The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will return to Greater Manchester this March with a massive line-up of musicians performing in our home city.
Set to take over the O2 Victoria Warehouse between Friday 24 and Sunday 26 March, the bill of performers includes Loyle Carner, Christine and the Queens, and Arlo Parks.
They’ll also be joined by the likes of Wu-Lu, Lava La Rue and The Big Moon, not to mention DJ sets across the weekend and a warm-up show at Band on the Wall from BBC Music Introducing Live.
The station’s flagship event will include global premieres of new live shows, music debuts, surprise guests and major collaborations.
The O2 Victoria Warehouse was the site of the first-ever BBC Radio 6 Music Festival back in 2014, and Greater Manchester will now be the event’s permanent home.
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Loyle Carner will use the festival to showcase a brand new collaboration with the AMC Gospel Choir on Friday 24 March, while Christine and the Queens will bring the global premiere of his new live show on Saturday 25 March, and Arlo Parks will perform new music with special guests on Sunday 26 March.
DJ sets across the weekend will come from the likes of AFRODEUTSCHE, Erol Alkan, Daniel Avery, Don Letts, Good Future, Hot Chip, Jamz Supernova, Steve Lamacq, Tarzsa, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess, Yard Act and BBC Introducing DJs, Emily Pilbeam and Phoebe I-H.
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Loyle Carner 2022Christine and the Queens
The main live shows at O2 Victoria Warehouse are set to be complimented by club nights at Band on the Wall and Victoria Warehouse, themed around 6 Music’s Indie Forever and Rave Forever shows and a Morning After Mix live broadcast on the Sunday at RAMONA.
Highlights from the festival will be broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Manchester from MediaCityUK in Salford, as well as on BBC Sounds, BBC Four, BBC iPlayer and BBC Music’s YouTube channel.
Tickets for each separate event will be available from 10am on Thursday 16 February at bbc.co.uk/6musicfestival
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Loyle Carner says: “Mad. Six years since we last played 6 Music Festival. Feels good to be back. The show’s evolved a lot since back then, lucky to share the stage with some of my musical heroes. Got a few extra voices coming through to lift us up too. See you soon.”
Arlo Parks
Chris says: “What I will be very eager to share with you for the first time ever will be a glimpse into the second part of the big journey that I started with you guys, with Redcar. Redcar is the first iteration of a very intense musical journey that occupied my two last years. I was heavily inspired by this piece called Angels in America by Tony Kushner when I wrote the music I will unveil to you at that moment. I’m literally so excited to do it that I am for the first time of my life at loss of words in the best way. The follow up of the journey gets into territories that I never explored myself musically before, really. I was a bit obsessed with what rock and roll means today. Very much related to the flesh and to transcendence – to how an incandescent presence inside your own flesh just can transform everything.”
Arlo Parks says: “This is the first time I’ll be introducing my new album in a live setting and I’m so excited. To be surrounded by such innovative, singular artists is a real joy and I genuinely can’t wait for this.”
Wu-Lu says: “I am super excited about playing Manchester again – haven’t been back there in a while! Definitely going to show out, just going to try some new songs and try and do some exclusive stuff! Big shout to 6 Music for showing so much love over the course of our career.”
Lava La Rue says: “The first artist to bring me on a run of shows with them was Christine and the Queens – one of those first shows being in Manchester. It’s going to be exciting joining him on the line up for the 6 Music Festival back in Manny for a full circle moment. I was playing my debut single back on that tour with Chris and now I’ll be playing songs off my debut album at 6 Music Festival.”
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The Big Moon says: “We’re so excited to be coming back to Manchester for the 6 Music Festival! Playing Manchester has always been a highlight of our tours, so we’re really excited to be back and this time with a super special surprise.”
Mary Anne Hobbs says: “The most exciting element about the 6 Music Festival is the coming together in a physical space, of our beloved 6 Music listeners, all the crew at the station and artists we love.”
Mark Radcliffe says: “It’s great to welcome the 6 Music festival back to Greater Manchester and particularly exciting that the focus this time will be on new work. It’s all at the Victoria Warehouse. It’s quite dark in there so I have booked an eye test in order to make sure I have the right glasses to see everything.”
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “6 Music will be rooted in Salford over time, so we’re bringing the festival back home to Greater Manchester, where it all began, with some incredible performances. You may have seen Arlo Parks, Christine and the Queens and Loyle Carner before, but you won’t have seen them like this before. It promises to be a very special weekend indeed.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “We are delighted to welcome the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival to Manchester. There is a rich musical heritage in Greater Manchester, and a real pride in the independent music scene, and as BBC Radio 6 Music has always supported new and alternative artists, it’s a perfect fit for the festival to have its permanent home in the city for the years to come. There’s so much new Greater Manchester music out there right now that deserves to be heard, which is why we started Artist of the Month with BBC Radio Manchester, and like BBC Radio 6 Music, we want to give emerging talent a platform.”
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Full line up for the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2023
Friday 24 March, from 6.30pm, O2 Victoria Warehouse
Tarza (DJ set)
Wu-Lu
Loyle Carner
Saturday 25 March, from 6.30pm, O2 Victoria Warehouse
Jamz Supernova (DJ set)
Lava La Rue
Christine and the Queens
Sunday 26 March, from 6.30pm, O2 Victoria Warehouse
Don Letts (DJ set)
The Big Moon
Arlo Parks
Thursday 23 March, from 7.30pm, Band on the Wall
BBC Music Introducing Live at Band on the Wall
Afflecks Palace
Antony Szmierek
Phoebe Green
Club nights
Friday 24 March, from 9pm, Band on the Wall
6 Music’s Indie Forever – nothing but solid gold, upbeat indie bangers from 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and guest DJs:
BBC Music Introducing’s Emily Pilbeam (DJ set)
Good Future (DJ set)
Yard Act (DJ set)
Tim Burgess (DJ set)
Saturday 25 March, from 11pm, O2 Victoria Warehouse
6 Music’s Rave Forever – rave classics that listeners know and love with a sprinkling of the finest new club sounds from 6 Music’s AFRODEUTSCHE and guest DJs:
BBC Music Introducing’s Phoebe I-H (DJ set)
Hot Chip (DJ set)
Erol Alkan (DJ set)
Sunday 26 March, from 12pm, Ramona
Morning After Mix – Daniel Avery providing a two hour-long DJ set.
Featured image: BBC
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Muse at Co-op Live, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Legendary rock band Muse will bring their long awaited European and UK Tour to the Co-op Live for two nights this week.
The tour is set to showcase Muse’s tenth studio album The Wow! Signal, along with their latest single Nightshift Superstar and Hush with Ellie Goulding.
This new material explores themes of cosmic communication, technological anxiety, existential wonder, and the search for meaning in an ever changing and increasingly disconnected world.
Since forming in 1994, Muse have released nine studio albums, selling over 30 million units worldwide – it’s fair to say they’re a pretty big deal and we are proud to be hosting them at the Co-op Live.
The multi-award-winning band are widely regarded as one of the world’s most innovative live performers, with their iconic, space-rock, upbeat sound – trust us this is not one you want to miss out on.
Find all that you could possibly need to know about Muse’s Manchester shows below…
Can you still get tickets to see Muse in Manchester?
Yes, you can stop the Hysteria – there is a selection of general, premium and verified resale tickets left, for both nights in Manchester.
You can buy tickets for Muse’s Thursday night show HERE, from £96.70.
And tickets to see Muse in Manchester on Friday night are available HERE, from £50.70.
What songs can Muse fans expect to hear on the setlist?
Muse are playing in Manchester this week. Credit: Tim Saccenti
Manchester is the very first night of the Muse European tour, so we’re not 100% sure what the setlist will be yet.
But judging from past gigs, Muse’s The Wow! Signal Europa Tour is set to feature a complete mix of career defining classics and fresh tracks.
Here’s the setlist they used in the US earlier this year:
Interlude
Hysteria
Cryogen
Supermassive Black Hole
Hexagons
Intro
Map of the Problematique
Unravelling
Kill or Be Killed
Be With You
Psycho
Madness
Plug In Baby
Hanging in Victory Square
Time Is Running Out
Uprising
Knights of Cydonia
The 2nd Law: Isolated System
Nightshift Superstar
Algorithm
Undisclosed Desires
Prelude
Starlight
Take a Bow
Who is supporting Muse in Manchester?
Dead Poet Society are joining Muse for their Manchester dates.
The American rock band began as an independent, recording and producing all of their own songs, before signing to Spinefarm Records.
Dead Poet Society’s music has a heavy indie rock and djent pop sound to it, found in their newly released album Monarch, including songs such as Die If You Don’t, Cold and Hollywood On Fire.
Muse will also be supported by Bitterpearl, a four-piece London indie/alternative band.
Stage times for Muse at Co-op Live
General admission doors: 18:30
Bitterpearl: 19:00
Dead Poet Society: 19:40
Muse: 21:00
These times are approximate and are subject to change.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
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The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
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Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Fall Out Boy announce huge Manchester gig on Twilight of the Punks Tour
Lydia Mastrolonardo
The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum rock group, Fall Out Boy, have announced a stop over in Manchester as part of the biggest global tour of their career to date.
The Twilight of the Punks 2027 tour announcement follows the release of the bands newest song ‘ACES,’ marking the end to their long-awaited return to music production.
The band began subtly hinting at a tour earlier last month, sparking excitement among fans worldwide.
‘ACES,’ produced and mixed by Neil Avron, channels the nostalgic, unmistakable energy of the band’s early days, as a nod to the sound that solidified the band within the pop-punk scene all those years ago. It also marks a particularly special time for the band as they celebrate their 25th year together.
And now Fall Out Boy are celebrating the milestone with a 15-date live tour across Europe and the UK, including a night at Co-op Live in Manchester.
That’s all before completing the tour in North America next summer, including a landmark hometown stadium performance at Chicago’s legendary Soldier Field.
Fall out Boy will be joined by special guests A Day To Remember and Neck Deep on all European dates.
For those of you that aren’t familiar – A Day To Remember are an Floridian rock band specialising in metal-core and pop-punk music.
Neck Deep are a Welsh pop-punk band that will be bringing some of their hits such as ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘In Bloom,’ to the stage next summer.
Fall Out Boy will perform at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Thursday 3 June 2027.
Tickets will go on presale tomorrow from 12pm midday, before general sale begins on Thursday 12 November from 12pm HERE.
Fall Out Boy UK and Ireland tour dates in full
Sunday 30 May 2027 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Tuesday 1 June 2027 – Dublin, 3Arena
Thursday 3 June 2027 – Manchester, Co-op Live
Saturday 5 June 2027 – London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Daisy Jackson -
15th February 2023 
