FEATURE:
A Unique and Amazing Live Event
IN THIS PHOTO: BBC Radio 6 Music’s Tom Ravenscroft and Deb Grant/PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
Inside the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2024
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LATER in this feature….
I will hear from BBC Radio 6 Music D.J.s Deb Grant, Stuart Maconie and Chris Hawkins. They will share their memories of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival and how they are feeling about this year’s one. Coming from its new permanent home in Greater Manchester, it will host some incredible artists and D.J.s. Running from 7th-10th March, amazing artists like Gossip and The Smile will play. You can find out more details about the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival via the station’s Instagram page. Before getting to interviews and insight from Deb Grant, Stuart Maconie and Chris Hawkins, here is the press release for one of the year’s most essential festivals:
“The incredible line up for this year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, which takes place from Thursday 7 – Sunday 10 March in Greater Manchester, was announced live on air this morning by Lauren Laverne (7.30am–10.30am).
The station’s flagship live music festival, which is now based permanently in Greater Manchester, will once again feature performances you won’t see anywhere else, new music debuts, unique collaborations and surprise guests. The artists who will perform at O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester include:
Thursday 7 March
Young Fathers, performing a unique collaboration with the Hulme and Moss Side based NIA community choir, supported by Hak Baker and SHERELLE (DJ set)
Friday 8 March
Gossip, with their first UK show in four years and giving 6 Music the global premiere of unreleased material as well as celebrating International Women’s Day, supported by CMAT and AFRODEUTSCHE (DJ set)
Saturday 9 March
The Smile and the London Contemporary Orchestra with a world exclusive performance and the first time the Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner project have performed with an orchestra. The Smile will be supported by Jordan Rakei and Mary Anne Hobbs + Anna Phoebe (a unique hybrid performance featuring a DJ set from Mary Anne and Anna playing live violin and viola)
Further shows include a BBC Music Introducing night at Band on the Wall and New Music Fix Live at YES, the first time the 6 Music Festival has visited the venue. Club nights will include Indie Forever at Band on the Wall and Rave Forever at Archive, Depot Mayfield Manchester in partnership with the Warehouse Project. There will also be Morning After Mix Live events on the Saturday and Sunday at RAMONA: Jamz Supernova will broadcast her 6 Music show from the venue on Saturday 9 March (1pm-4pm), which will feature a live DJ set from Konny Kon (Children of Zeus), and Cerys Matthews will present from RAMONA on Sunday 10 March (10am-1pm), with a live DJ set from Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective.
DJs playing across the city at the festival during the weekend include:
Lolly Adefope, Space Afrika, 96 Back, Daphni, Lily Fontaine (English Teacher), Mary Anne Hobbs, I. JORDAN, Femi Koleoso (Ezra Collective), Amy Lamé, LCY, Mica Levi, Rainy Miller, Not Bad For A Girl, DJ Paulette, Emily Pilbeam, salute, DJ Seinfeld, Nathan Shepherd, Iceboy Violet, Yyre and Konny Kon (Children of Zeus).
Highlights from the festival will be broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Manchester from MediaCityUK in Salford, as well as on BBC Sounds, BBC Four, BBC iPlayer and BBC Music’s YouTube channel.
Tickets for each separate event will be available from 10am on Thursday 18 January via www.bbc.co.uk/6musicfestival. All events are 18 and over only.
Young Fathers says: “A 6 Music stage has been given to us and the door of endless possibilities has been opened. Beyond anything else it will be a night to celebrate a wide mix of folk coming together. GERONIMO!!”
Hak Baker says: “6 Music has been a long-time supporter but I feel since the birth of my debut you lot have just taken it to another echelon. I just can’t thank you enough for broadcasting my messages on the airwaves. Outside East London, Manchester, home of theHaçienda, has long been my fave city. We always sell out over there and we always have it large, most importantly so bringing it heavy on March 7 2024. Couple of newbies no one’s ever heard and a few more tricks up the old wizard sleeve. Hold on to ya hats!!”
Gossip, who will be performing never heard before tracks, says: "We're so excited -Manchester is going to be the first to hear our new record live! Such a special crowd, we've missed you so much and can't wait to be back!"
CMAT says: "My performance at the 6 Music Festival will be the best show you’ll see in your whole entire life! Expect camp, gay people, energy, country music as well as mediocre guitar playing from me and very good guitar playing from other people. When I was making my first album and listening to 6 Music most days, Iggy Pop played one of my songs on his show. I heard it from the other room and ran in to hear Iggy Pop’s mouth forming my name - it was a crazy day for the parish."
During an on air interview with Lauren Laverne, The Smile says: “ARRGGGH - we’ve got a lot of work to do to prep for the 6 Music Festival as it’s one thing to do it in the studio, but it’s another thing to do it live. We’ve decided to work with the London Contemporary Orchestra on the performance but as they’re all incredibly versatile musicians, we’ll figure it out!”
Jordan Rakei says: “I’m really excited to play in Manchester again because it’s one of the earliest shows I can remember after moving to the UK in 2015, so I can’t wait to show love to the city that showed me love when I first moved over. I’ll be playing new music as well as some of my favorite older songs. I’ll also be bringing my biggest band I’ve ever had, there will lots of singers on stage so I’m super excited! I’m a massive fan of 6 Music because whenever I turn the radio on, I always hear something progressive, which pushes me to discover new music in all different fields, sounds and genres. It’s somewhere I tap into to learn something new because it’s very easy to get caught up in what you know. So it’s such an honor to be at a festival championing new music like this… so super grateful!”
Lauren Laverne says: “We can’t wait to kick start the 6 Music Festival and find out what some of our favourite artists have in store for us - in a busy festival season this is a chance to see and hear something brand new! See you there!”
IN THIS PHOTO: CMAT
Samantha Moy, Head of 6 Music says: “The 6 Music Festival is always a very special moment in our year and we can’t wait to bring our audience some truly unique performances. Come and join us! ”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says: “It’s fantastic to see the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival returning to Greater Manchester this year. We’re immensely proud of our musical heritage, but also the phenomenal depth of talent and the exciting independent scene across our city-region right now. As BBC Radio 6 Music has always supported new and alternative artists, it’s a perfect fit for the festival to have its permanent home here for years to come.
“There’s so much new Greater Manchester music out there right now that deserves to be heard, which is why it’s so important to develop platforms for emerging artists. That’s precisely what we’ve been celebrating with the Mayor’s Artist of the Month on BBC Radio Manchester, and like BBC Radio 6 Music, we want to help those acts get on and reach new audiences.”
6 Music Festival 2024 full line up
Thursday 7 March
6 Music Festival at Victoria Warehouse Manchester from 6.30pm
SHERELLE (DJ Set)
Hak Baker
Young Fathers (performing a unique collaboration with the Hulme and Moss Side based NIA community choir)
BBC Music Introducing at Band on the Wall from 7pm:
OneDa
Witch Fever
Porij
New Music Fix Live at YES from 10pm, featuring DJ sets from:
Yyre
Rainy Miller b2b LCY
Iceboy Violet b2b 96 Back
Space Afrika b2b Mica Levi
Friday 8 March
6 Music Festival at Victoria Warehouse Manchester from 6.30pm in celebration of International Women’s Day
AFRODEUTSCHE (DJ set)
CMAT
Gossip
Indie Forever club night at Band on the Wall from 9pm, featuring DJ sets packed with solid gold, upbeat indie bangers:
Emily Pilbeam
Amy Lamé
Lily Fontaine (English Teacher)
Lolly Adefope
Nathan Shepherd (Good Future)
IMAGE CREDIT: BBC
Saturday 9 March
Jamz Supernova x Morning After Mix Live at Ramona, live on air from 1pm–4pm featuring DJ set from:
Konny Kon (Children of Zeus) (3pm-5pm)
BBC Introducing presents Open Decksat RAMONA from 5-8pm
RAMONA sees the return of BBC Introducing presents Open Decks, offering the unique opportunity for emerging DJs to jump behind the turntables to perform at this year’s 6 Music Festival. There will be a sign-up sheet at the door and all genres are welcome! Participants are encouraged to share original compositions as part of their mixes. The only things attendees will need are their USB’s, headphones and their A-Game!
6 Music Festival at Victoria Warehouse Manchester from 6.30pm
Mary Anne Hobbs + Anna Phoebe (DJ set from Mary Anne and Anna playing live violin and viola)
Jordan Rakei
The Smile and the London Contemporary Orchestra
Rave Forever at Archive, Depot Mayfield Manchester from 9pm, in partnership with the Warehouse Project featuring the finest dance music from across the decades, with DJ sets from:
Not Bad For A Girl
DJ Paulette
I. JORDAN
Daphni
DJ Seinfeld b2b salute
Sunday 10 March
Cerys Matthews x Morning After Mix Live at Ramona live on air from 10am – 1pm featuring DJ set from:
Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective (12pm-2pm)
6 Music presenters including Chris Hawkins, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Mary Anne Hobbs, Don Letts, Amy Lamé, Lauren Laverne Stuart Maconie, Cerys Matthews, Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, Mark Radcliffe and Tom Ravenscroft will all be broadcasting live over the festival weekend from MediaCityUK in Salford and the festival venues.
There’ll be live and recorded-live performances from every event broadcast on 6 Music across the schedule for listeners to enjoy, wherever they are in the UK.
6 Music Broadcast Schedule
Thursday 7 March
Chris Hawkins (5am-7.30am), Lauren Laverne (7.30am – 10.30am), Mary Anne Hobbs (10.30am – 1pm) and Craig Charles (1pm-4pm) will all broadcast from MediaCityUK BBC studios
4pm-7pm - Huw Stephens from Band on the Wall
7pm–11pm - Deb Grant & Tom Ravenscroft from YES, featuring live music from Victoria Warehouse Manchester and Band on the Wall.
11pm – 2am (into Friday 8 March) - New Music Fix Live featuring live DJ sets
Friday 8 March
5am-7.30am - Chris Hawkins
7.30am–10.30am - Lauren Laverne
10.30am–1pm - Mary Anne Hobbs
1pm-4pm – Craig Charles
4pm-7pm - Huw Stephens
7pm–11pm - Deb Grant & Tom Ravenscroft, featuring live music from Victoria Warehouse Manchester
11pm – 2am (into Sat 9 March) Indie Forever club night live from Band on the Wall
IMAGE CREDIT: BBC
Saturday 9 March
8am–10am - Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie
10am –1pm - Craig Charles
1-4pm – Jamz Supernova x Morning After Mix Live, featuring DJ set from Konny Kon (Children of Zeus), from RAMONA
4-7pm – Gilles Peterson
7-11pm – Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft, featuring live music from Victoria Warehouse Manchester
11pm-3am (into Sunday 10 March) – Rave Forever at Archive, Depot Mayfield Manchester
Sunday 10 March
8am-10am - Chris Hawkins
10am-1pm – Cerys Matthews x Morning After Mix Live, featuring DJ set from Femi Koleoso from RAMONA
1pm–4pm – Guy Garvey
4pm-6pm – Stuart Maconie and Deb Grant present highlights from the 6 Music Festival 2024
6pm-8pm – Amy Lamé and Don Letts present Now Playing - 10 years of the 6 Music Festival
8pm-10pm – Freak Zone Manchester special presented by Stuart Maconie
10pm-00:00 – Lose Yourself Manchester special
BBC Radio Manchester will hear from BBC Music Introducing Live at Band on the Wall on Thursday 7 March, bringing listeners performance highlights from the Manchester-based artists playing that evening.
All BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Manchester programmes will be available on BBC Sounds after broadcast.
On the evening of Sunday March 10, BBC Four will broadcast programmes from the 6 Music Festival.
IMAGE CREDIT: BBC
From early afternoon on Saturday 9 March, BBC iPlayer will stream performance highlights from the festival, including Gossip, Young Fathers, Hak Baker and CMAT before showing sets from Jordan Rakei and The Smile live from Victoria Warehouse.
Sets will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer for 30 days, with individual tracks available on BBC Music’s YouTube channel.
In the lead up to the festival, listeners can enjoy programmes celebrating artists who are performing at this year’s festival, and stars of past festivals.
Gossip’s Beth Ditto will feature on The First Time With…, presented by Matt Everitt on Tuesday 16 Jan (11pm-midnight), following the recent interviews with Cate Le Bon, Holly Johnson, John Grant, Stormzy and David Holmes, which are available to listen to now on BBC Sounds. In addition to her work with Gossip, Beth has also collaborated with Calvin Johnson, Simian Mobile Disco, Jarvis Cocker, Paul Weller and Graham Coxon. As a solo artist she is known for her self-titled EP, released in 2011 and her album Fake Sugar (2017). In November 2023, Gossip announced that they will release their first album in 11 years, Real Power, produced by Rick Rubin.
This year’s headliners will also be featured in February as the station’s Artist in Residence, a four episode series which takes a journey into the musical soul of an artist, based around a theme or mood. Young Fathers will host four episodes w/c 12 February (Monday-Thursday, 11pm-midnight), Gossip w/c 19 February (Monday-Thursday, 11pm-midnight) and The Smile w/c 26 February (Monday-Thursday, 11pm-midnight).
From Tuesday 16 January, BBC Sounds presents a 6 Music Festival Back to Back Sounds collection, launching with themed episodes of Indie Forever, Rave Forever and The Morning After Mix.
Artists who have previously performed at the festival, or are performing this year, will be featured in 6 Music’s Artist Collection (Tuesdays, midnight-5am), including Thom Yorke (9 January), Gossip (6 February), The National (13 February), Depeche Mode (20 February), Little Simz (27 February) and Young Fathers (5 March).
Since it began in 2014, the 6 Music Festival has taken place all over the UK, including in Manchester, Tyneside, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Camden (London) and Cardiff and has seen performances from artists including Anna Calvi, Bombay Bicycle Club, Depeche Mode, Ezra Collective, Goldfrapp, Hot Chip, Johnny Marr, Kae Tempest, Khruangbin, Little Simz, Pixies, Primal Scream, Róisín Murphy, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and many more.
The 2023 festival featured performances from Loyle Carner, joined by the AMC Gospel Choir, Christine and the Queens, who gave the global premiere of his new live show and Arlo Parks, with the world-exclusive performance of her latest music and guest appearances from Romy and Tom Coll of Fontaines D.C.”.
I have been fortunate to grab some words from three incredible BBC Radio 6 Music D.J.s who will broadcasting from the festival. Thanks to the amazing Chris Hawkins (who broadcasts weekdays on early breakfast), Stuart Maconie (who broadcasts weekend mornings with Mark Radcliffe and hosts The Freak Zone) and Deb Grant (who presents the New Music Fix weekdays). They share their thoughts on the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival moving permanently to Greater Manchester, in addition to sharing their memories of festivals past - and the artists they are looking forward to catching at this year’s festival…
CHRIS HAWKINS
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
It is great to see the 6 Music Festival in Greater Manchester. How important does it feel knowing that it is taking place there?
The festival launched in Greater Manchester and it’s fantastic to be here, ten years on. Manchester is one of the U.K.’s great music cities and there’s a great buzz about the festival this year - it’s an awesome line-up.
The festival is now permanently going to be based there. How important is that too? Do you feel it will draw more eyes and bodies to what is happening in Greater Manchester?
The Manchester music scene is thriving. Maybe I’m biased cos I live here, but I think there’s more great music coming out of the city than ever before. The Festival not only brings great acts to Greater Manchester but also celebrates some of the best venues in the country.
You have been at quite a few of 6 Music’s festivals? Do you have particularly favourite memories? How do you think it has grown through the years?
I’ve been at every 6 Music Festival since the start; at Victoria Warehouse when Blossoms were incredible and I got to introduce The National. I’ve seen the National loads but that was the best I’ve ever seen them. Royal Blood in Gateshead was explosive and IDLES were utterly sublime in Cardiff in 2022.
“I’m also really looking forward to CMAT - a real future star”
You are going to be broadcasting through the festival’s duration. How will your shows differ from your normal BBC Radio 6 Music broadcasts? Is there a little extra electricity and excitement in the air?!
Definitely. We have a unique connection with our audience. It’s a real community of like-minded music fans so the festival is a great chance to get together and do what we love - experience amazing live music shows.
There are so many terrific artists on the bill. Which are you most looking forward to hearing from?
This year’s headliners are fantastic - Young Fathers, Gossip and The Smile will all be brilliant. I’m also really looking forward to CMAT - a real future star.
STUART MACONIE
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
Yeah, it’s permanent home is now Greater Manchester. Which, if it’s going to have a permanent home, I’m delighted about. I love the fact that we used to tour around and get to meet 6 Music listeners around the country, but I know this makes a great deal of sense for its to have a permanent home. I’m delighted that its now the world that I come from and that I broadcast from and love. It has a very rich musical heritage. It’ll be great to meet people. Manchester and Salford are pretty well-situated for people who are going to come from elsewhere for the gigs.
What I love about the 6 Music festival. I should say two things. Getting to meet listeners. It’s always great to meet listeners face to face, because when you’re broadcasting, you don’t know who’s listening. In these days of communication; text and emails and that kind of thing, we get much more instantaneous communication than we ever would have got once. But even so, it’s nice to shake a hand and see people in the flesh. That’s always great.
“Getting to meet listeners. It’s always great to meet listeners face to face, because when you’re broadcasting, you don’t know who’s listening”
It's also great to meet my colleagues. We are a station with a great sense of community. We’re a very diverse station., but I think we’re coming from a very similar place in terms of our enthusiasm for music and our interest and curiosity. It’s actually really good fun for me to meet my colleagues as friends for a couple of days socially. The people I wouldn’t normally see because they broadcast elsewhere in the country.
I do look back at past 6 Music festivals with great affection. It seems invidious to single out any favourites. I loved Glasgow, because I practically lived at Barrowlands and I got to know the bar staff by name. But they’ve all been great, really. Cardiff was great; Liverpool was great. Newcastle was great. Favourite gigs? I would say would be The Coral in Liverpool, who were amazing. Hot Chip at The Sage in Gateshead, who were amazing. Khruangbin in Cardiff was an amazing thing. Those are three that absolutely spring to mind.
This time, I’m looking forward to seeing Porij and Young Fathers and The Smile. I’m introducing The Smile on stage. It’s going to be interesting. I love that album (Wall of Eyes). Quite Prog-y. Could be King Crimson in parts – so obviously I’m going to love that.
As for you feeling should it be seen as prominent as Glastonbury. Well…that is quite a big claim and a bold claim, Sam. But who knows.. Maybe one day…
DEB GRANT
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
It is great to see the 6 Music Festival in Greater Manchester. How important does it feel knowing that it is taking place there? It seems like a very natural home…
For me personally, speaking as someone who’s only lived in Manchester since last May, it feels completely right for the festival to be making its home here. The music scene in this part of the country, from grassroots to stadiums, is absolutely thriving. There’s something very special happening here with live music and also with new music – Great Manchester obviously has a rich musical history, but new artists are emerging all the time who are right at the cutting edge in terms of creativity across a huge breadth of genres. It’s exciting to be putting a spotlight on all of that and bringing music fans here to enjoy it, whether in person or via the radio.
I think a lot of people overlook Manchester and the surrounding areas in terms of its importance and the wonderful, eclectic venues. Is it fair to say more people should be looking here when it comes to the live scene and local talent?
I can’t emphasise enough how incredible the live scene is here. Any given night presents you with a whole range of options, from garage rock in a sweaty basement to heritage pop in an arena full of dry ice. There are multilevel venues with a different vibe in every room, there are invite-only raves in disused mills, DIY festivals, multi-venue all-nighters, it’s overwhelming sometimes! And the local talent is outrageous – we are constantly discovering new Manchester bands to play on New Music Fix, and that’s not because we’re specifically looking at Manchester music; it’s just seems to be a petri dish of creativity!
“…where else will you catch Gossip, The Smile and CMAT and Iceboy Violet all on the same flyer?!”
Compared to every other festival out there, what would you say distinguishes 6 Music’s?
The line-up is so carefully selected by people who really care about music – bands our listeners love who we know will put on an amazing live show, always with something special or exclusive included in their set, along with artists we adore whose music we want to share on a broader scale. Just like on the station, all genres are represented, from the familiar to the wonderfully weird – where else will you catch Gossip, The Smile and CMAT and Iceboy Violet all on the same flyer?! Also, 6 Music has always felt like a family to me: the DJs and the listeners all united by a more-than-just-casual love of music, so to bring everyone together in a physical space feels very, very special.
The whole four days looks awesome. Friday (8th March) features Gossip, with their first U.K. show in four years. They are giving 6 Music the global premiere of unreleased material as well as celebrating International Women’s Day, supported by CMAT and AFRODEUTSCHE (DJ set). Which artists are you particularly looking forward to seeing?
This is the beauty of BBC Sounds and iPlayer – myself and Ravers [Tom Ravenscroft] will be broadcasting for most of the festival so I’m not sure how much I’ll get to see in person, although I’m very excited about putting Young Fathers and Hak Baker to air on Thursday and staying up late at YES with Iceboy Violet, LCY, Yyre, Rainy Miller and 96 Back at our New Music Fix night. OneDa will be amazing on Thursday too. Then later in the week there’s The Smile and Jordan Rakai. Obviously, the legendary DJ Paulette, Femi Koleoso - who is such a ray of positivity and will be just the boost of energy I need by Sunday after four days of celebrations (when I’m on air with Stuart Maconie).
“The festival is an extension of the station in that way, always breaking new musical ground, always looking for new talent and giving it the spotlight it deserves”
So many artists reveal how important the 6 Music Festival is in terms of launching their career and standing as a highlight. Is it fair to say it is one of the most influential and essential when it comes to platforming the best and most exciting new talent?
The festival is an extension of the station in that way, always breaking new musical ground, always looking for new talent and giving it the spotlight it deserves. Listeners look to 6 Music for their new favourite bands, I know I do, so the festival is doing that in a sweatier, more visceral way.
Many will talk about the artists included through the three days, though lots of amazing D.J.s are featured. Do you think festivals in general should give more spotlight and voice to D.J.s as well as artists?
I think it’s a great balance – the line-up reflects what 6 Music looks like in 2024, a space for a whole range of musical experiences, from large venues and big names to cutting edge dance music, indie gigs to raves. I just wish I could be in several places at once.
To end, you can select a song from any artist appearing across the festival and I will play it here. What shall we go for?
96 Back is going B2B with Iceboy Violet at our New Music Fix Live show at YES on Thursday night and I think it’s going to be WILD. There’s a brilliant edit 96 Back did of a Hudmo [Hudson Mohawke] and Nikki Nair track which Hudson Mohawke actually played during the mix he put together for us in Glasgow last year. If it gets played on Thursday I will lose my mind.
The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival takes place from 7th-10th March in Greater Manchester. Tune in on 6 Music, BBC Sounds, BBC iPlayer and BBC Four.