Sounds of the City is set to return this month, bringing some of the world’s biggest bands to Manchester.
Over the course of nine very special evenings, bands including James, Pixies and Foals will all take to the outdoor stage.
This year’s headliners also include Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, and the return of the ever-popular Hacienda Classical.
Since launching in 2013, Sounds of the City has hosted the likes of Kylie, Arcade Fire, Elbow, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Courteeners.
As with most music events, Sounds of the City had its 2020 and 2021 summer seasons disrupted, but returned with a handful of gigs last September.
Now it’s back in full force and ready to kick off in a matter of days.
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Here’s what you need to know.
Who’s headlining Sounds of the City on which date?
Tuesday 28 June – Lewis Capaldi plus special guest Jp Saxe & Emie Nathan
Wednesday 29 June – Foals plus special guests Wet Leg & The Regrettes – Sold Out
Thursday 30 June – Crowded House plus special guest
Friday 1 July – The Libertines – Up The Bracket performed in full plus other classics plus special guests Sports Team
Saturday 2 July – James plus special guest – Sold Out
Tuesday 5 July – Pixies plus special guests The Slow Readers Club & Klangstof
Wednesday 6 July – Sam Fender plus special guest – Sold Out
Friday 8 July – Hacienda Classical with special guests Soul II Soul, Peter Hook, DJ Paulette & Tom Wainwright
Saturday 9 July – Primal Scream Presents Screamadelica plus special guests The Mysterines, Lonelady & Walt Disco – Sold Out
How do I buy tickets?
There are still tickets left for a few of the Sounds of the City gigs, as well as tickets cropping up on resale sites (as always, make sure you’re using a verified fan-to-fan service so you don’t get ripped off).
You can expect to pay between £40 and £50 for most of the events – Lewis Capaldi tickets are £44.25, The Libertines tickets are going for £47.40, and The Pixies for £50.50, for example.
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You can browse the events and see the latest ticket availability through Ticketmaster.
What are the stage and venue times?
Doors to the venue are expected to open at 5.30pm for most of the concerts.
There’ll be a strict 10.30pm curfew.
Each artist is likely to announce their individual stage times on social media in the coming days, but you can probably expect headliners to take to the stage between 8.30pm and 9pm most nights.
What’s the seating chart for the venue?
Castlefield Bowl is an amphitheatre-style outdoor venue in the city centre.
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Although all tickets are billed as unreserved standing, if you’re quick you can take a seat on the large concrete steps that curve around the stage.
Many people also take a perch up on the grassy banks at the back of the venue too.
How do I get to Castlefield Bowl?
Castlefield Bowl is located at 101 Liverpool Road in the city centre.
The closest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield, which is only a six-minute walk away.
You can also walk it from the major train stations, or use the 101, 197, 255, 256, 41, 50 or X50 buses.
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The first-ever Northern Music Awards – all the winners on a night where the region proved why it’s the best
Danny Jones
Last night finally saw the inaugural Northern Music Awards take place at the iconic Albert Hall, a night celebrating everything we know and love about the North: we love our music and we’re bloody good at it, and we also know how to have a knees up better than anyone.
The landmark awards ceremony, put on by music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins and backed by dozens of local, national and global brands (including our lovely selves here at The Manc) has been 18 months in the making and faced plenty of obstacles, but nothing us Northerners couldn’t overcome.
More importantly, it was well worth the wait. Hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music presenter and passionate Nordoff and Robbins ambassador, Chris Hawkins, the night was packed not only with handing out shiny gongs but moving speeches, live performances from some big acts and a great ol’ boogie at the end.
From digs about Co-op Live not quite being ready and jabs at the government, HS2 and investment in Northern infrastructure when an award-winner couldn’t make it on time, to Gary Neville telling City fans to “f*ck off” and Andy Burham giving a rousing speech about why the North is top banana, it had it all.
So who picked up what at the first-ever NMAs for 2024?
The winners of the very first Northern Music Awards
Although a few acts recognised on the night had to phone in, the overall turnout was incredible, with speeches and a stunning stripped-down performance by Liam Fray, household names like Simon Rimmer helping hand out the gorgeously floral and abstract trophies, it was a truly special night at Albert Hall.
It was also wonderful to see how many people were getting involved with Nordoff and Robbins’ charity raffle and silent auction, with all the proceeds going straight back into helping the non-profit carry out its heartwarming work across the country.
But let’s get into who took home the bit of bronze, shall we?
Music and Culture for Wellbeing: Dance Syndrome – Lancashire
Inspirational Venue of the Year (under 500 cap): Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
Inspirational Venue of the Year (under 2000 cap): Band on the Wall – Manchester
Festival of the Year: Beat-Herder – Lancashire
Well, look who it is!
Industry Icon Award: Michael Adex – Manchester
Newcomer of the Year: English Teacher – Leeds
DJ of the Year: DJ Paulette – Manchester
Breakthrough Act of the Year: The K’s – Earlestown
Artist of the Year: Louis Tomlinson – Doncaster
Band of the Year: The Courteeners – Manchester
Music Moment of the Year: Aitch, Glastonbury – Manchester
Disruptor in Music: The Reytons – Rotherham
Northern Icon Award: Lisa Stansfield – Manchester
Special Recognition Award: Melanie C – Merseyside
LiveNation’s Northern Music Award: Tim Burgess – Salford
Congratulations to all of the winners – so well deserved and all spoke so well about why a dedicated Northern Music Awards matters, embodying exactly why we love it so much up here.
Host Hawkins said it perfectly on the night, these posh dos could take place at who knows where in the future just so long as the only rule is: “insert Northern town or city here“. It was an honour to kick off the Northern Music Awards here in Manchester but we’ll happily big up our Northern cousins any day.
As he reminded us by expertly reeling off a lengthy list of the iconic names to have come out of not just 0161 but the North in general – he even managed to make it rhyme, for the most part – it’d be greedy try and keep it all to ourselves when there are so many other top-tier venues that deserve spotlighting.
Who knows, maybe it’ll head Yorkshire way and our friends over at The Hoot will help take on that difficult second album in 2025.
Regardless, we’ll remember the legend that is Lisa Stansfield still not even breaking a sweat as she got the Albert Hall up on its feet forever and we cannot wait for next year, wherever it may be.
Manchester’s Barton Aerodrome announces huge line-up of outdoor gigs including McFly, JLS and UB40
Daisy Jackson
Three new shows have been announced for an open-air gig series at Barton Aerodrome this summer.
Barton LIVE has today confirmed that McFly, JLS and UB40 will be taking to the stage, where the backdrop will be the bustling runway of Barton Airport.
The summer series also includes performances from The Jacksons Live, 90s Baby Festival, and Boogietown North.
Barton LIVE’s summer series takes place at one of the country’s most unique and exhilarating settings at Barton Aerodrome, where the worlds of music and aviation come together.
The three new shows that have just been announced kick off with McFly on Thursday 12 September.
The pop-rockers, famed for their hits like Five Colours In Her Hair, All About You and Obviously, will take centre stage with a typically high-energy performance.
Then on Saturday 14 September, the stage will be given over to British boy band royalty JLS, whose chart-topping hits include Beat Again, Everybody in Love, and She Makes Me Wanna.
Their signature blend of R&B, pop, soul and silky-smooth vocals will be part of Barton LIVE’s star-studded end-of-summer line-up.
Finally, on Sunday 15 September, legendary reggae band UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will perform.
They’ll be whisking audiences away to the warm and vibrant Caribbean through their iconic reggae rhythms and songs like Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Kingston Town.
Tickets for McFly, JLS and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell at Barton LIVE will be available on Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up for tickets via www.bartonlive.co.uk
Over the course of the summer, the stage at Barton Aerodrome will welcome the likes of Ronan Keating, The Jacksons, Peter Andre, Blue, Eternal, Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Boney M and many more.
Barton LIVE line-up in full for outdoor gig series at Barton Aerodrome
Friday 19July – The Jacksons LIVE (The Jacksons, Kenny Thomas, Soul Boutique Collective) – tickets £39.50 plus booking fee via Skiddle here.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July – 90s Baby Festival (Ronan Keating, Eternal, Peter Andre, Blue, Five, A1, Scott Mills, 911, Sonique, Blazin Squad, Dave Pearce, Phats & Small, N-Trance, Happy Clappers Ft Sandra Edwards, Baby D, Alison Limerick, Ultrabeat, JX, Livin Joy Ft Luzahnn, Urban Cookie Collective, Nick Coulson + support) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Saturday 27 July – Boogietown North (Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Tunde Of Lighthouse Family, Boney M, Trevor Nelson, Craig Charles, Gina Breeze, Supernatire Disco, Nick Coulson) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Thursday 12 September – McFly – tickets £44.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Saturday 14 September – JLS – tickets £49.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Sunday 15 September – UB40 featuring Ali Cambell, tickets £39.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk