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AJ Handley-Rowe - 10th November 2021

The Streets at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and all you need to know

Danny Jones

The Streets Castlefield Bowl gig guide tickets info stage times

The Streets are coming to Manchester this weekend to play their landmark album, A Grand Don’t Come For Free, on tour and in full for the first time in full since its release in 2004.

It remains one of the most influential albums of the 21st century, having had a huge impact on culture and UK music, and we couldn’t be more excited to FINALLY hear it in its entirety live and direct.

Speaking on the seminal release, frontman Mike Skinner says he “wrote it as a story from beginning to end, even studying screenwriting to shape it and without the faintest idea how people would react.”

Ahead of this bringing it back to the stage in its entirety, he said: “We’ve been looking for something bold to do with the live show, and we landed here: some tracks have never been played live, others haven’t surfaced in years.” With that in mind, we can’t wait for their 2026 Sounds of the City set. Speaking of…

The Streets at Castlefield Bowl for Sounds of the City

Are there tickets left for The Streets’ Manchester dates?

Skinner and his band are set to fill Castlefield Bowl, and we’ve been blessed with not one, but two nights at this iconic outdoor stage in the heart of the city, on Friday 10 July AND Saturday 11 July – lucky us.

While tickets for the first gig are all sold-out across the board, you can still grab general admission for the second show this Saturday; secure yours HERE.

Known for their lively stage presence, tongue-in-cheek demeanour and unwavering crowd engagement, Skinner and co’s latest visit is not one to miss lightly.

Oh, and if you too were ‘Prangin Out’ about the footy clashing, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ and fear not: you no longer have to choose, thanks to a welcome update ahead of England’s crucial World Cup quarter-final against Norway.

The Streets announce big change for Castlefield Bowl gig in Manchester amid World Cup clash

Praise the music gods.

The Streets remaining UK tour dates

Friday, July 10, 2026 – Castlefield Bowl – Manchester
Saturday, July 11, 2026 – Castlefield Bowl – Manchester
Thursday, July 16, 2026 – Alexandra Palace Park – London
Friday, July 17, 2026 – O2 Academy – Birmingham
Saturday, July 18, 2026 – Alexandra Palace Park – London
Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Ludlow Castle – Ludlow
Friday, July 24, 2026 – Kirkstall Abbey – Leeds
Friday, July 31, 2026 – Cardiff Castle – Cardiff
Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Scarborough Open Air Theatre – Scarborough
Friday, August 7, 2026 – Audley End Estate – Essex
Friday, August 21, 2026 – Earlham Park – Norwich
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham
Friday, August 28, 2026 – Rock N Roll Circus – Sheffield
Thursday, August 5, 2026 – Depot Mayfield – Manchester

Yes, in case you weren’t aware, the gang are also playing The Warehouse Project as part of the WHP26 programme; tickets for that are also live.

Get them before they go!

Support acts and stage times for The Streets at Castlefield Bowl

For ‘Those That Don’t Know’, there are set to be some amazing support acts joining The Streets on tour. We are lucky enough to get rising Mancunian artist Antony Szmierek, as well as rap and grime MC CASISDEAD for the two days at Castlefield Bowl.

They’ve also kindly given us a very clear rundown of the stage times for each artist’s set, too:

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A post shared by The Streets (@thestreetsofficial__)

The Streets setlist for 2026 tour

Thankfully, bringing back an album to play start to finish means that we pretty much know almost for certain what they’re going to be playing. Here’s the tracklist as it appears on the original album:

Set 1: A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full

It Was Supposed To Be So Easy
Could Well Be In
Not Addicted
Blinded by the Lights
Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way
Get Out of My House
Fit but You Know It
Such a Tw*t
What Is He Thinking?
Dry Your Eyes
Empty Cans

That being said, we’re almost certainly going to get a few more hits as part of the encore, be it ‘Turn the Page’, ‘Who’s Got the Bag’ and ‘Let’s Push Things Forward’, just to name a few.

What would you most like to hear from elsewhere in their discography for the Sounds of the City (SOTC) double bill? Let us know in the comments.

Transport and travel advice

Getting to Castlefield Bowl

Castlefield Bowl (M3 4JR) is on Rice Street just down Liverpool Road, which cuts off the main Deansgate strip in the city centre, and you can enter Manchester’s much-loved outdoor amphitheatre via Duke or Castle Street.

Tram

It’s just a six-minute walk from the Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop, or ever so slightly further is the St Peter’s Square tram stop, where you can find regular trams running all over Greater Manchester from both. You can check the first and last trams from the stops HERE.

Train

The nearest station to Castlefield Bowl is Deansgate train station, being a mere six-minute walk or Manchester Oxford Road, which is only 15 minutes away, with Piccadilly and Victoria being slightly further afield but still not miles away, clocking in at just a few minutes from the gig.

Whichever route you choose, none are unrealistic – just be sure to check last train timings to not get caught short.

Bus

A variety of buses stop close to Castlefield Bowl on their route, such as the 33 or 33b, which stop just a one-minute walk away from the venue.

A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE

Getting to Castlefield Bowl by car and parking info for The Streets

If you’re driving there, Great Northern Warehouse’s (M3 4EE) car park, as well as two other NCPs near Bridgewater Hall and on Quay Street in Spinningfields.

You can also park your car for free and get the tram to the gig from one of Greater Manchester’s 24 Park and Ride sites.

Walk/cycle

If you’re that bit more climate conscious, then there are plenty of options for you too. Why not use the TfGM journey planner to find the best cycle route for you?

If you’re up for saving some pennies, the planet and want to take in your surroundings on a summer evening, then walking is a great option to beat the queues. Even walking a portion of your journey may be a wise idea!

Just make sure you save some energy for an all-night party (here’s hoping England can take it long into the early hours).

If you’re wondering what the vibes have been like at SOTC 2026 so far, here’s a taster from night two…

Safe to say @wetlegband continue to 'level up' when it comes to live shows. 🔥

Read our full review here. ➡️ https://t.co/ht5AaYDc4R #SoundsOfTheCity #SOTC pic.twitter.com/fg6C34cJC4
— The Manc (@TheMancUK) July 9, 2026

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Featured Images — Ben Cannon (supplied via SJM Concerts)/Audio North/Atlantic Records

You can paddle a canoe down a Greater Manchester canal to a floating cafe and bar

Daisy Jackson

Paddling down the Bridgewater Canal in Greater Manchester

Fancy swapping the city streets for a few hours on the water?

Just a short tram ride from Manchester city centre is a spot where you can hire a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, and explore the beautiful Bridgewater Canal from a completely different perspective.

Tucked away down the stairs by The King’s Ransom pub, Grip Adventures has been part of Sale for the past four years.

Whether you’re after a relaxed paddle in the sunshine, a fun day out with friends, or a family activity, there’s something for everyone.

You can choose from single canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, or hire a double canoe if you’d rather explore as a group.

One of the best parts is that the canal is lined with great places to stop.

Stunning scenery along the Bridgewater Canal — Paddling along the Bridgewater Canal

Walton Perk sits right on the water, making it the perfect halfway coffee break. As well as coffees and cakes, you can even pick up a takeaway Aperol Spritz from here – without even setting foot outside your boat.

If you’re visiting on a Monday or Tuesday when it’s closed, Grapefruit Coffee is just across the road, so you can grab a takeaway before heading down to the canal.

Grip Adventure is run by Glenn Rees, who has spent more than 20 years leading outdoor adventure camps and is passionate about making the outdoors accessible to everyone.

Alongside paddle hire, Glenn also delivers alternative education and outdoor learning programmes, works with Trafford Young Carers, and even runs land-based adventure games around the canal.

You really don’t have to travel far to enjoy an idyllic day on the water. In fact, one of Greater Manchester’s best summer days out has been hiding in plain sight just along the Bridgewater Canal.

Featured image: The Manc Group