JOHNNIE WALKER X NTS RADIO –
Championing Pioneering Music Movements
MANCHESTER’S ICONIC VENUES HOST UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS
Manchester, a city with profound musical heritage and relentless creative spirit, proved the perfect backdrop for the inaugural Keep Walking Live weekend. Across five dynamic events at four key venues, including Soup, Eastern Bloc, New Century, and Impiety Hour, the festival delivered an extensive programme of DJ workshops, electrifying club nights, captivating live shows, and engaging community-led daytime events. Discerning music fans explored Manchester’s rich past, present, and future sound, creating a truly immersive experience. The event also featured a "WALKING TOUR: A Walk Through the Cultural Story of Manchester’s Music," led by local legend MC Chunky, offering exclusive access to AMBERS and WAREHOUSE PROJECT, tracing the city's musical identity.
CHAMPIONING ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
Underscoring a bold commitment to nurturing talent, Johnnie Walker and NTS proudly donated 100% of all net ticket proceeds to registered charity Brighter Sound Ltd. This vital investment will enrich the UK's dynamic music landscape and cultivate its future pioneers, directly supporting the next generation of music talent in the North. The initiative champions pioneering music shaping UK culture and reinforces the importance of strong grassroots infrastructure by collaborating with independent venues and local communities.
FRIDAY
SOUP KICKED OFF THE CELEBRATION
The weekend kicked off on Friday 13th March at the iconic Northern Quarter venue SOUP. Garage pioneer DJ EZ headlined, taking audiences on an electrifying journey through UK underground dance culture, with a focus on bassline, garage, and house. He was joined by Manchester's own Anz and Finn, a beloved regular in the city's clubs, alongside other local talents. The opening night successfully set a vibrant tone for a weekend rooted in both legacy and forward-facing sounds.
SATURDAY: DAYTIME
A DAY OF DIVERSITY AND DISCOVERY AT EASTERN BLOC RECORDS
Saturday started off with a dynamic daytime programme unfold across the city. Free DJ workshops, hosted by NTS Radio residents Finn and Abena, offered aspiring talent hands-on experience in broadcasting and live mixing. A daytime showcase at Eastern Bloc Records, a cornerstone of Manchester’s music scene for over four decades, spotlighted the depth of the city’s DJ community with captivating all-vinyl sets from pioneering DJs including Kim Lana, Annabel Fraser, and Eastern Bloc's esteemed Rick Donohue. Additionally, attendees experienced the "WALKING TOUR: A Walk Through the Cultural Story of Manchester’s Music," led by local legend MC Chunky, which traced the spaces and stories that have shaped the city’s musical identity, including exclusive access to AMBERS and WAREHOUSE PROJECT.
SATURDAY: NIGHTTIME
NEW CENTURY HALL IGNITES WITH AFRO-FUSION AND JAZZ
Saturday evening culminated in a standout night at New Century Hall, which hosted a vibrant celebration of UK afro-fusion and contemporary jazz. Co-headlined by the MOBO-nominated collective KOKOROKO, who delivered their joyous horn-led live show, the night also featured a compelling live performance from rising artist Venna and his band. Support from Manchester-based DJs Kusasa, Charisse C, and Captain Lulaz ensured a high-energy, cross-genre dancefloor moment, successfully blending soulful melodies with dynamic rhythms.
SUNDAY
REFLECTION AND CONNECTION AT THE IMPIETY HOUR
Our landmark takeover concluded on Sunday 15th March at The Impiety Hour, the experimental space from the minds behind The White Hotel, with the intimate, community-led 'Sunday Slow Down'. The day featured listening sessions and panels with local figureheads, leading into an evening finale headlined by Nubya Garcia, one of the UK’s most influential contemporary jazz saxophonists and composers. Her special, stripped-back performance, bridging jazz, dub, and Afro-Caribbean traditions, was powerfully supported by Manchester collective Space Afrika and genre-fluid artist Oriki. This created a poignant closing moment, centered on reflection, connection, and community, beautifully celebrating Manchester’s creative energy in its most intimate form.
WHAT'S COMING
JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL IN MUSIC
The rest of 2026 will see Johnnie Walker continue its mission to support music moments at every level — from pioneering movements to global ambassadors — across festivals, venues and new music-led projects. Through Keep Walking Live, Johnnie Walker Black Label is supporting culture from within, rather than observing from the sidelines. Over summer, we'll turn up the volume further, appearing at some of the UK’s most loved festivals. But it doesn't stop there: we’ll continue to champion music movements by collaborating with culturally vital spaces, partners and projects that act as true grounds for creation. Sign up to be first to know about updates on Johnnie Walker’s Keep Walking Live initiative.
JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL
Johnnie Walker Black Label is a rich, smooth blended Scotch Whisky made using only single malt and grain whiskies. It spends 12 years in a cask growing into a vibrant body of flavour. The results are deep layers of sweet fruit, spice, and vanilla – all wrapped in a cloak of smoke.
