Frank Carter and Sex Pistols are continuing their fruitful partnership and are celebrating the anniversary of a very important Manchester music venue with a massive outdoor gig right here in the city centre.
Yes, you lucky sods are getting more Frank Carter as the perfect new lead singer for the Sex Pistols, live and in the flesh.
The frenetic frontman, best-known for his self-titled outfit and the Rattlensakes, as well as his time with Gallows and Pure Love, initially joined the legendary punk rock band on the road for a special handful of live shows; ultimately, the reviews were so glowing that they announced an entire UK tour.
It seems fitting, therefore, that as we approach half a century of punk – a movement that the Sex Pistols themselves kicked off right here in Manchester – that the landmark shows celebrating that milestone should be held where it was arguably first born.
Even to this day, it’s still talked about as an ‘I was there’ gig that not only spawned so many artists from this city, but that helped shape both the British scene and global music industry as a whole for decades to come.
Therefore, the veterans couldn’t let the seminal date simply pass without recognising it in some way, and after the success of their previous shows alongside Carter, they’ve decided to do it all over again.
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While the first run – which included a Manchester date at Academy One back in September 2024 – saw the band and 41-year-old vocalist play their debut and only album in full, this upcoming outdoor gig is more importantly pegged as a celebration of the movement as a whole.
You can see the kind of energy they generated inside a sweaty mid-capacity room; just imagine how incredible this is going to be live at Castlefield Bowl:
Yes, Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols will be playing the city’s increasingly iconic amphitheatre next festival season, following the likes of New Order, Noel Gallagher, The Courteeners, Blossoms and just a handful of other local names.
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Joining the lineup for the annual Sounds of the City music festival, spread across several nights every summer, they follow the likes of Johnny Marr, The Ks and The Charlatans among the latest raft of regional acts on the roster.
The event itself never disappoints, and it’s great to see so many Greater Manchester natives and other nearby artists getting spotlighted at a venue that is becoming increasingly iconic in its own right.
It might never birth a moment in musical history quite like Free Trade Hall, but it’s definitely helped put a few more local talents on the map.
As for Frank and the Pistols, we don’t want to sound like someone else’s broken record, but you really did have to be there…
Other outdoor dates announced include The Piece Hall in Halifax, Cardiff Castle and the Scarborough Open Air Theatre.
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Perhaps one of the coolest parts about this next batch of live shows is that they’ll also be joined not only by fellow long-serving contemporaries, The Undertones, but by ‘The Bard of Salford’ himself, John Cooper Clarke, too.
‘The Godfather of Punk Poetry’ and spoken word hero has already hosted two popular evenings in Manchester this year alone, and is set to prove a real fan favourite once again.
General admission tickets are set to go live at 10am this Friday, 28 November, and you can bank on them being snapped up just as fast as you could say ‘Anarchy in the UK’; get ready to grab yours HERE.
They’re not the only rock legends coming to town soon, either.
More artists added and stage splits confirmed for Neighbourhood Weekender 2026 lineup
Danny Jones
Two waves for NBHD Weekender’s 2026 lineup have now been officially confirmed, and Greater Manchester leads the way in terms of headliners, with local music legend Richard Ashcroft and Stockport’s finest, Blossoms, both already confirmed for the big slot on the main stage.
Now THAT is how you follow up a comeback.
Yes, Neighbourhood Weekender always promises a healthy dose of Northern acts on the lineup, including plenty of Mancs, scousers and others from Cheshire and the region at large, but to get two much-loved music artists from our boroughs topping the 2026 bill is an absolute treat.
With other noteworthy appearances in the Kaiser Chiefs, DMA’s, Jamie Webster, Example and many more on there already, it feels like next year’s festival is shaping up to be a potential all-timer, with a second wave of acts being added and the stage splits now set.
As you can see, the first pair of waves of the NBHD 2026 lineup includes returning crowd-pleasers like Shed Seven, Razorlight and The K’s, as well as other additions like rising stars Basht., Better Joy and North West favourites, The Kairos, as well as fellow Manc lads, M60.
Other acts that also caught our eye include our own natives like Arkayla, The Guest List, Luvcat and The Covasettes, just to name a few, as well as rising ‘Britainicana outfit’, Westside Cowboy, who just so happen to star on our most recent round-up of what we’ve been listening to.
In fact, there are a few past Manc bands of the month features on this lineup, not to mention more nearby names in Lucvat, The Royston Club, Keyside, Nxdia and so on, who are all well worth earmarking ahead of the stage splits being announced.
As for the headliners, indie heroes Blossoms need no introduction; nor does Wigan’s most famous musical son, with Ashcroft riding a real resurgence at the moment – he’s also one of our artists of the month, naturally.
In fact, confirmation of both Ashcroft and his Oasis Live ’25 support act partners, Cast, being booked for Warrington’s Victoria Park and the next NBHD Fest comes after the 54-year-old confirmed a fellow hometown band for some very big shows of his own.
This coming May Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 23-Sun 24 May 2026) is shaping up nicely, and we can’t wait to see what else is new to the festival site this year.
General admission tickets are already available, and new for this year, there will also be different payment plans via their website.
You can grab your tickets HERE. See you in the fields!
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/Audio North
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Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family
Danny Jones
The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.
Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.
Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.
Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.
On behalf of the boys, and as their legal guardian, I want to thank everyone for the kind messages and concern for their wellbeing. There was a misunderstanding regarding the upcoming Manichester tribute concert, but we’re pleased to share that everything has now been resolved. pic.twitter.com/j8jEMrFzsD
Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.
It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.
Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.
All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.
These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.
Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.
“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.
“With love and thanks – The Family”
It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.
Danny Jones -
24th November 2025 
