Its about the music, the communities, the places and the people who carry culture forward. Outwards is an attempt to create a space where the past, present and future of that culture can exist together in Manchester, where so much of this story began, and where there is still so much to be written.

DJ BORING. One of the most renowned artists in his generation, and the man behind Colour Club. Bringing his nomadic party up North to Manchester for a second time says it all about his love of our hometown. And our home crowd. As per usual, expect a stellar lineup for this day-into-night gathering at the city's finest open air dance floor. Anyone who caught Ross From Friends when he last paid us a visit will already know his unique sound is perfect for our industrial spot. That blend of hazy lo fi house, electronica and sample-heavy beats with an old school feel. Bass and breaks heavy and we do mean heavy Papa Nugs also makes the trip with a bag full of timeless stuff, taking influence from across a spectrum that has dubstep at one end and progressive at the other. And we're thrilled to welcome Ikke Sant label founder SUCHI, the rapidly rising Norwegian name known for classy, intelligent grooves.

The UK has always been at the forefront of electronic music. But not every generation can claim to have completely changed the landscape by rewriting dubstep as techno. Or techno as dubstep. Or whatever. [ PROGRESS ] proudly welcomes two of the most influential figureheads of mutant hybrid dance floor sounds - Hessle Audio co-founder Ben UFO and Kepsela bossman Objekt. Say no more. Manchester completes the lineup with a pair of the city's finest peerages: OTMI honcho and Ninja Tune regular Anz, alongside Pumping Velvet-Dust Off don Nick Kagame. Basically, next-level sounds all day. From there, everyone's invited (well, as many as we can fit) to our intimate indoor sister spot a few miles across town for a triple-header in tune with what came before it. Drum roll for The Loft, please Ben UFO b2b Pariah b2b Jasmine You won't have heard much like this before.

Proper northern legends on a Bank Holiday Sunday! Mr. Scruff's Keep it Unreal night has been running since 1999. This time he teams up with Nightmares on Wax for a rare 5 hour B2B all-dayer in Manchester's best open air for dancing. Taking their mid 1980s musical/DJ roots as inspiration for this B2B, they will be digging into Hip Hop, Street Soul, Dancehall, Electro, Italo, Early House, Disco, Boogie, Jazz, Funk and a whole load of wonky curveballs over 5 hours, hosted by Liam Bailey & MC Kwasi. Errol & Alex Rita will be kicking things off with a 3 hour set, showing why their Touching Bass community, club night, NTS show & record label embody a real rootsy, forward thinking foundation that covers the spectrum of black music. Food will be available too. Come along, tuck in & get down!

Pure unadulterated energy. Joyful vibes. Big smiles. Uplifting sounds. There are a few things we could say about FHUO Records founder Folamour, a key figure in the French global disco revival who has become a key fixture at influential clubs and festivals over the past decade. With a background in jazz and sophisticated pop, the Lyon-raised DJ and producer has helped restore the faith in proper dancefloor songs and unifying grooves. Tracks that remind us of what has kept the fire burning for decades. He's not the only person who's perfect for Square One on a sunny early summer day. Also gracing our open air gathering place, another disco evangelist - Hunee. Known for unearthing rare gems and always maintaining that forward momentum, he packs tunes for days in those bags. Representing on a house-ier tip, two fundamental names in European deepness and a pair of b2b veterans: Move D and Prosumer. We shouldn't need to expand on that. Meanwhile, host and resident of the community party Wicked Can't Run, Miss Jackson completes an all soul, all heart, zero filler lineup.

The last time Luuk Van Dijk dropped into our hometown he did the business for a full day over at >nowhere. Now he's back in the city for another afternoon-to-night throwdown just as spring lands. Open air crew, let's see you Also on the bill, a name that probably needs no intro - Jordan Peak. The acclaimed UK producer and DJ is all about that low-slung swagger when he's spinning and today should be no different. Finally, D Stone stops by at the request of Van Dijk himself, a rising star of the Dutch club scene we can't wait to hear him on that rig. Especially b2b with Storm Mollinson. After the outdoors we continue at The Loft. Elias Mazian is the founder of Lonely Heart Club and one of the most versatile DJs of his generation: flawless on the fly transitioning between sharp fours, more than renowned for his radio shows. Then there's his songwriting. Back to back with Van Dijk, this should be everything The Loft was built for. Opening duties go to a local talent we've had eyes on for a while now - NTS resident and all-round Manchester good'en Tarzsa touches down in the playground for the very first time. So expect some of that smooth and soulful stuff to get the rhythms rolling.

Continental GT takes on SQUARE ONE at Progress for the largest open air STEPPERS in Manchester!

From his roots as a UKG evangelist, breathing much fresh life into the scene, to his excursions into broader bass sounds over the past few years, Conducta is shorthand for direct dancefloor selections. Rhythms and pieces that command attention and demand movement. Another true heavy who has seen and heard more than we could ever mention here, Dr Dubplate has pushed boundaries with ec2a. An imprint that stands for blurred lines between garage, techno, dubstep and broken bits between. The pair lead the charge this time at Manchester's open air rave institution. And they're bringing a pack of proper players for this all-afternoon and evening throwdown. Rinse FM resident Fold defines new directions in the UK sound. Charlie Rice represents the North West at its lowest slung and most slugger-ish,. Old skool-new style queen Lady Passion is all about rolling out pure passion. And her b2b with RTK Tarantino should be a match made in perfection. Meanwhile, Megan Wroe is one of the finest in Manchester's current crop of selectors, as proven via mixes for Locked On Records and The Snug.

HIT & RUN take over Manchester's Progress for a drum & bass day party with the one and only PENDULUM. It's Day Party season.... HIT & RUN returns to PROGRESS for only our second ever party in the space, with an act that redefined the genre. PENDULUM play a Classics DJ set at the night (or rather, day) for the first time ever - showcasing the tracks that defined a generation. We remember when the likes of "Vault" dropped (on Doc Scott's 31 Records) it completely turned the scene upside down, with the originality of the ideas and clarity of the mixdowns. They've gone on to become a world-conquering live act (with an exciting excursion into EDM as KNIFE PARTY) but at this show we celebrate the cutting-edge, titanium-tipped electronic DnB records that made their name. In support, we have an exciting list of new acts, who have all been heavily influenced as young ravers and now established producers by Pendulum.

If you came to stand still, stand somewhere else. It's a simple rule Manchester's Ordinary Friends crew have stayed true to since their first gathering a decade ago. Known for throw downs in the city's most respected spots, it's with great honour we open the doors to our abandoned warehouse on the edge of town. A place called Progress. A lineup you can't find anywhere Job Jobse has been at the top of his game since before the legendary and sorely missed Amsterdam institution Trouw cemented his status as an all-star Amsterdam resident and in-demand global guest. Always bringing sonic colour and optimism, even with the lights down, his selections span shades of house and techno but are eternally made for the rave. Big Saldo - aka Sally C - brings the sonic chunkers. A proper 4/4 powerhouse whose rise to current underground note is more than hard-earned. She'll link with Detroit-in-London head Demi Riquismo for a tag team of toughness topped with Italo and acid. Roi Perez is a master of mixing these long, percussive dance floor stories. And the Ordinary Friends DJs have been starting these sessions for 10 years. Need we say more?

Expect soulful vocals, timeless grooves and the kind of records that defined a generation of house music all played open air in the heart of the city.

The iconic Clockwork Orange lands in Manchester for a Bank Holiday special, bringing decades of dancefloor heritage to Progress.