Sounds of the City is finally back at its Castlefield Bowl home with bigger lineups than ever before.
The inner-city music concert series is taking over the open-air venue for six special gigs starting in just under three weeks-time.
Since 2013, Sounds of the City has been bringing the UK’s most acclaimed artists right here to Manchester, making it somewhat of an institution here in the city.
Over the years, they’ve treated us to one-off gigs from the likes of Arcade Fire, The Kooks, James, New Order, Rag’N’Bone Man and Catfish And The Bottlemen.
Yet this year’s comeback is set to be the biggest series to date. Huge names like Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, The Streets and Hacienda Classical will each headline a night.
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But Irish powerhouse Dermot Kennedy is responsible for opening the show on 21 September. The fast-rising international star has already racked up more than 1 billion streams. Not to mention a Brit Award nomination for Best International Male.
The singer rocketed to fame following the release of his debut album ‘Without Fear’ in 2019 which sat at #1 in the Irish charts for an astonishing year and a half.
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The following day on Wednesday 22 September, the insanely successful Kaiser Chiefs will be heading up their own concert at the Bowl.
With 21 years in the business, the band are still riding the peak of success with their seventh album ‘Duck’ hitting wide critical acclaim in 2019.
The band will be supported by none other than Razorlight and Manchester’s own PINS.
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Wrapping up the 2021 edition on Sunday 26 September will be the Grammy, BRIT Award and Mercury Music Prize nominated Snow Patrol.
Another band with decades of experience, Snow Patrol have accumulated more than 17 billion album sales, five UK Platinum Albums and more than a billion global streams over the years.
They’ll have support from singer Lucy Blue, plus Wigan band The Lathums who have recently become the most talked about Manchester band. They’re pipped to become strong contenders for the city’s next big indie outfit.
Their headline tour at O2 Victoria Warehouse sold out within a matter of days. Meanwhile the announcement of their debut album ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’ has been met with much anticipation.
Dates for Sounds of the City 2022 have already been set, too. This time, taking place earlier in the year across multiple dates in early summer.
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Foals, Crowded House and Lewis Capaldi are already confirmed to headline their own shows between 29 June and 6 July 2022.
So with lineups of this calibre, now is your time to book! Click here for tickets.
Featured image: SOTC at Castlefield Bowl by Sam Neill
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Hacienda legend Graeme Park flooded with well-wishes after son, 18, dies following cancer battle
Daisy Jackson
Legendary DJ Graeme Park and his family have been flooded with messages of support after he announced that his son had died at the age of 18.
Graeme shared yesterday that his ‘true warrior’ son Oliver had passed away after a year-long battle with a rare cancer.
He is survived by Graeme, mum Jenny, and twin brother Ben.
The former Hacienda DJ announced the news on Instagram, sharing a message penned by Jenny which described Oli’s ‘king, loving and beautiful soul’.
She wrote: “Today our hearts were broken forever! After a year long battle with cancer, it finally got the better of you, our amazingly strong and gorgeous boy.
“You were such a kind, loving and beautiful soul and I will never understand why you were taken from us? It was far too soon. You had so much more love to offer to this world.
“You never once got angry, complained or felt sad. You were a true warrior throughout and fought so hard until the very end.
Graeme Park’s son Oliver has died at the age of 18, the DJ has announced. Credit: Instagram, @graemepark
“We will love and miss you every single day for the rest of our lives, Ol.
“The power and love we feel from your guiding spirit is all around us and WILL provide us and Ben, your twin, with the strength to carry on. Especially when times get too tough.
“We love you Ol, so, so much and even though you’re not here in your physical body, the strength you provide us with and your loving strong Spirit will be with us always!!!!
“We love you so much, Oliver Park and thank you for sharing 18 years of your precious life with us.”
Graeme’s post drew in thousands of messages of love and support, including from Vernon Kay, Sacha Lord, and DJ Paulette.
He shared last night: “Thank you for all of your kind, supportive words regarding my son. Much appreciated.
“I won’t be DJing in Huddersfield, London or Manchester this weekend, there will be no radio shows and there may be a delay to recent merchandise orders too. Please bear with me. Back soon.”
Featured image: Instagram, @graemepark
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The View, Brooke Combe, Corella and more join the Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 lineup
Danny Jones
More acts have joined the Neighbourhood Weekender lineup for 2023 and as well as some big names, it looks like there’s going to be even more Manc music on show this year. You love to see it.
Neighbourhood 2023 is already shaping up to be an absolute belter with the likes of Pulp, The Kooks, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot, The Wombats, Anne Marie and countless other huge others already announced for this year.
But if there’s one thing we know about the Warrington weekender it’s that there are always more surprises down the line, right up until the last minute, and to whet your appetite for the festival favourite.
The latest from the organisers is that several new artists are now joining the NBHD lineup, such as Scottish stars and veritable indie veteran The View, fellow compatriot Brooke Combe (one of the most exciting new soloists we’ve heard in a long time), The Goa Express from Burnley and 14 other acts.
One of the names we’re most excited to see playing on the Sunday are local lads, Corella. Named after an indigenous Australian bird, the rock and indie quarter are former BIMM students who are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about groups in the city.
The Manc musicians went on to survive lockdown together, writing new tunes and even hosting virtual live gigs called ‘Club Corella’ every weekend throughout the pandemic. God, we don’t half love this kind of graft, especially in hard times. Well in, lads.
Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength and now, fresh from their sellout gig at Gorilla — which they hailed as “a dream come true” and a “moment we will never forget” — they’ll be following it up with a full Weekender slot in just a couple month’s time.
If their performance at Gorilla and at last year’s Neighbourhood Festival in the city is anything to go by, they’re going to absolutely smash it.
Neighbourhood Weekender 2023’s lineup is sounding more and more like it could go down as a year you don’t want to miss.
The weekend of gigs kicks at the beautiful Victoria Park in Warrington on 27 May and last until the following Sunday. However, to make things even better there’s also going to be a massive warm-up show featuring The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and more.
Hannah Starkie -
1st September 2021 
