Across Manchester you can expect BBC Introducing showcases at Band On The Wall, a new music night at local favourite venue YES, and club nights at The Warehouse Project and RAMONA. Highlights from across the festival will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer, as well as on BBC Sounds and local BBC stations in Manchester.

While it may be argued that the BBC’s inclusion of rising female artists may be an example of virtue signalling, it does a better job than many festival lineups in recent years at championing female artists and promising them a platform to grow. CMAT explains, “My performance at the 6 Music Festival will be the best show you’ll see in your whole entire life! When I was making my first album and listening to 6 Music most days, Iggy Pop played one of my songs on his show. I heard it from the other room and ran in to hear Iggy Pop’s mouth forming my name – it was a crazy day for the parish.”

The O2 Victoria Warehouse lineup is as follows –

– Young Fathers, featuring a collaboration with local Hulme and Moss Side based NIA community choir, supported by Hak Baker and a DJ set from SHERELLE

– Gossip, with their first UK show in four years celebrating International Women’s Day, supported by The New Age Magazine favourite CMAT and AFRODEUTSCHE (DJ set)

– The Smile and the London Contemporary Orchestra with an exclusive performance supported by Jordan Rakei and Mary Anne Hobbs + Anna Phoebe (a unique hybrid performance featuring a DJ set and live violin and viola)

Tickets are available at 10am on Thursday 18th January.