We’ve already had the likes of The Lathums, Pulp, Hozier, The Blossoms and more at this year’s Sounds of the City festival, and now it’s time for Bastille to bring their best to Castlefield Bowl.
The alternative/indie-pop hit-makers of the 2010s are fittingly celebrating 10 years since their seminal album, now being re-released as Bad Blood X, and their anniversary tour sees them return to Manchester just over a year on from their massive AO Arena show.
Bastille haven’t stopped pumping out music but it’s hard to believe it’s been a whole decade since the debut record and it’s got us feeling all nostalgic for old FIFA soundtracks, their massive sets at Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend and just a great time for music in general.
That being said, the boys are still going strong and are next up in what has already been an immense lineup for Sounds of the City 2023, so just like with all the other headliners, we thought we’d give you a rundown of everything you need to know ahead of their big gig on Friday, 7 July.
Oh dear, Bastille at the Bowl is all sold out, what a shocker.
In all seriousness, this lot are one of the biggest bands in Britain and you were always going to have to get in early if you wanted to stand a chance of getting a ticket, especially considering they sold out the Arena last year.
Of course, it’s worth keeping your eye out for spares on resale sites like Twickets and TicketSwap but, as always, we advise being cautious when dealing with any resellers and urge you to stay away from ticket touts at all costs. No point in getting stung and making the problem even bigger, folks.
Who’s supporting Bastille in Manchester?
Before the Bastille boys themselves, you’ll be treated to three different support acts over the several hours you’ll be spending in the glorious outdoor arena.
Starting with a warm-up from a DJ that is yet to be announced — as has been the case every night at this year’s festival — you’ll then get to see one of Merseyside’s rising stars in 21-year-old, Michael Aldag, who’s opened for the likes of the Lightning Seeds, Miles Kane and many more.
After that, your second support will come from popular Irish singer-songwriter, Orla Gartland, who’s been on the scene for some time now and will also be returning for her own headline show later this year at Manchester Academy 2.
As for when everyone’s turning up, doors will be open from 5:30pm as it has every night in this series and the DJ will be pumping out the tunes from the moment you walk into the venue.
The first support Michael Aldag is due to kick things off at 6:45pm, followed by a short interval before Orla Gartland comes on at 7:45pm, as well as one last break before the main event.
Bastille are due to come on stage at 9pm and the curfew is likely to land around 11pm, so you’ve got a good couple hours of partying. Enjoy!
Setlist (have a guess …)
Listen, this is the ’10 Years of Bad Blood’ anniversary tour: it pretty much does what it says on the tin and considering this was the first time we were introduced to Bastille, we’re more than happy to roll back the years.
As verified by previous shows on Setlist.fm, the band will be playing the album in full as well as an encore where they might mix things up a bit more, but here’s the previous order they played things in:
If you’ve never been before, Castlefield Bowl is a beautiful amphitheatre-style outdoor venue right here in Manchester city centre. Although all tickets are billed as unreserved standing, if you’re quick you can take a seat on the large concrete steps that curve around the stage.
Best view in the house and you can obviously stand throughout; plenty of people also take a perch up on the grassy banks at the back of the venue too, which gives you a great view of the stage and the rest of the roughly 8,000-strong crowd.
Castlefield Bowl is located at 101 Liverpool Road in the city centre, with the closest tram stop being Deansgate-Castlefield just a six-minute walk up the road; you can also walk it from the major train stations, or use the 101, 197, 255, 256, 41, 50 or X50 buses.
It’s looking like it’s gonna be a hot one on Friday, with temperatures set to peak at around 26C between 5 and 6pm, i.e. just as you arrive at the venue.
Luckily, it’s set to be clear skies pretty much all day apart from very early in the morning, so you’ll be able to soak in all the proper festival vibes.
Once again, this is an outdoor venue and there’s only coverage on the canopied section of stone steps towards the back of the amphitheatre, so get plenty of fluids down you, whack on some suncream and maybe take a hat — you can always throw it on stage at the frontman and his glorious hair at the end.
We’ll cheers to that. Another night of Sounds of the City is nearly here and Castlefield’s going to popping yet again — bring on Bastille at the Bowl!
Olivia Rodrigo at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for GUTS: Spilled tour
Thomas Melia
The wait is finally over, as everyone’s favourite teen-pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is bringing her GUTS: Spilled tour to Manchester, playing two nights at Co-op Live more than a year after the high-profile postponement.
Poor Olivia Rodrigo found herself caught up in the delayed Co-op Live opening last year, with the popstar postponing her two gigs just days before they were meant to take place.
Fans then went into a meltdown waiting for new dates, which got announced months later – but it’s finally time.
‘Deja vu’, ‘traitor’, ‘All I Want’ singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is making her long-awaited debut at Co-op Live Manchester for two nights of heartbreak, angst and back to back hits.
Now, this 22 year old super star is wearing her heart on her sleeve or as Rodrigo phrases it, spilling her guts, playing songs from her impressive discography right here at Co-op Live.
Olivia Rodrigo gig guide
Olivia Rodrigo last visited Manchester in 2022, when she played O2 Apollo.
Olivia Rodrigo UK tour dates
Fri 27 June – London, UK – Hyde Park
Sun 29 June – Glastonbury, UK – Glastonbury Festival
Mon 30 June – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Tue 1 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Olivia Rodrigo tickets for Co-op Live gig
If you’re after a way to ‘get him (or anyone) back!’ getting your hands on Olivia Rodrigo tickets might just be the way to do it, and luckily for you there’s a small selection left.
Anyone looking to attend Rodrigo’s 30 June show have a few options, just make sure you don’t get bled dry like a ‘vampire’ trying to buy these prized possessions with exclusive tickets HERE.
For those after tickets to ‘GUTS: Spilled’ night two on 1 July can live out their ‘teenage dream’ in style with a handful of hospitality packages up for grabs HERE.
What are the stage times for Olivia Rodrigo in Manchester?
Olivia Rodrigo is visiting Co-op Live in Manchester on 30 June and 1 July.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm so rest assured you’ll be tucked up in bed before the early hours and you’ll be asleep faster than you can say ‘ballad of a homeschooled girl’.
Doors to open at 6pm with no confirmed kick off time or support act yet but there is an offical afterparty happening at Co-op Live’s new Backstage Club from 10pm onwards for both dates with tickets HERE.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
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 1:00am 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 through the Beryl, 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.
‘GUTS; Spilled’ has seen this American super star jet-setting across the globe.
Featured Images – Supplied via Larissa Hoffman / Nick Walker
Audio
Popular noodle bar Chopstix to host ALL-NEW live music event in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Much-loved noodle box eatery Chopstix are hosting an all-new series of live music events, with the first kicking off at one of Manchester’s most popular venues.
Chopstix has become a foodie’s favourite in the city centre with its combo boxes and now they’re about to win over the musiclovers thanks to these brand-new live-performances.
The Asian restaurant chain is launching ‘Red Box Live’,a first-of-its-kind music event series taking place in some of the UK’s best independent music venues,, and it kicks off at one of the city’s most beloved music venues,YES.
These events will see a rising star headline slot, DJ’s, free drinks and of course, food, because it couldn’t be a Chopstix party without some of its iconic flavour-packed boxes.
Chopstix is known for serving up flavoursome feasts in their combo boxes.The Asian restaurant chain has chosen YES as the first spot for their ‘Red Box Live’ event.Credit: Supplied
Indie-pop artist Liang Lawrence is claiming the first headline spot and she’s definitely no stranger at frequenting some of the most famed stages in the country, having recently performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sefton Park on the BBC Introducing stage, following in the footsteps of Manc rap-talent Aitch.
The ‘Red Box Live’ music events build from the eatery’s previous music-focused series ‘Red Box Sessions’ which saw acts like Flames Collective and Grace Davies (X-Factor) in intimate studio sessions.
Rob Burns, Marketing Director for Chopstix, said: The launch of our brand new Red Box Live event series is incredibly exciting.”We’re bringing big, bold flavour and raw music talent together – serving up an unbeatable combo for our flavour craving crowd right here in Manchester.”
“We’re bringing BIG, BOLD flavour and raw music talent together – serving up an unbeatable combo for our Flavour Craving crowd right here in Manchester.”
Liang Lawrence will be performing at ‘Red Box Live’ organised by Chopstix.There will be free food and live music at this exclusive event.Credit: Supplied
The first ‘Red Box Live’ is taking place on 16 July with a headline performance from Liang Lawrence at YES in Manchester. Doors open from 7pm with a DJ set, and tickets are available to win for free on Chopstix’s website.
Danny Jones -
7th July 2023 
