Normally, my time with a vehicle is limited to a week-long press loan, which is enough to test performance, comfort and tech, but nowhere near long enough to say anything meaningful about how it holds up in day-to-day use over time. This extended stint with a seven-year-old Model 3 has been very different – and in a good way.
Across my time with the car, I didn’t experience a single mechanical or technical fault. No phantom warning lights, no glitches that needed a hard reset, no electrical gremlins lurking in the background. The infotainment system remained stable, the driver-assist features worked consistently, and every powered convenience item – from windows to mirrors to heated seats – behaved exactly as they should.
In an age where many buyers are understandably wary of complex, software-heavy EVs, that fault-free run is worth underlining.
Crucially, the way the car drove at the end of the test was virtually indistinguishable from how it felt on day one. Acceleration remained just as eye-opening as ever; that trademark Model 3 Performance shove never dulled, and there was no sense that the battery or motors were starting to flag. There was no obvious sign of degradation in day-to-day driving, either in how quickly it charged or in how far it would comfortably go between top-ups.
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Of course, my experience is just one viewpoint. It’s clear from owner forums and social media that not every Tesla story is as straightforwardly positive as this, but I can only speak for the car I had on my driveway, and in this case it was as good when it went back as it was when it arrived. For a seven-year-old performance EV that’s now sitting firmly in used-car territory, that’s encouraging.
This is where Tesla’s Certified Pre-Owned programme comes into sharper focus.
Buying a used EV still feels like a leap of faith for many drivers, particularly when it comes to battery health and the sheer amount of technology on board.
Tesla tries to bridge that gap with its CPO scheme, which adds an extra layer of reassurance on top of the brand’s existing battery and drive unit coverage.
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Every Certified Pre-Owned Tesla is put through a detailed inspection and refurbishment process by Tesla’s own technicians, covering core areas such as the battery pack, brakes, suspension, charging hardware, electrical systems and interior condition, as well as verifying that the car has no record of structural damage or airbag deployment. For buyers who don’t want to rely solely on a third-party inspection or dealer promise, that factory-backed assessment carries weight.
On top of this, CPO cars benefit from a Used Vehicle Limited Warranty, which applies once the original basic new-car warranty has expired. This covers defects in materials or workmanship for a set period or mileage, and runs alongside the longer Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty.
For as long as that used warranty is active, Tesla’s Roadside Assistance across Europe also comes as part of the package, providing additional peace of mind.
Taken together, my time with this 2019 Model 3 Performance and the structure of Tesla’s Certified Pre-Owned scheme paint a largely reassuring picture for anyone considering a used example.
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The car itself proved that an early Model 3 can shrug off several years and a fair chunk of mileage without losing its sparkle. The CPO programme, meanwhile, helps reduce the perceived risk for those coming from more traditional petrol or diesel cars, offering both a thorough pre-sale check and meaningful backup if issues emerge later. While I wouldn’t claim that every used Tesla will be flawless, this particular car showed that a well-looked-after, certified Model 3 Performance can still deliver speed, comfort and cutting-edge tech.
Hundreds of partygoers were forced to flee a dance club in southwestern Germany Sunday when a fire broke out in the early hours.
None of the 750 guests were injured in the incident in Kehl, a town near the French border, emergency services said.
Three people were treated at the scene for shock, police said.
The club was identified in local media posts as the K Club Kehl, which is a popular venue for hip-hop music. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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At least 80 personnel from the fire department, police, and emergency medical services attended the incident, German news agency dpa reported.
A fire at a nightclub in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve, which killed dozens of people, was linked by investigators to sparklers on Champagne bottles.
The future of the MAGA movement was once again in focus on Saturday as the results of a straw poll were announced at the annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Matt Schlapp’s yearly Trumpfest was in Texas this year, eschewing its typical home in National Harbor, Maryland. A gathering of DC-area conservatives, the event is typically well-attended by the Tea Party wing of the GOP, while more mainstream Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill have long avoided it.
For 2028, the convention’s attendees are eyeing Vice President J.D. Vance as the likely successor to Donald Trump for control over the Republican Party, though the initial results suggest that the one-man dominance of the party’s leadership is finally coming to an end, at least as far as the party’s nominee is concerned.
JD Vance and Marco Rubio are the favorites to win MAGA’s support in 2028, according to the CPAC Straw Poll (Getty)
Vance led Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the CPAC Straw Poll, the annual poll of the conference’s attendees, which the vice president won over MAGAworld puppeteer Steve Bannon last year by a more decisive margin.
Rubio trailed Vance by less than 20 points, 53 percent to 35 percent, in Saturday’s poll, with every other mentioned Republican at 2 percent of the vote or lower.
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The poll’s results suggest that Trump’s own chosen running mate remains the obvious favorite among the president’s loyalists.
Vance’s is especially popular with younger voters in the party, while Rubio’s MAGA-fied traditional conservatism has its own sphere of support, which could result in a closely contested battle for control of the party in 2028.
2025 marked the first time in nearly a decade that Donald Trump didn’t win the CPAC straw poll for the next election cycle (AP)
CPAC’s straw poll hasn’t endorsed anyone besides Donald Trump since 2016, the year he first ran for office. Sen. Ted Cruz won the poll that year; a year prior, it was won by Sen. Rand Paul.
In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the president still ran away with the vote at the conservative conference, beating his closest rival, Ron DeSantis, by wide margins each time.
By the time his run for president was underway in 2024, he was back to dominating the polls with more than 90 percent of the vote.
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DeSantis’s star has clearly faded within the Republican Party, and on Saturday, he tied Donald Trump Jr. at 2 percent support in the poll.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis registered just 2 percent support in the poll, tied with Donald Trump Jr (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Vance’s rise and uncertain dominance of the post-Trump MAGA movement come as he has taken a public-facing role in the second Trump administration, with the clear aim of setting himself up as the next leader of American conservative politics.
That has led to risky moments for the vice president, including an on-camera shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in early 2025.
This year, his discomfort with the president’s military operations in Iran was reported, and his past opposition to interventionism has forced Vance to make an awkward about-face.
The vice president remains a relatively untested political candidate as well, which may complicate his bid for control of the party in Trump’s wake.
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His 2022 bid for Senate was punctuated by the endorsement of Trump, whose support catapulted Vance into the lead and allowed the Hillbilly Elegy author to run away with the GOP nomination.
Vance’s greatest personal political victory took place later that year, when, with the support of Trump, he won a decisive victory over Tim Ryan, a now-former congressman, in a year when Joe Biden’s Democrats suffered midterm defeats in line with historical trends.
Vance has never run for office without Trump’s endorsement, boosting his chances with the MAGA base, and it’s not entirely clear that the vice president would automatically win Trump’s support in 2028 if Rubio is also in the running.
The vice president remains the clear favorite, however, for both Trump’s support and overall victory in the primary.
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The value of Trump’s endorsement among independents in 2028 is also unclear, however, as the president’s approval rating continues to drop and now sits at just 41 percent in the latest Fox News poll, which was released this month. In other surveys, his approval rating is even lower.
Bath’s heavyweight bench came to the rescue as they narrowed the gap on Prem leaders Northampton Saints to just a point with a comeback win over Sale Sharks at the CorpAcq Stadium.
The champions’ rotated team trailed 19-7 at the interval but the cavalry changed the course of the contest and with England A hooker Kepueli Tuipulotu hugely influential they turned up the power to score four second-half tries.
The match-winning score came from another of the bench men – No 8 Alfie Barbeary – with nine minutes left.
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Sale engineered a great position to steal the win late on but George Ford, playing his first game since February 21 after being dropped by England following the Six Nations defeat to Ireland, lost control of the ball and the chance slipped away.
It was Sharks’ ninth defeat of a disappointing league campaign.
Sale Sharks: J Carpenter; T Roebuck, R du Preez (M Louw 48), R Ma’asi-White, T O’Flaherty; G Ford, R Quirke (G Warr 60); B Rodd (R McEachran 60), L Cowan-Dickie (E Caine 60), J Harper (T Raymont 60), E van Rhyn, B Bamber, S Dugdale (D du Preez 57), N Jibulu (J Gilmore 72), J Vermeulen.
Bath: T de Glanville; J Cokanasiga, L Hennessey, C Redpath, W Muir; S Carreras, T Carr-Smith (B van der Linde 60); S Kirk (B Obano 35), D Frost (K Tuipulotu 41), V Sela (T du Toit 35), W Jeanes (E Richards 53), R Molony (C Ewels 54-72), T Hill, E Staddon, M Reid (A Barbeary 60).
Dates for putting out the bins over the Easter bank holiday may change in your area
Easter is here, meaning it’s the time of year to indulge in lots of chocolate and hot cross buns. It’s also the time to enjoy a few days off as there is the long weekend for bank holiday.
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This year, Good Friday is on April 3, with Easter Monday on April 6. The day you put out the bins may change over the bank holiday weekend in Cambridgeshire.
Here are the days you will need to put your bins out over the bank holiday, depending on your council area:
Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council
Those living in the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council areas would normally expect to have their bins collected on Friday, April 3. However, this has been changed to Monday, March 30.
Fenland District Council
From Friday, April 3, people living in Fenland will have their bins collected a day later, with household waste bins set to be collected on Saturday, April 4, instead of Good Friday. Normal bin collections will resume from April 13.
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Huntingdonshire District Council
Those living in the Huntingdonshire District Council area will see no changes to their bin collection dates over Easter. Bins will be collected on Monday, April 6.
East Cambridgeshire District Council
Dates for bins being collected in the East Cambridgeshire District Council area have been changed for several days. These are:
Friday, April 3 will be collected on Tuesday, April 7;
Monday, April 6 will be collected on Wednesday, April 8;
Tuesday, April 7 will be collected on Thursday, April 9;
Wednesday, April 8 will be collected on Friday, April 10;
Thursday, April 9 will be collected on Saturday, April 11;
Friday, April 10 will be collected on Monday, April 13;
Monday, April 13 will be collected on Tuesday, April 14;
Tuesday, April 14 will be collected on Wednesday, April 15;
Wednesday, April 15 will be collected on Thursday, April 16;
Thursday, April 16 will be collected on Friday, April 17;
Friday, April 17 will be collected on Saturday, April 18.
Peterborough City Council
People living in the Peterborough area will have their bins collected as normal on Friday, April 3. Bins are not collected on Monday, so Easter Monday will not be affected.
Susan Rae, 58, lost over 40 pounds using the Simple app’s intermittent fasting approach, describing it as a ‘total life-changing’ experience
Eleanor Fleming and Bethan Shufflebotham Senior Fashion and Beauty Writer
17:33, 29 Mar 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
The pressure to revamp health routines can feel daunting, particularly when quick fixes and restrictive diets promise dramatic results but seldom deliver long-term change. For many, the cycle of repeatedly starting anew becomes tiring, which is why more people are opting for simpler, more sustainable approachesthat fit into real life.
That’s precisely what attracted one user to the Simple app, which has quietly amassed a loyal following due to its personalised plans and emphasis on realistic habits rather than extremes. Instead of strict calorie counting or eliminating entire food groups, the Simple appfocuses on small, manageable changes.
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It’s worth mentioning that new users can currently benefit from significant savings, with up to 80% off plans using the code ‘REACH’. There’s also a two-for-one offer that allows them to share their subscription with a friend or family member.
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User Susan Rae, 58, has experienced incredible results with Simple, and she said: “I have lost over 40 pounds and 40 inches from my body using the Simple app.”
What began as a casual download quickly evolved into a complete lifestyle shift. She continued: “I started using it 284 days ago, when I found it on Facebook, and I downloaded it, thinking it was going to be an app for women over 40 to do yoga, and I quickly found the intermittent fasting component and things took off from there.”
Instead of strict calorie counting or cutting out entire food groups, the Simple app centres around small, manageable changes
Within just a couple of months, she had already achieved her target. “It started in December, and by February, I had hit my goal weight,” she explained, adding that she has since gone even further without feeling restricted, reports the Mirror.
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“I’m 15 pounds less than my goal weight today through no effort, no grinding, no obsessing.” Like many, Susan had battled with her weight for years and had growing health concerns before trying the app. She said her cholesterol had been rising and her blood sugar levels were becoming a concern, but since making the switch to Simple, she has noticed significant improvements.
“My energy has been through the roof. I feel a million times better,” she said. At the core of the app is its personalised approach. After taking a short quiz, users receive a tailored plan designed around their goals, lifestyle and preferences. It includes features such as intermittent fasting tracking, daily workout plans and easy food logging, whether by typing, voice or simply taking a photo.
A standout feature is Avo, the app’s AI-powered coach,which provides real-time advice, recipe ideas and support. Susan described it as a game-changer in helping her stay on track and make better choices without feeling deprived.
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The platform also avoids rigid dieting rules, instead focusing on behaviour changes and sustainable habits. Users are encouraged to build routines that work for them, making it easier to maintain results long-term rather than slipping back into old patterns. Of course, intermittent fasting may not work for everyone but Susan has achieved impressive results.
Speaking about her advice to others, Susan added: “Lean in, lean into the program, lean into the community if you enjoy that stuff. You can do this, and it will be so worth it. Total life-changing, game-changing experience.”
She added: “I want you to know that if I can do it, anyone can do it, because I have spent a lifetime struggling with weight and trying to find something that felt easy enough to continue.”
For an alternative, there’s Noom, a weight loss platform that focuses on mindful eating, not strict diets. Highly scientific, Noom offers plenty of support to clients, stating it creates ‘fun’ personalised courses for people – with pricing depending on the plan and the individual.
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Or there’s MyFitnessPal– a food and fitness tracker designed to help people meet their targets and monitor their nutritional intake. There are premium options, but also some free sections available on the app.
Those who are using Simpleshared their views on Trustpilot, too, with one person saying: “This app is one of the easiest ones to see if your food is on target without counting calories. It also reminds you when your eating window that you chose starts and ends. Must say it’s worth picking a coach. Really positive experience and gives you ideas on how to tweak what you eat to make it better for a balanced meal.”
Another user shared their progress, stating: “Absolutely amazing app. I have lost over one stone using this. There is always help at hand when I had my struggles. The app is very easy to use. Love it.”
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One individual outlined what they’d like to see improved, saying: “Honestly a super supportive app that doesn’t make me feel bad if I miss a day or something. I do wish it had more options for drinks (lemonade for example is hard to track accurately) or an option to write in a drink or activities. Otherwise it’s great.”
However, another user was particularly impressed with the customer service, writing: “Results are key in my 5-star review. The excellent customer service is a HUGE plus; and the intuitive, interactive interface actively encourages users to try harder, without shaming. A few tweaks to customisation (diet options, exercise editing) will given an even richer experience.”
Key points after ninth week of Noah Donohoe inquest | Belfast Live
Need to know
The inquest into the death of the Belfast schoolboy, which is being heard with a jury, has finished its ninth week.
(Image: PA Media)
Police dedicated a “significant amount of officers” to search for Noah Donohoe in the days after the schoolboy went missing, the inquest heard this week.
A police witness told Belfast Coroner’s Court that he believed the high risk level of the case was recognised quickly. The inquest resumed on Monday morning with evidence from Inspector Bell, who was a sergeant in June 2020 and had been involved in the investigation to find Noah.
Inspector Bell told the inquest he had been carrying out inquiries in Northwood Road on Tuesday June 23, two days after the 14-year-old had gone missing. He said he had observed CCTV footage on a mobile phone of a youth cycling naked in the area. The officer told the jury that the previous day, he was the morning duty sergeant in Lisburn Road police station when he was told by an inspector he would be co-ordinating the investigation.
Inspector Bell gave a second day of evidence on Tuesday when was questioned as to why a map showing the last-known location of Noah’s phone was not provided to CCTV operators.
A police officer this week denied that “the urgency dropped off” the search for CCTV after Noah’s body was found. The inquest heard from PNSI Detective Sergeant Kitchen, who was tasked with gathering CCTV in the days of Noah’s disappearance and after his body had been found. He said his task when he was brought on to the case on June 24, when Noah had been missing for three days, was “continuing to build a picture to what happened prior to his disappearance”, but the primary purpose was “to find out where he now was”.
Also this week, a PSNI officer admitted to missing Noahon two CCTV cameras he is now known to have travelled past.. Jurors heard on Wednesday that an officer conducting initial searches on CCTV “fast-forwarded” footage on some cameras, leading to a suggestion from Noah’s mother’s legal team he was “not paying it the greatest level of attention”.
And this week a police officer said he cannot explain why he stated in evidence at the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe that he had been tasked to search for a green coat belonging to the missing schoolboy. The constable initially told the jury at he had searched a flat for the missing coat, but later conceded he “didn’t believe” he had been told about the item. The officer also told the inquest he had been “briefed” by a team at Musgrave Street police station in Belfast before giving evidence on Thursday.
This type of soreness is often felt a day or two after exercise. Muscles can feel tight, tender and a bit uncomfortable when you move.
This happens because your muscles have been challenged in a new way. Small changes take place inside the muscle as it repairs and adapts. Over time, this is what makes you stronger.
A bit of soreness is nothing to worry about. It shows your body is responding to the work you have done. The key is learning the difference between normal soreness and something that needs more attention.
Normal soreness feels like a dull ache or stiffness in the muscles. It usually improves as you move around and eases after a few days. You can still go about your daily tasks, even if you feel a bit slower than usual.
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Pain is different. Sharp or sudden pain during exercise is a sign to stop. Pain in joints rather than muscles can also be a warning. If something does not feel right, it is always best to ease off and give your body time to recover.
Recovery is just as important as the exercise itself. This is where many people go wrong. They either do too much too soon or try to push through discomfort. Rest allows the body to repair and come back stronger.
There are simple ways to help with recovery. Gentle movement is one of the best. A short walk or light stretching can reduce stiffness and help muscles feel better.
Staying hydrated also helps. Muscles need fluid to recover properly.
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Food plays a role too. Eating enough protein supports muscle repair. This does not need to be complicated. Simple meals with good quality protein will do the job.
Sleep is another key factor. This is when the body does most of its repair work. Poor sleep can make soreness feel worse and slow down recovery.
The aim is to find a balance. Challenge your body, but give it time to recover. If you are always sore, you may be doing too much. If you never feel anything, you may need to push a little more.
Listen to your body. Build up gradually. Stay consistent.
Aldi is known for copying familiar brands, and I wanted to see how it compared to the real deal
There is nothing quite like a cheeky Nando’s at the weekend with your friends – but sometimes you just can’t justify the prices.
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With a craving for Nandos’ but a desire to stay cosy on a cold night, I decided to try a selection of Aldi’s Roosters range, which was recently brought back in store. The range includes mac & cheese, peri peri chicken thigh fillet sizzlers, peri peri vegan mayo and of course, the classic peri peri fries.
Aldi’s Rooster range has clearly taken inspiration from Nando’s, with the peri-peri seasonings, spicy sauces, and classic sides. In theory, it is a brilliant idea – offering a Nando’s style meal at supermarket prices sounds like the ideal night in. However I was eager to see how it compared to the real thing.
Each dish was relatively straight forward to cook. I put the chicken in the oven for around 30 minutes, but I found that it needed a little bit longer to crisp up. I put the fries in my air fryer which cooked in less than 15-minutes, and the mac & cheese took around four minutes in the microwave.
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First, the Mac & Cheese. This dish looked tasty from the get go, and I was excited to delve in. I fell in love after my first mouthful. It was creamy, easy to cook, and the perfect consistency. It was light, saucy, and I personally think that this is comparable to Nando’s.
However, I have one key point of feedback. Where were all the crispy ciabatta chunks scattered over the top? It needed a larger coating of the breadcrumbs to really finesse the dish. That texture of the chunks, combined with the creaminess of the sauce, would have been a winner.
Next, the main event – the chicken. I can sincerely say I enjoyed this. The spicy marinade was flavoursome, the medium heat hot sauce was divine, and the chicken was juicy and tender.
Possibly the most unusual and slightly disappointing product for me was the peri peri vegan mayo. Aldi, in support of inclusivity, offers an egg-free sauce. Sadly, this came at the cost of flavour. The peri flavours did come through but it still felt as though something was missing.
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My favourite item, and one I will definitely be buying again, was the peri peri fries. The seasoning, combined with the crunchiness of the chips, almost had me believing I was eating in Nando’s. Aldi truly has mastered the signature peri-peri flavour.
The chicken thigh fillets that came with a spicy peri-peri sauce cost me £3.29, the mac & cheese was £1.79, the peri-peri fries were £1.49, and the vegan peri peri mayo was 99p. This cost me a total of £7.56.
Other options from Aldi’s Roosters selection include lemon & herb half chicken, mini corn on the cobs, garlic ciabatta squares, spicy mixed olives, the popular spicy rice, mighty peas (with chilli and herbs), and coleslaws.
Overall, I would say this was an impressive effort from Aldi – and I had no problems polishing off my entire meal. There were even moments where it felt as though I was eating a Nando’s takeawy.
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My standard order at Nando’s is a classic Chicken Butterfly at a medium heat level, peri-salted chips and I switch between the PERI-mac & cheese and the spicy rice. So I was able to recreate my order relatively well with the Aldi Rooster range – and it’s certainly a good alternative to going to the restaurant and spending £16 on a meal.
Even though I had to prepare the food myself instead of having it brought to my table, it required minimal effort to cook. I will definitely be back to give this selection another go, and test out some of the other yummy options like the spicy rice.
Indie rock legends Bloc Party debuted three new tracks – Coming on Strong, Love Bombed and Pigwig to the crowd at Band on the Wall on Friday (March 27).
Bloc Party at Band On The Wall, Manchester (Image: Shirlaine Forrest/BBC Radio 6 Music)
They were supported by garage rock band The Horrors in the smaller venue which has a maximum capacity of 520 people.
This year’s focus on smaller independent venues saw Yard Act take to the stage at YES’s Pink Room – supported by Sorry.
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Leeds quartet Yard Act performed hits like Dark Days, The Overload and We Make Hits which got the whole audience singing along to every word.
Yard Act at YES, Manchester (Image: Shirlaine Forrest/BBC Radio 6 Music)
The rising stars of the North’s post-punk scene then cracked into some newer songs with frontman James Smith thanking the audience for their patience.
When they left the stage the calls for an encore were enormous and the band eventually returned for two more songs.
The 2026 edition of the festival places a spotlight on independent venues across Greater Manchester, with events running from 25–28 March at spaces including Band on the Wall, YES and, new for this year, the Eccles Town Hall Ballroom.
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The festival also features new partnerships with local promoters FaT OuT and Homobloc.
BBC Radio 6 Music, the UK’s most‑listened‑to digital‑only station with a weekly audience of 2.4 million, will make performances and DJ sets available on BBC Sounds throughout the festival.
Highlights will also appear on BBC iPlayer and BBC Music’s YouTube channel.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which began on 28 February, have killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as several other top Iranian officials. More than 1,551 Iranian civilians have also died so far as a result of the bombings, according to HRANA, a US-based group that monitors human rights violations in Iran.
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