Inside NightGarden 2025: Manchester's Hidden Audio Visual Festival

Image Credit: RFW Photo

Step into something truly unique this summer as NightGarden lights up Trafford, Manchester. Created by multimedia artist Bryony Simcox, this immersive festival is a celebration of audio-visual delights, creativity, and connection with nature. Hidden away in the industrial hinterlands of Greater Manchester, the experience transforms a tucked-away ex-garden centre into a glowing, otherworldly wonderland. 

Visitors can wander through dazzling light installations, interactive soundscapes, and creative spaces designed to inspire and amaze — all while embracing a message of respecting the natural world. Whether you're looking for an unforgettable day out with friends, a family adventure, or simply something different to experience in Manchester, NightGarden promises to be a truly magical escape. 

“A festival that puts people before profit, and imagination before everything." — Creative Tourist

To dive a little deeper into what makes NightGarden so special, we caught up with the festival's creator, Bryony Simcox. A talented multimedia artist, Bryony is the driving force behind this immersive celebration of light, sound, and creativity. We asked her a few questions about the inspiration behind NightGarden, its unique setting in Manchester's industrial hinterlands, and what visitors can expect from this year's experience. 

Meet the maker:

I'm Bryony Simcox, a multimedia artist and creative producer. I started NightGarden as a tiny festival (basically a party for 50 friends and family) to get me through winter. The idea was to pull together live electronic music, light installations, good food, and conversation. It snowed - so it was a real miracle that anyone even came, but it was a big success! Needless to say, we promptly shifted the plan so it fell in summer time. 

What is NightGarden, and what can visitors expect this year?

I describe NightGarden as a celebration of audiovisual delights in Manchester's hinterlands. Effectively, it's a one-day music and arts festival that takes place between 2pm-2am on Saturday 2 August, but it's also so much more than that. Visitors can expect a jam-packed programme of electronic, jazz and psychedelic music, live visuals, DJ sets, installations, forest performances, workshops, and even a shared dinner (included in the ticket price!). People have described it as a 'choose-your-own-adventure'...

What inspired the concept behind NightGarden?

I'm really interested in taking 'art' out of traditional spaces. That extends to taking gigs out of conventional concert venues and visual art out of galleries. It's a passion shared by Broaden and Kikimora, our co-producers (a filmmaking studio and record label respectively). NightGarden takes place on an ex-botanical garden centre, so audiences are immersed in leafy foliage and forest canopy. I don't think there's anywhere else in Manchester you could have an ecologically-inspired creative adventure like this. To add to the allure, we keep our location secret til you buy your tickets. We do tell folks that it's still on the £2 Bee Network, but arriving at a surprise setting is a really nice opening statement to an intimately-scaled event like this.

Is this year's experience different from previous years? If so, how?

The 2025 programme is our most ambitious yet, and it's set to be a sell-out too. There's so much going on that I can't wait for, but highlights for me include welcoming the addictive, amorphous sound of Voka Gentle, a hands-on workshop using natural plants to dye fabrics, a DJ set from Manchester's very own Mix-Stress, and a closing performance from Birmingham-based electronic legend Higher Intelligence Agency, accompanied by live visuals which will be a real cosmic treat. 

What is your favourite thing about NightGarden?

People who think that they're coming to a regular music event are in for a real treat. I love throwing expectations on their head and welcoming folks into a DIY extravaganza. People come as consumers of culture, and leave as participants. Nothing sums this up better than the shared dinner as dusk falls. It's a delicious, vegan spread of incredible food and every single person gets fed. I'm not sure there's any other festival where dinner is free like that!

Sum up in 5-10 words how best to describe NightGarden to someone that has never experienced it before?

This is an experience you won't forget. Everyone's welcome, see you in the forest?!

View the Full Programme here.