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Gigs & Nightlife

BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Greater Manchester next month

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 4th February 2025
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The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is coming back to Manchester once again, and they’re bringing yet another phenomenal lineup with them.

National radio station and overall upcoming music connoisseurs, BBC Radio 6, are back with their music festival, and just like years previous, it’s taking place across Manchester.

Over the years, the festival has brought some of music’s biggest names to lots of local venues, putting on an array of brilliant live performances.

Last spring saw the arrival of rock band Gossip and Irish singer CMAT, both taking up residency in O2 Victoria Warehouse, Lily Fontaine of English Teacher at Band On The Wall, while DJ Seinfeld went B2B with Salute in Depot Mayfield.

2024 set the bar high, but 2025 is coming in hot.

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Leading this glowing roster of performers is Ezra Collective, a Mercury award -winning band known for their brilliant jazz productions, and then from one Mercury-winning band to another, Lily Fontaine won’t be riding solo this year, instead she’s bringing all the crew with her, as English Teacher are set to perform at this huge festival.

Fat Dog, whose debut album is titled ‘Woof’, are joining in on the fun with Scottish band Mogwai also making a feature too.

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There’s even a chance for an exclusive first listen too, as Kae Tempest will be debuting new material right here in Manchester.

Ezra Collective are returning to Manchester for this music festival.
Ezra Collective are performing at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.
English Teacher are performing at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.
English Teacher make a return to Manchester for this special event.
Fat Dog are performing at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.
Fat Dog are also playing the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.

All performances will be taking place at a multitude of venues, like the previously mentioned O2 Victoria Warehouse, Depot Mayfield, and Band On The Wall, as well as loads of other events at entertainment bar, Yes.

Every highlight, alongside live and recorded live performances, will be taking place at MediaCityUK in Salford, in order to keep everything Manchester central.

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BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is happening from 26 – 29 March 2025, with tickets going on sale from 6 February at 10am here.

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

Featured Image – Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

Gigs & Nightlife

Cyndi Lauper at Co-op Live, Manchester 2025 – tickets, times, setlist, and more

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia
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Cyndi Lauper is visiting the music capital of the north this weekend, and is bringing her lorry load of hits with her too.

Lauper is an absolute legend in the music industry and has established herself as a leading figure in dance and pop music, especially in the 80s, but now, the American musician is gracing the Co-op Live stage as part of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, and it’ll surely be ‘A Night to Remember’.

This sensational performer was even involved in the groundbreaking stage production ‘Kinky Boots’, which is returning to Manchester later this year.

The support act for the UK dates is still yet to be announced, however if the previous US shows were anything to go by, pop stars like Aly and AJ, Elle King, and GAYLE have all had the honour of the opening slot.

Cyndi Lauper UK tour dates

  • Saturday 8 February – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
  • Sunday 9 February – Manchester, Co-op Live
  • Tuesday 11 February – London, The O2

Are tickets still available for the Manchester show?

There are still a number of tickets left, and luckily enough, your options aren’t that limited either, so whether you feel like dancing on the sidelines, or being in the middle of the action, you’ll be able to have fun wherever you find yourself in this remarkable venue.

Tickets start from £57.50 each, and can be bought from Ticketmaster’s official website here.

What is the expected setlist?

  • She Bop
  • The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough
  • When You Were Mine
  • I Drove All Night
  • Who Let in the Rain
  • Iko Iko
  • Funnel of Love
  • Sally’s Pigeons
  • I’m Gonna Be Strong
  • Sisters of Avalon
  • Change of Heart
  • Time After Time
  • Money Changes Everything
  • Shine
  • True Colors
  • Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper is playing at Co-op Live this weekend / Credit: Flickr | The Manc Group

What are the stage times for Cyndi Lauper in Manchester?

Doors will open at 7:30pm, and Co-op Live is known for having a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning concert-goers can be safe knowing they won’t be pulling an all nighter to hear all the legend’s biggest tunes.

Although the venue hasn’t yet confirmed stage times just yet, it’s expected that Cyndi Lauper will take to the stage in Manchester around 9pm.

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, so you’ll just need to 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.

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.

You can find the full map here.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, the postcode for your SatNav is M11 3DU, but limited parking available at the venue, and this must be pre-booked ahead of time.

Also 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 for 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, but 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

Walking or cycling

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 Beryl – 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 on the Co-op Live website.

Featured Image – Publicity Picture

Gigs & Nightlife

Sounds From The Other City is celebrating 20 years in Salford

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia
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Salford’s well-established and much-loved new music festival, Sounds From The Other City, is returning to celebrate a landmark 20 years this May.

Festival season will soon be upon us and it’s safe to say Manchester knows how to do it best; with the Parklife full line-up dropping just last week, it’s now the turn of this popular emerging artist event.

Boasting two decades of experience, Sounds From The Other City (SFTOC) are pioneers when it comes to discovering new artists, giving everyone involved a chance to showcase their work to the masses.

As this esteemed festival is turning another year older and reaching its monumental 20th anniversary, what better way to kick off the celebrations than with over 100 of the freshest artists in the industry?

Although every act that has been selected is truly phenomenal, there are a few standouts that should hopefully pluck your interest…

events at Sounds From The Other City
Good vibes and good times in Bexley Square.
live performances at Sounds From The Other City
Crowds gather for Sounds From The Other City 2024.
Credit: Breige Cobane

Ever heard of a triple threat? How about a quintuple threat? Du Blonde is a musician, composer, artist, animator and video director.

This English star has caught the attention of music lovers with their loud and proud punk/ rock instrumentals and their infectious personality to match – Salford is up next.

Alternative singer and producer, Grove, knows how to put on a show and we have no doubt they’re set to deliver considering their recent roster of events.

Last year saw this outspoken vocalist at Burning Womxn – a feminist festival held in Paris that coincided with the 2024 Olympics – and even a Boiler Room show in partnership with fashion giants, Levi’s.

Halifax talent, The Orielles, teased they’re working on more of their indie-avant pop goodness and now they have just the stage to do it on as they’re set to play Sounds From The Other City too.

Du Blonde is performing at Sounds From The Other City
Du Blonde is ready to wow the Salford crowd.
Grove is performing at this upcoming artist festival in Salford
Grove, who is set to play Sounds From The Other City 2025.
Credit: Rob McGee/Josh Cohen

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In case you needed any more convincing when it comes to how big these names go on to bed after being given the nod by SFTOC, you only have to look back at the acts that have played the festival in the past.

Some of the talents that have graced this festival in years gone by include Greater Manchester locals, The Ting Tings; the Mercury Prize-winning Sampha, rising alt-rock and indie outfit, Black Country, New Road, and many more.

Sounds From The Other City is coming to Salford on Sunday, 4 May 2025 and tickets are on sale from 7 February or right now if you’re a registered subscriber to SFTOC HERE.

In the meantime, you can also check out some of the names playing Castlefield Bowl this summer as part of the festival’s twinned event in Manchester city centre. They’ve already notched some big ones…

The Black Keys are coming back to Manchester for their Castlefield Bowl debut

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

Featured Image — Breige Cobane/Press Images (supplied)

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