The Matinee stage at Parklife was closed off and emptied
20:42, 15 Jun 2025Updated 21:10, 15 Jun 2025
Crowds have been forced to gather outside the Matinee stage after it has been paused by bosses(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
Parklife festival-goers have spoken of the moment they were told to leave as a stage was suddenly shut down on Sunday night.
The Matinee stage was closed off by security teams at around 6.30pm, with crowds emptied.
The dance stage, which has hosted the likes of Malugi, Interplanetary Criminal, Alex Farrell, Mella Dee and Prospa over the weekend, had been due to host Josh Baker from 6.30pm until 8pm.
However, he has not been able to play, telling fans he could not take to the stage due to ‘reason outside of my control’.
Festival-goers who were inside the Matinee stage at the time have said those inside were ‘all packed together’ and they were told to leave for a health and safety ’emergency’.
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Lizzie Brown, 18, Birmingham, said: “I was in there and they were letting too many people in. We were all packed together, but stuck.
“This man on the mic said everyone needs to leave. He said it was a health and safety emergency.
The Matinee stage in Parklife 2025 has been closed off(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
“When we were coming out we had to climb over the barrier to get out. He [Josh Baker] should have been on the big stage.”
Photos from outside the Matinee stage tonight showed hundreds of people waiting outside, with security teams shutting off the stage.
Robin, 21, from Dublin travelled just to see Josh Baker and Chris Stussy. She was waiting at the front of the queue but wasn’t let in.
“It was overcrowded. People were genuinely hanging out of the crowds,” she said.
The Matinee stage in Parklife 2025 has been shut(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
“Apparently security don’t know what’s going on or if something happened. We have been waiting for two hours, since 6.30pm.”
In a pop-up message issued via the official Parklife app, festival-goers were told the stage had been ‘paused’ due to ‘safety advice’.
The full message said: “Upon advice of the PL safety team, the show on the Matinee stage has been paused. We will update asap.”
Dutch DJ Chris Stussy was due to end the festivities at the Heaton Park stage, but it is unknown if his set will go ahead.
The Manchester Evening News has reached out to Parklife for more information on the situation.