The inner city concert series Sounds of the City returned to Manchester this week, taking over the legendary Castlefield Bowl once again.
The six nights of music making up this year’s series kicked off on Tuesday with Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy, with support from rising star Mimi Webb.
And throughout the week, Kaiser Chiefs, and Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot have each headlined a one-off concert. Whilst The Streets and Hacienda Classical are still to come this weekend.
But rounding off the Sounds of the City series this year on Sunday 26 September will be indie rock group Snow Patrol.
With two decades of experience, the band have firmly established a well-respected place in the music industry.
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Throughout their incredible career, they’ve racked up no less than 1+ billion global track streams, five UK platinum albums, along with Grammy, BRIT and Mercury Music Prize nominations.
Snow Patrol played a huge concert at Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre earlier this month. Credit: @bradleyquinnphotos/IG
Not only that, but the band boast the accolade of the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio with ‘Chasing Cars’. And you’ll be able to hear the iconic anthem live at Castlefield Bowl on Sunday.
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Irish-born singer Lucy Blue will provide support on the night.
The bedroom pop star also joined Snow Patrol at Scarborough’s Open-Air Theatre a few weeks back. The gig marked Snow Patrol’s first show back in quite some time due to COVID-19. So, it was certainly one to remember.
This month, Lucy dropped her debut album which entered the UK Top 50 in its first week.
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As well as Lucy Blue, Wigan band The Lathums will complete the supporting bill.
The band have been killing gigs and hitting up festivals across the north recently. Fresh from their support slot with Blossoms last Saturday at AO Arena, the band are geared up for another show-stopping set.
The Wigan lads have been hitting up loads of festivals and gigs recently. Credit: The Lathums/IG
On Friday 24 September, The Lathums will release their debut album ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’. The 12-track album depicts a story of resilience, hope and brother and sisterhood. And you can expect to hear plenty of new tracks on the night.
To see Snow Patrol, The Lathums and Lucy Blue live in action in the Sounds of the City finale concert, get your tickets here.
And for tickets for the other shows across the weekend, head here.
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For more Manchester music and events check out our music page here. And don’t forget to follow The Manc Audio on Instagram to stay up to date.
Featured image: Tom Martin
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The K’s book Castlefield Bowl for their biggest ever headline show
Danny Jones
High-flying indie rock outfit, The K’s, are set to play a landmark headline show right here in Manchester, as the local lads have been confirmed as the first act for Sounds of the City 2026.
The cult favourite working class heroes from down the road in Newton-le-Willows have had an incredible couple of years, climbing their way up the ranks around the North, playing bigger venues and festivals up and down the country, and now they’re on a fully-fledged European tour.
It’s been brilliant to watch their rise thus far, and we couldn’t be more buzzing to hear that they’ve booked none other than Castlefield Bowl for the single largest standalone gig of their careers to date, and you can bet The K‘s army will be out in full force.
Announced alongside another massive outdoor venue this week, the toast of Earlestown will be one of several artists set to play the Sounds of City (SOTC) concert series next year.
We are absolutely BUZZING to announce our biggest ever headline show to date at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester on 03.07.26 as well as a huge headline show @ThePieceHall , Halifax on 08.08.26!Tickets for both shows will be on general sale this Friday 19th September 2025 at 9.30am 🩷 pic.twitter.com/lft55eeEbG
Confirming Castlefield Bowl alongside the magnificent Piece Hall in Halifax for summer 2026, the four-piece will make their way from Merseyside, not only down the M62 to Manchester but over to Yorkshire for what is one of the most stunning outdoor venues in the country.
These two incredible atmospheric amphitheatres are not only incredible spaces for live music, but in the case of our very own city centre stunner, Castlefield Bowl boasts a capacity of approximately 8,450 – making it comfortably The K’s biggest show yet.
Speaking of Kendal, we were in the field ourselves when the group got to revel in the moment of announcing their second album, Pretty On The Internet, had reached number one just in time for their main stage set.
Official artist presale access will be available this Wednesday, 17 September from 9:30am by signing up to their mailing list, but general admission tickets for both dates will go live at 9am the following Friday (19 Sep).
Once again, we can only say well done on the number one; having been there to discuss their debut record’s release while they threw plastic balls around a room, we couldn’t be more gassed to see how far they’ve come.
Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)/Audio North
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Lewis Capaldi announces huge outdoor Manchester gig at Wythenshawe Park next summer
Emily Sergeant
Lewis Capaldi has announced a run of huge outdoor shows next summer, and he’ll be stopping off here in Manchester.
After unprecedented demand saw one of the biggest-ever rushes for tickets across both pre-sale and general sale earlier this year, Lewis Capaldi is currently blazing through a triumphant 200,000-ticket sold out 17-date UK arena tour as we speak – and is set to take to the Co-op Live stage for two huge Manc gigs this weekend.
But he shows no signs of slowing down soon, as he has today announced his biggest ever UK and Ireland headline gigs for next summer.
Wythenshawe Park is fast becoming one of Manchester‘s go-to outdoor gig venues, and Lewis’s visit next summer is only helping the reputation, as the Scottish 28-year-old will be headlining the park for one night only next August.
The announcement of the run of summer outdoor shows comes amid Lewis’s first return to touring in two years following his triumphant Glastonbury 2025 return after an extended break to take care of his mental health break, and following the release of his comeback track ‘Survive’, which shot to the top of the UK charts and became the fastest-selling single of 2025.
The response to Lewis’s current tour has been ‘electric’, according to critics, who have been unanimous in their praise for him.
Prior to his comeback, Lewis played a run of Scottish warm up shows in May that saw him return to the stage as a guest of mental health charity CALM, in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Lewis Capaldi – Summer Outdoor Gigs 2026
Wednesday 24 June – Marlay Park, Dublin
Friday 26 June – Thomond Park, Limerick
Sunday 28 June – TX Maxx presents Live at Powderham, Exeter
Tuesday 30 June – Blackweir Fields, Cardiff
Saturday 4 July – American Express presents Roundhay Festival, Leeds
Saturday 11 July – American Express presents BST Hyde Park, London
Thursday 20 August – Vital, Belfast
Saturday 22 August – Wythenshawe Park, Manchester
With no pressure and no level of expectation, the shows allowed Lewis the space to gauge his comfort and emotional response before returning to the spotlight – a move which ended up proving nothing short of a triumph.
Lewis Capaldi will be coming to Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on Saturday 22 August 2026, and tickets go on pre-sale this Thursday 18 September at 9am, before general sale commences the following day (Friday 19 September), again at 9am.
Hannah Starkie -
24th September 2021 
