Ahead of Outbreak Festival 2024 which takes place in Manchester this weekend, I’ve put together a list of five must see acts at this year’s festival. This year sees the event returning to the B.E.C Arena, after last year which took place at Mayfield Depot however, 2024’s main difference is the inclusion of an outdoor main stage for Saturday and Sunday. With an unbelievable lineup, fans will be treated to three days of hardcore, hip hop and everything in-between.

DEMONSTRATION OF POWER

Glaswegian hardcore outfit Demonstration Of Power were easily one of my biggest surprises and highlights of last year’s Outbreak festival. I have been waiting to get the chance to catch them again in a live setting and I can’t think of anywhere better than at Outbreak once again. Their set last year was truly breathtaking from minute one with destructive riffs and one of the most engaging frontmen I saw all weekend. I can’t wait for their set to witness that chaos they bring once again. The are headlining the Third Stage on Sunday at 20:00 and I encourage everyone to give them a chance if they aren’t planning to already as I’m sure it will be something special.

JPEGMAFIA

Over the last few years JPEGMAFIA has not only made his name as one of the most interesting, unique and creative rap artists out, but also as having one of the most explosive live hip-hop shows you can get the chance to see. I’ve been lucky enough to see JPEGMAFIA live on two separate occasions, and I can say with confidence that there is no one else like him in a live setting. The man puts his all into his live performances with non-stop energy throughout, equipped with just himself and his laptop. With the release of his new single don’t rely on other men and talks of a new album on the way, JPEGMAFIA’s Outbreak set could be fans first time to hear new tracks live amongst fan favourites and live show staples such as Baby I’m Bleeding and HAZARD DUTY PAY.

CHAT PILE

Noise Rock and Sludge Metal group Chat Pile (pictured) play Outbreak Festival on the Saturday at 21:00 on the Second Stage. With their critically acclaimed 2022 release God’s Country, I have been waiting to get the chance to see the band and experience some of those songs live. Chat Pile’s music blurs the line between intense, sombre and even scary at times with eerie, haunting riffs paired with frontman Raygun Busch’s erratic yet engrossing vocals. Their set will definitely be one to remember with the band reported to have their follow up to God’s Country out later this year. Whilst the band have multiple songs I’m excited to see, it’s the groups fantastic critique on the Government’s lack of help towards the homelessness issue, Why that I am mostly anticipating to catch live.

MANNEQUIN PUSSY

Mannequin Pussy offer some nice contrast at the festival with their newest album I Got Heaven blending Indie Rock and Hardcore together seamlessly to create one of my personal favourite albums of the year so far. Their set is one I’m eager to see to hear some of those songs from their newest album really explode in the live setting. The band are set to go on a massive tour of the United States following their appearance at Outbreak 2024 as well as a second leg of Europe and UK dates. Their set is at 15:20 on the Main Stage on Sunday.

REDVEIL

Redveil is one of the most exciting young rap artists around at the moment, with him first making waves with the release of his 2020 album Niagara which he released at the age of 16. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength with his amazing follow up record Learn 2 Swim and with him even outshining his peers with fantastic guest verses, most notably on last year’s Kingdom Hearts Key which appeared on JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown’s collab album Scaring The Hoes. Redveil’s verse on the track was a true highlight on the album as a whole showing he can stand up with some of the most critically acclaimed and well-respected artists in his field. Whilst I’m excited to hear tracks from his previously mentioned albums, it’s songs such as F2G and Black Enuff which appeared on his 2023 EP Playing w/ Fire that I am anticipating the most to see live during his set at Outbreak 2024. Make sure to get down early on the Friday to catch his set at 15:50.