The historic venue, where The Beatles and Nina Simone have once performed, will be hosting a MOBO Fringe event on Sunday
11:21, 17 Mar 2026Updated 11:25, 17 Mar 2026
The Niamos Radical Arts & Centre on Warwick Street in Hulme will host a major MOBO Fringe event this weekend(Image: Niamos)
Fans of a big girl band from the 90s say they are ‘so ready for this’ after the group announces details of a free Manchester show taking place at a historic venue this weekend.
Later this month, Manchester will host the MOBO Awards for the first time. Taking place at Co-op Live on March 26, the star-studded ceremony will feature performances from the likes of Olivia Dean, Aitch, Shenseea, FLO, Myles Smith and Estelle, whilst nominations this year have been led by Olivia, as well as Little Simz, Kwn, and Jim Legxacy.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, it was announced that the MOBO Awards will be hosting a fringe festival of free events across the city and Greater Manchester aiming to champion grassroots venues and local artists through live performances, panel discussions and takeovers.
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One of the events forming part of the line-up will be the MOBO Fringe x Studio 88 showcase, which will be held at Niamos Radical Arts & Centre on Warwick Street in Hulme on Sunday (March 22). Billed as a celebration of Manchester made performers, it will feature artists who have been instrumental in the rising of local talent on a national level as well as those taking it forward today.
It has been announced that pop band Cleopatra will be one of the headline performers at the event, and will also be speaking about their impact in the 90s and about Manchester’s movement right now. The three piece, made up of sisters Cleo, Zainam and Yonah Higgins, emerged onto the scene in 1998 with their debut single Cleopatra’s Theme.
Iconic 90s girl band Cleopatra – made up of Cleo, Zainam and Yonah – will be playing a MOBO Fringe event this weekend(Image: Granada Television)
The sisters, from Moss Side, have been nominated for both BRIT Awards and MOBO Awards and were also personally signed to Madonna’s record label in America after being impressed by them. They also fronted their own CITV show, and supported the Spice Girls on their major Spiceworld Tour in 1998.
Throughout their career, the girl group also released singles including Life Ain’t Easy and a cover of The Jackson 5’s I Want You Back. Since separating as a band in 2001, the girls have continued their separate music endeavours and have reformed for a series of special shows across the country.
Fans have been sharing their excitement for the band’s homecoming appearance on Sunday, with one commenting online: “Oh we need Cleopatra back full time.” Another said: “I would do ANYTHING to see the band perform together.” One more added: “Ultimate girl band.” Even musicians were sharing in the excitement, with fellow 90s superstar Shola Ama commenting with heart eyes emojis.
The MOBO Fringe x Studio 88 showcase is a free show, with tickets available online. Running from 2pm to midnight, it has been billed as a chance to Manchester’s artists to come together ‘for a once-in-a-generation cultural moment’ and has been hailed as ‘more than a show, this is a live cultural timeline’.
Cleopatra rose to fame in the 90s with hits including Cleopatra’s Theme and Life Ain’t Easy(Image: Daily Record)
Event curators Studio 88, who help build local talent, said of the fringe event: “From Manchester’s musical foundations to the voices shaping tomorrow, the event brings together pioneers, rising talent and the next generation of Northern creatives in one powerful space.”
Also joining the line-up with Cleopatra will be Che3kz, Prido, Abnormal Sleepz, Lavelle and special guest Melissa Steel. There will also be a dance performance from Chad Taylor, and a Nxt Up Showcase featuring up-coming artists like Rahika, Trxxy and Oneda x Tesegadd.
Niamos, which hosts regular concerts, film festivals and jam sessions, is situated in the former Hulme Hippodrome building, which first opened back in 1901. The 450-capacity theatre, which has also gone by the names of Junction Picture Theatre and The Playhouse, has previously hosted the likes of The Beatles, Laurel and Hardy, and Nina Simone.