Dialled in announce debut festival in Manchester

Off the back of their recent announcement of ARRIVALS – Dialled In’s co-collaborative South Asian space at Shangri-La, Glastonbury, Dialled In is excited to announce its first festival outside of London, taking place in Manchester, 20th July at the Nia Centre (famed for hosting Nina Simone).

Throughout the music-filled all-dayer, Dialled In will host artists across three stages and a selection of hands-on workshops, alongside plenty of delicious food and drink on offer.

The festival is in partnership with Dishoom. The two brands have a long-standing friendship, having teamed up at a number of Dialled In events over the years.

Shamil Thakrar, Dishoom co-founder, says: “Back in 2019 we took Dishoom to Lost Village, and this is where we first met Ahad Elley, he was brilliant as part of the South Asian line-up in our Dishoom tent.

We’ve been huge admirers of the work the Dialled In team have done since. The way they bring together and champion the South Asian community is awesome. We’ve brought our food and chai to Dialled In parties over the past few years, and now it feels like the right time to do something even bigger and better together.” More details coming soon, as well as the reveal of a very exciting project with Dishoom.

Tickets to Dialled In Manchester are on sale now

Supported by funding from Arts Council England and produced in collaboration with a Manchester-based team – with Balraj Samrai, Gracie T and Chandé programming the all-dayer – the new Manchester event marks the continued evolution of Dialled In, as the team works to extend its cultural impact and connect with South Asian communities across the UK and beyond.

Dialled In continues to champion artists from underrepresented communities with an inclusive, cutting-edge line-up across a spectrum of genres, celebrating South Asian culture all the while. From pop, rock, indie and folk, house, jazz along with plenty of electronic and club music – from bass, breaks, grime and house and beyond, the Manchester edition promises something for everyone.

Dialled In are excited to announce they’ll bring a selection of artists to the Nia Centre. From Glasgow-based audio-visual artist Kapil Seshasayee’s Indian Classical and R&B-infused art rock, through to live performances from classically trained British-Tamil R&B artist Pritt, and Haaji Ka Halva, and on the more experimental tip, Leeds-based artist, DJ, and cultural practitioner, Nahi Mitti.

Bringing non-stop energy spanning dancehall, reggaeton, UK funky, garage, bass, old school bootlegs and more, Asian Network resident Manara, rising star Arthi (Rinse FM), beloved NTS host and Club Yeke label head, Tash LC, Manchester legend Zaleel and longstanding QIBPOC championing arts collective PXSSY PALACE are on hand for proper party vibes.

Spinning everything good from garage and breaks through to reggaeton, perreo and more Manchester’s Samrai (formerly of Swing Ting) and British-Colombian Florentino’s back-to-back set promises a serious club workout while Manchester local legend Chunky and Girls Dont Sync’s G33 will join forces for a very special MC vs DJ set. Bengal Sound, Harpriya, Korzi are among those also DJing with Dialled In bringing a very special guest selector, DJ Radical Sista along for the ride.

In their own words: “Dialled In Manchester feels historic. For us, it’s like going back to our roots in 2021 in a new territory. We wanted to better understand how we can serve our community, and one of the ways we decided to do that is by taking the festival to a new city and wanting to start broadening our horizons outside of London.

This event is the first of many UK-wide activities we will be unveiling over the next two years.”

Dialled In is an artist-led platform, showcasing the depths of South Asian artistry; its team made up of some of the brightest minds and creatives within the diaspora. Heading into its 5th year, Dialled In has solidified its reputation as an important and truly inspiring event that celebrates South Asian culture through music and art.

A staple in the cultural calendar, Dialled In is so much more than an event – it is a feat of skill and a community, with the collectives, artists, crews, venues, performers, staff, volunteers and food vendors all playing a crucial part in making it so special.

Cementing their role as cultural curators and as a platform for South Asian talent since their inception in 2021, alongside their own ‘Dialled In’ festivals, they have programmed a classical concert at the Union Chapel, a stage at Printworks, a V&A late and the inaugural Boiler Room Pakistan, as well as produced an artistic residency in Nepal which brought together South Asian creatives from around the world.

Connecting the dots between culture, communities and creatives of the South Asian diaspora across the world, Dialled In’s work is essential in showcasing the rich heritage of South Asian culture and arts in the UK and across the globe.

From their 24-hour takeover at leading institution, Southbank Centre, through to hosting a curated stage at intimate electronic festival, Field Maneuvers, the platform excels in the curation of important cultural spaces, amplifying South Asian art in both world-leading venues and underground settings.