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Massive music-filled takeover planned as 1.3m tourists descend on Manchester this summer

Get the tunes blasting.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th June 2025

Plans for a massive music-filled takeover of Manchester have been announced ahead of 1.3 million tourists descending on the city centre this summer.

It comes as no surprise that this summer is set to be a big one for music in Manchester.

Parklife weekend has just been and gone, but in 2025, the fun is far from over, as there will be countless global megastars taking to the stage at some of our city’s biggest music venues, such as Co-op Live and the AO Arena, over the next couple of months, and there’s also the Sounds of the City concert series to look forward to at Castlefield Bowl, as well as a handful of Wythenshawe Park gigs.

Oh, and in case you’ve been living under a rock, there’s also the small matter of Manchester’s most legendary band, Oasis, reforming for a run of gigs at Heaton Park next month too.

Sure, Manchester is big for music all year round, but as you can imagine, 2025 is set to be bigger than ever, which is why Manchester City Council has now announced its very-own musical takeover called MCR Live ’25 to help celebrate what promises to be a sensational summer of sound.

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There’ll be everything from a pop-up bar in Piccadilly Gardens with surprise live acts doing sets, and markets in St Peter’s Square selling vinyl and vintage goods, to block parties in the Northern Quarter, and the already-announced Music for the Senses art trail dotted around all the well-known city centre sights.

The Piccadilly Gardens space, known as The Hub, is designed to be the ‘basecamp’ for Manchester’s music tourists, and will be an easy place to drink at the bar, sample some of the best street food in the North West, catch surprise acts and DJ takeovers on the outdoor stage, or bring the family along during the day for some music-inspired fun.

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If you head to St Peter’s Square, this is where you’ll find the pop-up markets running alongside Oasis’ legendary homecoming gigs, which will bring together local makers, artists, and indie traders for a celebration of sound, style, and city pride.

Music for the Senses
A massive music-filled takeover is planned as 1.3m tourists descend on Manchester this summer / Credit: David Oates Photography

Several ‘block parties’ will be taking over the Northern Quarter on selected Fridays and Saturdays in both June and July, so it’s your chance to head on down to Edge Street and Thomas Street and take in all the action happening over two stages – with DJs and live acts playing throughout the day.

There’ll also even be an ‘Oasis Week’ at Manchester Central Library, with legendary Supernova live sets, Gallagher look-alike competitions, a Big Oasis Quiz, Supersonic film screenings, and so much more.

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But the stand-out event has to be the art trail, which is titled Music for the Senses: an art arrangement for a musical city, running across the city centre from early July until the end of August, and is a collaboration between global art producer Wild in Art – the creators of the famous Bee in the City project – and the Council.

There’ll be pop-up bars, music markets, block parties, and loads more dotted around the city / Credit: MCC

At the heart of the exhibition will be an interactive installation called ‘Guitar Street’ created by Manchester artist Liam Hopkins, known as Lazerian, which will lovingly repurpose 100+ broken guitars, all donated by members of the public.

“We’re already known the world over for the music we make and for our unrivalled music scene, and this summer we’re going all out with MCR Live ’25 to harness the moment and celebrate the massive contribution that music makes to the city,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.

You can find out everything happening for MCR Live ’25 on the VisitManchester website here.

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Of course, the annual Manchester Day celebrations will also be back and taking over the city centre’s main streets on Saturday 26 July too, and this year, that’s also music-themed… because why wouldn’t it be? It makes sense.

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Find out more about Manchester Day 2025 here.

Featured Image – Alex Bracken (via Unsplash)

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Pulp at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Britpop band Pulp is heading over to Manchester for a night of singing along right through to ‘Sunrise’ or until Co-op Live’s curfew.

Jarvis Cocker and co., known more famously as UK cult classic band Pulp, are heading on the road, stopping off at various arenas up and down the country.

Their latest discography addition, their comeback LP, More, just debuted on the UK’s Official Album Charts and in pole position, no less: a very impressive feat that makes that a total of three number ones in their career.

Their eighth album is remarkable in more ways than one, as not only has it become a talking point in the music world, it’s also the band’s first new release in 24 years – an absolute banger as well, by the way.

Cocker and his bandmates are no strangers to the North either, much like our friends over at The Sheff, the Pulp frontman and several members of the lineup, both past and present, are Steel City natives.

As Britpop lovers and fans of the band ourselves, we’re buzzing about their chart-topping return, but no way as proud as their home city.

Pulp gig guide – all the key info you need to know

Pulp’s last visit to Manchester took place at Castlefield Bowl when they played a show as part of the impressive summer music series, Sounds of the City. Fast forward to 2025, and now they’re taking on the region’s biggest indoor entertainment and live music arena.

Pulp UK tour dates

  • Sat 7 June – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Fri 13 June – London, UK – The O2
  • Sat 14 June – London, UK – The O2
  • Thu 19 June – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sat 21 June – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Jarvis Cocker, frontman of Pulp, sporting his usual blazer and shades attire.
Let’s all imagine this picture of Jarvis is him checking the road signs on his way to Manchester

Are there tickets left for Pulp at Co-op Live?

If you’re suffering from ‘The Fear’ of not getting your seat ahead of Pulp’s ‘You Deserve More’ tour, there are limited seats for the Co-op Live show in Manchester HERE.

Don’t wait around, though; these won’t be around for long.

And if you fancy feeling all special and setting yourself apart from the rest of the ‘Common People’ for once (not that the mixer isn’t still the best place to be), why not treat yourself to a luxury concert experience thanks to SeatUnique, where you have access to your own private lounge?

Pulp 2025 ‘You Deserve More’ tour setlist

  • Spike Island
  • Grown Ups
  • Slow Jam
  • Sorted for E’s & Wizz
  • Disco 2000
  • F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E
  • Tina
  • Farmers Market
  • This Is Hardcore
  • Sunrise
  • Something Changed
  • The Fear
  • O.U (Gone, Gone)
  • 59 Lyndhurst Grove
  • Acrylic Afternoons
  • Do You Remember the First Time?
  • Mis-Shapes
  • Got to Have Love
  • Babies
  • Common People
  • A Sunset

What are the stage times for Pulp in Manchester?

Pulp are set to perform at Co-op Live, Manchester on 21 June.
Pulp are set to perform at Co-op Live, Manchester on 21 June.

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning everyone can stay for the final ‘Slow Jam’ or two without worrying about getting home too late.

Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 7:30pm, which gives you an hour to turn to your friend and ask, “‘Do You Remember the First Time’…we watched Pulp?”

Pulp x Co-op Live afterparty

If you’re not ready go home after the encore and you really do think ‘You Deserve More’, you can always cop yourself a ticket to the afterparty inside Co-op Live’s Backstage Club’ too.

With a DJ set to play indie favourites straight after the show and until late, the party doesn’t stop until you say it does. Tickets are available now.

We recently got to experience it ourselves on our last visit to the arena to watch the one and only Lionel Richie, and it certainly left an impression on us.

Gig review | Lionel Richie leaves Manchester dancing on the ceiling after Co-op Live debut
We didn’t meet him backstage, but he did call us his ‘cousins’…

How to get to the venue

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 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

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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. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

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.

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 come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

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  • 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 Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • 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.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes via 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.

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Featured Images – Tom Jackson via Supplied /Garry Knight /Livepict /Bertrand (via WikiCommons)

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Rising Manchester DJ issues heartfelt statement after Parklife set is cancelled over safety concerns

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Queues outside Matinee after Josh Baker had his Parkilfe set cancelled

Manchester DJ Josh Baker has issued a statement after his Parklife set was unexpectedly cancelled.

The rising star techno and house DJ was supposed to be playing on the brand-new Matinee stage on Sunday evening.

But his set attracted some huge crowds, not helped by the sudden downpour as his set was due to begin.

The area around Matinee became increasingly busy and Parklife announced that the Josh Baker performance would be paused on ‘the advice of safety team’.

Josh Baker has now issued a statement on social media to his followers as his Parklife set was due to end, signed off with a row of crying emojis.

He wrote: “Unfortunately I will not be performing at Parklife due to reason outside of my control.

Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled. Credit: Instagram, @joshbaker

“I deeply apologise. I can’t really put into words what today was going to mean to me.”

Next on the Matinee stage should have been Chris Stussy, another name that was predicted to pull in a big crowd.

At the time of writing, The Matinee Stage remains closed but there are again large queues of fans waiting to re-enter the space.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

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