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.

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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.

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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.

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“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

Burna Boy at Co-op Live – tickets, times, setlist and more for ‘I Told Them…’ tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is heading to Manchester for one night only, performing all the hits right here at the lovely Co-op Live.

Burna Boy, a.k.a Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has been steadily making a name for himself in the music industry for just over a decade, thanks to the release of his debut LP L.I.F.E back in 2013.

During his time as an artist, he has seen periods of quick-fire growth, with many standout tracks like ‘Last Last’ and ‘We Pray’, as well as a feature on UK rapper Dave’s tune ‘Location’, just to name a few.

Ogulu is a lover of collaborations too. His list of featured tracks is stacked with a roster of UK talents, including R’n’B favourites Jorja Smith and Mahalia, right through to pop powerhouse Ed Sheeran.

His prolific discography – littered with fellow artists and singers known for pushing the envelope – makes perfect sense, as this Nigerian star doesn’t stick to just one genre; instead, his particular brand of music has been dubbed ‘Afro-fusion’.

The contemporary West African icon not only utilises elements of Afrobeats, but he also makes sure to blend R’n’B, hip-hop, dancehall and lots more.

Safe to say we and millions of others around the globe are big fans.

With that in mind, Burna Boy’s latest visit, not just to Manchester but for a Co-op Live debut, is a highly anticipated one. For those of you who are heading to the arena, here’s everything you need to know.

Burna Boy at Co-op Live – all the important info

burna boy co-op live
Credit: Publicity Image (supplied)

Burna Boy UK tour dates

  • Mon 21 April – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Fri 11 to Sun 13 July – London, UK – Finsbury Park (Wireless Festival)

That’s right, we’re the lucky ones, as not only is Burna Boy’s Manchester gig just one of two UK shows, but it’s also the only headline date this year, as the 33-year-old will be playing Wireless Fest 2025 this summer down in the capital.

Burna Boy tickets for Co-op Live gig

You’ll be glad to hear that the show isn’t quite sold out just yet. Those who are interested in attending Burna Boy’s only UK arena stop on his ‘I Told Them…’ tour can choose from a range of tickets.

The star has options for standing, lower seating and upper seating all on offer ahead of his exclusive arena gig at Co-op Live, starting from £82.05.

Grab your coveted tickets before it’s too late and see for yourself whether you ‘Want It All’ on the front row or prefer ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ – HERE.

In case you need any more convincing, these were the scenes over Paris way…

Burna Boy setlist

There’s no official setlist published, however, these tracks are based on his performance at the Stade de France in the suburb of Saint-Denis last week, as per Setlist-fm:

  • 7 Seconds
  • (Youssou N’Dour cover)
  • Level Up (Twice as Tall)
  • Tested, Approved & Trusted
  • For My Hand
  • On the Low
  • Cheat on Me
  • Big 7
  • On Form
  • Alone
  • Talibans II
  • Location (Dave track)
  • 4 kampé II featuring with Joé Dwèt Filé
  • Laboratoire (WeRenoi cover)
  • Laho featuring Shallipopi)
  • Kilometre
  • City Boys
  • Bundle By Bundle
  • It’s Plenty
  • Update
  • Ye
  • Last Last
You can expect to hear his most recent single for sure.

What are the stage times for Burna Boy in Manchester?

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you’ll be able to stay right to the ‘Last Last’ song of the night without welcoming in the next day.

Doors for the ‘I Told Them…’ tour are scheduled for 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 8pm with no confirmed support act, however, DJ Shayne Given will be taking over the arena’s exclusive ‘Backstage Club’ after the show (tickets are required).

You can purchase both after-party tickets and early access HERE.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily 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.

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Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 01:00 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.

co-op live gigs 2025
Credit: Audio North

Getting there by 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.

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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:

  • 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.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live; be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • 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.

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Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, 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 are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

burna boy manchester gig info
Credit: Supplied

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

Featured Image — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group

City Centre

Local Olympian Keely Hodgkinson named as official starter of the 2025 Great Manchester Run

Danny Jones Danny Jones Keely Hodgkinson Great Manchester Run official starter 2025

One of our very own is getting ready to get thousands of racers underway as local Olympian, Keely Hodgkinson MBE, has been named as the official starter for the 2025 Great Manchester Run.

Atherton’s very own generational trackstar, who picked up gold at Paris 2024 and has earned several other medals, not to mention smashing multiple British records, will be leading the hordes of runners taking on the annual AJ Bell challenge through central Manchester next month.

Still just 23, last year’s BBC Sports Personality winner hasn’t been resting on her laurels since her Olympic success either, having set up her own ‘Keely Classic’ running event and is now setting her sights on a world-record attempt later this year.

We couldn’t think of anyone better suited to fly the flag for Greater Manchester.

Hyping up the news on social media, the Great Run company went on to add: “A true hometown hero, an Olympic champion, and now, kicking off Manchester’s best running party of the year – the BIGGEST in a decade! We’re proper BUZZZZZING! Let’s have it, Manchester!”

Safe to say they’re pretty ecstatic with the news, and so are we, as Keely Hodgkinson becomes the latest Team GB member to bring their pedigree to the event, following in the very fast footsteps of Sir Mo Farah, Kelly Holmes, Amir Khan and many more.

Although the 800m specialist is yet to comment on the announcement directly, the magic of getting to put the hard yards in front of a home crowd won’t be lost on her, and it goes without saying that she’ll get an unreal reception from the Manc spectators – of which there are expected to be more than 100,000.

Better yet, over 35,000 participants are set to take on the Great Manchester Run this year, therefore teeing potentially record-breaking crowds for the event.

2025 marks the 22nd edition of the event, and the atmosphere throughout the city centre, as well as out into East Manchester and Trafford, is always spectacular. There are still places left if you’re tempted…

Undoubtedly one of the very best athletes to ever come out of the underdog borough that is Wigan, whether you argue the case for old Lancashire or not, surely we can all be proud to call her a Greater Mancunian this spring, just as we did back in the summer?

Once again, it isn’t long before the annual race day kicks off as the Great Manchester Run arrives on Sunday, 18 May, with Keely Hodgkinson beckoning everyone towards their own hero moments.

There are still places left for both the 10k and half marathon distances, and now we’ve seen the medal design for this year, we might just have to sign up again ourselves.

You can find out more and decide for yourself HERE.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Erik van Leeuwen (via Wikimedia Commons)/Supplied

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