to take a stall at the festival, so if you are an independent brand in Manchester and would like to showcase your products to festival goers across the three days, please do get in touch with emma.james@thegreatnorthern.com