From the Ground Up: A Chat with Max Dean

United Kingdom

City Airport

Mason Collective present MVSON WORLD 2023

Max Dean Unveils Highly Anticipated Summer ID 'Future Looks Bright'

, born and raised in London, has established himself as one of the most exciting new talents in house music. Known for his groove-heavy, retro-inspired beats and a fearless approach to production, Max has garnered global attention since his debut release 

 in 2021. His music, marked by swinging rhythms, bouncy drum lines, and deep, catchy basslines, captures both homage to house music’s foundations and a fresh, forward-thinking sound.

Starting as a self-taught producer, Max worked tirelessly to develop his unique style, blending classic influences with an underground edge that resonates across the house music industry. This dedication, paired with the discipline and work ethic instilled by his father, set the stage for his rapid rise. Within just a few years, Max signed with some of the most respected labels in the industry, including 

, bringing his sound to a worldwide audience.

In You

As his career progressed, Max launched his own record label and event series,

, a venture that has become as much a platform for new talent as it is a showcase for his own work. With neXup, Max has committed to pushing house music forward, supporting emerging artists, and introducing innovative sounds to the genre. 

Fascinator EP

His influence has extended well beyond the studio; he is a frequent headliner at top venues and festivals across the UK and Europe, including renowned stages like 

. He has also shared the stage with prominent names like 

, cementing his place among the industry’s leading figures.

Max’s influence is also evident in his chart success, with multiple releases achieving top rankings on Beatport and earning spots among the platform's best-selling and most-streamed tracks in the minimal and deep tech categories. This commercial and critical recognition underscores his status as a rising figure in the global house music scene.

Max Dean continues to tour internationally, with new releases planned and an expanding roster of performances in major cities across Europe and the United States. With his ever-evolving sound and commitment to fostering talent through neXup, Max remains a dynamic force within house music, respected both for his contributions to the genre’s legacy and his vision for its future.

Max Dean

deep disco house

deep house

house

minimal techno

uk tech house

Jamie Jones

Italy

tribal house

Nic Fanciulli

uk house

TSHA

United States

HoneyLuv

Germany

Sidney Charles

Romania

romanian electronic

Mahony

Rossi

deep groove house

german tech house

Kolter

Netherlands

M-High

Spain

Amnesia Ibiza

Paradise Week 5

Paradise

PAWSA

pop dance

uk dance

uk funky

Rudimental

Brazil

Mochakk

electronica

float house

future garage

uk bass

wonky

Joy Orbison

breaks

experimental house

Interplanetary Criminal

ukg revival

salute

Australia

australian house

ghettotech

Partiboi69

New Zealand

jazz house

nz electronic

Chaos In The CBD

Ireland

Sally C

dutch tech house

Luuk van Dijk

Paige Tomlinson

latin house

Enzo is Burning

Murphy's Law (UK)

Inafekt

Joëlla Jackson

’s roots trace back to a student festival known as 

, essentially an end-of-year party thrown by students at Platt Fields Park in south Manchester​. Over a decade ago, the first Parklife Weekender took place there, born directly from the Mad Ferret experiment. Realizing the event’s potential, the original student founders sought help to take it further - they teamed up with local music impresario Sacha Lord, famed for Manchester’s 

 club nights, to build a proper infrastructure and bigger lineup. With a new company and Lord as co-founder and curator, Parklife Festival as we know it was born. It quickly outgrew its humble beginnings, soon moving from Platt Fields to the expansive Heaton Park in north Manchester to accommodate the exploding crowds​. (Heaton Park, one of Europe’s largest municipal parks, had itself hosted legendary concerts by Oasis and The Stone Roses – a fitting new home steeped in musical heritage​.) To this day, Parklife is guided by the vision of the Warehouse Project team, ensuring the festival maintains its independent spirit even as it partners with major promoters to thrive​.

One of Parklife’s greatest strengths is its musical diversity. The festival predominantly features electronic and dance music, but its stages champion everything from hip-hop and grime to pop, indie rock and house. It’s not unusual to wander from a thumping DJ set straight into a live band or a grime MC’s explosive performance. This broad palette means Parklife attracts a wide audience, united by a love of live music and a good party. Despite its massive scale, Parklife is a non-camping city festival, meaning the party winds down each night as attendees head home or into town (only to return the next day for more)​. This setup gives the event a unique day-party atmosphere and keeps it closely tied to the city. In fact, Parklife has been described as encapsulating the very energy of Manchester’s rave and music culture, with its high-BPM dance stages pulsing alongside blockbuster live acts. The vibe is electric, youthful, and inclusive - a celebratory mash-up of muddy sneakers, bucket hats, and hands-in-the-air euphoria.

The move to Heaton Park marked a turning point in Parklife’s evolution. What began as a 20,000-person gathering of students has swelled into a capacity of roughly 80,000 attendees each day at this vast park venue​. The festival’s expansion in size came with an expansion in scope: more stages (nine major stages running across the park​), more elaborate production, and a broader audience from all over the UK. Heaton Park’s rolling green fields and open space allowed Parklife to blossom into a full-fledged metropolitan mega-festival while still remaining within the city limits. Notably, local authorities and the Parklife organizers have worked hand-in-hand to manage this growth, from security operations to transportation plans. Over the years, the site itself has seen tweaks and improvements - new stage arenas, art installations, even the addition of carnival-style attractions like a ferris wheel - all enhancing the experience as the festival continues to refine its layout. Through these changes, Parklife has managed to keep its Mancunian charm intact: it’s a massive party in the park, but one that feels like part of the city rather than a remote island. The festival’s evolution in venue and scale mirrors the rise of Manchester as a music capital, proving that a homegrown event can explode into a world-class festival without losing its local soul​.

Over the years, Parklife’s stages have been graced by a who’s who of music superstars, reflecting its multi-genre ethos. The lineup is renowned for mixing huge international artists with breakthrough talent and local heroes​. For example, rap icons like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent have delivered crowd-roaring headline sets, while legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan brought classic East Coast swagger to Manchester​. On the flip side, indie and pop royalty such as The 1975 (hometown heroes turned global stars) and R&B innovator Frank Ocean have captivated Parklife audiences in past editions​.

Electronic music is always front-and-center too - from the chart-topping house of 

 to the rave anthems of The Prodigy and drum’n’bass duo 

, dance acts consistently energize the massive crowds​. The festival also champions UK urban talent: grime king Skepta and Manchester’s own Aitch and Little Simz have all ignited the Parklife stages, underscoring the event’s commitment to homegrown music​.

Parklife is not just about big names, however, it’s about big moments. Fans still talk about the time dance legend 

 led tens of thousands in a moving sing-along of “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” turning a moment of local tragedy into a communal triumph of spirit​. They remember surprise guest appearances, like when Stormzy jumped on stage for an impromptu duet, or when supermodel-turned-singer Grace Jones defiantly performed while ill, hula-hooping onstage in true diva fashion​. Each year brings its own highlights, but the common thread is an atmosphere of shared joy and musical discovery. Whether it’s a blockbuster headliner closing out the night or an up-and-coming DJ throwing down beats at a smaller tent, Parklife delivers memorable experiences that have secured its place in Manchester’s music history.

In just a little over a decade, Parklife has solidified its status as a cornerstone of the UK festival circuit and a point of pride for Manchester’s music scene. It’s curated by a passionate team who keep the festival’s identity authentic and forward-thinking​. Crucially, Parklife never forgot its origins - the community vibe and fearless booking policy remain, even as international acclaim grows. The result is an event that feels both globally relevant and distinctly Mancunian. For one weekend every summer, Heaton Park becomes a mad microcosm of music culture, where graffiti-tagged bucket hats mingle with designer festival outfits, and underground club beats collide with mainstream hits. Parklife is more than just a festival; it’s an annual celebration of everything Manchester stands for: musical innovation, diversity, and an unyielding love of a good time. It’s no wonder Parklife is often hailed as a spirited cultural force for the city - a festival that started small, dreamed big, and continues to embody the loud, loving heart of Manchester’s youth and nightlife.

Parklife

Heaton Park

Parklife Festival 2025

detroit house

detroit techno

microhouse

minimal tech house

techno

Seth Troxler

Chris Stussy

Ms. Mada

Natalia Roth

France

french tech house

Malikk

tech house

wAFF

ALISHA

Wheats

SYREETA

Paradise Week 3

latin tech house

De La Swing

Avyca

Kaluki Opening Party

Kaluki

Sarah Story

Coopy

Madison Park

Stavi

Parais

Gray Area's new venture, "Debut," aims to bridge the international house music community by bringing established and emerging artists to cities they've never performed in. This initiative seeks to expand artists' fan bases and provide fans with fresh, exhilarating musical experiences. Having played a role in introducing major artists and brands like elrow and Awakenings to new audiences in the past, Gray Area believes in the magic of first-time experiences. By promoting artists in new venues and cities, they hope to cultivate a thriving, unified house music ecosystem. Debut is not merely a marketing strategy but embodies Gray Area's commitment to fostering collaboration, unity, and musical discovery.

Debut

The Roof at Superior Ingredients

wAFF x Max Dean & Guests

AJ Christou

spanish techno

Bastian Bux

Jaden Thompson

Croatia

bass house

electro house

Matroda

Nala

Riva Starr

Tara Brooks

OCHO 17

Etienne

James Wyler

neue deutsche welle

Falco

Debut: Max Dean First Solo New York Headline Performance

East End Dubs

italian tech house

Dimmish

Julian Fijma

Cova Santa

Eastenderz Closing Party

Eastenderz

Archie Hamilton

Nigeria

arab electronic

deep minimal techno

electra

Nicole Moudaber

Toman

Luke Dean

Mason Collective

Fleur Shore

Paradise Week 8

Kellie Allen

Ecuador

Mr.Diamond

The Room at Superior Ingredients

Presidents Day Weekend Closing Party w. Max Dean, Mahony, Kellie Allen + Mr. Diamond

Max Dean

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