Legendary blues band, The Black Keys, are heading back to Manchester next year, set to play Castlefield Bowl for the very first time. This one’s a biggie.
As the latest headliner announced for Sound of the City 2025, the soulful Ohio rock and alternative duo are returning to 0161 for the third year running, having swapped the AO Arena for Co-op Live this past May, but now they’re set to tick another huge Manc venue off their list.
Confirmed amongst plenty of other big music news released on Monday, 2 December, The Black Keys will be heading to the Bowl as part of a new UK and European tour, with many of the dates including festival slots all over the continent.
While Manchester’s annual outdoor festival has seen some big names in the past, getting an act that boasts this kind of prestige and influence is a huge coup for Sound of the City (SOTC), the lineup for which already looks pretty stacked as it is.
Legendary rock duo @theblackkeys have just announced a run of outdoor headline shows across July 2025 🕺
The Black Keys released their 12th studio album, Ohio Players, back in April: a record heavily inspired by the vibe of band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s ongoing ‘record hang’ parties, which have become just as big a deal as their live shows themselves.
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Hailed by Rolling Stone, who wrote, “Whether they set their retro-rock wayback machine to Memphis in the Sixties, the Midwest in the Seventies, or Manchester, England, and L.A. in the Nineties, it all flows together like a beautifully paced DJ set”, their latest here took place at YES over on Charles Street.
The album itself – met with vast critical acclaim (including Audio North‘s humble opinion) – was re-released as an expanded Trophy Edition on 15 November and features collaborations with everyone from our very own Noel Gallagher to Beck, Greg Kurstin, Juicy J and more, earning another Grammy nod too.
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Even more excitingly, their latest collab on tour will see the mighty Miles Kane join them on the road for all three UK dates, meaning Castlefield Bowl will welcome the Birkenhead-born solo artists and Last Shadow Puppets star too. What a billing that is.
The other two shows held here on British shores will be at Alexandra Palace Park in the capital and over at Millenium Square as part of Leeds’ Sound of the City lineup for next year.
With a new music video for their latest single ‘Sin City’ having just debuted too, it’s well and truly going to be a Black Keys-heavy day on the office playlist.
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General admission goes live this Friday, 6 December at 9am but fans can also get exclusive presale access which will begin at the same time on Wednesday morning (4 Nov).
You can get ready to grab your tickets to see The Black Keys at Castlefield Bowl and what will no doubt be one of the biggest shows of the summer on HERE – we’ll see you there.
Meanwhile, Manchester’s month-long music series over at its iconic amphitheatre just keeps getting better, with a whole host of UK and global favourites now confirmed for SOTC 2025.
Featured Images — Larry Niehues/Press Image (supplied)/The Manc Group
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Rochdale Feel Good Festival announces headliners with MAJOR 90s act
Thomas Melia
The highly-anticipated Rochdale Feel Good Festival is returning to Rochdale Town Hall for a night of impressive live music.
Summer is fast approaching and one way the residents of Greater Manchester town Rochdale know this is the line-up for its major outdoor festival has just been released.
The festival has been running since 2007, taking place right outside the distinctive Rochdale Town Hall , this will be the shows grand return since its massive renovation.
This town centre music celebration is known for drawing in some of music’s biggest names like Cast, Scouting For Girls, Razorlight and most recently Heather Small.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival is coming to the main stage at Rochdale Town Hall this summer / Credit: Press Shots (Supplied)
Rochdale Feel Good Festival has continued this streak of securing some big pop stars and this time is no different as they’ve bagged a major 90s act with some equally notable bands on the line-up too.
Topping the bill is legendary pop-soul artist Gabrielle, known for chart-topping hits like ‘Dreams’ and ‘Rise’ as well as ‘If You Ever’, ‘Out Of Reach’ and ‘Sunshine’.
This phenomenal UK act has seen her 1999 LP Rise and 2001 compilation album Dreams Can Come TrueVol. 1 get certified platinum not once but four times.
Gabrielle is headlining Rochdale Feel Good Festival on Saturday 8 August / Credit: Press Shot (Supplied)
Gabrielle might be more familiar with Rochdale than we think, as she recently collaborated with Middleton born singer-songwriter for his single ‘Sad Song’.
Also announced is indie-rock band Ash, who have seen similar chart success by achieving 18 UK Top 40 hits such as ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Shining Light’ and ‘Goldfinger’.
Another act joining the main stage is critically-acclaimed rock band Starsailor and with tunes like ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Silence Is Easy’ it’s about to be a stellar night of performances.
Recognised rock bands Ash and Starsailor are also joining the line-up for Rochdale Feel Good Festival Credit: Press Shots (Supplied)
If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Rochdale Feel Good Festival will be announcing more acts in the next few weeks making this line-up one of the best yet.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival is coming to the main stage at Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 8 August with Gabrielle, Ash, Starsailor and more acts to follow – tickets and more info HERE.
Featured Images – Rochdale Borough Council / Press Shots (Supplied)
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Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Manchester this year
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Manchester this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Manchester later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to Co-op Live, Manchester, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited the music capital of the North, bringing his high-energy hits to Manchester Academy back in February.
The star visited Manchester a second time, too, playing at the Co-op Live alongside some of music’s biggest names for Hits Radio Live back in November.
Now, Smith is ready to take to the Co-op Live stage again and is expected to raise the roof when 23,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Co-op members and fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting Co-op Live, Manchester on Sunday 15 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Danny Jones -
2nd December 2024 
