Neighbourhood Fest is nearly upon us once again and, better yet, this year we here at Audio North are making our debut as hosts at one of the most iconic gig spaces in Manchester.
There are a whopping 16 stages located across the city centre at Neighbourhood 2024, all rather handily just a short walk from each other (one of the many reasons we love it), including the likes of Gorilla, Albert Hall, Manchester Academy and more.
With names like Sam Fender, Mabel and Holly Humberstone as well as established live favourites Yungblud, Declan McKenna, Mahalia, The Lathums and more all having played the all-day music festival in the past, you never know what stars are going to spring up each year.
However, one thing we do know is that we’ve landed an unreal lineup for our hosted stage as Audio North will be welcoming punters into the one and only O2 Ritz – here are the current stage times.
As always with live music, set times change but here’s what time our acts are due to be on.
Not a bad few names, right?
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With fast-rising Wrexham outfit The Royston Club – who will still be fresh off joining none other than Liam Gallagher in Malta for his massive weekender – getting things started late in the afternoon, we’ll be off to a stormer from minute one.
After that, we’ve got fast-rising hip-hop artist ADMT who will be mixing up the genres on show before indie favourites The Academic bring those infectious choruses and upbeat guitar riffs back to the forefront.
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Then, to round out the evening at the Ritz, spoken wordsmith and hip-hop artist Anthony Szmierek will be topping the bill as the evening headliner and we cannot wait. If you’ve never seen him do his thing live, just you wait…
And there’s much more than that, of course, with other North West locals like Seb Lowe, Red Rum Club, Corella and the mighty Pale Waves headlining the entire thing, Neighbourhood Festival 2024 is going to be one to remember.
Manchester’s biggest multi-venue music festival is genuinely one of our favourite events on the entire calendar and even though the Weekender in Warrington is having a year off, they never let you down with this city staple.
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Rest assured, not only is the Rtiz a Manchester favourite for a reason but we here at Audio North know how to have a good time – and then some…
There are some tickets left for Neighbourhood Festival 2024 so grab yours HERE while you still can.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Antony Mooney (supplied)
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A 5k charity event where runners dress up as Pitbull is coming to Manchester city centre
Danny Jones
Yep, you read it right the first time – a regular 5k charity run returns to Manchester this month, only this time, those taking part will be dressed up as Pitbull for some reason…
Don’t ask us, we just thought it was funny and it’s for a good cause, so why the hell not?
For a little context, this is the latest idea from Run The Streets MCR: a charitable running event that takes place every few weeks (typically the last Friday of every month), and they’re no strangers to the odd-themed jog in fancy dress.
We know ‘Mr Worldwide’ himself has been and gone, having played a couple of nights in Manchester earlier this year, but Run The Streets have decided two nights of yelling ‘Timberrrr’ still wasn’t quite enough and asking those joining the October fundraising 5k to dress up like the one and only Pitbull.
In case you missed it when ‘Dale’ fever took over the city streets this past summer, bald caps, sunglasses, black felt goatees and drawn-on moustaches descended upon central Manchester as they have been all over the UK and beyond for his live shows.
Was it utterly daft? Yes. Was it still one of THE best gig crowds we’ve seen in yonks? Absolutely.
The 44-year-old Floridian rapper and resurgent pop star played multiple nights at the Co-op Live, and they were brilliant, but we’re not going to pretend that the best wasn’t seeing the sea of shiny bald heads and shades in suits and ties.
It’s rare that you see such a shared moment of abandoning inhibitions and embracing the silliness; it was genuinely so great to see, and it’s that similar kind of phenomenon that Run The Streets tries to tap into.
Put simply, it’s about letting go and dancing like no one’s watching.
Having done everything from the regular fancy dress Halloween runs to Oasis, Sabrina Carpenter, ABBA-themed runs, and many more, you’d be surprised how much you don’t care about what people think when you’re running around and dancing to tunes – especially when it’s for charity.
Once again, the Pitbull edition of the Run Streets MCR 5k charity run takes place this month on Wednesday, 22 October from 6:30pm.
These fundraising runners will be meeting outside The Tap House on Circle Square, just off the Oxford Road Corridor, before setting off at a laid-back social pace.
Speaking of fancy dress, if you haven’t seen the group of four mates who made history at the 2025 Manchester Half, stop what you’re doing and read this:
These legends set an incredibly fun, wholesome and amusing world record at this year's @ManchesterHalf – all whilst raising money for @andysmanclubuk. 👏
Courteeners set for huge hometown event at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester
Danny Jones
The latest artist due to play Wythenshawe Park has been announced, with hometown heroes Courteeners set to take the stage in Manchester.
Now that is a big booking.
The Middleton-formed Manc band remain one of the biggest contemporary names to come out of Greater Manchester, and having already played to record-breaking crowds at Heaton Park, Old Trafford, and most venues in the region over the last two decades, this is just the next one to tick off.
Better still, they’re bringing some brilliant acts along with them for Live From Wythenshawe Park 2026, with the one-day festival becoming more established every year.
Courteeners, Wythenshawe Park, Manchester. Saturday 29th August 2026 +special guests @thevaccines(performing debut album 'What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?' in full),@thecoralband,Getdown Services & Girl In The Year Above. Tickets:10am Friday 24th Oct https://t.co/AYk3UlTdlkpic.twitter.com/vQAw2ZEpd0
Who is supporting Courteeners at Wythenshawe Park?
As well as openers, Getdown Services and Girl In The Year Above, who’ll be representing Bristol and the Irish delegation respectively, there’s no chance of the warm-ups not doing their job before the headliners get underway.
The two big support acts scheduled to join the St. Jude stars for the massive outdoor gig are none other than Merseyside veterans, The Coral, as well as fellow indie favourites, The Vaccines.
Get. IN.
As if that lineup wasn’t already one of the best Live From Wythenshawe Park has seen to date, the latter are set to play their debut album, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?, in full – 2026 marks a whole 15 years since it was first released, if you can believe that.
You won’t be surprised to hear that their headline UK tour celebrating the same milestone has sold out pretty much across the board, with a second Manchester date added AND now an extra chance to see them live supporting Courteeners.
General admission for the show goes on sale 10am on Friday, 24 October 2025, with tickets available via Gigs and Tours.com as well as Ticketmaster; Courtneers are also donating £1 from every ticket sold directly to the Music Venue Trust, the UK charity protecting and improving grassroots music venues.
That’s what we like to hear.
Contributions like this really do go on to help keep local venues open, support up-and-coming new artists on tour, not to mention it serves as an investment in the future of live music in what is an increasingly challenging industry.
With Courteeners set to follow another big and even more iconic indie rock band already confirmed, Live From Wythenshawe Park 2026 is shaping up nicely.
Danny Jones -
25th September 2024 
