What's On

ABC Buildings in Manchester to launch with three-day music, food, fashion and wellness weekend

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 2nd June 2022

A huge three-day weekender has been planned for the launch of the ABC Buildings in Manchester city centre.

A packed programme of free events will take over spaces at the creative hub on Quay Street, including in its new rooftop glass dome. 

There’ll be everything from a silent disco to street food, rooftop yoga to a kids’ rave, plus Reform Radio DJs, a vintage flea market, football screenings, stand-up comedy, and a Northern Soul takeover. 

Taking place between Friday 17 and Sunday 19 June, the ABC Buildings launch weekender will showcase the 1960s mid-century building in a new light. 

  • Interior at ABC Buildings
  • Side Street Gallery
Credit: Supplied

The building complex is home to Everyman Cinema, Barry’s Bootcamp, ABC Gallery, and St John’s Bread and Coffee House, as well as 10 floors of studios and creative spaces for production and broadcast companies, including BBC’s Morning Live show, all operated by All Work & Social. 

ADVERTISEMENT

A new bar and lifestyle space, Side Street Studio, is located on the corner of Quay Street and Lower Byrom Street. 

The action-packed weekend will kick off at 11am on Friday 17 June on the Roofdeck, with a guest speaker appearance from Monique Carayol, ex-NHS board executive director and a coach for theMakings.

ADVERTISEMENT

She will discuss Brave Leadership, aiming to inspire and encourage confidence for people in their own career journeys. 

The ABC Buildings in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

There’ll also be a DJ and food from Kong’s Meat and Three, and a silent disco in the glass dome running into the night. 

The weekender coincides with the launch of the 70 The Exhibition in ABC Gallery, a group show curated by Monica Colussi to celebrate HM Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. 

ADVERTISEMENT

28 unique pieces from a range of artists will be displayed at the six week-long exhibition to pay homage to the royal occasion. 

Read more: Jubilee events taking place across Manchester this bank holiday weekend

The second day of events will begin with a vintage flea market on the roof deck, alongside pop-up bars and food vendors, and will finish with a Northern Soul takeover at the Side Street Studio. 

On the final day, there’ll be a relaxing start to the day with morning yoga from Yogasoul, followed by healthy juices and breakfast in the dome. 

Then families can celebrate Father’s Day with a family-friendly rave and craft activities hosted by Big Fish Little Fish. 

ADVERTISEMENT
The Roofdeck and Dome at ABC Buildings. Credit: Supplied

It will all wrap up on Sunday evening with an exclusive stand-up comedy show at Side Street Studio, while classic 1960s football matches are screened on the roof deck. 

ABC Buildings are dog-friendly, so four-legged friends are welcomed throughout the weekend of events. 

To find out more and grab your free tickets, visit abcbuildings.eventbrite.co.uk. 

Full events schedule for the ABC Buildings launch weekender

Friday 17 June

  • 11am – industry speaker in the Dome on the roofdeck
  • From 4pm – Roofdeck DJs and a silent disco

Saturday 18 June

  • 10am – 6pm: vintage flea market, food trucks and pop-up bars on the Roofdeck
  • 2pm – 10pm: Northern Soul takeover in Side Street Studio

Sunday 19 June

  • 9am – 12pm: breakfast and juices on the Roofdeck
  • 10am – 11am: morning yoga on the Roofdeck (or inside the Dome in inclement weather)
  • 1pm – 3pm: Family rave + craft activity, hosted by Big Fish Little Fish
  • 1pm – 6pm: 60s classic football match screenings on the Roofdeck
  • 7pm – 10pm: Stand-up comedy in Side Street Studio

What's On

Pink at University of Bolton Stadium — stage times, setlist and more

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pink Bolton gig tickets Manchester

Pop legend Pink is in Manchester as we speak ahead of her massive gigs at the University of Bolton Stadium this week, set to play not one but two shows at the Wanderers’ home ground.

Having been around since 1995 if you can believe that, the legendary Noughties singer recently released her ninth studio album, Trustfall, back in February and is now set to embark on a huge world tour entitled ‘Summer Carnival‘.

The UK leg, her first since 2019, consists of six big shows across Britain, but Manchester has the honour of not only hosting Pink for the first time in 10 years but being the one to kick off her world tour, which already consists of over 70 dates, nine different countries and runs all the way into 2024.

It might surprise a few to see that Pink’s playing at a football stadium in Bolton to get things started, but she’s played there multiple times before and while she might not have heard about the recent name change, it’s somewhere she’s more than familiar with. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Tickets for Pink’s Manchester gig

It’ll be no surprise to hear that tickets to see one of the biggest pop artists of the past 20+ years aren’t exactly abundant but, fear not, if you’re a big Pink fan there are still some available for both nights.

The bad news is, given they’re in such high demand and the gigs are literally around the corner, they’ll cost you a fair few quid, to say the least.

The cheapest seats remaining on Wednesday, 7 June will set you back £135 per person; as for the following Thursday, 8 June, not only are there still some seats available at the same price but there are even a handful of Gold Standing Tickets in The Circle that will cost you £162.

Even the VIP packages for these gigs are all sold out as there are literally hundreds of people set to raise their glass to the pop sensation’s return.

Credit: Pink (via Instagram)

Pink support acts at Bolton Stadium

As if seeing Pink wasn’t enough, the Pennsylvania songstress will be accompanied by three different support across her double-header at the UniBol Stadium.

For those of you who do manage to get a ticket, she will be joined by fellow American singer-songwriter Gayle, rising DJ and producer KidCutUp who played her last tour, as well as fellow pop hit-makers, The Script.

Talk about a warm-up act — seeing The Script is a pricey ticket on its own, let alone a trio of exciting artists and then Pink!

Their appearances on Pink’s impending tour are also among the first the Irish group will play following the passing of their guitarist and co-founder Mark Sheehan back in April, having got back on stage in Blackpool earlier this week. It’ll no doubt be just as emotional an occasion for them on Wednesday.

Predicted setlist

Now, as for what Pink will be playing on her opening night in Bolton, we don’t really have any other gigs this year to go off, however, you can bet you’ll be hearing plenty of the new album as well as plenty of the classics from down the years.

We’re not going to lie, this setlist is adjusted from her last big show at Austin City Limits back in October 2022 and based on the stuff she’s played most this year according to Setlist.fm, so there’s a fair bit of guesswork here but here’s an idea of what you might get to hear:

  • TRUSTFALL
  • Get The Party Started
  • What About Us
  • When I Get There
  • F**kin’ Perfect
  • Just Give Me a Reason
  • Never Gonna Not Dance Again
  • Please Don’t Leave Me
  • Who Knew
  • Just Like a Pill
  • Me and Bobby McGee (Kris Kristofferson) 
  • Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince cover)
  • Try
  • Turbulence
  • Funhouse
  • Raise Your Glass
  • So What (encore)

So long as we hear ‘Get The Party Started’ we’ll be happy, to be honest — top-tier banger.

Stage times

As for set times, the University of Bolton Stadium’s doors are set to open at 4.30pm, with the first of the warm-ups, KidCutUp, beginning an hour later — one of three occasions he’ll be keeping the crowd entertained over the course of the evening.

Then at 6.45pm Gayle will play a roughly half-an-hour set before KidCutUp returns for the interval. As for the big support, The Script will be taking to the stage for an hour from 7:30-8:30pm.

Making a final appearance for 20 minutes as the main event, KidCutUp will once again get the crowd ready and raring to go before Pink arrives at around 8:50pm, will the show set to end no later than 11pm.

With such an early start time and so much music to enjoy on Wednesday and Thursday, it’s going to be a brilliant couple of nights in Bolton.

KidCutUp (via Instagram)
GAYLE (via Instagram)
Pink/BBC Radio 2 (via Instagram)

Travel and parking

As for how you’re going to get to Pink’s Bolton gigs, one of the best parts about Greater Manchester is our brilliant public transport networks mean you can always get around.

ADVERTISEMENT

With a shuttle bus running from Bolton Interchange, Chorley Railway Station and Wigan Robin Park to the stadium on both nights between 2-8pm, Big Green Coaches available from various locations, as well as Horwich Parkway as your nearest train station, there are several options for travelling to the gig.

As for if you’re driving in, there are plenty of places to drop gig-goers around the stadium and if you’re looking for parking, there are around 1800 spaces available at the stadium per night.

Parking spots, including 120 blue badge disability spaces, will be first-come-first-serve and bookable via the Evology app for £25. You can find out more information about pricing and how to book, as well as plenty of other travel information down below.

Read more:

Pink was one of the first big musical artists to ever play at Bolton Wanderer’s home stadium and helped usher the likes of The Killers, Little Mix, Coldplay, Elton John and more to join her.

With that in mind, it’s only fitting that she’s returned to the venue that she’s remained so fond of, declaring, “Manchester, I am so in love with you” after arriving in Manchester at the start of this week.

ADVERTISEMENT

Writing in a statement on the University Bolton Stadium Hotel website, Pink said: “It’s been a long three years and I’ve missed live music so so much… So it’s finally time! I am so excited to get back to the UK and Europe to sing, cry, sweat and make new memories with my friends. It’s going to be magical!” 

The mum of two even took her daughter Willow out in Trafford Park to celebrate her 12th birthday. Even hearing her name next to random Manc boroughs still sounds a bit surreal but we’re absolutely here for it — roll on Wednesday night!

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

Featured Image — P!NK (via Instagram)

What's On

80s-themed Miami Beach cinema to open on Manchester rooftop this summer

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Backyard Cinema will be back in Manchester this summer, creating a Miami Beach rooftop experience that will transport people back to the 1980s. 

The immersive cinema experience, which debuted in the city centre last autumn, is going to be taking over the roof of Depot Mayfield again.

This time, the industrial space will be transformed into Miami Beach, using 30 tonnes of sand and signature palm tree cocktails to create the UK’s largest pop-up beach.

Ian Brown may have famously said that ‘Manchester has everything but a beach’, but all that’s about to change from 5 July. 

The summer-long series will include cinematic parties and screenings of major summer blockbusters, plus sing-alongs and loads more, all with sand between your toes and ultra-comfy seats. 

Backyard Cinema Miami Beach. Credit: Supplied
Backyard Cinema Miami Beach. Credit: Supplied
Backyard Cinema Miami Beach. Credit: Supplied

To fit with the theme, the unforgettable cinematic experience will include 1980s-era classics like Dirty Dancing, Grease, and Back to the Future, plus other hits like Top Gun: Maverick and Pulp Fiction.

Then some of the summer’s most hotly-anticipated releases, including Barbie, The Little Mermaid remake, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will all be on the bill. 

Every Friday night, there will be recurring Dirty Dancing Beach Parties where guests can dance along to the iconic soundtrack, with special surprises designed to fully immerse everyone into the world of the 1987 film. 

Super Sing-alongs will actively encourage audience participation, singing your heart out inhibition-free to feel-good film soundtracks, featuring Grease, Mamma Mia and The Greatest Showman. 

Backyard Cinema Miami Beach. Credit: Supplied
Backyard Cinema Miami Beach. Credit: Supplied

Backyard Cinema’s Miami Beach will whisk ticket-holders away to the sunshine state, where you’re greeted by staff in the art deco Miami Beach Hotel and palm tree cocktails at the Flamingo Beach Bar. 

It’s all taking place at Broadwick Live’s landmark Depot Mayfield, the former railway dating back to 1910, with original railway tracks, platforms, ticket office, waiting room and cast iron roof structure transformed into a spectacular summer cinema experience. 

Backyard Cinema, which first began in founder Dominic Davies’ own backyard, has already enjoyed huge success and garnered a fan following in London as well as in Manchester last winter. 

Dominic, founder and creative director said: “After the huge success of our Winter season we are super excited to bring our smash-hit Miami Beach to the roof of Depot Mayfield. We are going to take people back to a retro 80s Miami full of glitz and glamour and create the closest thing to a Summer Holiday in Mayfield.”

Backyard Cinema Miami Beach will open at Depot Mayfield, M1 2PY, on 5 July. Tickets are available on Fever with prices starting from £9.50.

Featured image: Supplied

More What's On

The Charlatans UK tour 2023 Manchester date

Audio

The Charlatans announce major UK headline tour this winter

City Centre

First look inside Gail’s on King Street as it opens in Manchester

Boroughs

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 5 – 11 June 2023

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches