We have a very big place in our hearts for hearing movie scores performed by a live band, so when we heard that a live concert series of Disney classics was coming to Manchester, our ears naturally pricked up.
In what is just the latest event at the legendary Bridgewater Hall to bring movie scores and soundtracks to life in front of an audience, the hugely popular ‘Sound of Magic’ audio-visual show is coming to one the city centre’s best venues for an unfortgettable family friendly evening.
As you may have already guessed by now, this event pretty much does what is says on the tin: delivers some the most beloved songs and scores from over 100 years of Disney to a crowd of cartoon lovers and animation ethusiasts, not to mention anyone who live music and the classical genre, especially.
If you’re anything like us and those early memories of watching Disney are some of your most formative movie and music experiences then you know it’s set be just as special seeing it in person.
ANNOUNCING // Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic (Friday 20 February 2026)
— The Bridgewater Hall (@BridgewaterHall) March 11, 2025
Set to be performed by the highly celebrated Novello Orchestra on a limited eight-date UK tour, ‘Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic’ promises to be “a symphonic celebration of Disney music, animation and memories – a century in the making.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Drawing inspiration form throughout the entire history of the Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, you can expect some of your favourite childhood films and characters on screen along with a the powerful sound of a live symphony orchestra on the concert hall stage.
But it just a case of playing the hits: songs and scores are combined into exciting new medleys and suites, creating an unexpected and thrilling journey through music and animation.
ADVERTISEMENT
This newly imagined concert series is set to include moments from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and Alice in Wonderland; Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Frozen; The Lion King, Fantasia, Encanto, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo and MANY more.
The Lion KingMoanaCredit: Disney
The Sound of Magic is being directed by of an acclaimed team of collaborators which includes Creative Director, Amy Tinkham; Music Director, Giles Martin, as well as Arranger and Orchestrator, Ben Foster.
Heading across the Atlantic next February and for two more shows in May 2026, ‘Disney: The Sound of Magic’ is kicking off its UK tour right here in Manchester before hitting Birmingham, Edinburgh, York, London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield and Glasgow.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tickets for Disney’s flagship live concert series in Manchester go on sale at 10am on Friday, 14 March. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We’re loving this trend of cross-genre concerts and in addition to the likes of Aviva Studios hosting an equivalent live concert experience of the smash-hit Witcher videogames, there’s another big series of scores coming to Bridgewater Hall as well.
Featured Images — Disney (supplied)/Ardfern (via Wikimedia Commons)
Audio
The K’s book Castlefield Bowl for their biggest ever headline show
Danny Jones
High-flying indie rock outfit, The K’s, are set to play a landmark headline show right here in Manchester, as the local lads have been confirmed as the first act for Sounds of the City 2026.
The cult favourite working class heroes from down the road in Newton-le-Willows have had an incredible couple of years, climbing their way up the ranks around the North, playing bigger venues and festivals up and down the country, and now they’re on a fully-fledged European tour.
It’s been brilliant to watch their rise thus far, and we couldn’t be more buzzing to hear that they’ve booked none other than Castlefield Bowl for the single largest standalone gig of their careers to date, and you can bet The K‘s army will be out in full force.
Announced alongside another massive outdoor venue this week, the toast of Earlestown will be one of several artists set to play the Sounds of City (SOTC) concert series next year.
We are absolutely BUZZING to announce our biggest ever headline show to date at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester on 03.07.26 as well as a huge headline show @ThePieceHall , Halifax on 08.08.26!Tickets for both shows will be on general sale this Friday 19th September 2025 at 9.30am 🩷 pic.twitter.com/lft55eeEbG
Confirming Castlefield Bowl alongside the magnificent Piece Hall in Halifax for summer 2026, the four-piece will make their way from Merseyside, not only down the M62 to Manchester but over to Yorkshire for what is one of the most stunning outdoor venues in the country.
These two incredible atmospheric amphitheatres are not only incredible spaces for live music, but in the case of our very own city centre stunner, Castlefield Bowl boasts a capacity of approximately 8,450 – making it comfortably The K’s biggest show yet.
Speaking of Kendal, we were in the field ourselves when the group got to revel in the moment of announcing their second album, Pretty On The Internet, had reached number one just in time for their main stage set.
Official artist presale access will be available this Wednesday, 17 September from 9:30am by signing up to their mailing list, but general admission tickets for both dates will go live at 9am the following Friday (19 Sep).
Once again, we can only say well done on the number one; having been there to discuss their debut record’s release while they threw plastic balls around a room, we couldn’t be more gassed to see how far they’ve come.
Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)/Audio North
Audio
Lewis Capaldi announces huge outdoor Manchester gig at Wythenshawe Park next summer
Emily Sergeant
Lewis Capaldi has announced a run of huge outdoor shows next summer, and he’ll be stopping off here in Manchester.
After unprecedented demand saw one of the biggest-ever rushes for tickets across both pre-sale and general sale earlier this year, Lewis Capaldi is currently blazing through a triumphant 200,000-ticket sold out 17-date UK arena tour as we speak – and is set to take to the Co-op Live stage for two huge Manc gigs this weekend.
But he shows no signs of slowing down soon, as he has today announced his biggest ever UK and Ireland headline gigs for next summer.
Wythenshawe Park is fast becoming one of Manchester‘s go-to outdoor gig venues, and Lewis’s visit next summer is only helping the reputation, as the Scottish 28-year-old will be headlining the park for one night only next August.
The announcement of the run of summer outdoor shows comes amid Lewis’s first return to touring in two years following his triumphant Glastonbury 2025 return after an extended break to take care of his mental health break, and following the release of his comeback track ‘Survive’, which shot to the top of the UK charts and became the fastest-selling single of 2025.
The response to Lewis’s current tour has been ‘electric’, according to critics, who have been unanimous in their praise for him.
Prior to his comeback, Lewis played a run of Scottish warm up shows in May that saw him return to the stage as a guest of mental health charity CALM, in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Lewis Capaldi – Summer Outdoor Gigs 2026
Wednesday 24 June – Marlay Park, Dublin
Friday 26 June – Thomond Park, Limerick
Sunday 28 June – TX Maxx presents Live at Powderham, Exeter
Tuesday 30 June – Blackweir Fields, Cardiff
Saturday 4 July – American Express presents Roundhay Festival, Leeds
Saturday 11 July – American Express presents BST Hyde Park, London
Thursday 20 August – Vital, Belfast
Saturday 22 August – Wythenshawe Park, Manchester
With no pressure and no level of expectation, the shows allowed Lewis the space to gauge his comfort and emotional response before returning to the spotlight – a move which ended up proving nothing short of a triumph.
Lewis Capaldi will be coming to Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on Saturday 22 August 2026, and tickets go on pre-sale this Thursday 18 September at 9am, before general sale commences the following day (Friday 19 September), again at 9am.
Danny Jones -
12th March 2025 
