Artist Social

Book Your Free Ticket
Two people stood on stage in front of DJ decks with the Factory International logo on a purple background on the screen behind them. There are a crowd of people sat on chairs watching them.
Date
13 Aug 2026
Venue
The Social, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4LG
Tickets
Free tickets, pre-booking required

6–9pm

All access tickets – including wheelchair user spaces, accessible viewing platform tickets and essential companion tickets – must be bought directly from Factory International.

To book access tickets, please call 0161 817 4531. Phone lines are typically open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, but for our latest phone line opening hours, please visit our Contact Us page.

If you need to make an access booking but are unable to do so over the phone, please email access@factoryinternational.org. We aim to respond to all emails within two working days.

Book Your Free Ticket

Running time: 3 Hours

Accessibility features available for this event: Wheelchair Access

Calling all artists across the city – come and meet fellow artists at our Artist Social

Join our regular Artist Social connecting artists from any artform – this month, hosted by J.Chambers. Pop by the Social, listen to live music, grab a drink and socialise with fellow artists from across Greater Manchester.

Whether you’re an emerging DJ, already getting work commissioned or you’re an established artist, the Artist Social is for you! Come and meet Factory International staff – including Artistic Director & Chief Executive John McGrath and Creative Director Low Kee Hong – chat about your practice, your future works and meet new creatives for potential collaborations.

See the full line-up below!

Photo by Rasha Kotaiche.

Line-up

Black and white photo of J.Chambers wearing a patterned shirt

J. Chambers – Host

J. Chambers is a UK-based artist fusing dub poetry, reggae and unapologetic social commentary into a powerful live experience. Following the impact of his standout single 'Dub Poetry', he continues to build momentum across stages and sound systems. With his upcoming EP We Nah Play, created alongside triple Grammy-nominated Natural High (Jamaica), he brings a bold, roots-driven energy to new audiences. This new body of work amplifies his voice with militant lyricism and authentic Caribbean influence.

Instagram / Spotify / TikTok

Conduit stood next to a metal fence with a sunset in the background

Conduit

Born and bred in Oldham on Manchester’s east side, Conduit delivers nimble lyricism and conversational bars on energetic, cohesive backdrops. His AirCon tour in 2026 alongside his DEPARTURES and 4SIGHT EPs beckon listeners into his space with personal and potent content, where he observes modern issues retrospectively, introspectively and prospectively with a classically hip-hop eye and ear.

Instagram / Bandcamp

Daniel Son wearing a yellow and blue jacket in from of a mosaic wall

Daniel Son

Daniel Son is a Northern-born and Southern-raised rapper/producer residing in Bury. His analog sound fuses smooth jazz and R&B samples with 90s Hip Hop. While his dense writing style saw him hang with the best in the on-beat UK battle rap scene, Daniel has gone from creating anti-establishment boom bap greaze to heading in a smoother direction that caters more towards building oneself up than tearing others down. Committed to battling social injustice and promoting better living, Daniel extracts the fly out of the mundane, packing punches into a cult sound that can only be described as gutter butter. Inspired by mid-90s R&B acts (Mary J Blige, SWV) and 80s Jazz/R&B (Anita Baker, Sade), Daniel also draws inspiration from Hip Hop artists both in the UK and overseas (Genesis Elijah, Big L, Action Bronson).

Instagram / TikTok / Bandcamp / Youtube

Mya Lashantai stood in front of an orange wall

Mya Lashantai

Mya Lashantai is a Manchester-based R&B fusion artist blending soulful vocals with Afro, Caribbean and contemporary influences. Her music has been supported by BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing Manchester and BBC 1Xtra, with multiple Tracks of the Week. Her new single, 'Come Get It', is set for release on 17 July. Audiences can expect an energetic, feel-good live performance full of smooth vocals, infectious rhythms and authentic storytelling.

Instagram / TikTok / Spotify / YouTube

Tsana stood outside in a forest wearing a brown top smiling

Tsana

Tsana is Manchester's songstress, known for her effortless runs and rich silky vocals. Fusing sultry R&B with a soulful edge, Tsana's sound is reminiscent of legendary soul gurus Erykah Badu and Brandy. Tsana’s 2024 EP Lovehood weaves through the stages of a love affair, blending Tsana’s musical prowess with her assured status in the game. Lovehood has gained support from BBC1Xtra, Unity Radio and BBC Introducing. Over the years, Tsana has mastered her performative craft, having played considerable UK stages including Manchester Academy and London’s Indigo at the O2, supporting musical icons including Faith Evans, SWV and Mica Millar.

Instagram / TikTok / YouTube

Access information

Getting to Aviva Studios

Our full address is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ and the what3words is chop.feeds.chase.

You can approach Aviva Studios along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield). Both entrances to the building have double sets of glass doors.

Inside Aviva Studios

Once inside Aviva Studios, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. The flooring throughout the building is smooth concrete.

The entrance to the Warehouse is by lift or stairs from the Social. Two lifts and a staircase to the Warehouse are located in the Social opposite the bar.

The entrance to the Andrew Law Hall is by lift, escalator or stairs from one side of the Social beside the brick arches. There is only one escalator, and this will take you up to the Andrew Law Hall before the show, and will be reversed so that you can travel down at the end of the performance.

The Social has a range of seating, including those with arms and backs.

The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points.

Our building is large. We have portable stools available to borrow if you would benefit from resting along the way during your visit.

We have wheelchair spaces and seats at standing events for all events.

Toilets

There are accessible toilets on all public levels of our building.

Accessible toilets are located inside the main toilets space in the brick arches of the Social.

Here you’ll find a mixture of accessible cubicles with left- or right-hand transfer, towards the back of the space, as well as ambulant accessible cubicles with grab rails, as well as a Changing Places facility.

The toilets in the brick arches of the Social are split into male, female and gender neutral – all of which contain accessible cubicles. There are shared handwashing facilities in each arch – they have soap dispensers under the mirrors to your left and dryers to the right. There are separate handwashing facilities inside the accessible cubicles.

There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in both Hall Foyers, at stalls and circle level.

There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in the Warehouse Foyer.

You do not need a key to use the accessible toilets at Aviva Studios.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in our building, and we can provide mats and water bowls on request, just ask a host when you arrive. We can also take care of your assistance dog if you do not want to take your dog into the performance space. Please also refer to our assistance dogs policy.

If you are bringing an assistance dog to a ticketed event, please let us know in advance by contacting access@factoryinternational.org or calling our access phone number: 0161 817 4531 (phone lines are open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday).

Step-free seating and wheelchair access

There is step-free access to all areas of the venue, including the Social.

There will be unallocated seating available for this event. If you have specific access requirements and require reserved seating, please call 0161 817 4531 (Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 6pm) or email access@factoryinternational.org.

Tickets and booking

All access tickets – including wheelchair user spaces, accessible viewing platform tickets and essential companion tickets – must be bought directly from Factory International.

To book access tickets, please call 0161 817 4531. Phone lines are typically open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, but for our latest phone line opening hours, please visit our Contact Us page.

If you need to make an access booking but are unable to do so over the phone, please email access@factoryinternational.org. We aim to respond to all emails within two working days.

Travel information

Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

Train and tram

There are a number of rail and tram stations within the city centre which are just a short distance from Aviva Studios. The closest stations are:

By bike and active means

By Bike

There are 40 bike parking spaces at Aviva Studios including space for two accessible bikes.

National Cycling Route 6 passes close to the venue and this TfGM webpage can help with route planning.

You can also hire bikes from on-street docking stations across the city centre. The closest Starling Bike docking stations to our venue are on current on Quay Street, New Quay Street and Liverpool Road. Take a look at Transport for Greater Manchester’s webpage for advice on cycle hire.

By Walking and Other Active Means

Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street via Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

If you're coming from Quay Street, the safest route to avoid construction works is via the cut-through opposite Gartside Street and past Booking.com.

All footways in the surrounding area are well lit and there are appropriate crossings across all main roads.

Pedestrians with visual impairment are recommended to approach the building via Water Street, from Liverpool Road. This route has traditional carriageway and footway design with fixed street furniture which should help with navigation to the entrance.

A footbridge at Left Bank in Spinningfields provides an accessible link across the River Irwell to Salford Central station, and a further footbridge also links Aviva Studios with the Salford area of Middlewood Locks.

Bus

Free bus

The free bus 1 service connects Piccadilly Station, Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, as well as other areas of the city centre to Aviva Studios.

The service stops on both Liverpool Road and Quay Street, close to the venue. Buses operate every 10 minutes during the day from Monday to Sunday and they are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus 1 route and timetable, please visit the Bee Network website.

Bee Network services

Piccadilly Gardens is situated in the heart of Manchester and there are a number of bus services that will take you on to Aviva Studios. The 33 bus which starts at Shudehill, calls at Piccadilly Gardens and will take you straight to Liverpool Road. Services operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every hour on Sunday.

Alternatively, you can board either a 35, 36 or 38 bus to Bridge Street bus stop which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.

Coming into Manchester Victoria rail station? Head on over to Shudehill Interchange (which is a seven-minute walk via Hanover Street) where you can catch the 33 bus to Liverpool Road.

Alternatively, you can board either an 8, 67 or 100 bus from Manchester Victoria to Bridge Street bus stop, which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.

Car

There is a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.25 miles (400m) away from Aviva Studios at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.

There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.

For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.

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