Ireland

Sally C

United Kingdom

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

Max Dean

Rossi

Australia

australian house

ghettotech

Partiboi69

New Zealand

jazz house

nz electronic

Chaos In The CBD

Netherlands

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

house

FISHER

brazilian edm

Vintage Culture

lo-fi house

DJ BORING

Benin

afro house

AMÉMÉ

Sarah Story

Spain

Hï Ibiza

FISHER Week 9

Fisher

Sweden

electro house

progressive electro house

progressive house

Eric Prydz

dark techno

minimal techno

raw techno

schranz

swedish electronic

swedish techno

techno

Adam Beyer

melodic house

Cristoph

Patrick Topping

Josh Micky

Eric Prydz presents HOLO Closing Party

Eric Prydz [CELL]

Germany

german techno

hamburg electronic

melodic techno

Solomun

Destino Five Ibiza

Solomun at Destino

United States

999999999

Tunisia

Cera Khin

Italy

Deborah de Luca

I Hate Models

France

Space 92

Anfisa Letyago

Joris Voorn

Mind Against

Ukraine

Miss Monique

Ellen Allien

Hadone

François X

Joseph Capriati

Andres Campo

Bart Skils

Layton Giordani

Enrico Sangiuliano

Belgium

Joyhauser

8Kays

Argy

ANNA

CamelPhat

Giorgia Angiuli

Denmark

Kölsch

Kevin de Vries

Grace Dahl

MARRØN

Richie Hawtin

Rødhåd

Dax J

Kobosil

Perc

Helena Hauff

Speedy J

Airrica

Fleur Shore

Franky Rizardo

Michel De Hey

Paco Osuna

DJ Gigola

DJ HEARTSTRING

Remy Unger

Secret Cinema

Amelie Lens

Indira Paganotto

Russia

Nina Kraviz

Pan-Pot

Switzerland

Adriatique

Alan Fitzpatrick

Ilario Alicante

Stephan Bodzin

Tale of Us

FJAAK

Len Faki

Marcel Dettman

Clara Cuvé

Farrago

Fatima Hajji

Adiel

Anetha

Patrick Mason

Chloé Caillet

Chris Stussy

HoneyLuv

Hot Since 82

Barry Can't Swim

Honey Dijon

Gene On Earth

tINI

 is one of the world's most prestigious techno music festivals, held annually near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Since its inception in 1997, the festival has grown tremendously in popularity and scale, drawing techno enthusiasts from across the globe.

The festival occurs over two days and is typically held during the last weekend of June. The event takes place in Hilvarenbeek, a scenic area nestled between Haarlem and Amsterdam, providing a picturesque backdrop for festival-lovers.

Awakenings Festival is not just about music; it's a comprehensive sensory experience. The festival grounds boast impressive stage designs, which are a hallmark of the event. Each stage is meticulously crafted to create immersive environments with state-of-the-art sound systems and spectacular light shows. This attention to detail ensures an unparalleled audio-visual experience that captivates the audience.

The lineup at Awakenings consistently features a blend of established techno titans and emerging talents, maintaining its reputation as a platform that promotes the full spectrum of techno music.

Apart from the main summer event, Awakenings also organizes several indoor events and special one-offs throughout the year, further cementing its status as a key player in the global techno scene.

Sally C

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