The National has announced a special one-off Manchester show that will see the band take to the stage for their biggest concert in the city to date.
Returning to Manchester for the first time in four years, the band will play a special headline show on Saturday 27 August at the home of Manchester’s famous Warehouse Project.
It’ll be the first big appearance they’ve made here since taking part in the open-air Castlefield Bowl Sounds of The City concerts in 2019, which saw the waterside amphitheatre packed to the rafters with adoring fans for a sell-out show.
This year’s upcoming performance at former railway station Depot Mayfield looks set to blast that out of the water, with a capacity of 10,000 making the August show their biggest in the city to date.
The U.S. five-piece, headed up by frontman Matt Berninger, last played the UK as part of their I Am Easy To Find tour in 2019.
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This week, they have confirmed a host of new shows on both sides of the pond – announcing dates for a run of North American shows alongside this special Manchester one.
Sharing the news with fans, they wrote: “The last couple years have given us ample time for reflection and rejuvenation.
The band will be joined by their 4AD label mates Dry Cleaning, a London-based post-punk band first formed in 2019 known for their use of spoken word and ‘unconventional’ lyrics.
It is the first big Warehouse Project show to be confirmed for the 2022 season so far.
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Dry Cleaning will open for the The National as part of the one-off event, which is being presented by The Warehouse Project in partnership with AEG.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
4th April 2022 
