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Fontaines D.C. announce massive Manchester gig at Wythenshawe Park

Some absolutely stunning support acts too.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 27th September 2024

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting bands on the planet right now, Fontaines D.C. have just announced one their biggest headline dates yet as they are the latest act set to take Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park stage.

Fontaines already have a sell-out Manchester show coming up at Aviva Studios (arguably the biggest acts that have played the new arts venue yet) but now they’re set to level up to one of the biggest stages in the region next summer.

That’s right, following in the footsteps of legends such as Noel Gallagher, New Order, Johnny Marr and the likes of Blossoms earlier this year, the Dubliners are the first artist to be named as part of Live From Wythenshawe Park 2025.

Not even remotely exaggerating, this is going to be utterly enormous.

Landing in Manchester for the massive outdoor gig on Friday, 15 August – 2025 being just the third year of the now must-not-miss annual event – the young post-punk and alternative rockers are effectively skipping several steps on the gig venue ladder to play the huge summer festival.

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The announcement comes fresh off the back of the release of Romance, the band’s biggest record to date. Produced by James Ford and met with incredible responses from fans and reviewers alike, it’s categorically one of the albums of the year.

Elton John recently declared that they are “the best band out there at the moment” and with NME dubbing them as “the defining band of their generation”, not to mention massive sets at Glastonbury’s Park Stage and Reading and Leeds, this date shouldn’t really come as that as much of a surprise.

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That being said, what we couldn’t have predicted was how amazing the support acts were going to be, as warming the all-day festival crowd up will be none other than critically-acclaimed Belfast rap trio, Kneecap, and Leeds’ Mercury Prize-winning indie outfit, English Teacher.

My word, what a show this is going to be…

kneecap manchester tour dates tickets
english teacher supporting fontaines
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

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Fontaines will be smashing an already seismic gig at London’s Finsbury Park next July, but then they’ll be bringing their unreal live atmosphere to Wythenshawe Park just a month later, and with Kneecap in tow too, you can guarantee a big Irish delegation will be turning up for this one.

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General admission for Fontaines D.C. Live From Wythenshawe Park goes live next Friday, October 4 at 9am but you can access pre-sale, available from the same time on Wednesday, 2 October, by signing up for the mailing list.

You can get ready to grab your tickets HERE and, as always, good luck with securing these ones!

fontaines dc manchester live from wythenshawe park 2025
This is gonna be nuts… (Credit: Supplied)

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group

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Catfish and the Bottlemen stun fans with surprise Heaton Park gig

Danny Jones Danny Jones Catfish and the Bottlemen Heaton Park tickets 2025

Whilst most of their followers have been fretting that they were getting ready to break up again, Catfish and the Bottlemen have just stunned everyone by announcing a surprise gig at Heaton Park in Manchester.

Out of nowhere.

The Welsh rockers have been back touring together this year after a three-year hiatus, playing multiple festival sets and headline dates at the likes of Cardiff Castle and released their first new music back in February – much to the delight of fans all over the country – and now they’re coming back to 0161.

Set to play the biggest stage in Manchester next summer, just less than a month before Heaton Park erupts into bedlam for the Oasis 2025 shows, Catfish and the Bottlemen will make their Manc return on Friday 15 June.

Now, don’t get us wrong, this is wonderful news if it all goes ahead as planned, but it has to be said that there is some hesitation coming from interested gig-goers – ourselves included.

Catfish have caught a lot of flack recently for cancelling their Australian tour on the day it was meant to start along with the entire run of US shows “due to artist illness”, with little detail given to fans other than how to sort their refunds. But it gets worse…

They also cancelled their Dublin gig at the RDS Simmonscourt just 15 minutes before doors were set to open and with fans already waiting outside the venue. Again, not the best look.

Perhaps more concerningly, even at some of the shows that have gone ahead this year, there have been concerns raised around the nature and quality of their performances, as well as the wellbeing of charismatic if albeit a bit chaotic frontman Van McCann.

The Oasis reunion shows have also put a bit of a spanner in the works when it comes to their upcoming London shows next year too, as both bands are set to play the capital on the same day. It remains to be seen how many of those tickets will now be put up for resale.

We’re reserving judgment for now but you can understand some of the reticence.

@reloadedmusic_ What’s going on with this band? Honestly the lack of communication is just annoying now. #catfishandthebottlemen #vanmccann #reloadedmusic ♬ original sound – Reloaded Music

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Nevertheless, we’re not going to pretend that we’re not absolutely buzzing to hear this news and we’re hoping that this massive Manchester show goes ahead and off without a hitch.

They last came to town in 2019 when they played the AO Arena and played one of their final shows before the split just down the road at Neighbourhood Weekender back in 2021, so it’s fair to say it’s been a while. Keep everything crossed, Catfish fans.

General admission goes live next Friday, 4 October at 10am but you can access pre-sale, which starts at the same time on Wednesday, 2 October, by signing up via the mailing list.

You can grab tickets for Catfish and the Bottlemen at Heaton Park, Manchester HERE and good luck to us all.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/Silly Little Man (via Flickr)

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Solardo set to launch new gig series supporting mental health services

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson Solardo mental health gig series Manchester The Yard

Music and mental health social enterprise, Headstock, has partnered with leading ticketing platform Skiddle, to create an exciting new event series, ‘The Drop’ – and local production duo Solardo are taking the stage for the launch night. 

The DJ duo from Manchester, best known for pumping out irresistible house beats, have just announced their first Drop event, set to perform an intimate show at The Yard on Thursday, 10 October. 

Known for igniting dancefloors wherever they go, Solardo has played in iconic clubs and wowed at festivals all over the world, including Glastonbury, Tomorrowland, Creamfields, Ultra and Burning Man.

For one night only, 300 lucky people will be able to experience the electric vibes of the duo at this new event in Manchester.

Credit: Press Images (supplied)

The Drop is a monthly house music event, designed to elevate the mood of partygoers and raise both awareness and funds for mental health charities. 

Aptly named, ‘The Drop’ obviously refers to the climactic moment in electronic dance music where a track’s crescendo releases a wave of euphoria – a really fitting metaphor for the event’s mission: to raise spirits and support mental well-being.

Each month, The Drop will welcome some of the world’s most renowned DJs for an early evening rave, with proceeds supporting the music industry and local mental health charities, chosen by the featured artists. This first one just happens to be Solardo and the cult favourite Cheetham Hill venue.

The series will highlight house and electronic dance music’s ability to stimulate feelings of joy, and the 9pm finish gives you a chance to continue your night out or head home for a well-deserved rest.

Credit: StreamGM (supplied)

The proceeds from Solardo’s gig will go to Music Minds Matters, a national charity that puts positive mental well-being, centre stage in the music industry and supports the UK music community’s mental health through a 24/7 confidential helpline, peer support and specialised online sessions.

Supporting Solardo are fellow Mancunian breakthrough double act: Shimrise.

Yelena Lashimba and Latoya Reisner bring high-energy performances and take an electrifying twist on house music, infusing percussion, bass and nostalgia into their sets.

If you’ve heard even a little bit of their stuff, you’ll be just as excited to hear these two as Solardo.

Taking the stage from 6pm onwards, they’ll be getting things warmed up before the main event. It’s honestly going to be such a good party atmosphere.

 Atheer Al-Salim, founder of Headstock, shared the inspiration behind the series:

“At Headstock, we believe passionately in the power of music and shared experience to positively impact our mental and emotional well-being. The Drop is an embodiment of this belief and an amazing shared experience for house music fans.

“We are excited to partner with Skiddle to launch a new event series which exists to remind people just how powerful music can be to lift our mood and brighten our day.

“It’s very fitting that we’re kicking things off on World Mental Health Day with Solardo – raising money for Music Minds Matter. This forms part of Headstock’s long-term commitment to support the mental health of those working within the music industry.”

Get ready to grab your tickets HERE because it’s going to be an unforgettable night, especially if comes even remotely close to the Solardo sets we’ve grown accustomed to. That drop really is just the best feeling, isn’t it?

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

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