Excuse me, but it looks like we might have a new favourite festival on the cards: Country 2 Country – and it’s very rare we gig in London and enjoy ourselves anyway near as much as we do up North, but now we’re already dreaming of just how good C2C Manchester could be.
In fact, scratch that, we know it is.
Billed as Europe’s biggest country music festival, there really isn’t anything quite like it here. Yes, there’s Buckle & Boots Festival closer to home, but there’s nothing in the folk and country world on this kind of massive scale, unless you go all the way to see the actual CMA Fest over in the US.
London’s also been lucky enough to host some very big names at BST Hyde Park too, but this fully-fledged arena weekender, complete with an outdoor festival hub, town square, trading post, a barn full of line-dancers, and SO much more, celebrates every single part of that culture.
By day, the aim is to make a little country town, complete with shops, food, drink and music aplenty. (Credit: Audio North)
But… We think the North can do it better.
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So too did some of the acts and punters as well, by the way; we spoke to several people on-site who’d made the trip from all over because it was closer than Glasgow, Belfast or Berlin.
Up-and-coming British country rock artist, Bronnie – who was literally hours away from a move across the pond to pursue her dreams of living the cowgirl turned music artist experience down in the Southern states – said simply: “There’s always this feeling like there’s more fun to be had up North”
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Moreover, the friends she’s already made over in America’s ‘Music City’, she says, have claimed that “the vibes are just better”, apparently. Not to sound too biased, but we obviously couldn’t agree more.
However, with the news that C2C is coming to Manchester city centre and Northern England for the very first time, people are already hopping mad at the idea of a Manc debut.
That’s to say that what The O2 in London isn’t special and will always be to most punters, we just know full well that our particular region is going to take to this new annual event like a duck to water.
A lot of the people we spoke to kept repeating the same: that working class connection, simple but relatable imagery, the pure poetry you’ll find not only in Nashville but creative cousins like Manchester.
The Broadway strip in Austin may be the spiritual home of this kind of music, but we Greater Mancunians lay claim to plenty of genres and some of the biggest artistic traditions ourselves.
With that in mind, we are convinced we’re going to leave a lasting impression when our inaugural Country 2 Country Festival comes to the AO Arena next year.
Our line dancing might leave a little to be desired, but we’ve got a whole year to work on it, not to mention plenty of time to dive even further into the UK’s growing country music obsession.
You can see more pictures from our 2026 C2C gallery down below.
Country fashion was everywhereThe official CMA Spotlight Stage was one of the bestNo one shyed away from a partyKruse Brothers were one of our favourite from the weekendAlana Springsteen was incredibleAnd by the evening, it’s a proper hedonist hoedown… (Credit: The Manc)
Clubgoers can expect £4 double and mixer drinks as well as £2 shots and not one, but three rooms of music setting totally different vibes.
The basement is raver-ready with disco-tech and house to soundtrack your evening, the middle room has R&B and slow jams covered, while the top floor takes care of ‘Everything you pretend not to like’.
Oops! also runs in further Northern cities and receives a great reception, hosting nights every Friday in Newcastle and a previous stint in Liverpool too.
This club night company couldn’t contain their excitement revealing in a social media post: “Joshua Brooks is second to none when it comes to sound, production and its deep rooted history in the scene.
Oasis Live ’27 ticket prices revealed ahead of massive stadium tour
Daisy Jackson
Oasis Live ’27 ticket prices have been announced ahead of their almighty 2027 stadium tour.
The band announced a return to the stage this week, after weeks of cryptic videos and even a drone show over Manchester.
Their 2027 shows will span some of the biggest venues in the world, including an eye-watering 11 nights at the Etihad Stadium in their native Manchester, as well as four shows at Knebworth.
Oasis Live ’27 will also take them to Glasgow, Munich, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Boston, Las Vegas, and Slane Castle in Ireland.
Tickets will be sold through a strict fan registration process this year, with only successful registrants even invited to try and buy tickets.
But ahead of that, Oasis have revealed the ticket prices for the Oasis Live ’27 Manchester shows – and unlike the dynamic pricing fiasco, prices will be fixed this time.
Fans will be able to snap up a ticket for as little as £74.60 for seated tickets, with seats then costing up to £266.60, including fees.
Standing tickets will be priced at either £173.60 or £206.60.
There are also hotel packages, coach packages, and VIP packages available.
Oasis Live ’27 ticket prices for Manchester Etihad Stadium gigs
Standard ticket prices are £74.60, £107.60, £173.60, £206.60 and £266.60 including fees for seated tickets and £173.60 and £206.60 for standing tickets.
Hotel packages are available for £475, £485, £490 and £495 including fees
Coach packages are available for £227.60, £229.60, £232.60 and £238.60 including fees
VIP packages are available for £306.60, £366.60, £511.60 and £571.60 including feeses
Fans will have to register to be in with a chance of buying Oasis Live ’27 tickets – find out more HERE.