Stockport will transform into a playful outdoor gallery this summer as a colourful new art trail takes over the town.
Following huge success in London and North Tyneside, Stockport visitors are being told to get ready to explore a full spectrum of emotions this summer, as the SmileyWorld® Art Trail takes over the town centre with a colourful collection of quirky, fun, and exciting sculptures each inspired by the SmileyWorld icons.
Kicking off from the start of next month, the trail will be making its North West debut in Stockport, and organisers say it’s guaranteeing family fun during the school summer holidays.
Oh and best of all, it’s completely free to attend.
Created by the trailblazing global arts producer, Wild in Art, in partnership with Totally Stockport BID and SmileyWorld – a lifestyle brand that’s dedicated to true emotional expression – the trail will feature 15 playful sculptures, each reimagined by a different artist to reflect the full range of human emotions including joy, pride, surprise, anxiety, and lots more.
Colourful new SmileyWorld art trail is taking over Stockport town centre this summer / Credit: Scott Kershaw Photography
Perfect for all ages, the trail will be spread across the town centre, with sculptures featured everywhere from the Merseyway Shopping Centre, to Stockport Underbanks, Viaduct Park, The Plaza, and more.
Designed as a self-guided experience, the sculptures will reflect a broad range of human feelings and will invite people to connect as they explore Stockport’s key locations and landmarks using free trail maps, complete with games, puzzles, and doodles for kids, all of which will be available to download ahead of time.
Printed copies will also be available for pick up in local businesses and public venues.
“We are delighted to be able to bring the SmileyWorld Art Trail to Stockport,” commented Charlie Langhorne, who is the Managing Director and co-founder of Wild in Art.
“Exploring the trail is a fun activity to do with friends and family and it’s free to visit. It’s a great opportunity to get out in the fresh air and take a stroll around Stockport town centre while discovering some truly unique and inspiring art.”
The SmileyWorld® Art Trail is taking over Stockport from 4 July through to 15 September 2025, and you can find out more here.
Featured Image – Scott Kershaw Photography
Art & Culture
New FREE Oasis exhibition showing never-before-seen photos opens in Manchester next week
Emily Sergeant
A new free photography exhibition showing never-before-seen pictures of Oasis fans from the 90s opens in Manchester next week.
With a sensational summer of sound now firmly in our sights, and right as Manchester gears up to welcome Oasis back home once again, the city’s iconic Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has announced a new free exhibition that’s set to take music fans a trip down memory lane.
Opening next Wednesday, Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 will showcase a series of exclusive photographs by renowned photographer, Jon Shard, to the public for the first time ever, opening the door to a world before online sales, dynamic ticket pricing, and frantically refreshing a website to get the hottest ticket in town.
Renowned for his visually distinctive work across a number of fields, this was Shard’s first assignment for iconic music magazine NME.
The collection of photographs – which has been co-curated by the British Culture Archive – shows scenes of fans excitedly queuing up in the cold winter of 1996, hoping to get their hands on tickets for the band’s sold-out shows at Manchester City’s Maine Road stadium.
“Queuing in person had its charm,” admitted Jon Shard.
“I felt privileged to capture the dedication of fans willing to stay out all night and brave the cold. Getting the ticket was an event itself, almost a rite of passage for fans.”
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 opens in Manchester for free next week / Credit: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel (Supplied)
Giving visitors a deeper insight into the world of sold-out shows, as well as the magic of Oasis and their music over the years, the new exhibition will also feature a ‘Fan Wonderwall’ with archive images from 1994-97 of fans attending gigs, spanning from pre-smart phone gig-videos, through to their latest performances.
“It’s a privilege to play a part in the city welcoming the Gallagher brothers home,” commented David Lockhart, who is the General Manager of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, ahead of the exhibition opening next week.
“The photographs by Jon Shard offer a glimpse into a defining moment in Manchester’s music history, and we’re proud to share this with our guests and the city.”
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 is open to the public from 7pm on Wednesday 2 July on the walls of Refuge at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.
At to make it even more worth the trip, the first 50 visitors to the exhibition will also receive a free limited edition zine, so they can take a piece of Oasis history home with them.
Featured Image – Jon Shard (Supplied via Kimpton Clocktower Hotel & British Culture Archive)
Art & Culture
Diana Ross at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
It’s true, the Queen of Motown Records, Diana Ross, is coming to Manchester, and she’s bringing The Hallé Orchestra with her too.
Diana Ross and her band are making their way to Manchester for a night of glitz and glam, but they’re also making room for the much-loved Manc-based music collective
You can expect this Pop and disco diva to perform lots of other timeless classics such as ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Chain Reaction’, she really is ‘The Boss’.
Diana Ross gig guide – everything you need to know
Diana Ross, her band and The Hallé Orchestra are coming to Co-op Live Manchester on 26 June.Credit: Crisco 1492 (via Wikimedia Commons)
This living legend is a bucket list gig for many, but we’re sure if you’re fast enough, you’ll be able to secure a ticket for yourself and your ‘Baby Love’.
Diana Rosshas racked up 58 top 10 hits and we’re sure she’ll play a hefty amount of these at Co-op Live.Credit: DVROSS (via Flickr)
Diana Ross setlist
I’m Coming Out
More Today Than Yesterday
Baby Love
You Can’t Hurry Love
Come See About Me
Stop! In the Name of Love
Touch Me in the Morning
I’m Still Waiting
Chain Reaction
He Lives in You
Good Morning Heartache
Love Hangover
Ease on Down the Road
Home
The Boss
Endless Love
Reach Out and Touch
Upside Down
Tomorrow
Count on Me
Just in Case
If the World Just Danced
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Amazing Grace
I Will Survive
Thank You
What are the stage times for Diana Ross in Manchester?
The supreme space that is Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, so you’ll be able to dance your socks off without having to ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’, while still making it back to bed before the early hours.
Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 7:30pm and no official announcement regarding a support act.
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 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
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:
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 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 on 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.
This will be Diana’s first time performing at Co-op Live in Manchester.Credit: Crisco 1492 (via WikiCommons)
Emily Sergeant -
4th June 2025 
