Manchester’s collection of giant inflatable monsters will be back this Halloween and they’re ready to invade rooftops across the city centre for the third year running.
Trick or treating may be off the cards this year, but Halloween will still be making itself at home in the city.
Created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas from Designs in Air, the MCR Monsters will be on display at seven locations across the city from 26th October to 1st November.
Launched as a single installation Monster Attack in 2017, the monsters have multiplied over the years to form a trail between some of the city’s best-known landmarks.
They’re now considered to be one of the highlights of Manchester’s Halloween in the City celebrations.
ADVERTISEMENT
During this year’s event – which is organised by Manchester BID who represent over 400 city centre retailers and restaurants – the monsters will be appearing at Spinningfields, Moda Angel Gardens, Manchester Arndale, The Printworks, Selfridges, 111 Piccadilly and Great Northern Warehouse.
Visitors to the city centre will be able to see some old favourites – including Filthy Luker’s iconic giant tentacles – along with new commissions for this year and what’s more is that those who share their pictures of the monsters on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #MCRMonsters will also be in with a chance of winning a shopping weekend in Manchester too.
ADVERTISEMENT
halloweenMCR / Manchester BID
If you’ve ventured into the city centre already over this past week or so, then you may have already seen Manchester awash with hundreds of pumpkin lanterns on Market Street, St Ann’s Square, St Ann’s Street, Spinningfields and First Street.
These fan-favourite lanterns have also returned as the city centre prepares to celebrate Halloween.
Speaking on this year’s Halloween in the City celebrations, Jane Sharrocks – Manchester BID Chair and General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square – said: “Manchester BID are incredibly excited to bring this event back in what will be the first major calendar date we’re been able to celebrate in the city since the start of the pandemic.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This is an incredibly challenging time and obviously we’ve had to make changes to this year’s overall event programme but we’re confident that the return of the Manchester monsters will be a fantastic and safe way to surprise and delight visitors and celebrate Halloween across the city centre.”
Whilst the monsters and pumpkins are once again returning this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the maze, parade and Trick or Treat trail will sadly not be returning for 2020’s celebrations.
You can find more information about Halloween in the Cityhere.
What's On
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Wet Leg are BACK and coming to Manchester very soon
Danny Jones
One of the best up-and-coming indie bands around is returning after what feels like forever, but it’s actually only been a few years; either way, Wet Leg are back and coming to Manchester.
Their self-titled debut dropped back in 2022 and was met with an overwhelming reaction, picking up three Grammy Awards at a BRIT for Best British Group at the first time of asking.
It did slap, to be fair.
More importantly, fast forward three years and they’re back with a release date for their sophomore record, moisturizer, a brand new single by the name of ‘catch these fists’, as well as a small handful of new tour dates – including a gig at a brilliant Manchester music venue, of course.
uk pre-orders of moisturizer from the official wet leg store before 3pm bst tuesday 8th april will get early access to pre-sale tickets for uk headline live dates. pic.twitter.com/KUvazSX6NY
The Isle of Wight-founded five-piece, fronted by charismatic duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, will be heading out on a couple dozen live shows across Europe and the festival season circuit, as well as a one-off gig (for now) in the US at The River in LA.
However, just five of those are domestic headline dates, with the gang preparing to delight crowds in London, Birmingham and our friends over in Leeds.
Guess we’ll just have to go to both.
Here in Manchester, Wet Leg will be playing the cult favourite venue, O2 Victoria Warehouse, which just wrapped up this year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival programme.
As for the new album, moisturizer is due to release on 11 July, and from the small teaser we’ve been given courtesy of their new single, it sounds like there’s been some experimentation; the guitars and attitude are being dialled up even further, and they’re just as confident as ever.
An absolute jam, as expected.
Best of all, you don’t have to wait long to see them live again, as they’ll be heading out across the country just next month and are scheduled to arrive in Old Trafford on Thursday, 29 May.
Tickets for the Manchester gig and all other Wet Leg UK tour this May will be available for early access to those who pre-order the album online from 10 am local time on Wednesday, 9 April.
General sale goes live at the same time on Friday, 11 April. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
6th October 2020 
