The city’s most energetic live art event is coming back to a Greater Manchester centre next month.
Art Battle Manchester will see artists battle both the clock and each other for a night filled with live art, delicious local street food and drinks, and plenty of entertainment.
If you’re unfamiliar with the event, Art Battle Manchester was first established in 2013 and has since seen more than 250 artists step up to the challenge in unique locations across Manchester, including the likes of Albert Hall, Victoria Baths, and London Road Fire Station – with no venue being used twice, which organisers say offers a ‘fresh and original’ experience.
It’s an evening of fast-paced art and entertainment, featuring painters, illustrators, tattooists, street artists, and other creatives in a head-to-head spectacle like no other.
Manchester’s ‘most energetic’ live art competition is back next month / Credit: Supplied
Set to take over Stretford Mall, in what is one of the last opportunities to explore the complex after hours and experience the building like never before, the space will be transformed into an artistic battle zone for 10 talented painters, who’ll have half an hour to create a masterpiece in front of a live audience.
ADVERTISEMENT
Each of the artists will be elevated on individual stages, making it the very first promenade-style Art Battle – and a totally unique event.
Residents of Stretford and beyond are invited to take their place in the live audience at the hugely-popular event when it arrives next month and cast their votes for their favourite artistic creations, all before the created artworks get auctioned at the end of the competition.
Half of the funds raised from the auction go to the winning artist, and the other half are donated to a local charity.
The Art Battle’s collaboration with Stretford town centre is not only the latest in a long line of iconic artistic partnerships that have taken place in the town over the years, but it will also celebrate the future of the town’s unique creativity with an exhibition from Trafford College art students installed for the duration of the event.
“When the opportunity arose to bring the battle to Stretford Mall, we couldn’t resist,” commented John Macauley.
“As well as the painty shenanigans we’ll be bringing together some of Stretford’s finest independents serving an array of food and drink to the crowd.”
Art Battle MCR is coming to Stretford Mall next month on 20 June, and tickets are now on sale here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Affiliate
Tame Impala announces another HUGE Manchester gig after chart-topping success
Emily Sergeant
Tame Impala has announced another UK and EU tour in 2027 to celebrate recent chart-topping success.
Following sold-out runs across the globe in 2025 and 2026 – including here in Manchester – and currently in the midst of a North American arena tour, Tame Impala has announced a new run of dates for next year – with a mix of headline and festival appearances.
The announcement arrives as Kevin Parker – better known by his project name, Tame Impala – continues an extraordinary run with his latest studio album Deadbeat, released last year.
On Deadbeat, Parker aimed to sculpt a collection of ‘wickedly potent’ club-psych explorations as a vehicle for some of his most direct, ear-wormy songwriting to date.
Tame Impala has announced another huge Manchester gig after chart-topping success / Credit: Julian Klincewicz (Supplied)
After recently being featured in the new Marvel film, Spiderman: Brand New Day, the lead single from the album, ‘Loser’, has just hit number one on the Global Spotify chart.
Not only that, but the remix of the hit song ‘Dracula’, featuring JENNIE, also remains in the top 10 on various global charts, and the original version has also nominated for Best Alternative at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Critics described this most recent run of gigs as ‘one of the best live shows of the year’, so it only makes sense that he’d be back for more.
Kicking off on 28 May 2027 in here in Manchester, Tame Impala will be taking to the Co-op Live stage once again, before heading down to the capital for two nights at The O2 on 1 and 2 June, and then popping over to Paris, Rotterdam, and Cologne to.
Wet Leg will open all headlining dates next year, including here in Manchester.
Tickets go on sale this week, with Co-op Member Presale kicking off at 9am on Wednesday (26 August), followed by General Sale also at 9am on Friday (28 August).
A reimagined dance music celebration is coming to Manchester later this year
Thomas Melia
Get ready to hear some of the biggest anthems in dance music, reimagined and given an orchestral transformation right here in Manchester city centre.
Powerhouse music business Ministry of Sound has been uplifting and promoting dance music through its varied and electric live events for over three decades.
Now, it’s putting an all-new take on all your favourite dancefloor fillers that have been released over the past 30 years with a 31-piece orchestra, a whole team of vocalists and a stacked setlist.
Expect to hear the likes of Fatboy Slim with his huge tune ‘Right Here, Right Now’ alongside Darude’s standout hit ‘Sandstorm’, as performed by a live orchestral arrangement and light production.
After receiving a great reception at major music settings like Gone Wild, The Big Feastival and Silverstone Festival, paired with a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall, this all-new live show now visits the music capital of the North.
Of course, it’s only fitting that Manchester gets the chance to experience this innovative twist on classics and anthems, considering the city’s vibrant club contributions like the Madchester scene and legendary music institution the Hacienda.
Now, dance, house and trance spanning the past 30 years come together courtesy of the Ministry of Sound Classical, playing out across UK locations like Brighton, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as Manchester.
The show is playing out at city-centre gig hotspot O2 Apollo, and is about to teach 3,500 Mancunians dance music history through a dance-meets-orchestra concert like no other.
This live music extravaganza is organised and led by dance music pioneers Ministry of Sound, who developed and defined the 1990s house music scene in London and across the country.
Ministry of Sound Classical is heading to O2 Apollo in Manchester on Friday 18 December with tickets and more information available HERE.
Featured Image – Press Shot (Supplied via Ministry of Sound)
Emily Sergeant -
7th May 2025 
