Disco legend Nile Rodgers perfectly captured the mood in Manchester ahead of last night’s MOBO Awards, calling it “one of the coolest places on earth” — and the city more than lived up to the hype.
In the lead-up to the ceremony, the music legend shared his excitement on Instagram, saying: “Today is going to be a great day in Manchester because I’m going to discover new things and be with old friends.”
He also reflected on the city’s unique energy, adding: “The thing that’s cool about Manchester for me is that it feels like when I was young, the mentality feels party — and partying is important, obviously, for me and my music. It feels social, it feels that people are interested in each other, they care, people are very integrated. There’s nothing like it.”
And as the MOBOs took over Co-op Live, that spirit was on full display — from the electric performances by the likes of Aitch, Olivia Dean and Flo to the city-wide Fringe celebrations — proving exactly why Manchester continues to be a magnet for global music icons.
Manchester keeps the momentum going with BBC 6 Music Festival
2026 has already been a buzzing year for Manchester, with the Brits coming to the city for the first time in its history, and a gig-calendar full to the brim with talent. The city’s moment isn’t slowing down any time soon, either. Fresh off the energy of the MOBOs, the city is heading straight into the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival — bringing another wave of genre-spanning talent and music fans into town and shining a spotlight onto the city’s independent grassroots venues.
The festival, which started on Wednesday March 25th, still has an impressive lineup of events leading into the weekend. Here is what is still to take place:
Friday 27 March
- Bloc Party + The Horrors at Band on the Wall from 7pm
- Yard Act + Sorry at YES from 7pm
- Indie Forever club night with Steve Lamacq, Beth Ditto + Nick Grimshaw, Emily Pilbeam + Nathan Shepherd, and Lambrini Girls at YES from midnight
Saturday 28 March
- Courtney Barnett + Jacob Alon at Band on the Wall from 7pm
- Lynks + Tiberius b at YES from 7pm
- 6 Music Festival and FaT OuT present Lauren Auder, Naima Bock and R.AGGS at Eccles Town Hall Ballroom from 3pm
- Homobloc presents 6 Music’s Festival’s Closing Party with Olof Dreijer at YES from 11.30pm
But Manchester’s music scene isn’t all parties, awards shows and high-energy festivals — it knows how to slow things down, too. Across the city, Candlelight concerts are offering a more intimate way to experience live music, with stripped-back performances set in some of Manchester’s most atmospheric spaces, such as Manchester Cathedral and Hallé St Peter’s. It’s this mix of energy and intimacy that Nile Rodgers was tapping into — a city that doesn’t just party, but truly connects through music. See all upcoming Candlelight concerts here.
More concerts in Manchester this weekend
Friday 27 March
- Thundercat at Aviva Studios
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Albert Hall
- Chaos in the CBD at Nowhere
Saturday 28 March
- Basement Jaxx at Aviva Studios
- The Skids and Au Pairs at O2 Ritz
- Dub Pistols at Gorilla
- Main Phase at The Loft
