The Cure have just been announced as a headliner for next summer’s Live From Wythenshawe Park.
The legendary band will be performing at the outdoor venue with support from Slowdive and The Slow Readers Club.
Formed in the late 1970s, The Cure – fronted by Robert Smith – are considered one of the most influential bands of all time.
Their big hits span generations and include Friday I’m In Love, Boys Don’t Cry, Lullaby, The Lovecats, and The End of the World.
Taking place on Friday 21 August 2026, The Cure will be performing hits from across the five-decade-long career.
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The Sussex-formed band have performed nearly 1,800 concerts worldwide, released 14 studio albums, more than 40 singles, as well as live albums, books, soundtracks, concert films and loads more.
The Cure were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
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Joining The Cure in Manchester next summer will be shoegaze pioneers Slowdive, who’ve gone from strength to strength since reuniting more than a decade ago.
Also taking to the stage at Wythenshawe Park will be The Slow Readers Club, one of Manchester’s proudest exports known for their blend of electro-driven rock.
Live from Wythenshawe Park has become the hottest ticket in Manchester in recent summers, with previous headliners including Sam Fender, Fontaines D.C. and New Order.
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Next year’s line-up already includes a show from Lewis Capaldi, and now The Cure too.
Tickets to The Cure at Live From Wythenshawe Park in Manchester will go on general sale on Friday 10 October at 9am.
Pre-sale tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 1st October at 9am (you can sign up for pre-sale HERE)
Benson Boone at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Viral pop belter Benson Boone is bringing his ‘American Heart’ world tour to Co-op Live for two nights of backflipping and radio bangers.
Known for his roster of hits, spanning from ‘Beautiful Things to ‘Mystical Magical’ and everything in between, Benson Boone has soared to success in recent years thanks to his music becoming popular on various social media platforms like TikTok.
This superstar knows a thing or two about performing, singing to the likes of Katy Perry and Lionel Richie when he auditioned and gained popularity through US talent show, American Idol.
With two songs already surpassing one billion streams on Spotify, and a collection of tracks having 100 million streams or more, you’re guaranteed to be singing and dancing for ‘Forever and a Day’.
Now, ‘Mr. Electric Blue’ is taking on the Manchester crowds for himself as he gears up to play two nights at 23,500 capacity entertainment venue, Co-op Live.
Benson Boone is coming to Co-op Live in Manchester for two nights on 26 and 27 October / Credit: David Roemer (Supplied)
Benson Boone – American Heart UK Tour Dates
Sunday 26 October – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Monday 27 October – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Thursday 30 October – Glasgow, UK – SSE Hydro
Saturday 1 November – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Monday 3 November – London, UK – The O2
Tuesday 4 November – London, UK – The O2
Wednesday 5 November – London, UK – The O2
Tickets
If you want to watch Boone backflip the night away while singing his recognisable pop ballads, then thankfully you can still find a small handful tickets available for both shows HERE.
And if you’re feeling a bit fancy, you can also treat yourself to a more ‘Mystical Magical’ experience by opting for a premium seated spot thanks to SeatUnique, with an array of options available for both nights HERE.
Setlist
I Wanna Be the One You Call
Wanted Man
Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else
Man in Me
Drunk in My Mind
Slow It Down
Be Someone
Mystical Magical
Pretty Slowly
In the Stars
Let Me Go / There She Goes / Sugar Sweet
Take Me Home
Young American Heart
Mr. Electric Blue
(Surprise song each night – like THIS viral Adele cover)
Momma Song
Love of Mine
Reminds Me of You
Beautiful Things
Cry
The ‘American Heart’ tour sees Benson Boone visiting many UK arenas including Manchester and London / Credit: David Roemer (Supplied)
What are the stage times for Benson Boone in Manchester?
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning Boone has plenty of time to ‘Slow It Down’ and still get you all home before the early hours.
Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm with no official kick-off time listed as of yet, but you’ll definitely want to get in early, as supporting Boone is rising star and local Bury lad, James Elliot Reay – who’s featured in our Manchester artists of the month back in December last year.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
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Alan Turing Way (both directions): Plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): Expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): Plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
Expect to hear Benson sing ‘Beautiful Things’ and ‘Mystical Magical’ at Co-op Live this October / Credit: David Roemer (Supplied)
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl scheme, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination, and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
There’s hire points just near the south west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road, and for more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Featured Images: David Roemer (Press Shots) via supplied
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Rising US star Conan Gray announces huge Manchester arena show as part of UK tour
Emily Sergeant
Conan Gray has just announced a UK leg to his upcoming tour, and he’ll be stopping off in Manchester for a huge arena gig.
In just a few short years, Conan Gray has become a star… and his star is only rising higher.
The 26-year-old singer-songwriter, born in California but raised in Texas, got his start on YouTube, where he began uploading vlogs, covers, and original songs as a teenager, hoping to get his start in the entertainment industry.
He first garnered critical and fan acclaim from the release of his commercially successful singles ‘Maniac’ and ‘Heather’ before he went on to put out his debut studio album, Kid Krow, in 2020 – which placed at number five on the US charts, announcing his talent to the world and making it the biggest US artist debut of the year.
Conan Gray has announced a huge Manchester arena show next year / Credit: Supplied | Angelica Whitney (Wikimedia Commons)
After gaining millions of streams and developing a truly a faithful fanbase, Gray went on to release his second studio album, Superache, in 2022, and his third album, Found Heaven, a couple of years later in 2024.
If three albums in four years wasn’t impressive enough as it is, Gray released his fourth studio album, Wishbone, back in August and it’s catapulted him to a new level of fame, especially with the TikTok success of the single ‘Vodka Cranberry’.
Now Gray is embarking on a major world tour to celebrate his latest album, following the unforgettable Wishbone Pajama Show tour in the US, where he sold out legendary venues like Madison Square Garden, and the Kia Forum.
Manchester! @conangray brings the Wishbone World Tour to the @AOArena – Save the date: Sat 9th May 2026!
The UK arm of the Wishbone World Tour sees Gray pay a visit to us here in Manchester, as he takes to the iconic AO Arena stage next year in May.
Birmingham, Glasgow, and London are the other cities Gray will be stopping off at on his UK tour.
Conan Gray will be playing a huge gig at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 6 May 2026 as part of the Wishbone World Tour, and tickets officially go on sale this week – with both pre-sales and general sale available.
The Three+ presale will begin on Wednesday 22 October at 9am, and the AO Arena presale will start on Thursday 23 October, again at 9am, before general sale launches on Friday 24 October at 9am.
Daisy Jackson -
30th September 2025 
