One of Greater Manchester’s most popular festivals will be back in the Stockport countryside this weekend, as Moovin Festival 2022 heads back to Etherow Country Park.
With its biggest line-up yet – featuring Orbital, Shy FX and DJ Jazzy Jeff – as well as its stunning setting at the eco-friendly Whitebottom Farm, it’s gone from being ‘Manchester’s best kept secret’ to a staple on the region’s events calendar.
At Moovin Festival 2022, you’ll find all the usual countryside stages, including The Barn, a converted cow shed with a massive bar and hay bales to sit on.
Festival-goers are welcomed by a magical canopy of trees, a lake with waterfowl, and a breathtaking gorge, with a limited capacity at the festival itself to ‘keep the friendly, intimate (adult only) family vibe which has helped to make this boutique festival so special’.
On top of the music, festival-goers can take advantage of yoga classes, gong baths, massages, circus and dance performances, poetry, magic, ethically-sourced food and drink, fresh juices and smoothies, treats, sweets and delights.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Moovin Festival 2022 tickets
Moovin Festival is back for 2022. Credit: Claire Angel
Early bird tickets for Moovin Festival have been snapped up already – no surprise – but there are still other tickets up for grabs.
Friday day tickets are priced at £38.75, while Saturday and Sunday tickets cost £60.75.
Weekend tickets for Moovin are £132.25 this year, with an extra £27.75 for a camping pass.
Prices will creep up slightly once this next batch of tickets sells out, so move quickly.
This summer’s headliners include dance pioneers Orbital, funk and soul from Roy Ayers, dancehall vibes from Sister Nancy, and the party-starter that is DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Hip hop heavyweights the Sugarhill Gang and Jungle Brothers, Alabama 3, and a theatre show from Slamborees will all also be on the bill.
The Udder One stage, a club in a field, will showcase Shy FX, dance legend Louie Vega, and Soul II Soul maestro Jazzie B.
Craig Charles will bring his ever-popular funk and soul skills to the fields, while the Mad Professor will bring dub and reggae vibes.
Then Moovin resident Krafty Kuts will ‘blow your wellies off’ with a back-to-back set with the Plump DJs and Freestylers.
Across five stages there’ll be a mix of music and performance that supports upcoming and local talent as well as established artists.
Graeme Park, Jon Da Silva, DJ Paulette, Micky Finn, Dillinja and DJ Randall will all join this year’s Moovin line-up.
Stage times
Moovin has just released the stage times for its 2022 festival – flick through the gallery below to see who’s playing where and when.
How to get to Moovin Festival 2022
Moovin’s picturesque countryside location in the village of Compstall is actually only 15 minutes from Stockport, and 30 minutes from Manchester.
Those who are driving should use postcode SK6 5HZ, which will take you to the Post Office in the village, where signs will guide you the rest of the way to the three car parks.
The closest car park costs £15 for the day or weekend, with an alternative car park at the entrance of Etherow Country Park for day ticket holders – this is also where the shuttle buses pick up from.
Shuttle buses cost £1 each way and you’ll need cash.
If you’re arriving by taxi, it’s best to get dropped off in the Etherow Country Park official car park, where there is either the option of the beautiful 20 minute walk through the country park or the shuttle bus.
The nearest train stations are Marple and Romiley. Stockport train station is also nearby with buses every 15 minutes.
Gate opening and closing times
Motor Home Ticket Holders Only – Friday 26 August – 11am -9pm
Camping Ticket Holders Only – Friday 26 August – 1pm -9pm
All Other Ticket Holders:
Friday 26 August – 2pm – 9pm
Saturday 27 August – 10am – 9pm
Sunday 28 August – 10am – 9pm
Featured image: Voodoo_Imaging
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Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.