In his latest column, Tameside Radio presenter Dave Sweetmore tells us about a music festival taking place on the upcoming anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack which will raise money for good causes.

On Sunday 22 May, it will be five years since the Manchester Arena attack.

Greater Manchester music fans will be remembering that awful night in a way that only Manchester could, with an all-day multi venue music festival, with more than 30 of the best and most loved bands and artists from all over the North West, all performing and raising much needed money for five worthy causes. 

The highly respected After All Festival is one of the two main multi-venue festivals which take place annually across the city, the other being the You Are Not Alone Festival which took place a few weeks ago. 

The After All Festival is the brainchild and event brought to the city by well-known and much recognised gig-goer and face in the crowd Owen Meikle-Williams, who first launched the event in 2019. 

This year’s festival will see stages at five of Manchester’s most loved music venues, Night and Day, The Castle, Gulliver’s, The Peer Hat, and Rose and Monkey, with all money raised on the day being split between Manchester Mind, Musicians Against Homelessness, Make A Wish, Safe Gigs For Women, and The John Hall Stage. 

It guarantees to be a very special day, on a hugely significant date for the city, where music lovers of all ages can walk between all five venues watching some of the city’s favourite bands.

There’s a huge list of bands and artists playing on the day, all of who can be found on the After All Festival social media pages. 

The line-up is a very strong one, which includes the likes of Apollo Junction, San Pedro Collective, Suave Martyrs, The Pagans, Damien Maddison, Black Sonic Revolver, Stepford Wives, The Battery Farm, and many more. 

I’m going to be hosting and DJing on the Night and Day stage, and it’s an event I’m really looking forward to, as I remember the last one being such a great day, and all in aid of five amazing causes. 

The event starts at 4pm and tickets, which allow entry into all venues, can be purchased on skiddle, by simply searching for After All Festival. 

The work Owen and his team put into making a day like this work and so successful is huge, and I can guarantee it’s a brilliant day and night out.  

It would be great to see all music fans from the area support the After All Festival on Sunday, May 22, and I’ll hopefully see you there. 

You can listen to Dave on Tameside Radio 103.6FM on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Click here to subscribe and catch up on previous shows.

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