Manchester’s outdoor gig series Sounds of the City is wrapping up, with Two Door Cinema Club set to take to the stage tonight.
The rockers, one of the biggest indie bands of the 2010s, will be performing at the beautiful canal-side venue on Sunday 9 July 2023.
The Northern Irish band Two Door Cinema Club shot to success with their debut album Tourist History in 2010, which included singles Something Good Can Work and Undercover Martyn.
Arguably their best-known song is What You Know, a staple on nightclub dance floors for more than a decade.
They then went on to release three more studio albums, Beacon, Gameshow, and False Alarm, each reaching the top 10 of the UK albums chart, before dropping their fifth album Keep On Smiling.
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So there’ll be plenty for them to work with at Castlefield Bowl tonight.
They’ve burst back on to the scene in recent weeks with new single Friends of Mine, with their third studio album, Better Luck Next Time, due for release this autumn.
Welsh indie rockers The Royston Club will be opening up the show, hot off the back of supporting Blossoms.
As always, these are subject to change, but here are the stage times for Two Door Cinema Club.
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5.30pm – Doors open 5.30pm – DJ 6.45pm – The Royston Club 7.45pm – Sundara Karma 9pm – Two Door Cinema Club
What’s the expected set list?
Here’s Two Door Cinema Club’s set list from their gig this week at Crystal Palace Park, and we’ll probably get something similar in Manchester tonight.
This Is the Life I Can Talk Are We Ready? (Wreck) Undercover Martyn Eat That Up, It’s Good for You Wonderful Life Come Back Home Talk Changing of the Seasons Next Year Do You Want It All? Lucky What You Know Costume Party Someday Cigarettes in the Theatre Sun Sleep Alone Something Good Can Work
Weather forecast at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
Blossoms at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
…. pack a rain coat.
It’s looking a bit soggy down at Castlefield Bowl tonight, with a chance of thunder storms across Manchester.
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The Met Office is currently predicting a 60% chance of rain at around 8pm, with 30% chance the rest of the time.
It will be quite warm though, with highs of 21 degrees and lows of 14.
About Castlefield Bowl
Castlefield Bowl is an amphitheatre-style outdoor venue in the city centre.
Although all tickets are billed as unreserved standing, if you’re quick you can take a seat on the large concrete steps that curve around the stage.
Many people also take a perch up on the grassy banks at the back of the venue too.
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Castlefield Bowl is located at 101 Liverpool Road in the city centre.
The closest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield, which is only a six-minute walk away.
You can also walk it from the major train stations, or use the 101, 197, 255, 256, 41, 50 or X50 buses.
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.
Manchester City’s Nathan Aké donates piano to grassroots music venue
Thomas Melia
Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.
To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.
Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.
The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.
Processed with VSCO with kp5 presetProcessed with VSCO with kp5 presetCredit: Supplied
This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.
Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.
Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centremusic institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.
So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.
This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.
Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented:“It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”
“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”
As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.
Daisy Jackson -
9th July 2023 
