MANCHESTER POPFEST 2026

MANCHESTER POPFEST 2026 at Levenshulme Old Library and Withington (various venues), Friday 26th-Sunday 28th June 

TRASH KIT, GINA BIRCH, GOOD FLYING BIRDS, APRIL MAGAZINE, TONY JAY, JOSIE, THE CORDS, CRUUSH, OLIVIA IS A GHOST, THE HIGH WATER MARKS, KAMIKAZE, THE GABYS, GALA, RAINY DAY CAFE, ENABLING BEHAVIOUR, SUPERSUN, THE CHOP, NELL DAVIES, COWTOWN, OORT CLOD, HANK BEE, NICHOLAS GRANT BAND, SUCCULENTS, COMMITTEE OF SLEEP, COOL DADDIO: THE SECOND YOUTH OF R. STEVIE MOORE AND SUPERCRUSH ZINE DJS

FRIDAY 26th JUNE, doors 7pm at Levenshulme Old Library

THE HIGH WATER MARKS

Norwegian indie pop super group, featuring former members of Apples In Stereo and Palermo/ Elephant 6 Collective. Their music is a mix of energetic and infectious fuzz pop that you can't help but hum along to.

JOSIE

Copenhagen's Josie (K Records) share a similar sound to labelmates Ribbonstage, with a nod to bands like Talulah Gosh, Tiger Trap and the Vaselines. Sparkling indie pop that crashes and tumbles, we can't wait to see them play at the festival for the first time.

THE CORDS

Scottish jangle pop sister duo Grace and Eve Tedeschi write the most delightful indie pop songs. Their debut album, recently released on Skep Wax/ Slumberland records, wears it's C86/ Sarah records influences on it's sleeve, yet their sound is so distinctively their own, with dreamy vocals and melodies that stay with you long after listening. Not surprising that they have been praised by the likes of the Pastels, Belle and Sebastian and the BMX Bandits.

COWTOWN

Leeds DIY heroes Cowtown describe themselves as 'dynamic, over stimulated indie rock'. With a mix of angular and energetic new wave that brings to mind Talking Heads and Devo, make sure you get there early as this is not to be missed.

SATURDAY 27th JUNE, doors 2pm at Levenshulme Old Library

GINA BIRCH

As a founding member of legendary 70's post-punk band the Raincoats she helped lay the groundwork for the Riot Grrrl movement and inspired countless feminist and DIY musicians around the world. We are delighted that she will be performing at the festival, her first album I Play My Bass Loud and her latest album Trouble show a fearless approach to music, politics, and performance that continues to resonate today.

GOOD FLYING BIRDS

Indianapolis noise pop group Good Flying Birds sound like they have been immersed in the lofi jangle of Beat Happening, the Television Personalities and Guided By Voices. We immediately fell in love with them after hearing the song 'Eric's Eyes', and their debut record 'Tallulahs Tape' out now on Carpark records does not disappoint. If they aren't already then they might be your new favourite band.

RAINY DAY CAFE

Manchester's Rainy Day Cafe is the recording project of 23-year old songwriter and producer Ben Williams, songs recorded to tape in his bedroom studio with the lo-fi garage rock sound of early Beck, Beat Happening, Half Japanese and the summery dreampop of west coast bands like Sealions and the Jeanines. 

KAMIKAZE

Kamikaze are a shoegaze / dreampop duo from Cologne / Düsseldorf. They describe their sound as 'soft riot pop' -a blend of bittersweet melodies, punk attitude, and DIY ethos. In the single 'Dreamland' jangling guitars shimmering under a veil of reverb, reminiscent of the sparkling pop of Sonic Flower Groove era Primal Scream and the delightful lofi bands released by labels such as Spirit Goth and contemporary bands like Winter and Tanukichan.

OLIVIA IS A GHOST

Formed by Maria Bianc and Marcos de Lopez in Spain and now based in Dublin, Olivia Is A Ghost inhabit a world that is truly their own. But once you are there you wonder what you have been missing. With layers of jangling guitars and dreamy melodies, and an ability to write a catchy song that still sounds distinctive, not unlike the fellow Spanish band Hinds.

ENABLING BEHAVIOUR

Cardiff trio Enabling Behaviour blend psych, post rock, slowcore and shoegaze, drawing comparisons to bands like Slint, Mogwai and the Swirlies. Since forming in 2021 they have been making waves and we"re delighted that they will be making their debut at the festival.

SUCCULENTS

Manchester's Succulents are a girl/ boy lo-if indie pop duo consisting of Laurie Hulme and Lucy Ridges. Laurie has played previously in bands such as Big Other and Songs for Walter, while Lucy is more know as an established photographer. Their new single Underdog immediately caught our attention, with psych guitar jangle reminiscent of Baby Honey by the Pastels, and they bring influences such as the Clean, the Field Mice and Teenage Fanclub.

SUPERCRUSH ZINE DJ's

An indie pop zine based in Manchester who have been making the best playlists and we are excited that they will be spinning some tunes.

And a mini zine festival organised by Stockport Zine Fair

SUNDAY 28th JUNE, 1pm at Withington various venues (full schedule and venue info to be confirmed shortly)

1pm at Withington Methodist Church - film screening of 'Cool Daddio: the Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore'

A documentary which chronicles the life and creative genius of R. Stevie Moore and his enduring impact on popular music. A reclusive figure who has recorded over 400 albums in his bedroom, R. Stevie Moore is an underground music icon and this helps uncover his legacy, independent spirit and the influences behind his art.

TRASH KIT

London/ Glasgow based band Trash Kit are Rachel Aggs, Rachel Horwood and Gil Partington. They are three deeply creative individuals who play in a multitude of other groups including Bas Jan, Sacred Paws, Shopping and Bamboo. They bring a wide range of influences, from post punk, new wave to African influences, Ray Agg's guitar playing informed by her love of guitar music from Zimbabwe. Since forming in 2009 they have released several albums and a number of singles on Upset the Rythm, this is a rare live performance and we're sure it's going to be very special.

APRIL MAGAZINE

San Francisco's April Magazine (Tough Love records) are an indie/ noise pop collective that make the most delicate and beautiful music. Imagine Sunday Morning by the Velvet Underground, meets Jesus and Mary Chain era Psychocandy and the first Nico album, where vocals float above fuzzy dreamlike slowcore, bringing to mind early Pastels and My Bloody Valentine.

TONY JAY

Michael Ramos has been a fixture of San Francisco's vibrant indie pop scene, cropping up in Flowertown, Cindy, Sad Eyed Beatniks, and early versions of April Magazine, all while maintaining his mysterious persona as Tony Jay. Beginning as a recording project in 2006 and becoming a live band in 2017, Tony Jay has released a myriad of records on labels such as Slumberland records and Galaxy Train. The single 'Perfect Worlds' perfectly captures their lofi bedroom sound, where you can hear the influence of Japanese psych folk bands like Nagisa Ni Te blend with Galaxie 500 and the 60's pop of the Shangri La's.

THE GABYS

The Gabys are a lo-fi noise pop duo from Liverpool. With a love of 4 track recording their sound is a summery mix of the Velvet Underground, Black Tambourine and the Pastels, with a definite knod to mid 90's Olympia and a hint of my favourite unknown bands the Haircuts. 

GALA

Gala are the Sydney based duo Grace Barr and Lali Rose. They blend a range of influences such as Appalachian folk, old time music and more modern folk. Banjo and guitar weave through stories of friendship, love and loss that has a disarming quality reminiscent of Josephine Foster or the Carousel. 

CRUUSH

Manchester 4-piece Cruush have developed their sound from their early abrasive wall of sound, My Bloody Valentine esq shoegaze/ grunge to the more progressive ethereal dream pop of bands like Mazzy Star and Wednesday.  Now they seamlessly blend the two, as can be heard on their latest record 'Great Dane' on Heist or Hit records. Their live performances have become legendary in Manchester and this is one not to be missed.

NELL DAVIES

Nell Davies started making music in lockdown, after reading Viv Albertine's autobiography inspired her to buy a guitar and write her first song. Her music, influenced by post-punk pop and riot grrrl, has been described as 'bubblegum punk'. Recording her songs in an old pigsty in her home in West Cornwall, her songs encapsulate the DIY ethos, bringing the energy and humour of bands like the Lovely Eggs and Kenickie, her song 'the End of the World or Whatever' has constantly been on our playlist since first hearing it and we're psyched that she will be performing at this year's event.

THE CHOP

The Chop are the Glasgow based husband & wife art-pop duo Gemma Fleet & Andrew R Doig, who have been regulars in the Glasgow DIY indie scene for some time through their involvement in bands like Dancer and Current Affairs. Inspired by the minimalist sounds of groups like the Young Marble Giants, Robert Wyatt and Broadcast, where brittle bass guitar forms flourish and gently contort beneath Fleet's always impressive narrative vocalisms, underpinned by the primitive drum machine discoveries, this is a new musical chapter and we can't wait to hear it live for the first time.

SUPERSUN

Glasgow's Supersun came to our attention following recent support slots with the BMX Bandits/ the Cords. Formed from a shared love of 60's groups like the Velvet Underground, the Byrds and Donovan, as well as Teenage Fanclub and Jesus and the Jesus and Mary chain, they organise their own DIY night called the Cabbage and are part of an exciting new scene. Led by Adam Graham, Supersun craft infectiously melodic and harmonious tunes that meld all of their influences into a sound which is very much their own. We're so happy to be bringing them to Manchester for the first time.

OORT CLOD

Formed by singer/ songwriter Patrick Glen and featuring members of Unpaid Intern, the Hipshakes, Jeuce and the Early Mornings, Manchester's Oort Clod blend 90's alternative/ indie and slacker rock, referencing the likes of Pavement and Flying Nun records as influences. Their latest record 'Cult Values', recorded at Delicious Clam in Sheffield is destined to be an underground classic, pulsing with the sounds of the Fall and 60's garage rock.

HANK BEE

Hank Bee is the musical alias of Liverpool musician Hannah Brown. On her new e.p. 'A sudden Hankering' she shows her roots in folk songs of the north east, as well as in alternative rock and an ability to write songs that show a real knack to write great lyrics wrapped around an intricate melody that have a similarly intuitive and reflective approach to artists like Daniel Johnson, Dear Nora or Cat Power. 

COMMITTEE OF SLEEP

They describe themselves as a 'four piece lo-fi pop band based in the North East' and they blend shoegaze, emo, alternative rock and DIY experimentation that has it's roots in bands like Hood, Godspeed You Black Emperor and contemporaries like Duster and Ulrika Spacek.

NICHOLAS GRANT BAND

Nicholas Grant band is the musical project of the Leeds based musician of the same name, the former bassist of Leeds art-rock post-punk band Mush. The single 'Uptight' has a mid 90's jangle that recalls early Teenage Fanclub, the Lemonheads and a little bit of the Super Furry Animals thrown in for good measure. We were immediately hooked and can't wait to hear their future releases, we're super excited to see them play at Manchester Popfest this year.

New wave Karaoke

A chance to sing your favourite obscure songs, a fun finale to the festival.

Full festival ticket on sale now, full schedule and individual day tickets available soon