Young Fathers, Gossip and The Smile to headline 6 Music festival in Manchester

Young Fathers, Gossip, and The Smile will headline the 6 Music festival in Manchester, with CMAT and Jordan Rakei also participating.

CMAT and Jordan Rakei will also take part in the event, which will take place in Manchester.

The announcement of the festival lineup was made by breakfast show host Lauren Laverne, describing it as an opportunity to witness something entirely new amid a bustling festival season. Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, under the moniker The Smile, are set to deliver an exclusive performance alongside the London Contemporary Orchestra. The Gossip, after an 11-year hiatus, will unveil their first new music and premiere tracks from their upcoming album, “Real Power,” encouraged to reform by producer Rick Rubin.

Expressing their anticipation, The Gossip declared Manchester as the first audience to experience their new record live. Meanwhile, The Smile acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from the studio to a live performance but expressed confidence in working with the versatile London Contemporary Orchestra.

In addition to these performances, Scottish hip-hop group Young Fathers, known for their dynamic festival appearances, will collaborate with the NIA community choir from Hulme and Moss Side on a unique performance. The trio expressed excitement about the possibilities offered by the 6 Music stage and emphasized the event as a celebration of diverse individuals coming together.

The festival is scheduled to take place from March 7 to 10, featuring headline acts at the O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester. Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10 am on Thursday, January 18, through the BBC 6 Music website. The lineup also includes Irish country-pop artist CMAT and “Guv’nor folk” rapper Hak Baker. BBC Introducing will organize an “open deck” night for aspiring DJs and showcase new music from emerging bands such as Porij, OneDa, and Witch Fever. Performances will be broadcasted on BBC 6 Music throughout the week.