Over the Easter weekend, we hit up the first MANIFEST of the year, and let’s just say – it did not disappoint.
From the moment things kicked off at 1pm, The Oast House was buzzing. Free live music, wall-to-wall good vibes, and a city centre crowd that was ready to settle in for the day (and night).
If you don’t already know about MANIFEST, it’s a homegrown music festival held right in the heart of Spinningfields… no ticket needed, just turn up and enjoy an epic lineup of live bands and DJs, drinks flowing, and a feel-good atmosphere from start to finish. It’s now a staple of the area, perfectly blending Manchester’s deep musical roots with the thriving hospitality scene that surrounds it.
And the setup works both ways. For artists, it’s a professional, high-energy stage to showcase their sound. For The Oast House, it’s a way to drive footfall, keep guests staying longer, and offer a full sensory experience beyond great food and drink. In a time when the hospitality industry is facing more pressure than ever, this is a reminder that live music can be the difference-maker.
By late afternoon, the buzz had built to the point where there was a queue wrapped around the block – proof that the formula works, and the appetite for this kind of cultural experience is only growing.
We caught up with Yahoo’s Fishing Club, who told us: “It’s amazing playing venues like Oast House – you can really cut your teeth and build a solid foundation. You’re put in front of so many people, playing loads of songs, building a repertoire and endurance you can’t really get anywhere else. And all of that feeds into your other projects and original material too.”
The first 2025 edition was programmed by GigPig, and they absolutely nailed it. It marked their debut curating MANIFEST, and the lineup was seamless – an all-day blend of Country, Indie, Funk, Disco and DJ sets carrying the party into the night.
The lineup included: Kayne Taylor, Libby Akerman & Niamh Mailer, Big Guy Small, Guacamaya Latin Band, Yahoo’s Fishing Club, Atomic Brass, Radio Edit, and DJ Alan Roche.
We also spoke to Luke Geoghegan, Music Operations Director at GigPig, who said: “This is exactly what GigPig strives for – pairing the right music talent with the right hospitality venues. It’s about creating real opportunities for musicians to do what they love and get paid for it, while helping venues thrive off the energy that live music brings.”
At Fleckies, this is everything we love to see: music talent getting the stages they deserve, venues staying packed and thriving, and people soaking up quality live music without breaking the bank.
Wanna catch the next one?
Here are the 2025 MANIFEST dates to get in your calendar:
Sunday 25th May
Saturday 28th June
Saturday 26th July
Sunday 24th August
Saturday 27th September
Saturday 25th October
Saturday 29th November
Saturday 13th December
It’s always free entry, 1pm – late at The Oast House, Spinningfields, Manchester!
Expect DJs, drinks, and a genre-spanning soundtrack that keeps the city dancing all day and night… run, don’t walk.
