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Massive music-filled takeover planned as 1.3m tourists descend on Manchester this summer

Get the tunes blasting.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th June 2025

Plans for a massive music-filled takeover of Manchester have been announced ahead of 1.3 million tourists descending on the city centre this summer.

It comes as no surprise that this summer is set to be a big one for music in Manchester.

Parklife weekend has just been and gone, but in 2025, the fun is far from over, as there will be countless global megastars taking to the stage at some of our city’s biggest music venues, such as Co-op Live and the AO Arena, over the next couple of months, and there’s also the Sounds of the City concert series to look forward to at Castlefield Bowl, as well as a handful of Wythenshawe Park gigs.

Oh, and in case you’ve been living under a rock, there’s also the small matter of Manchester’s most legendary band, Oasis, reforming for a run of gigs at Heaton Park next month too.

Sure, Manchester is big for music all year round, but as you can imagine, 2025 is set to be bigger than ever, which is why Manchester City Council has now announced its very-own musical takeover called MCR Live ’25 to help celebrate what promises to be a sensational summer of sound.

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There’ll be everything from a pop-up bar in Piccadilly Gardens with surprise live acts doing sets, and markets in St Peter’s Square selling vinyl and vintage goods, to block parties in the Northern Quarter, and the already-announced Music for the Senses art trail dotted around all the well-known city centre sights.

The Piccadilly Gardens space, known as The Hub, is designed to be the ‘basecamp’ for Manchester’s music tourists, and will be an easy place to drink at the bar, sample some of the best street food in the North West, catch surprise acts and DJ takeovers on the outdoor stage, or bring the family along during the day for some music-inspired fun.

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If you head to St Peter’s Square, this is where you’ll find the pop-up markets running alongside Oasis’ legendary homecoming gigs, which will bring together local makers, artists, and indie traders for a celebration of sound, style, and city pride.

Music for the Senses
A massive music-filled takeover is planned as 1.3m tourists descend on Manchester this summer / Credit: David Oates Photography

Several ‘block parties’ will be taking over the Northern Quarter on selected Fridays and Saturdays in both June and July, so it’s your chance to head on down to Edge Street and Thomas Street and take in all the action happening over two stages – with DJs and live acts playing throughout the day.

There’ll also even be an ‘Oasis Week’ at Manchester Central Library, with legendary Supernova live sets, Gallagher look-alike competitions, a Big Oasis Quiz, Supersonic film screenings, and so much more.

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But the stand-out event has to be the art trail, which is titled Music for the Senses: an art arrangement for a musical city, running across the city centre from early July until the end of August, and is a collaboration between global art producer Wild in Art – the creators of the famous Bee in the City project – and the Council.

There’ll be pop-up bars, music markets, block parties, and loads more dotted around the city / Credit: MCC

At the heart of the exhibition will be an interactive installation called ‘Guitar Street’ created by Manchester artist Liam Hopkins, known as Lazerian, which will lovingly repurpose 100+ broken guitars, all donated by members of the public.

“We’re already known the world over for the music we make and for our unrivalled music scene, and this summer we’re going all out with MCR Live ’25 to harness the moment and celebrate the massive contribution that music makes to the city,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.

You can find out everything happening for MCR Live ’25 on the VisitManchester website here.

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Of course, the annual Manchester Day celebrations will also be back and taking over the city centre’s main streets on Saturday 26 July too, and this year, that’s also music-themed… because why wouldn’t it be? It makes sense.

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Find out more about Manchester Day 2025 here.

Featured Image – Alex Bracken (via Unsplash)

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Appeal launched to find the owner of live chickens found at Creamfields festival

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The hunt is on to find the owner of a pair of chickens who were discovered at Creamfields festival.

The two birds were spotted on the grounds of the huge electronic music festival by bewildered festival-goers.

The cockerel and hen were trapped in a hedge, after it appears they wandered onto the festival campsite before the security barriers were installed.

The birds then found themselves trapped inside as around 70,000 music fans poured into Cheshire for a line-up that included Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Disclosure, and Tiësto.

The chickens have been safely rescued from the Creamfields festival site and are recovering at a wildlife centre, and now the RSPCA is on a mission to find their owner.

Festival-goers first called the RSPCA on Saturday 29 August to alert them to the cockerel and hen trapped inside the festival, one of whom assisted in the rescue mission.

RSPCA Inspector Leanne Cooper: “I was surprised that they were inside the festival site and I needed to get through the road blocks and security before reaching them on foot through muddy fields. I met the caller who helped me as they were just running up and down the hedge line where there was a wire fence blocking access.

Where the chickens were discovered at Creamfields
Where the chickens were discovered at Creamfields
The RSPCA wants to track their owners down
The RSPCA wants to track their owners down

“We managed to guide them out and I caught both of them with my rescue net which was a bit of a sight for the festival campers.

“I don’t think they were abandoned and they’re more likely to be stray because it’s farmland all around the festival site. They don’t have any health issues, apart from being quite underweight.

“With the fences going up a week before the festival starts they’d probably been unable to get out for some time and had been left foraging in the hedge. Someone mentioned that a third bird was also trapped, although we couldn’t find any others.

“I am really grateful to the festival-goer who found them and alerted us to their plight.”

@juniormolloy

#creamfields #goldcamp

♬ original sound – juniormolloy

Leanne spoke with a local farmer and while none of his birds were missing, it is believed the pair were being kept on a smallholding in the area.

Both birds are recovering from their ordeal at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, but if no-one comes forward they will be rehomed.

The cockerel has a distinctive black and orange plumage, while the hen’s feathers are white.

Anyone with any information about the ownership of the birds should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1238018 and quote reference number 01892547.

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Featured image: RSPCA

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Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Hotel Room

Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.

Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.

But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.

After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.

Noel Gallagher update on Oasis Live '25 reunion tour documentary film
Oasis reunion rehearsals have begun says Liam Gallagher
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)

And lo and behold, it appears that they have.

The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester. 

The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.

The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).

“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.

“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights. 

“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.

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“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.

“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”

Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)

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