Gigs & Nightlife

9 festivals up to an hour away from Manchester with tickets left

There's so much happening up north this summer.

Hannah Starkie Hannah Starkie - 4th June 2021

Lockdown restrictions are lifting and the sunshine is out. Summer is definitely getting closer now – and that inimitable festival feeling is finally within reach.

For most of us, raving in a big field with a thumping soundtracks alongside thousands of others is a distant memory – with the vast majority of large-scale events cancelled for well over a year.

But there’s hope for the future – and loads of mint day festivals have been pencilled in to take place in summer 2021 and beyond.

We’ve put together a list of the biggest events up to an hour’s(ish) drive from Greater Manchester. Here are some of our top picks that still have tickets remaining.*

Newsam Park, Temple Newsam, Leeds – Saturday 10 July

The brand-new open-air festival Newsam Park festival was due to take place in July last year – but was cancelled for obvious reasons. They’re having another go on Saturday 10 July with a scaled down version but packed with all the same big-name house and techno DJs.  

On the former site of the Cocoon in the Park festival at Temple Newsham in Leeds, there’ll be two stages featuring the likes of Jamie Jones, Denis Sulta, Sven Vath, Mella Dee and Nightmares on Wax throughout the day.  

Tickets here.

Acropolis, Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire – Saturday 31 July  

Aerial view of the grounds and ruins of Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire / Image: Acropolis

Another new one for 2021 is Acropolis which will make its debut at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire on Saturday 31 July. 

The ruins of the castle will provide a moody and atmospheric setting for this techno-fuelled day. Alan Fitzpatrick, Eats Everything, Enzo Siragusa, Pawsa and Manchester’s own Mason Collective are confirmed to play, with support yet to be announced.  

Tickets available on Skiddle here.

Mardi Gras, Roundhay Park, Leeds – Saturday 14 August 

Mardi Gras at Leeds’ Roundhay Park is yet another exciting new addition to the 2021 festival calendar on Saturday 14 August.

There’ll be two full-size festival production stages hosting everything from local acts to global names.  

The lineup is yet to be announced so keep an eye out for that. Tickets are already running low, get yours on Skiddle here.  

Retro In The Park, Burnley – Saturday 28 August  

After a bit of nostalgic house music? Burnley’s Retro In The Park festival should do the trick.

On Saturday 28 August, there’ll be three arenas of music at Towneley Park, each with a different vibe.

The UK’s largest house classics event, Retro, will take over Arena 1, with Roger Sanchez and Graeme Park taking the headline spots. 

Some of best 90s artists will be taking the stage over in Arena 2. Think: N-Trance, Nightcrawlers and K-Klass.

Arena 3 will also see the Angels Reunion with Stu Allan, Rob Tissera and Matt Bell.  

General admission and VIP are still available on Skiddle here.  

Wile Out Festival, Burnley – Sunday 29 August  

Again at Burnley’s Towneley Park, Wile Out Festival on bank holiday Sunday is boasting a massive bass and house lineup featuring some huge artists like DJ EZ, Mistajam and James Hype on the main stage, alongside Sigma, Tom Zanetti, Flava D and Bad Boy Chiller Crew at the bass stage. 

Sam Divine, Low Steppa and Huxley will also take on the Cuckoo Land stage to provide the house energy. 

This one’s on final release so be quick.  

Highest Point, Lancaster – 3 and 4 September 

People sat around the Highest Point festival sign /Image: Highest Point

Up in Lancaster, across two days on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 September, will be Highest Point.

Following the success of the 2019 weekender, the festival will return for another instalment at Williamson Park later this year.  

Friday will see DJ sets from Rudimental and Wilkinson, alongside performances from Becky Hill and Ella Eyre. Then, there’ll be tons more house and tech from the likes of Richy Ahmed, Josh Butler, Seb Zito, Monki and East End Dubs.  

On the Saturday, Rag’N’Bone Man takes the headline slot and there’ll be music from Clean Bandit, plus cracking sets from Hybrid Minds, Friction and Dimension to make up the drum and bass offerings.  

Tickets on Skiddle here.

Mint Festival, Leeds – Saturday 25 September  

The crowd at Mint Festival / Image: Mint Festival

Another one just down the M62 in Leeds is Mint festivalon Saturday 25 September.

Now in its tenth year, the festival promises to be the biggest and best edition yet, at its new home of Newsam Green Farm, located just 10 minutes outside the city centre.

There’ll be four arenas of techno, house and tech house which will see Leeds’ faves Patrick Topping, Eats Everything and Darius Syrossian on the decks, alongside Amelie Lens, East End Dubs, Elliot Adamson and Enzo Siragusa.  

Grab your tickets available here.  

elrow goes to the Midlands – 25 and 26 September  

Sandwell Valley Country Park in the Midlands will play host to the famous elrow on 25 and 26 September.

There’ll be the usual confetti, inflatables and carnival madness and whilst the lineup is yet to be announced, they always curate the biggest and best parties so it’s well worth grabbing a ticket here.

Cream Classical on the Waterfront, Liverpool – Saturday 18 September 

Liverpool’s iconic Pier Head will be home to “Cream Classical on the Waterfront” for an open-air event on Saturday 18 September. The show will bring together a 50-piece orchestra who will perform an extra special live set curated by K-Klass.

Between 12pm and 11pm, there’ll be sets from legends Basement Jaxx, Faithless, Seb Fontaine and Tall Paul.  

Tickets on Skiddle here.  

Stay up to date with Manchester music and events with The Manc Audio.  

*Tickets available at time of publishing. 

Featured image: Elrow

Gigs & Nightlife

Kendal Calling toasts 20 years of unforgettable memories with Audio North’s best visit yet

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kendal Calling review 2025

Kendal Calling 2025 was always going to be special: it was yet another sellout edition of a live music and cultural celebration that impresses every year, shifting its ticket capacity in record time.

Even after two decades of success, genuinely getting ‘bigger and better’ each time, the local event that started off as a cult favourite for roughly 900 people somehow remains one of the most underappreciated festivals not just in the North but in the country.

To be honest, there were so many factors that went into making this our best visit to Kendal Calling to date, but we thought we’d rattle off some of them in our review of 2025’s 20th anniversary year, in what was a truly momentous milestone weekend.

Here are just a few.

Kendal Calling 2025 review

The sun shines down on Lowther Deer Park

For starters, 2025 was comfortably the best weather we’ve ever had at Kendal Calling, as the rays beamed down on the valley pretty much all weekend long.

In fact, the only bit of rain we had came overnight/in the early morning during the final 24 hours, and while there was a bit of showering later that night, we got to enjoy the bulk of the daytime making the most of dry ground – by which we mean jumping up and down every chance we got.

As much as there’s something very romantic about the inevitable wet and muddiness of a UK music festival, this particular tree-encased corner of Penrith is just so pretty set against pure sunlight and clear blue skies. Just gorgeous.

The next big plus may come down to bias, but it gave us a buzz nevertheless. Cue Friday night’s headliners:

The Mancs do us proud as always

It’ll surprise none of you to hear that the Greater Manchester music scene was flying its big festival flag high, wide and handsome at Kendal’s 20th anniversary.

Tell me something I don’t know, right?

From youngsters The Guest List, and fellow indie up-and-comers like M60, to now established main stage stars like The Lottery Winners and, oh, you know, a little-known band called The Courteeners, we had plenty of top-tier representation this time around.

This is not to say that we haven’t in the past, by the way. Everyone knows how prolific and influential our city is when it comes to the arts, in general; nevertheless, it felt like this year, extra eyes were on us.

We’d be fools not to surmise that some of this may have been down to Oasis fever still firmly gripping the nation by the neck with both hands (a sea of their adidas merch was certainly a tip-off), but seeing acts we’ve featured in our artists of the month to look out for felt affirming.

Credit: Audio North

A festival that thrives after dark

Another thing we can never get over is just how much fun we have after the headliners walk off around 11pm…

Beyond the nine stages located around the sprawling festival site, there are so many little nooks and crannies we are still finding three years in, such as a cosy tea tent with cushion seating and low lamplight, the new ‘Green Room’, which serves as a little taste of VIP, and tonnes more.

The best part about all these bits is that they usually get better the longer the night goes on, and as we found from our two nights dancing until 3am to the silent disco over at the Woodlands stage amidst a trail of fairy lights and flashing headphones, Kendal has endless stamina.

Even on the walk back from the technicolour forest full of ravers, those warming their hands by open fires, or simply lying back and gazing up at the stars in the night sky, you’ll see the big Ferris wheel still spinning, food traders slinging out late-night scran, and people still dancing.

Credit: The Manc

As for some of the names that really impressed us this year, Keo, Sports Team and The Big Moon were up there for some of our favourite sets of the weekend, but we have to say that Sheffield’s very own Reverend and the Makers were truly brilliant.

We’ve had the pleasure of seeing Jon McClure and co. live on a number of occasions over the course of our lifetimes, and while they’ve never quite been as massive as we feel they should be, Kendal Calling 2025 proved they deserve not just main stage but headline slots.

Barring arguably Fatboy Slim on Saturday night, they got the biggest energy and movement of the crowd we’d seen since we got there – and it came as no surprise, either, as the case was very much the same last time.

They acknowledged themselves that they’re having a bit of a ‘Rev-naissance’ and we couldn’t think of a more deserving group of musicians.

Honestly, at this point, we’d say we were getting tired of trying to convince people to give Kendal Calling a go if they haven’t before, but we’re not sure we’ll ever be able to put into words a review that’s fitting enough of how much we adore this festival.

Happy birthday to one of the best. Thanks again for having us back, and here’s to 20 unbelievable years.

As ever, we cannot wait until we’re back on the fields again soon.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Gigs & Nightlife

The top 13 biggest gigs in Manchester music history

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

When you think of Manchester one of the first things that comes to mind obviously after ‘best city in the world’ is one word: ‘music’.

Our capital of the North West has birthed some of the world’s greatest singers of all time and welcomed some of the planet’s biggest stars.

Manchester has many live music venues to host impressive gigs including stadiums, arenas, parks and a wide variety of performance spaces.

The real reason these artists keep coming back is because of you, everyone who shows up and shows out to every single tour and performance happening in our culturally rich city.

Ahead of one of the biggest gigs in all of Manchester music history, thanks to Oasis, here’s a rundown of the most attended shows ever recorded in 0161.

The largest live gigs in Manchester music history

13. Kylie Minogue: 75,972 – AO Arena (2008)

Kylie Minogue Manchester A rena, biggest Manchester gig to date.
Although not 2008, here is Kylie in all her grandeur at AO Arena in 2014 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

With a tour titled ‘KylieX2008’, the Aussie sensation made our heads spin around in 2008 as she graced the AO Arena for six nights of pop perfection from 11 July to 18 July.

Minogue has a special connection to Manchester and this arena specifically, performing here over 30 times to a total of 400,000 people.

This marks the venue she’s played at most in the world and she will continue this legacy in 2025 with her ‘Tension’ tour.

12. Taylor Swift: 77,258 – Etihad Stadium (2018)

Taylor Swift Etihad Stadium 2018, her biggest Manchester gig to date.
Taylor Swift performing on the B-Stage at Etihad Stadium in 2018 / Credit: The Manc Group

‘Baby let the games begin!’ Swift opened her ‘Reputation Stadium Tour’ in 2018 while standing behind a backdrop of snakes, scales and reptile-like patterns.

The legendary pop star commanded the stage even walking through the crowd to greet fans with smiles and high fives, making sure to get up close and personal even in a venue this grand.

‘Tay-Tay’s last visit to the North West saw her playing three nights of her monumental ‘The Eras Tour’ just a stone’s throw away at Anfield Stadium and who knows, maybe once the Etihad renovation is complete, she might be keen to make another appearance.

11. Oasis: 80,000 – Maine Road (1996)

Oasis biggest manchester gig to date Maine Road.
In signature Liam style, the tambourine is in hand and ready to accompany both the brother’s vocals.
In signature Liam style, the tambourine is in hand and ready to accompany both the brother’s vocals / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Burnage boys were always destined to be on this list in one way or another due to their incredible impact in pushing Manchester music and bands to the mainstream.

Singing hits from their well-known music catalogue, Oasis attracted 80,000 to Manchester City’s former ground in the mid-90s.

Unlike the tour taking place in 2025, tickets for this gig would’ve only set you back £17.50, you’d have been silly not to grab yourself one!

10. Drake: 94,000 – Co-op Live (2025)

Drake played four non-consecutive gigs at Co-op Live with roars from the crowd each night/ Credit: The Come Up Show (via Flickr) 

Canadian rap heavyweight Drake played four huge Co-op Live dates as recent as last week and with two more on the way, with four nights of smash hits

Also referred to as Champagne Papi, the hip-hop artist has played out four impressive nights at Co-op Live on a similarly impressive 360 stage which sees Drake getting up close and personal with fans.

His 2025 visit to the music capital of the North marks his largest scale gig to date and saw him sharing the bill with fellow Canadian performer PartyNextDoor.

9. Billie Eilish – 94,000 – Co-op Live (2025)

Global superstar Billie Eilish had the crowd hooked all four nights at Co-op Live / Credit: Lars Crommelnick via Wikimedia Commons

Bedroom-pop sensation turned global megastar Billie Eilish has visited Manchester three times through her rise to stardom with her most recent being at Co-op Live.

The American singer-songwriter played four non-consecutive nights of her current ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ tour, where she commanded 23,500 fans.

Eilish has a soft spot for Manchester as she debuted her single ‘TV’ at AO Arena in 2022 and brought out her brother and fellow musician Finneas as a special guest at her most recent city centre dates.

8. Harry Styles: 99,526 – Old Trafford Cricket Ground (2022)

The former One Direction star Harry Styles spent two nights in June spreading the love with his mega ‘Love On Tour’ and the feeling was definitely mutual.

On 15 and 16 June the ‘Watermelon Sugar’ singer had nearly 100,000 devotees in the palm of his hand as he belted out some of his best solo numbers.

The Cheshire-born superstar even paused his show to find his primary school teacher who he’d been informed was in the crowd, thanking her for all her help and hard work while he was in education. Adorable.

@the.manc So wholesome #harrystyles #manchester #oldtrafford ♬ original sound – The Manc

7. Foo Fighters: 100,000 – Old Trafford Cricket Ground (2024)

The Washington-formed band put on two impressive nights where Mancs witnessed ‘music royalty’ on their ‘Everything or Nothing at All Tour’ in June.

As well as ‘The Pretender’ hitmakers, the sold-out shows were spoilt with not one but four support acts split across the two dates, including Wet Leg.

On 13 June the rock champions even previewed an unreleased track ‘Unconditional’ for the first time, adding it to the setlist for the 15 June show too!

Foo Fighters tickets Manchester Old Trafford cricket ground
Foo Fighters tickets Manchester Old Trafford cricket ground
Foo Fighters played out to 100,000 people at Old Trafford Cricket Ground / Credit: The Manc Group / Publicity Picture (Supplied)

6. Spice Girls: 150,955 – Etihad Stadium (2019)

Etihad Stadium and Spice Girls spiced up our lives three times in 2019 with three non-consecutive performances from 29 May to 1 June.

This tour was missing one key ingredient, ‘Posh Spice’, who missed out on this string of shows for the first time in her career.

In addition to these four fierce ladies, another UK household act Jess Glynne joined them on the bill as a support act. The girls were met with raptures as they made their entrance to Manchester after 11 years since their last visit.

Spice Girls biggest Manchester show at Etihad Stadium in 2019.
Just look at those iconic fits! Spice Girls performing at Wembley Stadium on the same tour that visited Manchester / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

5. Coldplay: 195,874 – Etihad Stadium (2023)

Chris Martin and co. have a lot of love for the North West with their ‘Fix You’ music video even filmed at Bolton Wanderers football club, Toughsheet Community Stadium.

In 2023 they brought their Music Of The Spheres world tour to Manchester from 31 May to 4 June for four nights of dazzling lights, wowed fans and of course incredible live arrangements.

Altogether, these shows brought together almost 200,000 attendees who had the opportunity to get involved with the show’s production themselves by cycling electric bikes and kinetic dancefloor which both helped power the stage.

Coldplay biggest Manchester gig Etihad Stadium.
The Coldplay lads in all their glory.
Coldplay biggest Manchester gig Etihad Stadium.
An awe-inspiring crowd lighting up the already phenomenal Etihad Stadium.
Coldplay performed four nights at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in 2023 / Credit: Wikicommons / The Manc Group

4. Ed Sheeran: 218,639 – Etihad Stadium (2022)

Starting his musical career just over the hill busking in Hebden Bridge before becoming one of the UK’s most prominent and successful artists of all time.

In 2022, the ‘Galway Girl’ singer took to Manchester City‘s awesome stadium to play hits from his full discography titled ‘The Mathematics Tour’ in honour of his equation-themed album titles.

The one-man, one-guitar show attracted almost 55,000 people across four nights who watched the singing red-head belt out his bangers on a 360 circular stage.

Ed Sheeran biggest Manchester concert ever.
Ed Sheeran at V Festival in 2014, already a star in his own right / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

3. The Stone Roses: 225,000 – Heaton Park (2012)

The Manchester rock pioneers played a three-night hometown residency as part of their reunion tour following a 17-year concert hiatus.

Fans came in abundance to pack out to Heaton Park, a notorious music-hosting site which has hosted a plethora of acts as well as this formidable band.

Spanning from 29 June to 1 July, The Stone Roses played to a whopping 75,000 fans every night across the three sold-out Manchester shows at Heaton Park in 2012.

The Stone Roses played three nights at Heaton Park.
The Stone Roses performing at Fuji Rock Festival in 2012, the same year as their Heaton Park residency / Credit: Wikicommons Media

2. Oasis – 400,000 – Heaton Park (2025)

This year has seen some cracking live music events but none will ever be as monumental as the five nights the two Burnage boys and their troupe hosted this summer.

Liam and Noel Gallagher decided to get the band back together for a series of groundbreaking shows titled ‘Oasis Live ’25’.

Each night drew in 80,000 avid bucket-hat wearing Oasis fans and the support acts were just as legendary with The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft and Liverpool lads Cast helping make history.

Oasis was one of the biggest dates in Manchester’s music calendar ever/ Credit: The Manc Group

1. Take That: 443,223 – Etihad Stadium (2011)

Boyband and pop music giants Take That took on the Etihad Stadium in full force with all members present including everyone’s favourite entertainer, Robbie Williams, who’s returning to the city next year for two huge tour dates.

In 2011, ‘The Flood’ boys put on a remarkable eight nights for nearly half a million lucky Mancs from 3 June till 12 June, making for a summer everyone could ‘Never Forget’.

However, they weren’t the only boyband gracing the Manchester City stadium as dance duo Pet Shop Boys supported them on their ‘Progress Live’ tour across the UK.

Take That - Manchester's biggest attendance ever across eight nights at Etihad Stadium.
A fan-captured moment of Take That reunited amidst their eight show run at Etihad Stadium in Manchester/ Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Honourable mention:

One Love Manchester, 55,000 – Old Trafford Cricket Ground (2017)

Even though this event may not be topping the attendance records, this concert was a special and remarkable moment in Manchester’s history.

Fronted by Ariana Grande, just two weeks after the Manchester Arena attack, Old Trafford Cricket Ground saw a multitude of artists coming together to celebrate the importance of music while paying respect to those affected by the events in the month prior.

BBC reported the ‘One Love Manchester’ live show had 14.5 million viewers at its peak with an average of 10.9 million worldwide and this benefit concert has since raised more than £10 million for the ‘We Love Manchester Emergency Fund’.

Grande may be reaching height after unthinkable height as a musical artist, but she has always had a special place for Manchester in her heart, donating toys to children in Manchester hospitals at Christmastime.

Read more:

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

Featured Image – Eva Rinaldi (via Wikicommons)/The Manc Group/Lily Redman (via Wikicommons)

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