Manchester Merch Market 2025: Who’s Playing and Selling This Weekend

Get the full scoop on the Manchester Merch Market lineup, venues, and schedule where bands sell merch commission-free.

What’s the Manchester Merch Market All About?

This Sunday, May 25, Manchester will buzz with its exciting Merch Market event, spearheaded by The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess. This unique market gives bands a chance to sell their merchandise directly to fans without any commission—meaning artists keep 100% of their earnings.

Entry is free, and the event kicks off at 11 AM across several cool venues including O2 Ritz Manchester, Gorilla, Dog Bowl, and more. Fans can expect a variety of artists running their own stalls, performing live, and even taking part in on-stage interviews.

Tim Burgess: The mastermind behind the Manchester Merch Market

Bands and Artists You Can Meet

The lineup is a brilliant mix of legendary and emerging acts. Some of the big names expected include:

• New Order
• A Certain Ratio
• BMX Bandits
• Inspiral Carpets
• Milltown Brothers
• Geneva Jacuzzi
• Jane Weaver
• Mark Gardener
• Mich Dulce & Her Midnight Callers
• Finn Forster
• Ruby J
• James Walsh
• PINS
• EEVAH
• Andy Votel
• Lissy Taylor

Several other bands and creatives will also be showcasing their merchandise, creating a vibrant marketplace filled with rare finds and artist interactions.

Venue Breakdown and Event Schedule

O2 Ritz Manchester

• Featured artists: Tim Burgess, New Order, Sea Fever, BMX Bandits, Inspiral Carpets, A Certain Ratio, Doves, James Walsh, and many more.
• Specialty stalls include Press On Vinyl, Swift Mastering, FairSound, Needle Mythology, and Wiaiwya Records.
• On-stage highlights:
  • 1:00 PM: Mark Gardener interview
  • 2:00 PM: Sea Fever live set
  • 3:00 PM: Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert with Dave Haslam interview
  • 5:00 PM: May Payne live
  • 6:00 PM: Tim Burgess live
  • 8:00 PM: Dave Haslam DJ set

Gorilla

• Artists and bands: Milltown Brothers, Deja Vega, Natalie McCool, PINS, Jane Weaver, Andy Votel, Stealing Sheep, Cabbage, Everything Everything, and more.
• Interview sessions with Dave Haslam and Amelia Fearon.
• Live shows starting in the evening:
  • 6:45 PM: Natalie McCool
  • 7:30 PM: Riding The Low
  • 8:15 PM: Milltown Brothers

BrickHouse Social

Hosts: Hannah Ashcroft, Cases, Ventrelles, Finn Forster, Sonic Boom Festival, Analogue Trash, The Folk Drama, The Froobz, Dead Stilettos, and more.

Dog Bowl

Performing and selling merch: The Cavs, The Maddocks, Spangled, 2 Headed Horse, Lissy Taylor, EEVAH, Dirty Laces, Bradford, The Rosadocs, Timbola, Star Shaped, The Zangwills.

Mother Marys

Scheduled performances include The Rosadocs (11:00 AM), Cloudburst (1:00 PM), The Froobz (2:00 PM), Mich Dulce and Her Midnight Callers (3:00 PM), Goo (4:00 PM), Deja Vega (7:00 PM), and Two Headed Horse (8:00 PM).

The Tunnel of Love

A day full of surprises and music:

• 11:30 AM: Tom A. Smith
• 12:15 PM: James Walsh
• 1:00 PM: Ruby J
• 2:30 PM: The Folk Drama
• 4:00 PM: Chris Bridgett
• 5:30 PM: Mar Gunnarsson

Barney Williams and special guests will play Terry Hall’s piano throughout the day. Stalls hosted by Goo, James Walsh, and others.

Tunnel of Love venue map for the Merch Market

Overall Merch Market venue layout

Special Highlights and Merchandise Rarities

Tim Burgess will be hosting his own stall, offering merch and rare collectibles from his personal stash. Fans can also grab exclusive Charlatans ‘Sproston Green’ sports bags before they become available to order online.

Even bands that can’t attend are contributing merch to the market, including rare items from Doves, Pulp, The Vaccines, and Stiff Little Fingers.

Why This Market Matters

This event grew out of Tim Burgess’s Vinyl Adventures record fair in 2021 and his longstanding campaign against venues taking unfair cuts from merch sales. He’s emphasized that many bands rely on merch income to survive, and some venues taking up to 25% of sales is a major issue.

This isn’t about The Charlatans. It’s about those bands who need merch income to survive. Some places take 25 per cent. A quarter of the full selling price. Vinyl doesn’t even have that markup to begin with.

— Tim Burgess

Although over 400 venues have signed up to the ‘100% Venues’ initiative to stop taking merch commissions, many still haven’t joined, making events like this crucial.

Burgess also noted that the issue is more about fairness than money, highlighting how fans often significantly support venues via bar sales during gigs, yet venues still take a cut of merch revenue.

Get Ready for a Music and Merch Extravaganza

Manchester Merch Market promises a fantastic day packed with music, interviews, rare merchandise, and a strong sense of community supporting artists directly. Whether you're hunting for a vinyl gem, unique band tee, or want to catch live intimate performances, this event is a must-visit for music lovers.

FAQs About Manchester Merch Market

• Who can attend the Manchester Merch Market?
  Anyone can attend as entry is free and open to the public.
• Are bands selling their own merchandise?
  Yes, all bands run their own stalls and keep 100% of the sales.
• Is there live music during the event?
  Absolutely! Multiple venues feature live performances throughout the day.
• Can I interview artists or is it just performances?
  Both! On-stage interviews with artists and industry figures are scheduled between sets.
• Are there opportunities to buy exclusive or rare band items?
  Yes, many artists including Tim Burgess offer rare and limited-edition merch for sale.

Shop your favorite album cover poster and band merch at our store Architeg Prints to keep the spirit of live music alive at home!