The Killers will be performing a huge gig in Manchester this weekend, taking to the stage at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
As one of the world’s biggest indie-rock bands, the group will be performing in front of a crowd of 50,000 with their Imploding the Mirage world tour on Saturday 11 June.
It’s in support of their last two studio albums – Imploding the Mirage and Pressure Machine – their sixth and seventh releases.
Fronted by Brandon Flowers, The Killers have topped the UK albums chart every single time they’ve released an album – quite an achievement.
The Las Vegas four-piece last performed in Greater Manchester with a show-stopping gig at the Macron Stadium in Bolton.
They’re really ramping things up this summer – and have roped in a pretty famous local group as their support act.
Here’s what you need to know.
Who is supporting The Killers?
Blossoms. Credit: Publicity Picture
The Killers have chosen some home-grown talent to support them at their Manchester gig.
Stockport’s very own Blossoms will be taking to the stage at one of the region’s biggest venues.
The group recently played their own intimate gigs at Band on the Wall and the Stockport Plaza to celebrate the release of their latest album, Ribbon Around The Bomb.
They were also a headliner at the nearby Neighbourhood Weekender in Warrington.
Doors to the venue will open at 5pm, then the stage times should look like this (but are always subject to change).
7.15pm-8.04pm – Blossoms
8.40pm-10.25pm – The Killers
10.30pm – Curfew
How do I get to and from the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground?
The Killers will perform this weekend. Credit: Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Trams on the Altrincham line, which services Emirate Old Trafford Cricket Ground, are expected to be busy on Saturday from 5pm.
Those with tickets for The Killers are encouraged to also use Firswood and Wharfside tram stops (on the East Didsbury/Airport line and Trafford Park line respectively) and walk the short extra distance to the venue.
Gig-goers are being urged by TfGM to plan ahead, allow plenty of time, check the last tram and train times, and have a back-up plan in case of any disruption.
A shuttle bus service will be in place, running from Fairfield Street (near Piccadilly station) from 3pm until 7pm. A small number of shuttle buses will go back the other way after the gig.
If you want to drive, official event parking will be at Manchester United, Car Park N3, charged at £15.
The Killers has completely sold out on Ticketmaster at the time of writing.
You may be able to get some tickets on a resale platform, but make sure you’re not buying a fake.
What will the setlist be like?
Based on The Killers’ gig in Norwich on 9 June, this is the setlist we can expect to hear.
My Own Soul’s Warning
Enterlude
When You Were Young
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Smile Like You Mean It
Shot at the Night
Running Towards a Place
Human
Somebody Told Me
Fire in Bone
Shadowplay (Joy Division cover)
Runaway Horses
For Reasons Unknown
A Dustland Fairytale
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger cover)
Runaways
Read My Mind
Dying Breed
Caution
All These Things That I’ve Done
Encore
Spaceman
Mr. Brightside
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
Gigs & Nightlife
Revenue from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council is set to earmark almost £250,000 to support grassroots music venues in the city.
Following on from the success of the city’s huge summer of music, which in recent weeks has seen hundreds of thousands of fans converge in the city to see massive names like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Charlie XCX, Elbow, and Robbie Williams, as well as other talents like Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender still yet to come.
Oh yeah, and there was also that small matter of Oasis reuniting for five nostalgia-drenched gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park earlier last month.
Over the course of the summer, it has been estimated that Manchester will have attracted a whopping 1.3 million music tourists, which is being described as a ‘tremendous’ boost for the city’s economy as a whole, especially the hospitality industry.
Revenue made from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ this summer is to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues / Credit: Eldhose Kuriyan | Joshua Hanson (via Unsplash)
These huge events are also generating income for the Council too, either by being hosted in the city’s largest parks with commercial arrangements for their use, or through the business rates paid by major venues – and it’s this income that has been earmarked to go towards supporting grassroots music venues throughout the city.
As well as reinvesting part of this revenue into parks and greenspaces, the Council is planning to set aside £245,000 to be made available in financial support for Manchester’s grassroots venues.
While exact details are in the process of being finalised, the intention is that the scheme will be administered by the Music Venue Trust to ensure that the money gets to where it is needed as ‘quickly and effectively’ as possible.
It’s estimated that Manchester will have welcomed 1.3 million music tourists before summer’s out / Credit: Nathan Mullet (via Unsplash)
“Manchester is a big noise in the music world,” commented Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, “and this summer, all eyes have been on the city as we’ve hosted some huge concerts and seen unprecedented success in our large venues.
“But while the biggest gigs might dominate the headlines, we know they are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem, with grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow.
It's been a BIG summer of music in Manchester.
We've got pioneering plans to use money raised by some of the biggest gigs to support our grassroots venues – a vital ingredient of the city's amazing music scene: https://t.co/8ekQN7AmGBpic.twitter.com/MpVWpeHqbk
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 31, 2025
“We know that across the country, grassroots venues are struggling. That’s why we want to ensure that our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events.
“We’re blessed in Manchester with an array of great smaller venues.
“They are there to be enjoyed and I’d encouraged anyone who values them to get out and support them.”
Featured Image – Rahul Kukreja (via Unsplash)
Gigs & Nightlife
Britain’s beloved Bongo’s Bingo is coming to Kendal Calling for the very first time
Danny Jones
One of the UK’s biggest, silliest and best nights out, the almighty Bongo’s Bingo is making its festival debut at Kendal Calling 2025.
The crazy, comedy-driven mix of traditional bingo, dance-offs, rave intervals, crowd participation and all manner of shenanigans began over a decade ago, and has genuinely grown into a cultural phenomenon.
Be it a random weeknight or peak Friday-Saturday pint time, Bongo’s Bingo venues all over the country pack out with people ready to make a fool out of themselves in hopes of winning random prizes – even the completely pointless ones.
In case you’ve never seen it for yourselves before, here’s a little glimpse at the standard and frankly chronic level of chaos:
To be honest, this is still a pretty tame teaser trailer…
Sorry, why would you go to normal bingo when you can go to one where drinks and dancing are compulsory, and you can leave not just a life-sized Gary Barlow cut-out but even a Henry Hoover all in the same night?
Personally, we’ve been going to Bongo’s Bingo since pre-pandemic, as we’re sure lots of you also have; it’s now in over 50 locations, having recently tested the waters across the pond in the US, and they’re only planning to expand further this year.
Come 2026, we’re betting on them going well and truly global.
Founded by Jonny Lacey (a.k.a. ‘Jonny Bongo’ himself) and Joshua Burke back in April 2015, fast forward to the present day, and you’ll find a soul who hasn’t at least heard of the ridiculous bingo-themed party, if not experienced the madness for themselves.
With Kendal Calling promising plenty of other live entertainment and activities that quite literally cater to just about everyone, we think it’s the perfect place to make some noise and leave a mark, not to mention create another Northern stronghold.
Lowther Deer Park isn’t the only festival location on their list either: Bongo’s is also set to make a splash at BeatMasters Festival in Norwich and Oxford this summer. Speaking ahead of the festival debut, host Jimmy Sweets said, “Bongo’s Bingo is ready for Kendal Calling.
“We’re bringing the magic and mayhem for a special festival set this weekend, packed with bangers, classics, and hands-in-the-air madness as the UK’s most talked about night out comes to Cumbria.
“There’s nowhere else like Bongo’s Bingo to be immersed in pure escapism and nostalgia – this is going to be wild. Myself and Rich Furness are DJing back to back both nights, so come and get involved this Saturday and Sunday at The Soapbox. We can’t wait to see everyone.”
Bongo’s Bingo will be taking place this Saturday and Sunday, 2-3 August, from 11pm until gone half past midnight at The Soapbox tent. You can read our full Kendal Calling 2025 festival guide HERE, and we’ll see you in the fields – or at the very least in the bingo hall.
Just a glimpse of how nutty the audiences inside Albert Hall get on a regular basis. (Credit: Supplied)
Daisy Jackson -
10th June 2022 
