What's On

A horror, rock and wrestle festival is coming to Manchester this month

And his name is JOHN CENA.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 18th March 2025

Manchester is known for hosting all kinds of celebrations from Parklife to Pride, and now the city is obsessing over horror and rock.

The always wonderful Bowlers Exhibition Centre, one of Greater Manchester’s biggest and busiest event spaces, will be hosting a brand-new event this weekend.

This new ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’ will boast an unmissable line-up boasting faces from the Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchises.

Expect to see David Arquette, Joseph Whipp, Jsu Garcia, Caroline Williams and more actors who have contributed to horror cult classics.

But it’s not just horror that’s taking centre stage at this convention, there’s also chance to spotlight both the rock and wrestling world.

Musicians and professional wrestlers Joe Hendry and Chris Jericho will also be making an appearance with Robert Maillet getting in on the action too.

With so many celebrities of film and screen all popping up in one building, any attendees might think they’ve entered a mini Hollywood.

Taking place at BEC Arena, also known as Bowlers Exhibition Centre, this event will bring together not just film stars and legends, but lots of fun activities and interactive workshops too.

There’s no confirmation of who’s taking the wheel for the rock scene but there is a chance that guests will see live performances from ‘renowned rock bands’ at this mighty ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’.

You’ll also be able to grab a tattoo, with previous years seeing many fans getting the actor’s signature tatted on them for life, all done by on-site professional artists.

Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival, Bowlers Exhibition Centre.
An insight into past events similar to Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival.
Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival, Bowlers Exhibition Centre.
With the Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival could we see Chucky paying another visit to Manchester?
Credit: Supplied

Attendees are encouraged to show off your creativity by cosplaying as your favourite character, wrestling icon or rock legend.

Across these two dates there will also be live wrestling matches, circus acts and stunt performers, and even monster trucks.

Collectors get ready as the Exhibitor Hall will be packed with all things comics, collectables, merchandise, apparel and more.

Where else can you meet one of your movie idols then shortly after get a tattoo, watch some wrestling and weave your way through a scare maze?

Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival, Bowlers Exhibition Centre.
There will be plenty of guest talks and live performances too.
Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival, Bowlers Exhibition Centre.
Some of the crazy outfits we might be seeing at Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival.
Credit: Supplied

This isn’t the only event BEC Arena will be hosting either as this versatile venue is also turning itself into a raver’s paradise this summer for a 90’s themed club extravaganza.

Taking place on 22 and 23 March ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’ is coming to Bowlers Exhibition Centre and you can find out everything you need to know and bag yourself some tickets HERE.

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

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

Local LGBTQIA+ football team Manchester Laces are set to play in the FA Cup for the first time ever

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Laces playing in Women's FA Cup for the first-time ever

Inclusive football team Manchester Laces are set to break even more new ground are they prepare to compete in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time ever.

What a truly incredible few years it’s been for the club.

Set to play their maiden match in the female division of the sport’s oldest competition this weekend, Manchester Laces’ Yellows squad will be taking on rival Greater Manchester Women’s Football League (GMWFL) side, Northwich Victoria, in another historic milestone for the local outfit.

Announced last month, the game is now fast approaching, and they’re hoping that plenty of Manc natives will turn up in support.

For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Manchester Laces has grown to become the leading women’s, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ positive sporting bodies in the region.

In fact, as part of a wider family – which includes clubs in Hackney, South London and Limehouse Laces, not to mention players over in Canada too – they’re comfortably one of the biggest in the entire country.

Sticking with MCR Laces alone, founded by Helen Hardy, they have grown so much in reputation and size that they have six different teams besides just the Yellows: the other Manchester squads include the Blues, Greens, Oranges, Purples, as well as the budding new Reds and Blacks.

It’s this kind of impressive expansion and, crucially, representation that has seen them win two Football v Homophobia Awards and Grassroots Initiative of the Year back in 2023.

Side-note: they also happen to have one of our favourite fooy kits of the entire year so far…

Boasting a new regular stadium at Timpson Road and set to take part not only in the North West Women’s Regional Football League (NWWFL)/GMWFL, but now FA Cup and county cup games, 2025 could be their most momentous year yet.

Providing access to countless women and people from within the queer and non-binary community who love the beautiful game and may have otherwise struggled to find an outlet, their work has been crucial in and around Greater Manchester.

With that in mind, taking part in an inaugural run within the prestigious knockout tournament feels like yet another watershed moment for the organisation.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, the club wrote on social media: “In 2021, we started our journey in Div 2 of the GMWFL with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all. After winning consecutive league titles and earning back-to-back promotions, we are now a Tier 6 team.

“Yellows are delighted to be stepping into the magic of the FA Cup for the very first time, and we would love to see you there!

Taking place at both Wythenshawe Town FC’s and the Yellows’ own new home ground of Ericstan Park on Sunday, 7 September (2pm KO), we wish them the best of luck.

Manchester Laces: the non-binary football club leading the charge on inclusivity in sport
Tickets for Manchester Laces’ debut FA Cup game are just £2 and can be purchased on entry

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Featured Images — Wythenshawe Town FC/Manchester Laces (via Instagram/Facebook)

What's On

The Last Dinner Party have announced a huge 35-date tour, including a big Manchester gig

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Last Dinner Party Manchester tickets 2025

Multi-award-winning indie and alternative rock band, The Last Dinner Party, have just announced what is set to be one of their biggest globe-trotting tours ever, with a momentous Manchester gig included on the UK run.

The much-celebrated five-piece have revealed their latest run of shows will span the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, Australia AND New Zealand, confirming a total of 35 live dates.

After coming somewhat under fire in 2024 following a series of cancelled concerts, the Londoners have responded in the best way possible: by putting their money where their mouth is and coming back with a bang ahead of their highly anticipated sophomore release.

We have every faith they’ll have the stamina to fulfil their live commitments this time around, and you best believe we’ll be going for tickets.

TLDP2

Speaking in the build-up to the release of the second album, From The Pyre – which is set to drop on 17 October – the band said of their latest material: “This record is a collection of stories, and the concept of album-as-mythos binds them.

‘The Pyre‘ itself is an allegorical place in which these tales originate, a place of violence and destruction but also regeneration, passion and light. The songs are character-driven but still deeply personal, a commonplace life event pushed to a pathological extreme.

“Being ghosted becomes a Western dance with a killer, and heartbreak laughs into the face of the apocalypse. Lyrics invoke rifles, scythes, sailors, saints, cowboys, floods, Mother Earth, Joan of Arc, and blazing infernos. We found this kind of evocative imagery to be the most honest and truthful way to discuss the way our experiences felt, giving each the emotional weight it deserves.”

Going on to describe the follow-up to their seminal debut, Prelude to Ecstasy (which saw them sweep up multiple BRIT and NME Awards, as well as a Mercury Prize nomination), as “darker, more raw and more earthy”, you’re definitely in for a heavily intellectualised experience with this one.

Their performances are certainly much more than a group of musicians getting up on stage too; having seen them last October ourselves, the LGBTQ+ icons definitely revel in the artistic expression of a live show, and have been praised for celebrating the female queer gaze too.

The Last Dinner Party aren’t ‘industry plants’, they just got real good real quick – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

The Last Dinner Party UK tour dates

As you can see in the social post shared by the band, they’re about to have a very busy end to 2025, plus plenty of travelling in the new year, but for now, you can see The Last Dinner Party’s upcoming UK tour dates in full down below:

  • 14 November – 3Arena, Dublin
  • 17 November – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
  • 20 November – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
  • 23 November – Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
  • 26 November – Aviva Studios, Manchester
  • 29 November – The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
  • 30 November – The Prospect Building, Bristol
  • 2 December – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
  • 4 December – Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth
  • 5 December – Brighton Centre, Brighton
  • 7 December – O2 Academy Brixton, London
  • 8 December – O2 Academy Brixton, London

Yes, set to visit Aviva Studios – a.k.a. the home of Greater Manchester’s ever-growing artistic hub – for the very first time, we couldn’t think of a more fitting act to play the stunning dynamic space.

General admission for The Last Dinner Party tour goes live from 10am GMT on Friday, 12 September, but fans who pre-order the album can gain early access.

You can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.

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

Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/The Manc Group

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