It’s almost time …the excitement has been building and is almost at a climax … the months of waiting are almost over …it’s time to count down the hours rather than the days or weeks …
Parklife is upon us!
It does seem that we have been waiting with an almost insatiable desire, willing time away, moaning that every other weekend just hasn’t been Parklife. Well, now that it is here, what do we need to know?
Well, first things first – getting there.
There are loads of options:
Jump on the Parklife Express – leaving regularly from Platt Fields Park or the city centre and heading right into the festival site from 10am to 4.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday; returning to the city centre between 6.30pm and 00.30am – Tickets £5 for a day return.
Catch the metro. Easy – well, almost. Trams to Heaton Park will be running every 12 minutes. However, leaving Heaton Park is not quite so simple. Heaton Park stop will be closed from 6.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday and you’ll need to head to Bowker Vale Metrolink stop. And if you’re heading into Manchester, Victoria Station is still closed.
Drive. But be careful where you park. There is an official Parklife car park at Heaton Park but passes must be purchased in advance at £7.50 per day or £10.00 for the weekend. There is no on street parking nearby, but there are some very keen traffic wardens. Oh, and you know the rules – no drinking and driving!
Hop in a taxi – there’s actually a designated Parklife taxi drop off and collection point in the Car Park located near Sheepfoot Lane.
For the more athletically inclined, there is even a bike rack!
When you’ve arrived and are ready to go in, the normal festival rules of entry apply – no drink, drugs, legal highs, food, umbrellas, dogs, flares, fireworks or bikes (leave them at the rack).
Also note that there is no re-entry – if you leave, you’re gone!
If you get peckish or need a drink there are plenty of options. They will be plenty of bars and places to grab a bite and the likes of Solita and Almost Famous will be on hand if you’re lucky enough to have a VIP ticket (VIPs also get to quench their thirst down at the cocktail lounge bars).
So you’ve arrived, got through the gate and been watered and fed. Now on to the important part – who’s playing? Who do you need to go and see?
Well, the listings read like a who’s who of music with the likes of Disclosure, Katy B, London Grammar, Rudimental, Sam Smith and so much more. So we’ll just pick out a few of our faves.
Whipping up a storm on Saturday, you can catch the excellent Foxes, the always incredible Rudimental, and ever brilliant Annie Mac all performing on the main stage. Elsewhere, make a beeline for A$ap Rocky (Now Wave) and Friendly Fires DJ set at the Desperados Detonate Arena. But for us (as long as the rumours aren’t true) it’s all about Snoop – let’s face it, he’s a living legend, the chairman of the board and simply unmissable.
Sunday also looks set to be a cracker with a main stage which reads like a list of the best – Foals, Bastille, London Grammar, Sam Smith – and that’s not to mention Clean Bandit (who will be returning to Manchester in October) and the incredibly talented Ella Eyre. Over at Bugged Out! we couldn’t help but notice Carl Cox, whilst Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs DJing over at Crosstown Rebels Present Get Lost isn’t one to miss, and for a bit of a throwback over at The Collonade there’s Public Enemy and Soul II Soul.
Our advice – plan! There are so many good acts, make sure you know who you want to see, when they’re on (set times will be laid out in the official festival programme), where they are on – and get there early. Some of the areas do have limited occupancy and will be operating a one-out, one-in policy.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. If, after a full day at Parklife, you still have energy to burn and want to party the night away, there are Afterlife events on all over the place Saturday night and Sunday night – The Albert Hall; Sound Control; Sankeys; Deaf Institute; Gorilla; South; The Ruby Lounge, Kraak … the list goes on. Full details, including line-ups, are over at the Parklife website
So you’re all set. Enjoy. …. But don’t forget your wellies – it looks like they may be needed!
