Gigs & Nightlife

Grassroots music venue The Yard announces new outdoor festival – and it’s got a great name

Scrap milkshakes - live music is bringing us ALL to The Yard.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 4th July 2025

City centre grassroots music venue The Yard has just announced its new outdoor festival, where you can expect lots of impressive local live music.

Independent and grassroots music venue, The Yard, is known for hosting some of the best gigs, creative events and live music in the city, and this festival is no different.

Titled ‘Stranger Ways’ – if you don’t get that reference, then we don’t know what to tell you – anyone attending can expect to hear music that champions Manchester’s indie spirit, with a lot of local talent represented in the lineup.

There’s an appearance from Alex Spencer, who has previously featured in our Manc artists of the month back in May.

Alex Spencer is set to headline day one of Stranger Ways Festival.
Alex Spencer is set to headline day one of Stranger Ways Festival.
The Yard is a brilliant venue known for hosting a variety of live music events.
The Yard is a brilliant venue known for hosting a variety of live music events.
Credit: Supplied

This talent has seen praise from the likes of Lady Gaga and The Coral, even getting his track ‘Nightmares’ featured in EA Sports FC25 (FIFA).

Wigan lads The Lilacs are also fronting the bill, known for their high energy sets and indie tune ‘Vicarage Road’ which they performed live at The Yard for music TV show, Spill The Sound.

They’ve seen massive success this year playing at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this summer and supporting ‘Every Breath You Take’ penman Sting in Cardiff.

Another of our picks for Manc artists of the month for June, Arkayla. Named after “a terrible Oasis demo” from 1991, the band will be stopping by to sing a couple of their hits, too.

The band are already making waves, quite literally, receiving plays from one of the biggest rock radio stations in the UK, Radio X.

Wigan band The Lilacs are set to headline day two of Stranger Ways Festival.
Wigan band The Lilacs are set to headline day two of Stranger Ways Festival.
Arkayla are one of the headliners for The Yard's new outdoor festival.
Arkayla are one of the headliners for The Yard’s new outdoor festival.
Credit: Supplied

And of course this festival falls during Oasis’ massive reunion tour, so it would be rude not to have a tribute act, or two, performing at this outdoor festival – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Carpets and The Oasis Experience.

Now, as far as tribute bands go, that’s up there with one of the best and quietly clever names we’ve heard since we came across, well… Stranger Ways.

Speaking of Oasis, every ticket purchased for The Yard’s outdoor festival, Stranger Ways, gets entered into a prize draw to win tickets for one of the Burnage boys’ Wembley gigs with an overnight stay.

Erm. Yes. Please.

Read more:

Stranger Ways Festival is taking place at The Yard across 19 and 20 July – To access the full lineup and grab your tickets, you can find everything you need to know HERE.

Anyone who has managed to bag themselves those precious Oasis tickets is in luck too, as if you can show proof on arrival to The Yard, you can guarantee yourself free entry.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)

Gigs & Nightlife

We got to see a music legend from the best seats in the house – here’s how you can too

Danny Jones Danny Jones Sport and Music VIP hospitality box tickets Manchester Co-op Live suite

We recently went to one of the biggest gigs of the year here in Manchester and got to see the show from the luxury of a VIP suite for less than the standard price – here’s how you can do the same.

The idea of watching not only one of the greatest musicians of all time, but doing so from hospitality or a posh box at an arena, might seem far too out of pocket for plenty of gig-goers; however, after stumbling across a criminally unknown hospitality provider, we’re here to tell you you’re wrong.

We’re talking about Sport and Music, a promotion company that specialises in corporate, hospitality and VIP tickets to some of the biggest live entertainment dates across the UK and beyond.

Heading for our first visit on one of these tickets, we went to see none other than the legend that is Bruce Springsteen, and this is what greeted us when we arrived:

sport and music VIP hospitality corporate boxes suites
Stylish and well-situated.
bruce springsteen manchester co-op live
We managed to catch a wave and some brief eye-contact from our swanky balcony spot.
Credit: Audio North

Not a bad place to watch a concert, eh?

What you’re looking at is the view from one of Co-op Live VIP suites, where we were hosted by Sport and Music team as well as the venue’s wonderful hospitality staff.

Although there are plenty of boxes located around the arena, this particular has the advantage of not only being located nice and near to the stage – seriously, Brucey was so close we could practically smell him – but even before sitting in the luxurious seats, there was a really nice cosy atmosphere to the room.

Perfect for getting a small to medium-sized group of mates together, you and your family, or perhaps a fun idea for a work outing, there was plenty of room, storage, and even a sofa nook tucked behind a curtain in the corner.

As well as a full TV and speaker set-up to suit all your AV needs before and after your event of choice, there was a fully stocked fridge and a designated server just for us.

In terms of the performance itself, we’d waited our entire lives to see Springsteen in Manchester and just like the space itself, he didn’t disappoint.

Besides being greeted with a drink on arrival, you can obviously keep topping up your drinks throughout the night without ever having to leave the comfort of your seat.

That being said, the wider VIP area and the likes of the arena’s Backstage Club promise a cool and vibrant atmosphere, making this extra special experience more value for money.

Also, there is, of course, room to order yourself some food to keep you ‘Dancing In The Dark’ long into the night; offerings include stonebaked pizzas, loaded fries and plenty more.

Or, you know, if you just want a simple snack, you can always make the most of Co-op’s ironically convenient little mini-convenience stores located around the arena.

Nothing keeps you grounded like grabbing a quick sausage roll from the bakery as well.

drinks at co-op live
Cocktails from the Backstage Club at Lionel Richie’s show.
food menu at co-op live
We had some solid slices on our next visit.
(Credit: The Manc Group)

All in all, our review of the Sport and Music hospitality experience is a glowing one: not only was it nice to spoil ourselves with some special treatment (we all deserve it from time to time), but the attractive deals available make it a genuinely viable way to make your night extra memorable.

Especially if you’re then going to split the cost of, say, a VIP suite at Co-op Live between you and even just one friend.

You can find out more information and see what events they currently have ticket availability for HERE.

Oh, and if you’re wondering if ‘The Boss’ is still up to the job at 75, we think this picture proves that his ‘Glory Days’ are far from over…

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Audio North

Gigs & Nightlife

Scare City returns to abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Scare City will be back in the North West once again this Halloween with its spine-chilling immersive horror experience.

After having firmly cemented itself as the region‘s favourite horror event for the past five years running, Scare City has announced that it’s getting ready for ‘another year of terror’ over in Lancashire, and although it may be the middle of summer right now and spooky season is some time off, tickets are currently on sale.

One summer is over, the nights draw in, and the temperatures begin to drop, Scare City will be taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park once again from this September, just as it has done for the past four years following the success of its initial 2020 launch as a drive-in cinema.

This year’s event is set to feature a selection of terrifying zones.

Scare City horror experience returns to Camelot for 2023. Credit: Supplied, Jason Roberts Photographer
Scare City returns to an abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween / Credit: Jason Roberts (Supplied)

The abandoned theme park will be transformed into a sprawling post-apocalyptic nightmare, featuring new immersive experiences.

Some of the new zones include desolate woodland ‘The Hollow’, and the ‘Puppet Master’, a toy maker’s workshop where innocent toys hide deep dark secrets, as well as the return of a number of familiar spooky spots like ‘The Slaughter House’ and ‘Carnivalley’.

The frightening Abyss is also set to return as ‘Abyss 2.0′, where thrill-seekers’ bravery will be put to the test in claustrophobic darkness, all while they’re unsure of what, or who, might be within reach. 

Don’t worry though, if you need a bit of a break from all the terror, then once you’ve made it halfway around the attraction, you’ll arrive at the aptly-named the ‘Resurrection Zone’, so you can take a moment to fuel up on the feast of food and drink freshly-prepared by on-site vendors, all ready for the second half of the harrowing Halloween spectacular. 

Scare City 2025 will take over Camelot Theme Park, in Charnock Richard near Chorley in Lancashire, from Thursday 25 September and run until mid-November.

Read more:

Tickets are now available to book at £29.50 for standard entry, or £44.50 for the ‘Gold Entry’ (both plus a booking fee), which allows you to fast-track queues at the main entrance and at all zones, if you just can’t wait any longer to be scared.

Get your hands on tickets via the Scare City website here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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