Manchester Psych Fest at Circle Square

The UK’s leading psychedelic music and arts festival Manchester Psych Fest returns to Oxford Road for its ninth and biggest edition of the one-day event to date, taking place on the first weekend in September.

This year’s Psych Fest features over 60 live artists and DJs including Kurt Vile, The Coral, Gruff Rhys, Tinariwen, Black midi and Jane Weaver. More than just a music festival, there’s a full programme of art installations, food, yoga, workshops and pop-up shops. Much of this can be found at Mushroom Fields, a brand new outdoor festival hub at Circle Square.

Mushroom Fields will act as the festival-goers gateway to the event, with an official Psych Fest bar selling for the very first time a limited edition Psych Fest Mango IPA, brewed and brought to you by award-winning Manchester brewery First Chop.

Some of Manchester’s finest street food purveyors will also feature, including much-loved Indian vegan outfit This Charming Naan, New Zealand eatery Tahi, Asian food hall Hello Oriental and and more from The Holy Mountain Kitchen.

As always, Manchester Psych Fest continues to put visual art front and centre, this year with a History of Manchester Psych Fest Art exhibition, NFT takeover from digital art marketplace KnownOrigin, murals and sculptures from local female artists Ermitsmoze (Rebecca Miller), Lindsay Johnstone & Sveggs_ink (Sophie Egleton) and visual extrapolations from designer and art director Raissa Pardini.

Manchester art studio Nafty’s, whose visual offerings have become synonymous with the festival, have been commissioned to display festival illustrations, whilst artist and designer Lucy Grainge will be showcasing her work, running print workshops and even giving away limited special edition Psych Fest tote bags.

Festival-goers will also be able to pick up some official festival merchandise and premium vintage clothing from Northern Quarter outlet Bionic Seven and start their day with a Psychedelic Stretch session with personal trainer Fiona Ledgard.

Manchester Psych Fest will be working alongside carbon literate urban and street art production team Art of Protest Projects, bringing to life the management and build of the Mushroom Fields Hub by injecting multiple large scale structures and colourful placemaking.

With over 60 live artists, DJs and a brand new, immersive Mushroom Fields festival hub at Circle Square, there’s loads to discover at Manchester Psych Fest 2022, as it takes over Manchester’s finest venues, all within a 10 minute walk via Oxford Road Corridor. Albert Hall, O2 Ritz, RNCM, Gorilla, Deaf Institute and YES host a full day of incredible live music.

Mushroom Fields will open to festival-goers from 10am and stay open until 9pm, with wristband collection and Psych Fest bar also open from 10am.