Florentenes

Florentenes are playing at the Neighbourhood Festival 2026 on Saturday 17 October, part of a full day of live music across Manchester. The festival is back after a year off, with 11 stages spread across the city's Oxford Road corridor. It's billed as a destination for music discovery, and it's been a launchpad for new talent since 2016, with alumni like Sam Fender, Mabel, Holly Humberstone, Yungblud, Declan McKenna and Mahalia coming through it.

Florentenes are fronted by vocalist and songwriter Will Smith, with Luke Holding on lead guitar, Harry Stubbs on bass and Liam Fiddy on drums. What started as bedroom jams between Will and Luke has grown into a proper band: in just a year they've sold out numerous local shows and are currently in the studio recording their debut album with producer Dave Eringa. Eringa described them as "the band the UK music industry has been waiting for — insanely talented, insanely young, and cool as."

They're one of many on the bill. Keo headlines, and the rest of the first wave includes Florence Road, Elliot James Reay, The Guest List, The North, Jos Rivers, Alex Spencer, Basht, The Covasettes and Father of Peace, with more acts to be announced. The festival runs all day on Saturday 17 October, with the 11 stages scattered along the Oxford Road corridor, so you'll be moving between venues rather than staying in one spot. It's a full day of live music across the city.