A legendary music venue that once hosted the likes of Tina Turner and Jimi Hendrix is set to reopen this summer.
New Century Hall was a thriving dance hall and events venue in the 1960s and 1970s but has been standing silently for the best part of a decade.
The venue, which is part of the NOMA neighbourhood in the city centre, is now set to be restored and reawakened in a £10m project.
Once complete, the reopened New Century will be a three-floor social hub home to an 800+ capacity live music venue, a large food hall, and a creative college.
New Century in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The Grade II-listed building’s incredible heritage, like its sprung dance floor, 1960s ‘disco ceiling’ and vintage wood panelled walls, will all be preserved.
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In its heyday, New Century Hall hosted acts including The Bee Gees, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, as well as famous club nights in the 1980s.
It’s set to become a busy events venue again, hosting emerging talent and global touring artists, as well as comedy, performance and conferences.
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Credit: Supplied
The ground floor, meanwhile, will become the 300-cover New Century Kitchen, with five independent food operators working alongside a more permanent pizza and coffee offering.
A central bar will serve local beers, wines and cocktails, with an entertainment space in the plans.
New Century Kitchen will also operate in the outside space at Sadler’s Yard.
The basement, meanwhile, will be home to Access Creative College, which counts Ed Sheeran as one of its alumni and a patron.
This will be the college’s third site in Manchester and will help people to kick-start careers in the creative industry.
Taking inspiration from the trailblazing spirit of the 1960s when the building was developed, New Century will celebrate the past to inspire an exciting new chapter – an everyday place for unforgettable experiences.
New Century is expected to reopen this summer.
Featured image: Supplied
Gigs & Nightlife
The Manc Audio to take over the DJ decks at the iconic Night & Day this summer
Dean Hadcock
Here at The Manc, we constantly and proudly shine a spotlight onto Manchester’s music scene through our dedicated music platform The Manc Audio.
And now our coolest platform is heading off Instagram and out in to the real world, taking over the decks at the truly iconic Night & Day Cafe.
You can expect to hear us spinning some tunes from bright new talents, as well as the names we all already know and love.
Taking place on 24 June, The Manc Audio will be on the DJ decks at Night & Day from 7pm to 11pm, warming up your Saturday night before Manchester band Honk take over the weekly event Loose Joints.
In two weeks’ time, you’ll be boogying to everything from soul, disco and funk, to indie and post-punk, all with just one thing in common – it’s music to get you off your seat and dance to.
Think ABBA, Jungle, and Talking Heads in a non-stop onslaught of immaculate vibes.
Come down for a drink or two, say hi and maybe even have a boogie, it’s free entry after all.
Night & Day is one of Manchester’s most iconic grassroots venues, now more than 30 years old.
For decades, it’s been welcoming brilliant musicians, including over the course of their careers the likes of Ed Sheeran, Arctic Monkeys, Wet Leg, James Bay and Elbow.
It’s a Northern Quarter landmark too, thanks to its familiar burgundy frontage and cosy interior.
Pixies to play three Manchester gigs as part of major European tour in 2024
Emily Sergeant
Pixies are heading out on a European tour in 2024, and they’re stopping off here in Manchester for three nights.
After recently playing to intimate Manchester crowds at the relaunch of iconic music venue, Band on the Wall, and to thousands at Castlefield Bowl as part of 2023’s Sounds of the City concert series, Pixies have announced they’ll be making a return to our city once again next year, and they’ve got three gigs lined-up.
The influential and pioneering US alt rock band are set to head out on a tour of some of the biggest cities in Europe tour in 2024, and will be performing a selection of tracks from their hugely-acclaimed albums, Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde – which were released in 1990 and 1991 respectively.
Black Francis and co will be taking over Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall for three major gigs on Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, and Thursday 14 March 2024.
Bossanova was the band’s third studio album, and was praised by critics for showing their less primal side, with a recurring sci-fi theme running throughout, and surf and space rock influences at the forefront.
‘Alison’, ‘Dig For Fire’, ‘Velouria’, and ‘Cecilia Ann’ were just some of the notable tracks from the album.
Trompe Le Monde, on the other hand, was known for having bookended a run of landmark records for the band, and although it was their fourth album, it’s arguably the most playful in their catalogue – with singles ‘Planet of Sound’, ‘Alec Eiffel’, and ‘Letter to Memphis’ featuring lyrics on UFOs, conspiracy theories, and more to prove Black Francis and co were still restless to push their sound forward.
Both albums are described by critics as sounding just as fresh and relevant today in 2023 as they did when they were released over 30 years ago.
Bossanova (1990) and Trompe Le Monde (1991) by Pixies / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Pixies’ celebration of these two iconic albums will see them perform across major European cites such as London, Dublin, Paris, and Amsterdam, as well as Manchester for three nights.
Pixies – Bossanova x Trompe Le Monde Tour 2024
8, 9 & 10 March – Olympia Theatre Dublin
12, 13 & 14 March – Albert Hall Manchester
16, 17 & 18 March – O2 Forum Kentish Town (London)
20, 21 & 22 March – Paradiso Amsterdam
25, 26 & 27 March – L’Olympia Theatre Paris
Tickets to the Bossanova x Trompe Le Monde Tour 2024 are officially set to go on general sale this Friday 9 June from 9am.
Daisy Jackson -
3rd February 2022 
