24Rockfest
Circa 2002 - 2006

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From circa 2002 - 2006 24rockfest.com was a website dedicated to promoting the UK & Manchester's premier signed & unsigned bands. Named after the film 24 Hour Party People, its aim was to take the 'madchester" legend kicking & screaming into the next century. This was its website. Content below is from its archived pages. 

 

Reminisce and Enjoy

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24Rockfest puts on regular unsigned bands nights at 300 capacity Rock venue made famous by 'Oasis' The Packhorse. The venue has just undergone a major refurbishment to turn it into a purpose built late night entertainment centre with a 1am license.

It also puts on intimate acoustic showcases at new style bar m19bar. Open mic spots are available.
Both venues are 5 minutes from the 3,000 capacity Apollo Music Venue & just off the A6 Stockport Rd. It has its own taxi rank, train station, excellent bus services and free coach and car park.
Manchester has a rich musical history for promoting unsigned bands to become World famous international stars.

Oasis, Badly Drawn Boy, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Ash, The Sex Pistols, The Darkness, Kinesis, Coldplay, The Stokes, The Undertones, Buzzcocks, Iggy Pop, U2 and REM have all been given a helping hand on their road to stardom in this city.

24Rockfest organises regular monthly showcases and puts on events at all of the major Festivals in Manchester which include:
Manchester Irish Festival & 104.9 Imagine FM's YGG Unsigned. Key 103 Radio's Keyfest. In the City the international Music Conference and The Levenshulme Festival.

If you are in a local band and want a gig you can forward your demo and biog to:
24rockfest, 908 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 3BF or email rockfest24@hotmail.com

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Want a gig?

Are you in a signed or unsigned band and is big enough to play Manchester's biggest Independent Rock Venue-The 830 capacity Palace Nightclub in Levenshulme?

Need to have established fan base (40-50 plus followers)

Then email your details to Tony at rockfest24@hotmail.com or Tel 0161 225 0706 and leave a message

Venue Spec

• 8K sound rig, Live DJ, Video technician films bands live on Giant Video Wall just like on Top of the Pops! Lighting Technician with £250K lighting rig In house PR and Publicity department.
• Large Free Car Park, fits 300 cars or 50 coaches.

Next to train station, own taxi rank outside, just off A6 between Stockport & Manchester City Centres,  5 mins from Apollo Theatre

 

Notes from the top: Special thanks to our friends at TNG/Earthling in NYC for getting us live online and ranking at the top. Years ago our site got penalized in Google. No one could find us. It was a disaster. And it went on forever. Until SEO expert Bob Sakayama unwound our penalty. He brought us back from the dead. So we stick with him.

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Fri 20 June - Sun 22 June

24rockfest Three Day Summer Rock Festival

Kirsty on song for a Party in the Park, an outdoor music festival weekend is being planned for the Kirsty Howard Appeal to support the Francis House Children's Hospice. The Party in the Park is the brainchild of Denton businessman Paul Meredith. who has enlisted promoters from the Palace nightclub in Levenshulme to help choose the bands and promote the event.

The concert wifi be held on June 21 and 22 in Wythenhawe Park and organisers are expecting crowds of between 10,000 and 20,000. It will feature more than 24 bands and DJs, with a mixture of acts performing over the weekend. Bands appearing free at the concert will include flu-metal band The Nutonic, rock acts Hanky Park, Pantom 5000 and Flawed, last year's Manchester Evening News Search for a Star winners Parker and female punk rockers Jackie 0.

Entrance wifi be also be free and vol meers will tour the site urging people to make donations. Paul said "We started this weekend more than two years ago as a way of putting something back into the commumity. "I enjoy doing it and I get a buzz out of helping people out. "It started off as just a few bands on the back of a lorry and now with the help of the Palace, it has now grown into our own urban Glastonbury. -

"We staged it in Debdale Park for the last two years, but the festival has got too big, so we are really looking forward to being in Wythenhawe Park, where facilities are fantastic. There is also going to be a huge family festival, with fun-fairs and family entertainment. So it's going to be a really busy weekend and hopefully everyone will be as generous as possible to the charities we are collecting for."

Seven-year-old Kirsty**, from Northern Moor in Wythenshawe, is spearheading the hospice's appeal which has already raised more than £2 mfflion. She has helped win over a number of high-profile celebrities to the cause, including United star David Beckham and his wife Victoria. She was born with her heart the wrong way round and aims to help raise the £5 million needed to secure the Didsbury hospice's long term future.

Bands who want more information can email the organisers at ygg@levenshulme.com or visit the official website on www24rockfest.com, or contact them on 0161 225 0706. If anyone would like to sponsor the event, contact Mr Meredith on 0777 964 2503.

I had attended this three day summer rock festival when I was in England for graduate school. I vividly remember little Kirsty Howard who was the figurehead of Kirsty's Appeal, a charitable foundation in her name. Over the years, until her death in 2015 she raised £7.5 million for Francis House, in Didsbury, Manchester, the hospice where she received care for her exceptionally rare condition, a form of situs ambiguous, in which her heart was back to front, causing the misplacement of her internal organs. This festival was just one of many events in which Howard took part eventually gaining national support and attention. I remember very clearly the day I learned of her death. I had just been hired as an accountant by a new company that offered janitorial services jobs to local residents. When I have my own business I would want to hire their services. They can be "green" all the way, for those companies who want products that avoid chemicals like chlorine and phosphates and that are biodegradable, while meeting certain environmental and/ or labor standards. They use HEPA filtration vacuums, as well as microfiber mops, cloths and dusters, which are reusable and reduce chemical usage. In addition they operate a robust recycling program, so that nothing goes to waste. I feel fortunate working for a company that takes our environment and the "green" issues seriously. On the home from work that first day, I was listening to a podcast about unusual medical conditions. Kirsty Howard's story was mentioned and then the announcement of her death. For a child who was given the diagnosis of 6 weeks to live at the age of four, she proceeded with the help of her family to live a short yet amazingly productive life giving back multifold with her charity work. RIP.

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Thrills, Spills & Kick Ass Bands

 

21 Jan 2006

Check out the listings for this years ygg unsigned on Fri 10 & 17 Feb & final on Thurs 16 March

ShamRocknRoll takes place on Fri 10 March

Acousticfest is a new acoustic night at m19 bar next one Fri 10 Feb, Fri 17 March, Fri 7 April & Fri 26 May

 

News

2005

18 Oct

'In the City' was a fantastic Success with over 24 Bands playing on Fri 30 Sept and Sat 1 Oct filmed by Channel M TV and October got herself on BBC Radio 1.

The three venues M19 Bar (www.m19bar.com) The Packhorse and The Palace worked really well together.

next showcase is Best of 'In the City' plus guests on Sat 12 Nov as part of Levfest

see next showcase for more info.

now booking christmas shows in December email us if interested rockfest24@hotmail.com

29 March update

Summer rockfest..one spot left

Now booking for In the City 2005 showcases on Fri 30 Sept & Sat 1st Oct

19 Feb 2005 update

Summer Rockest

Fri 8 July...now booking

Just booked Whit Showcase on Fri 27 May which features Shiloh, Backdoor Beauty, La Nuala Day, Gypsy Moonshine, Sandbox & Project 22

Tom Hingley tickets for Fri 29 April now on sale, £5 adv

Tel 0161 257 2484 no commisssion or handling, or call into Hennigans Sports Bar, 908 Stockport Rd.

or book online at www.ticketline.co.uk (booking fee & handling charged)

YGG Final Fri 18 March

Features Soul City Exile, Skyline, Virtuoso, The High, Dry Riser and Minusoneraver

Tickets £3 adv. Looks like being a sell out so get your tickets early.

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2004

 Dec

What a year, well I'm glad thats over with.

New year gigs

YGG Heat Fri 28 Jan, Fri 4 Feb, Fri 11 Feb

24rockfest Feb showcase Fri 25th Feb

YGG Final Fri 18 March

Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets) gig on Fri 29APRIL - BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL

2004 November news

Autumn showcase coming up on 26 Nov & Christmas show on 10 Dec, two great line ups. See links below:

YGG Unsigned 2005..its back now in its 10th Year, over a £1,000 worth of prizes click here

Well done to all bands at Levfest in Oct, great gig again check out Dave's pics on www.xsync.co.uk

Next gigs after 'in the city' are Levfest on Fri 22 Oct, Autumn showcase on Fri 26th Nov & Christmas showcase on Fri 10 Dec click here for details

In the City...We are putting on two showcase nights

Watch out for Glastonbury band 'Nowwhere near the Garden' at the ITC launch night on Fri 17th Sept

Fri 17 Sept..In the city launch night & Sat 18 Sept ...click here for details

The Hustle return....Yes the winners of YGG Unsigned 2004 return to the Palace on Fri 2nd July to release their new EP & play the annual summer rockfest.

Next Bank holiday showcase....Fri 28 May...

Fri 30 April

Thanks to all bands who performed in the sell out Bank holiday showcase..Brilliant night had by all. Click here for review

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2003

Sat 13 March

Tickets are selling very fast for YGG Final on Fri 19 March, make sure you get yours early. Doors 8pm, first band 8.30pm, Ticket info 0161 257 2484

21st Feb

Bands through to YGG final on Fri 19 March are Adept, El Quinell, Gecko, Stonewood, The Hustle and The Chase. For More details click here

24 Jan

New showcases announced for 24 Rockfest Last Friday of every month now

April..Fri 30th...May Fri 28th...June..Fri 25th June

In the City ...14-18 Sept

 

Message Boards

Post your messages here about ygg & 24rockfest on the message boards

Voting for Xysnc sponsored Unsigned Band 2004

Just email the name of band & Heat that band is in to voteygg@hotmail.com

Heat 1 Bands

Adept, El Quinell, Blue Chevron, Jeff Wootton & Blackrose Band, Evo Devo, Mason

Heat 2

Graysons Hour, Gecko, Starki, Fireflowers, Austin, Stonewood

Heat 3

The Chase, Ahuman, Hustle, NakedLounge, BoomShaker, Minusoneraver

You can only vote for one band via email

Fri 12 Dec

Its Rockfest's Christmas Party, get your tickets early its going to be the biggest night of the year.

YGG Unsigned 2004

The legendary battle of Bands competition starts again in January. Bands must have at least one member with Irish roots, parents or grandparents. Competition is part of the Manchester Irish Festival. £1,000 worth of prizes.

Oasis 'Demo Tape' sparks search for new Talent A demo tape of unreleased tracks by 'Oasis' the world conquering Irish Mancunian band is the inspiration behind the annual 'Young, Gifted & Green Unsigned 2004' bands competition. The tape complete with spelling mistakes takes pride of place in the musical archives of Manchester's biggest live music venue - the Palace Nightclub in Levenshulme.

Lawrence Hennigan the owner of the venue said "The lads gave us tape when they were first starting off fourteen years ago. They were regulars in the club and have never forgotten their roots. When they played their sell out concert in Manchester at LCC in front of 60,000 fans they dedicated their song 'round our way' to the area.

The VIP area was full of people from Levenshulme and it was a great night." "The competition was formed to help support bands with Irish roots and give them a helping hand on the way to stardom. Its always one of the highlights of the Manchester Irish Festival. The festival is now established as the biggest Irish Festival in Europe and its website www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk is the number one festival website in the UK. This year's headline acts include Shane McGowan and Radio 1's Mark Radcliffe Irish group 'The Family Mahone'."

Manchester has a rich history of bands with Irish roots with The Doves, Badly Drawn Boy, The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays all having Irish roots. There are over a £1,000 worth of prizes up for grabs in the competition, which includes £500 in cash from the Levenshulme Pub company, a professional photo shoot from Karen Mc Bride and two days recording in Redcat studios. Bands wishing to enter the competition must be over 18 and at least one member of the band with Irish roots (parents or grandparents). They should send a demo and biographer to YGG unsigned 2004, The Palace Nightclub, Farmside Place, Levenshulme, M19 3BF. More information can be obtained by contacting the organisers on 0161 225 0706 or visiting the website www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk or emailing ygg2004@hotmail.com

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More Background On 24RockFest.com

 

Between 2002 and 2006, 24Rockfest.com stood as a beacon for unsigned and emerging musical talent in Manchester and across the UK. The website functioned not just as an events platform but as a cultural movement—one that paid homage to the legendary "Madchester" era while amplifying the voices of the next generation of artists.

Named in tribute to the film 24 Hour Party People—which chronicled the rise of Factory Records and the Hacienda—24RockFest emerged during a transitional period in the music industry. Just as digital tools began disrupting traditional label control, 24RockFest.com seized the moment, leveraging community energy, grassroots venues, and the raw spirit of British rock to offer bands exposure, gigs, and a shot at recognition.

Origins and Mission

The mission of 24RockFest.com was clear: to push Manchester’s musical legacy “kicking and screaming into the next century.” It operated primarily out of Levenshulme, a neighborhood nestled between Stockport and Manchester city centers. Drawing on the area’s blue-collar roots and creative energy, the organization embraced a hyper-local strategy, booking regular gigs at venues like The Palace Nightclub, The Packhorse, and the intimate M19 Bar.

These venues were more than performance spaces. They were incubators for talent, offering everything from acoustic open mic nights to massive 830-capacity showcases. The Palace in particular was outfitted with professional-grade production: an 8K sound rig, video projection, a £250K lighting setup, and in-house publicity and PR. For a young band in the early 2000s, landing a gig here was akin to passing a rite of passage.

Cultural Context and Inspiration

Manchester’s music scene has birthed legendary names—Oasis, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, The Smiths, Happy Mondays, Buzzcocks, and many more. 24RockFest.com channeled that legacy, offering the infrastructure for new names to follow similar paths. Its roots were deeply entwined with community, with strong support for bands of Irish descent through events like the “YGG Unsigned” competition—held in conjunction with the Manchester Irish Festival, Europe’s largest Irish celebration outside of Ireland.

The annual Young, Gifted & Green (YGG) Unsigned contest offered over £1,000 in prizes, including studio time, photography, and cash awards. Participation required at least one band member with Irish roots. The competition drew hundreds of entries and played a key role in integrating the Irish diaspora into the city’s musical identity.

Landmark Events and Collaborations

Summer Rock Festivals

24RockFest’s biggest impact arguably came through its multi-day summer music festivals, which combined big crowds, large lineups, and major cause-based fundraising. One such event—held in Wythenshawe Park—attracted between 10,000 and 20,000 attendees and supported the Kirsty Howard Appeal for Francis House Children’s Hospice. Promoted by Paul Meredith and staffed by volunteers, this festival featured a mix of local and national acts performing for free.

Headliners included bands like The Nutonic, Hanky Park, Pantom 5000, Flawed, and Jackie O, with support from local media and venues like The Palace. The event morphed into what organizers lovingly referred to as “our own urban Glastonbury,” bringing families, music lovers, and charitable donors together in an unforgettable community celebration.

“In The City” Showcases

Another major collaboration was with the In The City international music conference, founded by music mogul Tony Wilson of Factory Records fame. 24RockFest hosted showcases as part of this conference, including performances by over 24 bands across its three flagship venues. These showcases attracted media attention, including coverage from Channel M TV and BBC Radio 1, and served as prime audition grounds for talent scouts.

Notably, bands that performed at “In The City” often gained national exposure, and the event itself solidified Manchester’s status as a critical node in the UK’s independent music network.

Key Figures and Infrastructure

24RockFest.com was driven by a tight-knit team of promoters, technicians, and musicians. Central figures included:

• Tony, who oversaw event booking and production

• Lawrence Hennigan, owner of The Palace Nightclub and a strong supporter of Irish-rooted acts

• Paul Meredith, business leader behind several fundraising festivals

These individuals contributed their expertise, equipment, and connections to create a sustainable, scalable ecosystem for independent music.

The technical infrastructure of 24RockFest events was impressive for the time. Features included:

• Live DJ mixing

• Giant video walls filming bands in real-time

• Free coach and car parking for up to 300 vehicles

• Onsite taxi ranks and train station access

• Promotion via email newsletters, flyers, and early forms of online event listings

Their attention to production detail rivaled many label-supported events and gave unsigned bands the rare chance to perform in professionally managed environments.

The Kirsty Howard Appeal and Broader Social Impact

One of 24RockFest’s most emotionally resonant partnerships was with the Kirsty Howard Appeal, supporting children with terminal illnesses. Kirsty, born with a rare reversed-heart condition, defied doctors’ expectations by surviving past childhood and became a national symbol of courage. She helped raise more than £7.5 million before her death in 2015 at age 20.

The 24RockFest events supporting Kirsty were more than concerts—they were expressions of community solidarity. The music brought people together, but the cause gave those gatherings a deeper, heartfelt purpose.

These collaborations also aligned with broader “green” and socially conscious movements. One attendee recalled that their employer—an environmentally friendly janitorial company—was inspired by the sustainability mindset surrounding such grassroots festivals. From reducing waste to community donations, 24RockFest demonstrated how music events could be engines of social good.

Website and Online Presence

The website 24RockFest.com operated as both a promotional tool and digital archive. It listed:

• Upcoming shows and lineups

• Ticketing info and contact numbers

• Message boards for band and fan discussions

• Competition rules and entry requirements

• Press features and photo galleries

Although the site was eventually penalized by Google—likely due to early SEO missteps—it was later revived thanks to Bob Sakayama, a well-known SEO expert. His work not only restored the site’s visibility but helped set a precedent for digital rehabilitation strategies for niche event sites.

Gratitude for Sakayama was posted openly on the site:

“Special thanks to our friends at TNG/Earthling in NYC for getting us live online and ranking at the top... SEO expert Bob Sakayama unwound our penalty. He brought us back from the dead.”

Audience and Reception

The core audience for 24RockFest included:

• Young musicians, especially those seeking first-stage exposure

• College students from Manchester, Stockport, and beyond

• Irish diaspora members active in local cultural circles

• Live music fans eager for alternative and underground acts

• Families and charities during cause-based events like Party in the Park

The general atmosphere of the shows was gritty, real, and full of spirit. While never attempting to mimic polished arena performances, these events offered authenticity and connection, often cited by attendees as unforgettable experiences.

Reviews from the time reflect this sentiment. Fans spoke of “thrills, spills & kick-ass bands” while praising the variety of genres—from punk and indie to acoustic folk and experimental rock.

Legacy and Decline

By 2006, the website and its affiliated events began to wind down. The changing landscape of digital music distribution, the rise of social media platforms like MySpace, and economic pressures began to displace the hyper-local gig economy. Still, 24RockFest left a tangible imprint on Manchester’s musical timeline.

The model it created—professional-grade shows for unsigned talent, blended with digital promotion and charitable activism—has since been emulated by modern collectives. The ethos of “platforming the underground” remains very much alive, even if the venues and platforms have changed.

Awards, Mentions, and Press Coverage

While 24RockFest did not receive major industry awards, its collaboration with festivals like the Manchester Irish Festival, Levenshulme Festival, Key 103’s KeyFest, and 104.9 Imagine FM’s Unsigned gave it a degree of institutional recognition.

Media coverage included:

• Channel M TV coverage of “In The City”

• BBC Radio 1 airplay for artists like “October”

• Local newspaper coverage from the Manchester Evening News

• Listings and ticketing via Ticketline.co.uk

These partnerships placed 24RockFest in the cultural bloodstream of early-2000s Manchester.

 

24RockFest.com was more than a website—it was a grassroots cultural movement that embraced the DIY ethos of Manchester’s musical heritage while nurturing the voices of tomorrow. Through venue partnerships, charitable concerts, talent competitions, and digital community-building, it carved out a legacy that still echoes in today’s independent scenes.

Though the site is now archived, the music, memories, and mission live on in the hearts of those who played, volunteered, or danced at its gigs. For every unknown band that found a crowd, every fan who discovered a new favorite act, and every child helped by a charity partnership, 24RockFest was a reminder of music’s enduring power to unite, uplift, and inspire.

 

 

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