The worst possible news for festival fans arrived quickly this year. Just 21 days in.
Fresh optimism had filled the air at the turn of 2021 – with the worst year for live music finally behind us and hope for better times ahead.
But on the third week of January, the red hot excitement for the rejuvenation of the gig scene was doused with a bucket of freezing cold water – as Michael and Emily Eavis’ announced that Glastonbury Festival would be cancelled for a second successive year.
The ‘new chapter’ for the events industry had gotten off to a dreadful start.
Still, some music industry personnel urged people to take the news with a pinch of salt.
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Glastonbury, by all accounts, is a different beast to many UK festivals – and there were arguments that festival season could still go ahead if the government offered its support.
That remains to be seen, and there are still hopes that some events could proceed during sunnier (in every sense of the word) days.
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But in the meantime, smaller local events are beginning to go bump.
Sounds From The Other City
Sounds From The Other City – the hyperlocal music festival that sprawls right across Salford’s Greengate and Blackfriars areas – confirmed this week that it would also be suspending its 2021 edition.
The beloved May Bank Holiday event has been a fixture of festival season and firm underground favourite for 16 years – championing local promoters, celebrating Salford, and providing a platform for innovative artists to showcase their talents.
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The likes of Barney Artist, James Ferraro, Marina, Alt-J, Slowthai, GoGo Penguin, Black Midi and IAMDDB have all appeared on the SFOTC bill since 2005 – with the previous seven editions of the festival completely selling out.
But, after pulling the highly-anticipated fifteenth party last spring, organisers have now taken the “painful” decision to cancel 2021, too. Four months before it was due to take place.
SFOTC 2021 may be regarded as an unfortunate victim of circumstance in that it simply arrived too early in the festival calendar – with events in late summer still hopeful of a return (Parklife, for example, has moved its ordinary dates back by three months to buy themselves more time).
But with no confirmed lockdown exit roadmap coming until at least February 22, there’s no guarantee (or even likelihood) that tight restrictions on mass gatherings will be lifted in spring. The process of putting social distancing arrangements in place for the 23 venues within the festival – all of which are different sizes – has also proven completely unfeasible on a DIY budget.
Gambling on 2021 was a risk that SFOTC organisers decided they simply could “not afford” to take. But the major driving factor in culling the fest was a realisation it would be “impossible to recreate the true, sweat drenched, hands-on, DIY spirit” that made it so popular.
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Sounds From The Other City
Rivca Burns, Creative Director for Sounds from the Other City, said: “We always want to do something we’re super proud of.
‘Sounds’ has always been an opportunity for artists/promoters to let loose – we give them the stage and they put on whatever they’re passionate about.
“We realised that restrictions and limitations this time were too complicated and it would completely take away the enjoyment.”
But Sounds From The Other City isn’t dead yet. Not by a long shot.
The festival is already making hopeful plans for a return next year – but it’ll need the help of its supporters to do so.
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Organisers have officially launched the SFTOC Lifeline appeal – inviting music fans to make a contribution to help keep the festival afloat.
A brand new newsletter publication, The SoundsTown Gazette, is also being published to update the community on progress, as well as featuring interviews, listings and offers from artists, promoters and partners.
Rivca stated: “The festival has always been this lean machine – and all the donations that come in will be used to pay the freelancers and people who make it possible.
“We recognise we’re not the only ones who are in this boat. There are some shocking figures across the industry. But it’s so good to see communities coming together to help one another.
“We’re hoping to use this time to make ourselves stronger as a business.”
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Sounds From The Other City
SFOTC has always been operated on a shoestring – run entirely on volunteers, freelancers and goodwill.
The festival was born out of two local siblings’ innate desire to prove that Salford – ie the ‘other’ city in Greater Manchester – was as musically eclectic and exciting as its famous neighbour.
The very definition of a grassroots event, SFOTC has kept its core aim intact during its 16 years of existence: Celebrate what’s happening on the doorstep and invite the community to come and join in.
The fanbase (which has ballooned from dozens to hundreds since 2005) has been the lifeblood of the festival since the beginning. But more so now than ever.
Support is flooding in for SFOTC – and thanks to music fans, it might just have a fighting chance.
“If just 250 people donated a tenner, that would go a long way to helping us stay alive,” Riva explained.
“Then hopefully we can prepare for the future.”
The heart of this little Salford festival is still beating yet. Music fans are doing their best to make sure of it.
Learn more about the Lifeline Appeal and what you can do to help save Sounds From The Other City by visiting the official website.
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Oasis classic voted the greatest British song of all time once again
Danny Jones
With the Live ’25 reunion tour this summer fast approaching, it’s fair to say that fans all over the globe are struggling to think about much else other than Oasis at the minute, so it won’t surprise you to hear that one of the greatest classics has been named the best of British song once again.
Oasis, Britpop fanatics and plenty more will already know the song in question, but the everlasting legacy of this tune remains extremely impressive, nevertheless.
We are, of course, talking about their 1994 hit ‘Live Forever’, taken from the seminal debut album, Definitely Maybe, an album absolutely littered with eternal gems from cover to cover.
It might not be the first time the iconic Manc anthem has earned the accolade, but it does feel like a more poignant time than ever to celebrate with the long-awaited gigs now just months away.
Voted for directly by Radio X (formerly XFM) listeners, the legendary Oasis tune has been the ‘Best Of British‘ yet again, with each year’s victor being chosen from a poll on a century of classic bits of music from UK artists.
Note that this isn’t just a second win either; it’s actually the third time in a row that the station has given it the top spot, not to mention naming 16 Oasis entries on the list.
Oh yeah, it also happens to be just the 10th anniversary of the now annual award, meaning ‘Live Forever’ boasts nearly a third of all Best of British wins to trophies to date – and believe us, you won’t hear any complaints from The Manc office or Audio North.
You’ll also be glad to hear that Manchester was the most heavily respresented city this year too, with bands like The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Joy Division and Oasis making up a total 39% of the vote. Because of course.
Radio X’s Managing Editor, Matt Deverson, said of the very easy repeat decision: “‘Live Forever’ had to be number one, didn’t it?
“And with Oasis dominating the 100 with 16 songs in the list, it reflects the growing excitement among Radio X listeners for what will be the biggest music and cultural moment of the year, from the biggest band in the world right now!”
Might as well watch the music video for the 100th time, then, eh?
Do you agree? Is ‘Live Forever’ the greatest British song of all time?
It is still a spine-tingling track even to this day, there’s no doubt about that, but more importantly where does it land for you?
We certainly have one our own thoughts on the best Oasis songs of all time that we’re sure some of our opinions will irritate you no end.
Fellow firm favourites that made it into the top 10 were ‘Champagne Supernova’, ‘Slide Away’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’; meanwhile, one of the newest and highest-ranking additions is Sam Fender’s hugely popular ‘People Watching’, the title track from his fantastic third album.
With everyone getting ready for one of the biggest music events in history and even rumours of a return to Knebworth swirling, summer 2025 is set to go down in the history books. We were also glad to see someone who was there at the very beginning is as amped up as we are.
Featured Images — Helter Skelter/Shymanets (via GoodFon)/Oasis (screenshot via YouTube)
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Burna Boy at Co-op Live – tickets, times, setlist and more for ‘I Told Them…’ tour
Thomas Melia
Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is heading to Manchester for one night only, performing all the hits right here at the lovely Co-op Live.
Burna Boy, a.k.a Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has been steadily making a name for himself in the music industry for just over a decade, thanks to the release of his debut LP L.I.F.E back in 2013.
During his time as an artist, he has seen periods of quick-fire growth, with many standout tracks like ‘Last Last’ and ‘We Pray’, as well as a feature on UK rapper Dave’s tune ‘Location’, just to name a few.
Ogulu is a lover of collaborations too. His list of featured tracks is stacked with a roster of UK talents, including R’n’B favourites Jorja Smith and Mahalia, right through to pop powerhouse Ed Sheeran.
His prolific discography – littered with fellow artists and singers known for pushing the envelope – makes perfect sense, as this Nigerian star doesn’t stick to just one genre; instead, his particular brand of music has been dubbed ‘Afro-fusion’.
The contemporary West African icon not only utilises elements of Afrobeats, but he also makes sure to blend R’n’B, hip-hop, dancehall and lots more.
Safe to say we and millions of others around the globe are big fans.
With that in mind, Burna Boy’s latest visit, not just to Manchester but for a Co-op Live debut, is a highly anticipated one. For those of you who are heading to the arena, here’s everything you need to know.
Burna Boy at Co-op Live – all the important info
Credit: Publicity Image (supplied)
Burna Boy UK tour dates
Mon 21 April – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Fri 11 to Sun 13 July – London, UK – Finsbury Park (Wireless Festival)
That’s right, we’re the lucky ones, as not only is Burna Boy’s Manchester gig just one of two UK shows, but it’s also the only headline date this year, as the 33-year-old will be playing Wireless Fest 2025 this summer down in the capital.
Burna Boy tickets for Co-op Live gig
You’ll be glad to hear that the show isn’t quite sold out just yet. Those who are interested in attending Burna Boy’s only UK arena stop on his ‘I Told Them…’ tour can choose from a range of tickets.
The star has options for standing, lower seating and upper seating all on offer ahead of his exclusive arena gig at Co-op Live, starting from £82.05.
Grab your coveted tickets before it’s too late and see for yourself whether you ‘Want It All’ on the front row or prefer ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ – HERE.
In case you need any more convincing, these were the scenes over Paris way…
Im surprised nobody has shared this Epic moment from Burna’s boys Paris show.
I wonder what it must feel like as an artist to have this amount of people screaming something you created back at you.
There’s no official setlist published, however, these tracks are based on his performance at the Stade de France in the suburb of Saint-Denis last week, as per Setlist-fm:
7 Seconds
(Youssou N’Dour cover)
Level Up (Twice as Tall)
Tested, Approved & Trusted
For My Hand
On the Low
Cheat on Me
Big 7
On Form
Alone
Talibans II
Location (Dave track)
4 kampé II featuring with Joé Dwèt Filé
Laboratoire (WeRenoi cover)
Laho featuring Shallipopi)
Kilometre
City Boys
Bundle By Bundle
It’s Plenty
Update
Ye
Last Last
You can expect to hear his most recent single for sure.
What are the stage times for Burna Boy in Manchester?
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you’ll be able to stay right to the ‘Last Last’ song of the night without welcoming in the next day.
Doors for the ‘I Told Them…’ tour are scheduled for 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 8pm with no confirmed support act, however, DJ Shayne Given will be taking over the arena’s exclusive ‘Backstage Club’ after the show (tickets are required).
You can purchase both after-party tickets and early access HERE.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily 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 01:00 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.
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; 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 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.