Factory Spotlight: Desi Nation at Aviva Studios

Name: Factory Spotlight: Desi Nation at Aviva Studios
Start: 2025-07-29T15:00:00
End: 2025-07-29T22:00:00
Location: Aviva Studios

Creative Tourist Posted 21 July 2025

Visit now

Factory Spotlight: Desi Nation

Aviva Studios, Manchester

29 July 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Free

Factory Spotlight: Desi Nation at Aviva Studios — Image courtesy of Factory International.

Book now

This month’s Factory Spotlight shines on Manchester’s rising Desi talent, when Desi Nation takes over Aviva Studios with a night of fresh sounds, live performance and cultural pride – all curated by pioneering British-Asian music producer Surinder Rattan.

Catch original sets from a bold new wave of artists shaping the sound of the city – including LuqyMusic, Joash, Kami Kane, Sagan and Riya, Joga Jeezey, and Rattan himself. Expect standout vocals, high-energy beats and stories from artists pushing creative boundaries.

There’s also a special guest appearance from legendary producer Rishi Rich – known for launching global talent and blending cultures through music. He’ll be giving an exclusive industry talk packed with insights on artistic growth and making it in the music business.

Come and discover the next wave of Manchester music talent.

Part of Summer at Aviva Studios

Until 31 Aug

ActivityManchester

Summer at Aviva Studios

From global dance and live music to storytelling, skateboarding and football, get ready for a dream summer on the banks of the River Irwell.

Free entry

Factory Spotlight: Fluff at Aviva Studios

20 Aug

DanceManchester

Factory Spotlight: Fluff at Aviva Studios

Get ready for a night of genre-busting live music when Fluff brings its Summer Pride Party to the Social at Aviva Studios.

Free entry

Football against a pink filtered grass pitch

29 Jul – 3 Aug

ActivityManchester

1v1 Panna Football Cage at Aviva Studios

Step up for the ultimate 1v1 football challenge, happening this summer at Aviva Studios as part of the Football City, Art United exhibition.

Free entry

Design Your Own Football Shirt at Aviva Studios. Drawing of 2 football shirts in different colours.

27 Jul – 31 Jul

ActivityManchester

Design Your Own Football Shirt at Aviva Studios

As part of Football City, Art United – the exhibition pairing top footballers with contemporary artists – kids can design the kit of their dreams.

Free entry

Street Symphony Takeover at Aviva Studios

27 Jul

DanceManchester

Street Symphony Takeover at Aviva Studios

Hip hop, carnival, salsa and bhangra come together for a summer celebration of street dance. Round up your friends and family and get ready to move.

From £3.00

Drop-in PlayStation: EA Sports at Aviva Studios

22 Jul – 31 Aug

FamiliesManchester

Drop-in PlayStation: EA Sports at Aviva Studios

Put your gaming skills to the test at Aviva Studios this summer, happening as part of the Football City, Art United exhibition.

Free entry

What's on at Aviva Studios

Marina Abramovic: Balkan Erotic Epic at Aviva Studios

9 Oct – 19 Oct

Visual ArtsManchester

Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic at Aviva Studios

Marina Abramović brings her most ambitious work yet – a raw, ritualistic epic exploring desire, mortality and sacred eroticism.

From £10.00

20 Aug

DanceManchester

Factory Spotlight: Fluff at Aviva Studios

Get ready for a night of genre-busting live music when Fluff brings its Summer Pride Party to the Social at Aviva Studios.

Free entry

29 Jul – 3 Aug

ActivityManchester

1v1 Panna Football Cage at Aviva Studios

Step up for the ultimate 1v1 football challenge, happening this summer at Aviva Studios as part of the Football City, Art United exhibition.

Free entry

27 Jul – 31 Jul

ActivityManchester

Design Your Own Football Shirt at Aviva Studios

As part of Football City, Art United – the exhibition pairing top footballers with contemporary artists – kids can design the kit of their dreams.

Free entry

27 Jul

DanceManchester

Street Symphony Takeover at Aviva Studios

Hip hop, carnival, salsa and bhangra come together for a summer celebration of street dance. Round up your friends and family and get ready to move.

From £3.00

22 Jul – 31 Aug

FamiliesManchester

Drop-in PlayStation: EA Sports at Aviva Studios

Put your gaming skills to the test at Aviva Studios this summer, happening as part of the Football City, Art United exhibition.

Free entry

Multiple floating footballs inside a green room with white goalpost markings on the walls. The perspective and reflections create an illusion of depth, making it appear as if the balls are suspended in mid-air.

Until 24 Aug

ExhibitionsManchester

MIF25: Football City, Art United. at Aviva Studios

Artists and footballers come together in ‘Football City Art United’, a MIF25 exhibition that showcases the best of both worlds.

From £0.00

Until 31 Dec

ActivityCity Centre

Artist Social with Factory International

Artist Social for all creatives at any stage for their career to network, mingle and connect with Factory International.

A band plays on a stage infront of a big crowd with lots of sparkling spotlights shining on them

Until 31 Dec

FamiliesCity Centre

Factory International Membership

Get priority booking on the best seats, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and much more. Are you in?

From £45.00

25 Sep – 27 Jun 2026

MusicCity Centre

The Hallé 2025-26 Season

The Hallé invites audiences to a year of classical masterpieces, world premieres and appearances by some electrifying artists and composers.

From £17

Where to go near Factory Spotlight: Desi Nation at Aviva Studios

Castlefield

Restaurant

Bar Lina Manchester

Elegant Italian cocktail bar with plush seating, low lighting and a peerless drinks menu.

Castlefield

Event venue

Old Granada Studios

Manchester’s old Granada Studios is an iconic piece of the city’s history and home to Sidney Bernstein’s television empire.

Manchester

Restaurant

Caravan Restaurant & Roastery

New Zealand-inspired food and drinks, plus a dedicated coffee roastery at this high-profile new restaurant, opening in August.

Manchester

Music venue

The Blues Kitchen Manchester

The Blues Kitchen’s superb American-inspired food is a perfect match for the upstairs live music space.

City Centre

Theatre

Manchester Opera House

A commercial touring theatre, the Manchester Opera House is reopening in August 2021, all set to host the city’s finest mainstream theatrical productions, music gigs, opera and ballet.

City Centre

Music venue

Low Four Studio

Old Granada Studios has announced Low Four: a new studio and music project that will stream and archive live music performance as part of a new generation of music TV programming. The inclusion of a viewing balcony also means that these recordings, along with special events and concerts, will be made open to a few […]

Manchester

Restaurant

20 Stories

High-end restaurant and cocktail bar, with stunning views of the Manchester skyline.

Manchester

Cinema

Everyman Manchester St John’s

Experience luxury moviegoing at this three-screen boutique cinema and bar located close to Spinningfields.

City Centre

Restaurant

The Ivy Spinningfields

Four floors of luxury dining in this impressive development from the team behind the world-famous Ivy restaurant.

City Centre

Restaurant

Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill Manchester

At Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill Manchester, you can enjoy the finest all-you-can-eat steaks and skewered meats, carved at the table.

Manchester

Café or Coffee Shop

92 Degrees Coffee Quay St

Friendly Coffee Shop that also hosts events in Spinningfields.

Manchester

Gallery

Smolensky Gallery

This appointment-only gallery is a hidden gem in Manchester. Art lovers and collectors can browse many high quality pieces.

See all places

What's on: Dance

22 Jul – 27 Jul

FestivalsSale

Refract 25 at Waterside

Back for 2025, Trafford’s flagship arts festival returns to Waterside for six days of experiential performance and cultural delight.

27 Jul

DanceManchester

Street Symphony Takeover at Aviva Studios

Hip hop, carnival, salsa and bhangra come together for a summer celebration of street dance. Round up your friends and family and get ready to move.

From £3.00

20 Aug

DanceManchester

Factory Spotlight: Fluff at Aviva Studios

Get ready for a night of genre-busting live music when Fluff brings its Summer Pride Party to the Social at Aviva Studios.

Free entry

Until 31 Aug

ActivityManchester

Summer at Aviva Studios

From global dance and live music to storytelling, skateboarding and football, get ready for a dream summer on the banks of the River Irwell.

Free entry

Reckless Sleepers: Binary Opposition at Lowry

7 Oct – 8 Oct

DanceSalford

Reckless Sleepers: Binary Opposition at Lowry

Reckless Sleepers are back with a mind-bending piece of visual theatre where rooms mirror each other, logic unravels, and identities blur.

From £16

Until 2 Dec

ActivityDeansgate

Salsa workshops at Instituto Cervantes Manchester

Enter into the world of Salsa dancing with expert guidance and a friendly community at Instituto Cervantes Manchester.

From £63.00

Until 31 Dec

FamiliesCity Centre

Factory International Membership

Get priority booking on the best seats, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and much more. Are you in?

From £45.00

Culture Guides

Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Monumental sculptures, charcoal confessions and a show of two paintings only - all this and more in this month's exhibition picks.

Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.