The North West festival guide 2022: March to September

If you've had a whole two years off from being knee-deep in mud, covered in glitter, and drinking vodka lemonade from a 70cl Evian bottle, it's time to make up for lost time and dig out your tent from the back of the shed. 

Every man and his bucket hat will surely be heading to a festival this summer, whether it's a massive one in the Macclesfield countryside or an intimate sweat fest at the O2 Ritz. So, to make your life that little bit easier, we've rounded up all of the North West's best fests and popped in links to the official ticket sites. 

We've covered the Spring/Summer season from March to September, so bookmark the page and cop some tickets ASAP. If we've missed any local happenings or big-time headliners though, let us know and we'll update the list. 

Scroll on for the dates, times, and overall vibes of all the North West's festivals 

Submerge Festival | Across Greater Manchester | Tuesday 8 March - Sunday 27 March

One to jump on fast, Submerge is made up of loads of different acts performing at loads of different venues across Manchester and Salford. Highlights include Zubin Kanga’s Cyborg Soloists and the festival closing party at SOUP. 

Fair Play Festival | Various Venues in Manchester | 2 April 

Promoted as "a communal, collaborative event, featuring a diverse line-up that's fair and accessible", Fair Play is taking place across various venues in Manchester including SOUP, Gullivers, The Castle, AATMA and The Peer Hat. The line-up includes the likes of Algernon Cornelius, The Cool Greenhouse and Sofa King.

Madchester | Depot Mayfield | 17 April

If you're mad fer it when it comes to house legends and 90s remixes, the aptly named Madchester festival line-up features the likes of Faithless, DJ Jon Dasilva and Marshall Jefferson to name but a few. Tickets are on sale now for Easter Sunday, and we've already raved about the lineup in more detail. 

Macclesfield in May: Party in the Pews 2022 | Christ Church, Macclesfield | Friday 29 April - Sunday 1 May

With all proceeds going towards The Christie cancer hospital, Party in the Pews features big names like Pete Shelley’s Buzzcocks and Dancing In The Moonlight stars Toploader, as well as some smaller names to keep the party pumpin’. Christ Church is less than a 20 min train journey from Piccadilly and was once the worshipping space of Manc legend Ian Curtis. 

Liverpool Sound City | Across Liverpool | Saturday 30 April - Sunday 1 May

The place to discover your new favourite band, Liverpool Sound City celebrates its 15th anniversary this year in style. The line-up so far features Self Esteem, The Lathums, Yard Act, Alfie Templeman, Tim Burgess, Baby Queen, Mae Muller, Crawlers, and many more. Spanning a vast spectrum of genres, this city festival is the place to catch the artists destined to soundtrack the year ahead.

Sounds from the other city | Chapel Street Salford | Sunday 1 May

Affectionately known as “Salford Christmas”, SFTOC is back, filling the pubs, bars, studios and warehouses of Chapel St with music and art on a bank holiday weekend. Acts for 2022 include GNOD, Hamish Hawk, Lovescene, Pip Blom, TYSON & Queer Latifah. 

Highest Point | Williamson Park | Thursday 12 May - Saturday 14 May

Kaiser Chiefs are headlining and so are Clean Bandit, Horse Meat Disco, Richard Ashcroft and Not3s. Set in the stunning scenes of Williamson Park, the weekend is packed with eclectic acts and open-air fun. 

Flashback Festival |Platt Fields Park | Saturday 21 May

One for the 90s and 00s dance music lovers, Flashback takes over Platt Fields Park for one night only with a nostalgic lineup that includes Example, Tinchy Strider, Tulisa, Sweet Female Attitude and Artful Dodger. 

Neighbourhood Weekender | Victoria Park, Warrington | Saturday 28 May - Sunday 29 May

It wouldn’t be a Northern festival round-up without at least one Courteeners headline slot, and this year it's coming courtesy of Warrington’s Neighbourhood Weekender. Other acts include James Bay, Example, Wet Leg, and Kasabian, and tickets are still on sale for both day and weekend passes. 

Cheshire Fest | The Lambing Shed, Knutsford | Thursday 2 June - Sunday 5 June

Our restaurant reviewer Lucy loved The Lambing Shed when she went for a lamb shank and some countryside air, so a weekend-long bank holiday bash at the same spot is one that’s hard to turn down. After a two year hiatus, Cheshire Fest’s lineup is yet to be announced, but if it lives up to its burgers it’ll be a gooden. 

North West Calling | O2 Ritz Manchester | Saturday 11 June 

Manchester’s only all-day punk festival is back for 2022 with a 10 pm curfew and a line-up that includes Subhumans, The Outcasts and Ruts DC. The festival has been re-arranged several times, but all existing tickets are still valid for the new date. 

Parklife | Heaton Park | Saturday 11 June - Sunday 12 June

You already know that the Parklife lineup is packed with rap gods and radio legends, but P-life is still worth a shoutout in our guide to good fezzies in Greater Manchester. Saturday and weekend tickets are already sold out, but Sunday ones are still yours for the taking. 

Africa Oyé | Sefton Park, Liverpool | Saturday 18 June - Sunday 19 June

The UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Oumou Sangaré, Fuse ODG and Eek-A-Mouse top the bill, along with DR Congo’s Kanda Bongo Man, Elida Almeida, Tabanka Djaz, Santrofi, Valérie Ékoumé, and Kizaba, with more acts set to be revealed soon.

Outbreak Festival | Bowlers Exhibition Centre | Friday 24 June - Sunday 26 June

Another one for proper punk-rock fans, Outbreak is celebrating its 10th birthday with headliners Knocked Loose, Turnstile and Every Time I Die. Spread across three days at Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre, there are also art exhibitions, vegan food vendors and a skate ramp, it's all pretty punk-rock. 

Right To Roam| Bolton | Friday 8 and Saturday 9 July

If your music tastes lend more towards a bit of noisy alternative rock, Right To Roam festival in Bolton might be one you want to wander to. Headliners include Jane Weaver, John x 2, Ist Ist, Lottery Winners and Janus Stark.

Lytham Festival | Lytham Proms | Tuesday 28 June - Sunday 10 July 

If Diana Ross, Paul Weller, Simply Red, and Nile Rodgers can make their way to Lytham Proms, then so can you. Running in 2 parts across 10 days, tickets can be bought for each individual artist and their special guest performers. If you’re really up for it, 5-day passes can also be bought for each part. 

Bluedot| Jodrell Bank Observatory | Thursday 21 July - Sunday 24 July

We’re not obsessed with Bluedot, we promise. We have already announced that Bjork, Groove Armada and Metronomy are headlining though, and other acts include Yard Act, Squarepusher and A Guy Called Gerald. 

Kendal Calling| Lowther Deer Park | Thursday 28 July - Sunday 31 July

The Kendall Calling line-up is rife with proper talent this year, feat. Stereophonics, Supergrass, Hacienda Classical, and The Kooks. 95% of tickets have already sold out though, so get on it quick. 

The One in the Woods | Orrell Hill Woods, Liverpool | Saturday 30 July - Sunday 31 June

If you’re into drum and bass, techno beats, and woodland scenery, The One in the Woods’ lineup will be right up your intense bass-line alley. Headliners include Pendulum, Kings of the Rollers and DJ Hazard with small supports coming in the form of Arctek, Alien Izz and Afrofunk + DMC. 

Deva Fest | Chester Lakes | Friday 12 August - Sunday 14 August

A weekend packed with family fun and funky tunes, Deva Fest has an all-female Saturday lineup that includes Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Heather Small, Shola Ama, and Belle Voci. A second open-air stage will host a mixture of up-and-coming bands, DJs and local talent and you can camp within the gorgeous ground of Chester Lakes. 

Just So Festival | Rode Hall, Cheshire | Friday 19 August - Sunday 21 August

Fewer rappers and rave music and more folk music and fiddles, Just So is taking place in late August and is designed for “intrepid festival explorers” and their offspring. As well as playing host to loads of diverse music acts, there are workshops, acrobats and circus skills lessons. 

Creamfields North 2022 | Daresbury Estate | Thursday 25 August - Sunday 28 August

Big dance names like Fat Boy Slim, Idris Elba, Camelphat and Denis Sulta are set to take over the Daresbury Estate in Cheshire to celebrate 25 years of Creamfields. The festival runs over the August bank holiday weekend from Thursday to Sunday. 

Leeds Festival | Braham Park | Friday 26 August - Sunday 28 August 

Always an easy win, this year’s Leeds Fest is dominated by Dave, Halsey, Arctic Monkeys and Wolf Alice to name but a few, and day tickets for Friday and Saturday are still available on the official website. 

Moovin’ Festival| Whitebottom Farm, Etherow Country Park | Wednesday 26 August - Sunday 28 August

Once referred to as “Manchester’s best kept secret” this independent countercultural weekend is packed with hip hop, soul, and good vibes in the fields of Whitebottom Farm. Lineup highlights include Sugarhill Gang, Craig Charles and Shy FX. 

Wirral Food, Drink & Music Festival | Birkenhead Park | Friday 2 September - Sunday 4 September

A festival that does exactly what is says on the tin - there’s food, drink and music. Probably some minty toilets somewhere too, but it all sounds very civilised. Headliners this year are OMD, The Coral and Echo & the Bunnymen. Day and weekend tickets available.

Hide & Seek Festival | Capesthorne Hall | Saturday 3 September - Sunday 4 September 

One of the premiere underground festivals in the North West, Hide & Seek has been extended to last the whole weekend and includes names such as Todd Terje, Raresh and Sonja Moonear within a lineup of emerging talents and old school legends. 

Cream Classical On The Waterfront| Liverpool Pier Head | Saturday 17 September - Sunday 18 September

An orchestra performs classical arrangements of dance anthems with guest vocalists, DJ’s and entertainers. Created in collaboration with Kaleidoscope Orchestra and K-Klass to celebrate Cream’s 30th anniversary.

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