Green Island Festival at Hulme Garden Centre
Johnny James, Managing Editor
Hulme’s Green Island Festival returns for its final instalment of the summer, as part of a three-part series of events in Hulme Garden Centre and – new for this year – the iconic NIAMOS.
Among Manchester’s crowded festival scene, Green Island sets its own pace, offering a peaceful sanctuary away from the busy city centre. And yet it’s located just a stone’s throw away, in the flora-filled sanctuary that is Hulme Garden Centre – a community and cultural hub that is, for many, the beating heart of this urban area.
Cementing itself as an annual staple in Manchester’s grassroots music scene, Green Island bonds a community for the love of music, art and culture, championing underground, underrepresented, and emerging artists from across the UK, and placing global sounds at the forefront.
The festival is split into three chapters, the first and second having already taken place in June and July. We headed down in June. It was the first time we’d been along to Green Island, and it was a great experience. It’s amazing the sense of community this festival nurtures, as wild and wonderful underground music scenes unite amid the maze-like flora.
The final instalment fall on 7 September, when you’ll find acts performing on four stages in the luscious Hulme Garden Centre, and on a main stage inside NIAMOS, which has, over the years, played host to everyone from Nina Simone to Gil Scott-Heron. Warwick Street, which connects both venues, will be transformed into a food and drinks hub filled with local favourites including Midori, Tibetan Kitchen and Root to Flower.
The expansion into NIAMOS sees the festival double in size from last year, with space for up to 1000 festival-goers. And with the increase in capacity comes a larger line-up, which always encompasses a rich diversity of artists and sounds – think neo-soul, jazz, ska-punk, indie, hip-hop, pop, electronic genres, and everything in between.
Taking centre stage in September is singer and multi-instrumentalist David Walters, who combines influences from his Caribbean heritage with electronic beats and acoustic folk. The Main Stage will also host the likes of soul and R&B collective Lovescene, while on The Bandstand, Ruf Dug returns with Ruffy’s Lab, bringing on board Tia Cousins, Abigail Ward and Private Joy.
The Marquee Stage will host up-and-coming bands and vocalists including Jamaica’s Calypso George, as well as family-friendly activities from 12pm – 2:30pm. Down the garden path, the hidden gem that is the Forest Stage will present some of the best selectors on the local scene. Finally the brand new Selector Stage, tucked away in a hidden corner of the festival, will be vinyl only, and based around an advanced audiophile sound system. In September this stage will be taken over by Lena C’s Melodic Junction, who enlists Cheb Mimo, Santa Leticia and Josh FB.
When the action comes to a close in Hulme, the good times will continue over at YES, with an afterparty taking place across the Pink Room and the basement from 11pm until 4am.
Speaking on the return of Green Island in 2024, co-founder Stephan Agbogbe said:
“We’re so thrilled to be back and present a levelled up Green Island, bringing more artists, more sounds, and more space for more people. Empowering staff and artists who have been an integral part of the festival since its inception has always been key to us, so it’s really special that we can double in size this year and grow with those we started with. We’re also proud to present another line-up that celebrates diversity as we wholeheartedly believe that the future success of the cultural sector depends on being able to draw on a talent pool that reflects society as a whole. Once the narrative is altered, it will pave the road to change in the UK.”
