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A huge, free party is taking over Manchester’s railway arches this weekend

You know how the famous hit goes, right? I’m still, I’m still Jenny from the… arch

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 3rd September 2024

Manchester is a city of innovation, so it comes as no surprise that the city is trialling a new way to party – The Arch Party.

Overtaking street parties and block parties and house parties, the new free event will be launching this weekend in the Green Quarter.

You know how the famous hit goes, right? I’m still, I’m still Jenny from the… arch. Anyway…

The Red Bank Arch Party, presented by lifestyle brand Found, will bring live music, craft beers and a wide variety of food from some of Manchester’s finest, many of which are based right here.

Running from 12pm until 9pm, party-goers can expect to dance from morning til evening with accompaniment from Manchester City’s resident DJ Jamie Anne, with a helping hand from Jake Rowbottom and SHADEV to soundtrack your Saturday night under the arches. 

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Food will range from a BBQ feast to Sicilian-style pizza as The Spärrows and Half Dozen Other are left to fuel the occasion.

The drinks will be handled by Wineboys, Suzume, alcohol-free brand Love From, and Green Quarter-based brewery and taproom Green Arches.

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There’s no need to rush off to the England match either as a screening will be held at Green Arches from 5pm. This venue will also host the official after party venue too, keeping the energy high right through til the early hours.

Brands taking part in the free arch party in Manchester include Green Arches brewery. Credit: The Manc Group
Brands taking part in the free arch party in Manchester include Green Arches brewery
Brands taking part in the free arch party in Manchester include Half Dozen Other brewery. Credit: The Manc Group
… Half Dozen Other…
Brands taking part in the free arch party in Manchester include The Sparrows brewery. Credit: The Manc Group
And The Sparrows
Credit: The Manc Group

Gemma Price, managing director of Found, said: “The Red Bank Arch Party is all about showing the people of Manchester what we’re all about – unique and immersive events, where everyone is welcome.

“We’re going to be bringing together some of the city’s best musical talent, creatives, bars and restaurants to create a buzz and atmosphere like no other. We’re passionate about our corner of the city and can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

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Brought to Manchester by new experience-centric lifestyle brand Found, the family friendly event will be held at the Red Bank Viaduct, on Faber Street. Tickets are available for free here.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

What's On

Manc music legends James announced MASSIVE hometown show

Danny Jones Danny Jones James Manchester Co-op Live gig tickets

Greater Manchester music legends James have just revealed a massive hometown show here in the city centre as part of a landmark domestic arena tour.

Daisy bucket hats at the ready.

James is arguably the epitome of what it is to be the understated, underdog British band; they’ve gone about the business of making quality music somewhat quietly for several decades now, but they’ve had a fresh wave of interest over the past year or so

Having opened up for the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen’s comeback shows, not to mention playing multiple big festival slots in recent months alone, they’ve now announced a huge run of UK arena shows – and nowhere does a James crowd quite like us Mancs.

Announced as part of the celebrations around their Nothing But Love ‘best of’ LP, which pulls tracks from James’ whopping 18 studio albums, the new run of UK arena shows in 2026 follows on from numerous noteworthy shows this calendar year.

In addition to the aforementioned outdoor gigs, like their stunning sold-out night at The Piece Hall in Halifax – not too far from frontman Tim Booth’s hometown in Yorkshire – the indie veterans also celebrated a huge landmark in 2025.

Surpassing the milestone of 40 years as a band, with a lineup that’s remained largely intact and only really grown in terms of live session players and touring bandmates.

The new “definitive” greatest hits record also includes two brand-new songs in ‘Wake Up Superman’ and ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’, both of which are produced by Leo Abrahams, who worked with the band on their long-awaited number one album Yummy in 2024 – a feat loooong overdue if you ask us.

As evidenced by the sheer amount of new material they continue to put out and the almost non-stop touring, they remain one of the most prolific artists in the country. FACT.

You can see the rest of James’ upcoming tour dates, including a healthy number of Northern stops in the likes of Liverpool, Leeds and more.

James UK arena tour dates 2026

  • Fri 2                   Birmingham Utilita Arena
  • Sat 4                  Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
  • Tues 7               Aberdeen P&J Live
  • Wed 8                Glasgow OVO Hydro
  • Fri 10                  Newcastle Utilita Arena
  • Sat 11                Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
  • Mon 13              Cardiff Utilita Arena
  • Tues 14            Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
  • Fri 17                  London The O2
  • Sat 18               Manchester Co-op Live

With James returning to Manchester for their Co-op Live arena debut next April, along with a sensational support slot from fellow local legends, Doves (I know, how lucky are you lot?!), you can bank on this one selling out quickly.

General admission goes on sale this Friday, 10 October at 9:30am, so you’d better be ready to grab yours in a flash.

You can find the ticket link HERE, and we’ll see you in the crowd for a good ol’ singalong.

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

Featured Images — Ehud Lazin/Press shots (supplied)

What's On

Electronic icons Kraftwerk announce first Manchester gig since 2017

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kraftwerk O2 Apollo Manchester tickets

Pioneering German band Kraftwerk have announced their first UK tour since 2017, with fans having to wait almost a decade for another Manchester gig.

Thankfully, they’ll be heading back down the Autobahn and across the channel for a return to our shores soon enough with a long-awaited list of British and Irish live dates.

Kraftwerk remains one of the most groundbreaking groups in the electronic scene to this day, having paved the way for generations of new artists to keep experimenting with the genre in the 50+ years since their formation.

Heading back to Manchester early next year, die-hards will no doubt snap these tickets faster than you can say ‘Das Model’.

For anyone unaware of these veritable legends of electronica and the world of alternative/Euro-synth pop, Kraftwerk formed all the way back in 1970 and went on to shape the modern music industry, bridging the gap between music and the digital age.

Best known for tracks like ‘Computer Love’, ‘The Robots’, ‘Pocket Calculator’ and the aforementioned on named after the national motorway network, they spearheaded futurism in the musical landscape from the outset.

It seems only fitting, therefore, that their upcoming highly anticipated return to the UK comes as part of their ‘Multimedia’ tour.

While they have played a number of live shows all over the globe this year, including an extensive run in the US, next spring will be our domestic visit from Kraftwerk in nine long years.

Credit: Press shot (supplied)

You can see the full list of UK and Ireland tour dates – including a handful of Northern gigs – down below:

Kraftwerk UK/IE tour dates 2026

May

  • 17 – Dublin, Bord Gais Energy Theatre
  • 18 – Belfast, Waterfront Hall
  • 21 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
  • 22 – Manchester, O2 Apollo
  • 25 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
  • 27 – Stockton, Globe
  • 29 – Sheffield, City Hall
  • 30 – Brighton, Centre

June

  • 1 – Bristol, Beacon
  • 2 – Bournemouth, International Centre
  • 4 – London, Royal Albert Hall
  • 5 – London, Royal Albert Hall
  • 7 – Liverpool, Empire Theatre
  • 8 – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
  • 9 – Edinburgh, Playhouse

Spanning a total of 15 UK dates, as you can see, there will also be tickets to see Kraftwerk nearby in the likes of Liverpool and with our mates over in Sheffield.

Kraftwerk legend Ralf Hütter famously played a set inside our city’s velodrome at the National Cycling Centre for Manchester International Festival (MIF) back in 2009, and has collaborated with the event on multiple ocassions.

In fact, that very performance was seen as a turning point for MIF, so the Manc Kraftwerk connection speaks for itself; O2 members can obviously get pre-sale, but general admission tickets go live from 9am this Friday, 10 October.

Get ready to grab yours HERE.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra announce Manchester gig among just a handful of UK dates on European tour
This isn’t the only big alternative/electronic gig we’re looking forward to either…

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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)

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