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A huge hot air balloon festival is coming to Manchester this summer

Up, up and away!

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 26th February 2025

Manchester is all about festivals and now be prepared for a gravity defying one as a hot air balloon festival lands just in time for summer.

This lovely city is famed for its love of music, food, friends, good times and now… hot air balloons?

Visiting one of Manchester’s many popular parks, this festival is also stopping off at Nottingham and Wrexham before touching down here over summer.

‘The Balloons & Beats Festival’ is set to join ‘Bristol International Balloon Fiesta’ and ‘Midlands Air Festival’ as part of a series of popular hot air balloon festivals in 2025.

The event isn’t exclusive to Manchester either as it seems to be touring England and Wales with dates scheduled for Chepstow and ending its journey in Dorset.

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Of course, us Mancs like the rest of the country have to consider the weather, as these events are all dependent on whether there are suitable flying conditions on each day.

Taking place in Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield, as well as lots of flying balloons providing a gorgeous canvas for the sky, the park grounds will be packed with fun activities to do as the day goes on.

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There’s going to be a handful of food and drinks vendors, Punch and Judy shows, and even a BMX display, plus evening glow shows come nightfall.

Alongside the skyline entertainment from the air balloons themselves, anyone planning on going can expect to see more above ground attractions with aerial artistry too.

Expect lots of family fun with fairground rides, children’s characters and craft stalls, you’ll have never-ending fun.

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Each of the Manchester dates have varying run times with the Friday 27 June taking place from 4pm to 11pm and Saturday 28 June starting from 12pm to 11pm.

With these dates continuing the party til late in the night, there will also be a chance to experience the hot air balloons in a whole new light with the evening glow shows.

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For a chance to see these lighter-than-air aircrafts in Platt Fields Park on 27 and 28 June, you can find tickets and more information HERE.

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

Featured Image: Unsplash (Kyle Hinkson)

What's On

The Charlatans to play huge outdoor Manchester gig at Castlefield Bowl this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant The Charlatans

The Charlatans are the latest act to join the stellar Sounds of the City lineup this summer.

Set to return to Manchester‘s iconic outdoor venue Castlefield Bowl for the first time in 10 years, during what is the height of the summer live music season this July, The Charlatans will stage a major headline show as part of Sounds of the City’s already-stacked lineup for 2025.

Elbow, The Black Keys, Rizzle Kicks, and Hacienda Classical are among the other headline acts previously announced for the festival.

As one of the UK’s best-loved and most enduring rock bands, The Charlatans have crafted a back catalogue of depth and variety over 35 years, scoring several hit songs and claiming three UK number one albums along the way.

‘The Only One I Know’, ‘One To Another’, and ‘North Country Boy’ are just a few of their well-known songs to hit the mainstream.

“Castlefield Bowl is such a brilliant venue,” commented the band’s frontman Tim Burgess, on the announcement of the Manchester gig. “Our previous show there was one of my favourite Charlatans gigs ever, so we can’t wait to play again in July.”

The West Midlands four-piece are set to be joined by some very special supporting guests when they take to the Castlefield Bowl stage on 3 July.

A previous Sounds of the City gig at Castlefield Bowl
The Charlatans will play a huge outdoor Manchester gig at Castlefield Bowl this summer / Credit: FAC51 The Hacienda

Yorkshire rock band Embrace will be joining The Charlatans following the 20th anniversary of their massive selling album Out Of Nothing and a huge sold out tour, while also joining the lineup is the Wirral five-piece The Coral – who have a legendary status on the 21st century British music scene, thanks to their impressive run of hit singles.

The Charlatans will play Castlefield Bowl as part of Sounds of the City 2025 on Thursday 3 July, and tickets go on sale this Friday (28 February) at 10am.

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Get your tickets here.

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

Mercury Prize-winners English Teacher announce big Manchester gig next year

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Yorkshire high-flyers and Mercury Prize-winners, English Teacher, are embarking on a UK tour with a date set for Manchester at the end of the year.

It has been quite a whirlwind experience for this four-piece from Leeds recently and now they’re taking their hits on the road to play across the UK.

In September last year, they bagged the 2024 Mercury Music Prize for their landmark first album This Could Be Texas, beating the likes of Charli XCX’s Brat and Early Twenties by Cat Burns, as well as a big nod at the inaugural Northern Music Awards.

They kicked off 2025 with a bang too getting a spot on BBC Radio 1’s Sounds of 2025 list, ranking at number five and performing a rousing rendition of their track ‘Nearly Daffodils’.

The indie rockers have also managed to use their Northern charm enough to bag a support act slot for Franz Ferdinand, joining them for a one-off gig in Glasgow this August. 

And finally, the band are nominated for ‘Best Newcomers’ at this year’s BRIT Awards, they’re quite literally making history.

It’s fair to say English Teacher have already left an impression on music critics but now they’re continuing to put themselves out there to the UK public who are already becoming firm fans.

This won’t be their first time educating a Manchester audience either, as the band brought their unique energy backed up by some Lancashire roots to Gorilla back in May last year.

English Teacher’s 2025 UK tour sees them travelling all around the country with stops at Nottingham, London, Newcastle and obviously Manchester.

Set to play songs from last year’s debut ubiquitous LP, expect to hear favourites such as’R&B’, title track ‘This Could Be Texas’ and, of course, hit single ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’

If the Manchester date isn’t the one, you still have another chance to catch them as they’re playing just over the hill in their hometown of Leeds two days after. 

You just know that’s going to be a belter of a show.

English Teacher are coming to Albert Hall in Manchester on 20 November with pre-sale tickets live on 26 February and general on sale from 10 am on 28 February 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: Publicity Picture via Denmarc Creary

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