“It’s the starting pistol for festival season” - Sacha Lord on Parklife 2022, as Manchester’s biggest music event prepares to make its grand return

When Parklife was first launched in 2010 it was a much smaller affair. Held over at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield, it was just one day, 20,000 tickets were sold, and Ian Brown performed the night before. Not too shabby. But 12 years on Parklife is now a whole other beast.

So, what is it like to be the face of what is now the UK’s biggest metropolitan festival? “Pulling your hair out and firefighting,” says Parklife co-founder Sacha Lord, who is working from home on the day we talk, and feeling slightly fragile following a trip to the Etihad to watch Liam Gallagher’s homecoming gig the night before.

Though, would you expect anything less from Manchester’s night time economy advisor, who has spent most of his career championing the city’s music industry. Owner of Sankeys during the early ’00s and founder of clubber’s sanctuary The Warehouse Project, Lord’s impact on Manchester has been far-reaching to say the least.

As we speak, he’s mindful that in just over a weeks time, 80,000 festival-goers will pour through the gates at Heaton Park - Parklife’s home since 2013 - to watch a huge line-up of international stars including 50 Cent, Tyler, The Creator, Megan Thee Stallion and Lewis Capaldi, to name just a few.

They’ll be joined by dancefloor royalty Bicep, who’ll headline The Valley Stage for the very first time, whilst Chase and Status, Jamie xx, Arlo Park and Headie One are also set to appear. Elsewhere, DJ sets across the weekend come courtesy of Four Tet, Eric Prydz and Peggy Gou, amongst others.

Back in its usual June spot following a September stint in 2021 due to Covid restrictions, the Parklife boss is understandably apprehensive. “It’s always mixed emotions for me, I’m excited but also extremely nervous - it