Gigs & Nightlife

Manchester Pride announces major new Mardi Gras event at Depot Mayfield

Let's get this party started!

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 4th March 2025

There’s a brand new event launching that coincides with Manchester Pride and it’s coming to Depot Mayfield.

Manchester Pride is adding a completely new event as part of its summer showcase which gives us one more reason to look forward to those sunny skies and warmer months.

Titled ‘Mardi Gras’, anyone interested in attending the event can expect two days of high energy live performances and unity.

The name of this new event pays homage to the origins of Manchester Pride before the celebration adopted its official title.

‘Mardi Gras’ will be hosted between two neighbouring venues, both of which are popular for their ability to create outstanding shows, Freight Island and Depot Mayfield.

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Freight Island is renowned for its use of indoor and outdoor spaces, and this two day spectacular will utilise all areas of the venue meaning everyone gets a chance to party.

Then Depot Mayfield, best-known for hosting the enormous Warehouse Project season, will also be used for Mardi Gras.

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As well as this new concept, Manchester Pride will be running its usual joyous occasions in the Gay Village.

Once again, partygoers will live get the chance to see live entertainment across two stages, including the Alan Turing Stage and the Indoor Arena, both of which are set to be electric.

Cheaper Early Bird tickets are already on sale for Manchester Pride Festival 2025. Credit: The Manc Group
Gay Village will be adorned with various decorations this summer for Pride. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Pride Parade is back for 2024. Credit: Carl Sukonik
Some of the festivities you can expect for Pride. Credit: Carl Sukonik
The huge main stage at Manchester Pride Festival as 2025 tickets go on sale. Credit: The Manc Group
The huge main stage at Manchester Pride Festival as 2025 tickets go on sale. Credit: The Manc Group

Guests who are looking forward to Manchester Pride can expect a roster of independent food vendors, market stalls and funfair attractions helping to celebrate the festival in style at the Gay Village Party, keeping the city’s LGBTQ+ heart at the heart of the festival.

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While Mardi Gras is expected to be a big part of the festival, Manchester Pride will also see the return of much-loved events such as the Manchester Pride Parade, Gay Village Party, The Rally, Candlelit Vigil, Superbia, Family Pride MCR, and Youth Pride MCR.

The celebration will, as usual, close with the Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens on Monday 25 August, in partnership with George House Trust.

David McGovern, Chair of the board of trustees at Manchester Pride, said: “Manchester Pride has always been about pushing boundaries, creating new opportunities for people to come together, and celebrating the incredible diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Mardi Gras represents the next step in this journey. Every year our audience has grown and with that, the demand for more ways to celebrate Pride has increased. Introducing this new dedicated venue at Depot Mayfield will mean we can invite new audiences and make Pride even more accessible for all to enjoy.”

Phil Burke, Chair of the Village Licensed Business Association, said: “The VLBA is thrilled to support this exciting new addition to Manchester Pride. It’s fantastic to see the celebrations expanding across the city while keeping the Gay Village at the heart of the festival.

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“Mardi Gras was originally organised by Village venues back in the 1990s, so it’s wonderful to see our community’s rich history celebrated with this revival.

“Our members are proud to host the street parties, showcasing the brilliant LGBTQ+ venues and talent Manchester has to offer. We look forward to welcoming thousands to the Gay Village Party this August and remind attendees to purchase a ‘Gay Village Party Supporter Band’ which will give them access to all the venues within the Village, and ensures the safe delivery of the celebrations.”

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester Pride is one of the biggest and best Pride events in the country. It gives an opportunity for Manchester residents from all walks of life to celebrate LGBT+ culture and to continue the fight for equality and against injustice. It also sees huge numbers of people visit our city and shows us in our best, most inclusive light.

“As both Manchester and the event continue to grow, we look forward to seeing Pride celebrated across even more of the city this year whilst keeping the things we value most such as the Parade and the Vigil.”

Read more:

The festival will kick off on Friday 15 August lasting 10 days until Monday 25 August, featuring the notable annual parade which still champions the fight for equality.

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To register for tickets and to be on the mailing list for updates about Manchester Pride you can sign up HERE.

Featured Image: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

Gigs & Nightlife

Robbie Williams at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

The self-proclaimed entertainer, Robbie Williams, is making his way to Manchester for not one but two nights of golden hits.

Mr. Williams last touched down in Manchester back in 2022 when he brought his ‘XXV Tour’ to our lovely city for three nights, so it’s no surprise this new tour features a double bill right here.

This time, Robbie has opted for Co-op Live, and we’re sure that the 23,500 fans in the crowd both nights will be ready to belt out ‘Angels’ word for word – it’s already ingrained into our brains after all.

Never out of the spotlight, he has seen a lot of media attention lately surrounding his biopic, Better Man, which famously shows the pop star’s Life thru a different* Lens by portraying him as a monkey.

Robbie Williams Manchester gig guide – all the important info

Robbie Williams is bringing his latest UK tour to Co-op Live in Manchester.
Robbie Williams is bringing his latest UK tour to Co-op Live in Manchester.

Robbie has always been a big fan of the music capital of the North, especially during the long period he spent up here as part of Take That, who themselves have performed at Manchester’s AO Arena 46 times – a record they still hold to this day.

He’s done a fair few as a solo act himself, and now his debut at Europe’s largest indoor entertainment venue is next on the list.

Robbie Williams UK tour dates

  • Fri 6 June – London, UK – Emirates Stadium
  • Sat 7 June – London, UK – Emirates Stadium
  • Tue 10 June – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Wed 11 June – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Fri 13 June – Bath, UK – Royal Crescent
  • Sat 14 June – Bath, UK – Royal Crescent

Robbie Williams tickets for Co-op Live gig

Tickets, as you can expect, are far and few between as everyone wants a chance of watching the ‘Better Man’ sing out to the crowds of Manchester.

If you do manage to bag yourself some last-minute tickets to see this music legend, make sure you’re not paying ‘Somethin’ Stupid’… to be fair, like millions of others, we’d still pay plenty to see Robbie.

You can find your tickets HERE, with an extra batch of allocation just added.

Robbie Williams setlist

  • Rocket
  • Let Me Entertain You
  • All My Life / Song 2 / Seven Nation Army / Rim Tim Tagi Dim / Minnie the Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song) / Livin’ On a Prayer
  • Monsoon
  • Old Before I Die
  • Rock DJ
  • Love My Life
  • Keep On Movin’
  • Strong
  • The Road to Mandalay
  • Let Love Be Your Energy
  • Sexed Up
  • Candy
  • Relight My Fire
  • Something Beautiful
  • Milennium
  • Theme From New York, New York
  • Come Undone
  • Kids
  • I Could Be So Good for You
  • She’s the One
  • My Way
  • Feel
  • Angels

This setlist is based on his recent show at Emirates Stadium in London, where he surprised the audience by bringing out boyband Five to sing their smash hit ‘Keep On Movin’.

Five are also heading out on the road later this year, choosing AO Arena to host the Manc date of their comeback tour, which is set to make ‘Everybody Get Up’.

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing them, and they really were a joy/

What are the stage times for Robbie Williams in Manchester?

Robbie starring in his music video for 'Lost', as part of his album XXV.
Robbie starring in his music video for ‘Lost’, as part of his album XXV.
Same energy as always.

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning everyone can soar like a ‘Rocket’ while also making sure they’re nice and tucked up under the covers before the clock strikes twelve.

Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 7:30pm and support from local talent The Lottery Winners, get in!

In fact, frontman Thom Rylance has already got to live out a real boyhood dream of his on this tour, joining Robbie Williams on stage for a very special moment – here’s hoping for something similar in Manchester.

Seriously, how cool is this?…

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know 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.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am 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.

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.

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.

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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, 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

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.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes via 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.

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

Read more:

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

Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)

Gigs & Nightlife

Why fans are fearing cancellation of Catfish and The Bottlemen’s massive Manchester gig

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Will Catfish Manchester gig Heaton Park be cancelled

Indie rockers Catfish and The Bottlemen are playing a headline show at Heaton Park in Manchester, but plenty of gig-goers have a genuine fear of a potential cancellation.

The Welsh band known for their stacked roster of hits, including ‘Cocoon’, ‘Kathleen’, ‘7’, ‘Pacifier’ and many more, are set to play Heaton Park on 13 June, but there has already been a fair amount of scepticism among fans online.

Just last year, Catfish and The Bottlemen cancelled an array of international shows, including one rather long-awaited gig in Ireland.

This Irish date would’ve marked the band’s first show in the country in five years; however, 15 minutes before doors were due to open, the Dublin date got cancelled.

Catfish and The Bottlemen are expected to play at Heaton Park on 13 June
Catfish and The Bottlemen are expected to play at Heaton Park on 13 June / Credit: Supplied

No comments were made by the band as to why this decision happened, instead, all updates and communication came from the ticket company directly.

MCD Productions, who were in charge of hosting the would-be gig at Fairview Park, revealed that the reason for the abrupt cancellation of Catfish’s Ireland gig was due to ‘artist illness’, stating that all attendees would be issued and are entitled to a full refund.

The following week, Catfish also cancelled all of their US and Australia tour with no official statement from the rock group, and fans were frustrated to say the least.

Two weeks after these stark cancellations, the indie rockers announced two stadium shows: Cardiff and London, with the Manchester date in Heaton Park revealed a month later – all scheduled for this summer.

The issues don’t just lie with gig cancellations either; the band’s lineup has been in turmoil over recent years, with musicians joining and leaving this Welsh rock act.

Catfish and The Bottlemen back in 2016 ahead of Sound City in Liverpool
Catfish and The Bottlemen back in 2016 ahead of Sound City in Liverpool / Credit: Supplied

Most notably, former guitarist Johnny Bond, who originally left the band in 2021, issued a statement in 2022 via Instagram about “behaviour constantly re-occurring” that he found to be “intolerable”.

Only two original members remain: Van McCann, lead singer and now the main guitarist since Billy Bibby left in 2021, and Benji Blakeway, the band’s bassist and backing vocalist.

Many have speculated on some of that behaviour, and the source behind at least some of the band’s problems is the extremely talented, charismatic, but often frenetic frontman himself; you only need to search his name on the likes of TikTok to fall down the rabbit hole.

While there are lots dismissing some of his behaviour on stage as nothing more than loose, in-the-moment ‘rockstar energy’, others have expressed concern for his well-being at times.

Catfish’s latest Instagram post reporting the fact that the Heaton Park date is now sold out has been met with hundreds of comments from fans worrying that it won’t go ahead.

One user wrote, “Are u gonna cancel this one 7 mins before doors open too?”, while another took to the comment section to say, “I’ll be there. Don’t know about van tho”.

Replies to their tweets on X (formerly Twitter) have been similar too, as one fan writes: “Don’t worry guys, it’ll be cancelled soon!”.

These are, of course, just a taste of a much larger sample size, as their ‘comeback’ in February 2024 with ‘Showtime’ – their first new song in five years – looked like it could be the start of a new album cycle, but there hasn’t been anything else since then.

Barring the 10th anniversary version of their debut LP, The Balcony, and the re-release of old single and cult favourite ‘ASA’, there’s very little to suggest that there is even a latest project that currently exists to make any progress on.

Catfish and The Bottlemen are scheduled to play Heaton Park in Manchester on 13 June – let’s hope it’s not a ‘Longshot’. For those of you going, do you have any actual doubts whether or not it will go ahead?

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

Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)/Kaleb Nimz (via Unsplash)

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