sidelines 2026: A New Music Festival For Stockport

Good things come in twos. sidelines Phase 1.2 arrives Saturday 20th March. Our second test event is here. For 1.2, Bill Ryder Jones performs a rare solo piano and four-track set beneath the vaulted ceilings of the magnificent St Mary’s Parish Church, Stockport. We like our venues with history, atmosphere, and a bit of drama, and this one has all three. Stained glass and soaring acoustics set up the perfect backdrop for songs that sit somewhere between hope and heartbreak. This is the second of a small run of events - trying out ideas with some of Stockport's best-loved places and people. A taste of things to come, with our eyes on a larger festival down the line. More to come. Stay tuned as we’ll soon be announcing more venues and more free programming across Stockport on 20th March, so if you miss out on Friday, you’ll still have something exciting to stick in the diary. There’s light at the end of the ginnel.