With the bulk of race season nearly over, the local running community is finally starting to wind down and indulge in some well-deserved rest and relaxation – well, that and a sprinkle of clubbing, as the massive Cross Club Social for Manchester runners is back for 2025.
Following a successful sophomore edition last winter, the MCR Cross Club Social is returning for another proper good bash and looks to be shaping up nicely.
Hosted at a brand new venue, with sets from Manc-based DJs, karaoke and even giveaways on the night, the runners are going BIG this year.
So, if you’re part of a local running club or even just a Greater Mancunian who’s partial to a bit of jogging and looking for a night out, you’d best keep 8 November free.
Credit: Cross Club Social
Combining forces once again, the third iteration of the Cross Club Social sees multiple Manchester running clubs putting on one of the biggest parties of the year, with people from all over the community turning up to swap their trainers for dancing shoes.
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Ticket prices have crept ever so slightly this year, mainly because of just how well attended the 2025 event was, but also to help raise money for their official charity partner.
However, it goes without saying that all newcomer clubs and solo runners in general and welcome to come along to this year’s event, which is also the first to be held at Fairfield Social Club near Angel Meadows Park – the more the merrier, as far as these lot are concerned.
For example, here’s a taste of the kind of turnout it got last year…
Speaking to The Manc, organiser and resident MC Dave ‘Macca’ McLaughlin said of Cross Club Social 2025: “This event is a celebration of the local running community, by the local running community.
“It’s a great chance to get some of the biggest running clubs in Manchester together to celebrate their achievements of the year without the running kit or carbon-plated trainers.
“It’s a pleasure to organise an event that local runners seemingly love, alongside some of Manchester’s biggest running clubs, all while raising money for our charity partner. Last year, we were able to contribute nearly £400 to their fundraiser, and we’re aiming for even higher this year.
“The demand has been huge – our first event sold out in under 50 minutes, last year was just under two hours at a bigger venue. This year we’re going even bigger to handle the demand, with more clubs than ever and a venue with three separate rooms for different kinds of entertainment.
“Me and Sophie [de Greenlaw – fellow DJ and co-founder] hope to continue expanding the event into a day-long running festival; we’d love to book bigger venues, get more clubs and sponsors involved, and make this a day that every local runner has marked on their calendar. See you there.”
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Credit: Supplied
Early bird access will be on sale from 10am this Friday, 10 October, with the general admission tickets going live at the same time next week (17 Oct).
The social itself will run from 5pm until midnight, with last entry at 8:30pm, and you can bank on there being some kind of after-party elsewhere on the night. Get ready to grab your tickets HERE.
It’s also worth noting that the two previous years sold out fast, so make sure you put in a PB-worthy performance when it comes to that online shopping basket if you want to be there.
Once again, the Manchester Runners Cross-club social is a completely non-profit event; all funds from ticket sales go directly towards setting up the next one, back into the running clubs who take part, and to charitable organisations like The MCR 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness.
The Streets have just announced a massive outdoor gig in Manchester
Danny Jones
UK hip-hop, garage and grime icons The Streets have become the latest act confirmed for the Sounds of the City musical festival 2026, announcing a huge outdoor gig in Manchester as part of their shows next summer.
One of the most influential bands in the space, having inspired countless others in adjacent genres over the past couple of decades, The Streets are up there with some of the biggest names to ever book Castlefield Bowl.
Revealing a brand new UK tour in line with a special album anniversary, which features just a handful of domestic live dates, we’re counting ourselves very lucky to be on the list.
Big news! The Streets @mikeskinnerltd will perform 'A Grand Don’t Come For Free' in full for the first time at Manchester Castlefield Bowl & @Yourallypally Park in July 2026 🔥
Set to play the fan favourite amphitheatre for the second time, the 46-year-old frontman and legendary British producer is bringing vocalist Kevin Mark Trail, guitarist Rob Harvey, and a number of other regular session players along for the ride.
Other cities being treated to the experience include the likes of London, Bristol and our mates over in Leeds, too.
The tour itself is to mark 20 years since the release of their seminal second album, A Grand Don’t Come For Free, which remains arguably their most important work.
Skinner and his mates join the likes of The K’s in being the first to join the lineup for Sounds of the City 2026; safe to say it’s already off to a good start.
An incredibly well-received follow-up to their already impressive debut, Original Pirate Material, the much-loved 2004 LP is set to be played in full for the first time EVER.
Speaking on the milestone, Skinner said:“A Grand Don’t Come For Free was a moment in time — for me, and for everyone who grew up with it. I wrote it as a story from beginning to end, even studying screenwriting to shape it and without the faintest idea how people would react.
“We’ve been looking for something bold to do with the live show, and we landed here: some tracks have never been played live, others haven’t surfaced in years.
“It’s a new challenge to bring the whole journey to life on stage, but I have an incredible band, and we always give everything every night. So I’m certain we’ll make finding out what happened to that thousand quid a party every night.”
You can see the full list of shows down below.
The Streets live UK tour dates 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026 – Dreamland – Margate
Saturday, June 27, 2026 – Bristol Sounds – Bristol
Saturday, July 18, 2026 – Alexandra Palace Park – London
Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Ludlow Castle – Ludlow
Friday, July 24, 2026 – Kirkstall Abbey – Leeds
Friday, August 7, 2026 – Audley End Estate – Essex
Friday, August 21, 2026 – Rock n Roll Circus – Norwich
You can get ready to grab your tickets for The Streets live for Sounds of the City at Castlefield Bowl by signing up for exclusive artist pre-sale access, or you can just go for general admission when they go live next Friday, 17 October HERE.
Featured Images — Ben Cannon/Press shots (supplied)
Gigs & Nightlife
The Weeknd finally adds Manchester stadium gig to huge tour
Daisy Jackson
The Weeknd has added a whopping seven dates to his upcoming tour – including a stadium gig here in Manchester.
The Blinding Lights singer is taking his The After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour to massive venues across Europe next year, but had previously skipped our city in favour of London.
But today The Weeknd has announced a night at the Etihad Stadium next June, along with new dates in Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Copenhagem, Munich and Lille.
The diamond-certified global star performed here back in 2023, with a giant moon balloon hanging over the Etihad Stadium.
The 2026 After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour was already a 40-date sold-out stadium tour, and now the Live Nation produced tour has added extra stops.
Playboi Carti will appear as The Weeknd’s support act on all EU/UK dates.
The Weeknd adds Manchester gig to upcoming stadium tour
This particular tour celebrates his album trilogy of After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025).
The Weeknd will perform at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on 11 June 2026.
Tickets will go on sale via an artist presale and Mastercard presale from 12pm on Tuesday 14 October, followed by a Nespresso presale, and then general sale from 12pm on Friday 17 October.
The Weeknd UK and European dates for After Hours Til Dawn 2026 tour
Thu Jun 11 – Manchester, UK – Etihad Stadium – NEW DATE
Fri Jun 19 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken – NEW DATE
Sat Jun 25 – Munich, Germany – Allianz Arena – NEW DATE
Fri Jul 3 – Lille, France – Stade Pierre Mauroy – NEW DATE
Wed Jul 8 – Paris, France – Stade De France – NEW DATE
Fri Jul 10 – Paris, France – Stade de France
Sat Jul 11 – Paris, France – Stade de France
Sun Jul 12 – Paris, France – Stade de France
Thu Jul 16 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
Fri Jul 17 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
Sat Jul 18 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
Tue Jul 21 – Nice, France – Allianz Riviera
Wed Jul 22 – Nice, France – Allianz Riviera
Fri Jul 24 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
Sat Jul 25 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
Sun Jul 26 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
Thu Jul 30 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
Fri Jul 31 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
Sat Aug 01 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
Tue Aug 04 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
Wed Aug 05 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
Sat Aug 08 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
Sun Aug 09 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
Mon Aug 10 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
Fri Aug 14 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
Sat Aug 15 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
Sun Aug 16 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
Tue Aug 18 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
Wed Aug 19 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
Sat Aug 22 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park
Sun Aug 23 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park
Fri Aug 28 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
Sat Aug 29 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
Sun Aug 30 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
Tue Sep 1 – Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys – NEW DATE
Sat Sep 5 – Lisbon, Portugal – Estadio do Restelo – NEW DATE
Danny Jones -
9th October 2025 
