City Centre

A pop-up ‘immersive nature experience’ has taken over one of Manchester’s busiest streets

The #InOurNature pop-up shop has arrived at St Ann's Arcade for one week only.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 13th October 2021

Have you seen that an “immersive nature experience” has arrived on one of Manchester city centre’s busiest streets this week?

The #InOurNature pop-up shop in St Ann’s Arcade is a beautiful space that turns a typical shop front into one that’s been taken over by greenery, so visitors can take a well-earned break from a hard day at work or a busy shopping trip to relax among the plants, the smells of nature, and projections of some of the best-loved green spaces from around the city.

At the centre of the experience is a sound installation that features “the sound of Manchester’s nature” with tracks created in collaboration with sound artist and composer Jason Singh, and Manchester’s spoken word collective Young Identity.

The tracks have been created by transforming ‘biodata’ generated from plants around Moss Side and a mix of voices from local residents.

Those who stop by to visit the pop-up shop will be given the chance to vote on their favourite.

So, why has this unique experience popped-up in Manchester then?

Well, as recent research from Natural England has shown a positive link between feeling connected to nature and behaving in a way that is better for the environment, the pop-up will not only help people connect with nature, but will also suggest things they can do to help the environment in their local area.

The shop is part of the ‘In Our Nature’ programme – which is led by Hubbub, Manchester Climate Change Agency and Partnership, Manchester City Council, Amity CIC, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and Commonplace.

The programme works with communities in Manchester to find creative solutions to the climate crisis by using nature as a gateway to inspire positive climate action, with a big focus on removing barriers for those facing barriers to spending time in nature, and works alongside other current local projects including greening concrete alleyways, and working with community groups such as Mothers Against Violence to get nature projects off the ground.

The #InOurNature pop-up shop in St Ann’s Arcade is a beautiful space that turns a typical shop into one filled with greenery / Credit: In Our Nature

“We all feel better after spending time in nature, and this is exactly why we’re bringing this innovative experience into central Manchester,” said Gavin Ellis, co-founder of Hubbub.

“We hope people will leave feeling boosted by the power of nature and be inspired to get involved in projects and take action across Manchester.”

Sound artist Jason Singh added: “People and nature are an endless source of inspiration for me [so] this project has been a wonderful exploration of poetry, technology, landscape and nature.

“Manchester is huge part of my life and I truly love both the wide range of people that inhabit all parts of the city, as well as the landscape that makes Manchester what it is, [and] this new installation celebrates peoples’ connection with nature as well as thinking about the surroundings in which we live, work and play.

“It has been an absolute pleasure working on In Our Nature.”

Visitors can relax among the plants, the smells of nature, and projections of the city’s green spaces / Credit: In Our Nature

In Our Nature

  • Address: St Ann’s Arcade, 10-12A St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7HW
  • Times: Weekdays 11am-2pm and 4pm-7pm | Weekends 10am-8pm
  • Open until: 17 October 2021

Featured Image – In Our Nature MCR

City Centre

The Maccabees’ Orlando Weeks on Gavin and Stacey, Glastonbury and comeback tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Orlando Weeks interview The Maccabees

UK indie band The Maccabees announced their comeback tour earlier this year alongside a very impressive All Points East headline date.

Since rocking into the music scene in 2007, The Maccabees have a Mercury Prize nomination to their name as well as three UK top 40 singles and one chart-topping album ‘Marks To Prove It’.

Just last year, the band ingrained themselves into UK pop culture for eternity thanks to the inclusion of their single ‘Pelican’ in the finale of the much-loved TV classic Gavin and Stacey.

The Maccabees have been a staple in British culture and indie music alike, and it’s safe to say fans were overjoyed when the news of a comeback tour was announced.

The Maccabees Manchester gig tickets
The Maccabees are coming to O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on 21 and 22 August.

After nearly a decade apart, the lads are ready to hit the road again with a string of UK tour dates, which are in preparation for their huge All Points East headline date at the end of August.

Lead vocalist for The Maccabees, Orlando Weeks, sat down with us to talk reuniting with fellow bandmates after almost a decade, as well as all things Glastonbury and the upcoming All Points East headline slot.

Orlando Weeks from The Maccabees | The Interview

The Maccabees have played Manchester almost 20 times since entering the music scene in 2007. What is it about our Manc crowds that keeps pulling you back?

Manchester has a musical heritage, which means there are enough venues that we can come back to so many times and people not be sick of us. The crowds are great, it’s always a good gig and always a good night out.

Having that kind of heritage and pride in your city makes it the kind of place [bands] want to come back to.

This will be the band’s first time playing O2 Victoria Warehouse, and after playing a variety of Manchester City centre music venues, how excited are you to be playing this one for the first time?

I’ve had friends that’ve played it, and everyone said that it’s a good gig. I have no doubt it’ll be good.

Due to incredible demand, you’ve had to add a second date after the first show sold out – what’s it like for you hearing news like this?

The original offer for us was to play All Points East, and so when we got that, it made up our minds to play these summer shows.

Getting to play once in Manchester will set us up [for this headline slot], and getting to play twice will set us up even better. I love being in Manchester anyway, so to have a little bit longer to have a wander and a drink is great.

What was it like getting back into the rehearsal process with the rest of the band after nearly 10 years of not performing or touring together? 

It’s very odd how powerful muscle memory is. It’s crazy how quickly all of the songs, structures and playing came back to us.

When we used to play, I invented so many completely useless little triggers for me to help remember lyrics or a chorus that I’d get stuck on, and I still remember those foot taps and placements that bring it all back.

Felix [White] boasted before we even started rehearsing that he remembered everything off by heart, and he could go straight into a gig. To be fair to him, it’s amazing how much his brain has retained.

At your first show in nearly a decade at The Dome in London, you created artwork to raise funds for the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society. Will fans be able to buy your artwork and support this charity at both the Manchester dates?

There will be an MS charity stall as well as one for Doctors Without Borders. If you’re reading this or coming to either of the gigs and have anything that you can contribute to either of those charities, then we as a band would be extremely grateful.

This 2025 tour sees support from indie rock band, Sorry – how excited are you to head out on the road with this talented group?

 The Maccabees have always been very lucky to travel around the world with other bands who are amazing, and Sorry are definitely part of that list.

You have a reason to get down early, because if you’re a fan of The Macs, you’ll be a fan of Sorry. I can guarantee that you’ll have a good time.

The Maccabees are taking part in some of the biggest events in the British music calendar [Glastonbury, All Points East]. How does it feel to have such immense support nearly 20 years into your career?

20 years in and 10 years off. There are a few people who aren’t in the band but have been such a big part of it, even through the 10 years that we weren’t really doing anything. They would say if you ever did wanna do something, there’ll be people there.

I just didn’t know that [The Macabees reunion] would be as popular as it has been. It’s very hard to explain or get your head around, really.

On the topic of Glasto, how surreal was it to be playing this major music festival for the third time?

@bbc6music Just WOW – #Florencewelch #themaccabees #Glastonbury ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

I think we’ve been at least four times, maybe five times.

Headlining ‘The Park’ stage was special, and it was also the first time my son came and saw me on a stage singing. It was a great ‘take your son to Work Day’. We had Florence [Welch] coming out and singing with us, too.

I’ll remember all of The Maccabees’ Glastonbury experiences, but I think that’s the one I’ll hold onto for the longest.

Speaking of surreal moments, your song ‘Pelican’ featured in the finale of British favourite, Gavin and Stacey. How did this opportunity come about?

@nessa_smithy How has it already been 4 weeks since the finale came out?😭💗 #foryou #gavinandstacey #fyp #gavinandstaceyfinale #gavinandstaceyclips #ruthjones #jamescorden #gavin #stacey #britcomedy #smithy #nessa #unclebryn #pamandmick #davecoaches #themaccabees #robbrydon #gavinandstaceychristmasspecial #smithyandnessa ♬ Pelican – The Maccabees

I think Matt might’ve texted me, but it was Christmas and I was swept up in all sorts of celebrations. We got a lot of messages after it aired because an insane number of people watch the show.

It’s all thanks to James Corden and Matt Horne, who have always been fans from early on. It was very flattering and very nice to be part of [Gavin and Stacey].

And finally, after playing Manchester so many times, are there any shops or special spots that you always make sure to visit when you’re in the city?

I remember when we were in Manchester last time for ‘The Farewell’ tour, I’d started running by then – and I loved the canals.

Usually, I defer to local friends and I’ll just let them take me to whichever pub or place they recommend – Wherever they go, I go.

The Maccabees are set to play two nights at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, and there are still tickets available for their second date HERE.

The Maccabees announce huge Manchester gig on hotly-anticipated reunion tour
You should have heard our editor’s (whose favourite band is The Maccabees) screams when the comeback was confirmed.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Press shots/David Dixon (via Geograph)/tv.bomb.co.uk (via WikiCommons)

City Centre

Richard Ashcroft to play huge headline show at Manchester’s Co-op Live later this year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Richard Ashcroft will be playing a huge headline show in Manchester’s later this year off the back of supporting Oasis.

After embarking upon what is the biggest stadium tour of the year as special guest to Oasis on their Live ’25 reunion tour – which is currently in the middle of five nostalgia-drenched dates at Manchester‘s Heaton Park, of course – Richard Ashcroft has announced that he’ll be playing a huge headline show of his own later this year.

The former The Verve frontman, turned solo artist, will be taking to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live in early November, and tickets go on sale at the end of this week.

Both with The Verve and as a solo artist in his own right, Ashcroft has become one of the most accomplished and influential songwriters to come out of Greater Manchester over the course of his career spanning three decades. 

As well as claiming one of the biggest-selling albums in UK history with Urban Hymns, which claimed 11 x Platinum certifications, Ashcroft also won two Ivor Novello Awards and three BRIT Awards during his time with The Verve.

His solo career is just as decorated too, as all six of Ashcroft’s studio albums shot to the top five of the UK charts.

The announcement of Ashcroft’s upcoming Co-op Live gig will follow the release date of next brand-new album, Lovin’ You – which is set to come out on 3 October 2025.

Throughout the rest of the year up until late September, Ashcroft will continue to support Oasis on their sold-out reunion tour, but before he arrives in Manchester in early November, he will play a warm-up show down in Cornwall at Live at Scurrier House – tickets of which are also going on sale very soon.

Richard Ashcroft on stage
Richard Ashcroft will be playing a huge headline show at Manchester’s Co-op Live / Credit: Paul Bachmann (via Flickr)

Richard Ashcroft 2025 tour dates

With Oasis

  • 16 July – Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)
  • 19 July – Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)
  • 20 July – Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)
  • 25 July – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 26 July – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 30 July – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 2 August – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 3 August – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 8 August – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 9 August – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 12 August – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 16 August – Dublin, Croke Park (SOLD OUT)
  • 17 August – Dublin, Croke Park (SOLD OUT)
  • 27 September – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)
  • 28 September – London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

Headline Shows

  • 23 August – Cornwall, Live at Scurrier House
  • 8 November – Manchester, Co-op Live

Richard Ashcroft will take to the stage at Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 8 November, and tickets will go on sale – with Co-op Presale starting first tomorrow (16 July) at 9:30am, and general sale starting this Friday (18 July) again at 9:30am.

Read more:

Get your tickets when they go on general sale here.

Featured Image – Roger Woolman (via Wikimedia Commons)

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