Win family and friends tickets plus reader offer for Hidden City festival in Milton Keynes this summer

As a champion of Milton Keynes arts and culture, Event One is staging a two-day festival on July 1st and 2nd, with internationally recognised talent alongside local and emerging new stars in the heart of the city.

With main stages in the Fred Roche Gardens – which are named after the architect who played a key role in the creation of Milton Keynes – the Saturday will be an 18+ dance music event, while Sunday offers family fun with a unique funk, soul and disco line-up plus a sprinkling of UK garage.

Must-see headline acts

Sunday

In Sunday’s family-friendly Funk City, leading UK soul group The Real Thing will be the headline act on the main stage. Known for their string of hits including ‘You to Me Are Everything’ and ‘Can’t Get By Without You’, this is a rare opportunity to see them perform live in Milton Keynes.

Joining them on the main stage will be popular DJ Craig Charles, who promises to get everyone dancing with his high-energy Funk & Soul Club show.

The main stage will be hosted by So Sophisticated by Ultravegas, who are a Milton Keynes dance staple of the 90s.

Also taking to the stage will be Shola Ama, who rose to fame in the late 90s with her hit single ‘You Might Need Somebody’. DaisyBelle and Carly Foxx will feature Tasty Lopez, who are enjoying incredible success with their exciting Only Fans House party, while DJ Brandon Block plus Hobbs and Ron Mexico will complete the disco extravaganza line-up for music lovers of all ages.

Sunday’s second stage will be hosted by Give Me Garage, who will be bringing together some of the best in UK garage royalty for an unforgettable experience. Dj Pied Piper, Genius Cru, Nay Nay, Sweet Female Attitude, MC Kie, Mc Vapour and more will be performing on this stage, ensuring that there is something for everyone at this throwback event.

Saturday

Saturday’s headliner is Franky Wah, an electronic music producer and DJ from the UK whose work epitomises the exhilarating power of club culture. Known for his mesmerising beats and captivating live shows, he is one of the hottest names in today’s electronic music scene.

Hidden City also features a special guest performance by the incredible Hannah Wants. With a career spanning beyond a decade, Hannah’s rise from self-taught turntablist to global star has been nothing short of meteoric. With a touring schedule that takes her to the biggest clubs and festivals in the UK, Europe, the Americas and further, she continues to cement her reputation as a major player on the international scene.

The meat in this sonically perfected sandwich is Danny Howard, a British DJ, producer and BBC Radio 1 dance party presenter who has been making waves for over a decade. Route 94, the DJ and producer who rose to fame with his hit single ‘My Love’ featuring Jess Glynne, will also be appearing.

Radio DJ Arielle Free is set to be an incredible section of the show, while Ammara is one of the hot picks for Saturday’s line-up, as a rising star who blends the sounds of energetic techno and old school acid sounds for her own unique music. DJ Sorley has an infectious golden groove with tantalising bass riffs, distinct sampling, acute vocal hooks and electric lead lines for his elusive signature sound.

For local heroes and emerging talent, Data Transmission is a Milton Keynes-based international online electronic music publisher celebrating their 15th anniversary. They will bring a stage packed full of new talent.

Hidden gems

It’s not only the main stages, street art installations will be a big part of the festival. Hidden City is transforming hidden and quirky spaces in the city into pop-up event spaces. These may include everything from the hidden garden, maintained by the Fred Roche Foundation, to abandoned style urban areas, redways and quirky architectural spaces that have a history in the city – look out for further announcements.

Festival director Oliver Ibrahim explains: “We’re committed to finding and transforming hidden gems in the city into unforgettable event experiences. We plan to bring incredible talent and production into the heart of the city centre and significantly add to the existing arts and culture offering.”

He adds: “Hidden City is very much a project for Milton Keynes by Milton Keynes, and we are on a mission to make the city the cultural capital of the region. We encourage collaboration from local businesses and with the level of talent we are bringing into the city, we expect that it will add significantly to the event tourism and local economy alike.”

Event One, the company behind the concept, has brought the likes of Camelphat, Patrick topping, Chase and Status, Andy C, Sub Focus and more to the city previously, and its founder is involved in curating the move of Reggaeland from Campbell Park to the National Bowl, in association with Stadium MK this year.

Mouth-watering street food, artisan pizzas and Asian inspired street eats, cocktail and gin bars will add to the weekend festival experience.

Enter the competition

Five lucky readers will win a ticket to take their family (two adults and two children) or friends (four adults) to the Hidden City festival on Sunday July 2nd.

To enter, just click here and answer the question:

Who was the architect who played a key role in the creation of Milton Keynes:

a – Fred Roche

b – Simon Cowell

c – Louis Walsh

Entries close on May 26th *

Note: National World T&Cs apply.

Reader offer

Tickets are on sale now. For tickets and details visit www.thehiddencity.co.uk

As an exclusive offer for readers, quote the discount code ‘MKCitizen’ when you book and the first 100 ticket buyers will receive a 10% discount off the price *

*T&Cs apply