We’ve already had the likes of The Lathums, Pulp, Hozier, The Blossoms and more at this year’s Sounds of the City festival, and now it’s time for Bastille to bring their best to Castlefield Bowl.
The alternative/indie-pop hit-makers of the 2010s are fittingly celebrating 10 years since their seminal album, now being re-released as Bad Blood X, and their anniversary tour sees them return to Manchester just over a year on from their massive AO Arena show.
Bastille haven’t stopped pumping out music but it’s hard to believe it’s been a whole decade since the debut record and it’s got us feeling all nostalgic for old FIFA soundtracks, their massive sets at Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend and just a great time for music in general.
That being said, the boys are still going strong and are next up in what has already been an immense lineup for Sounds of the City 2023, so just like with all the other headliners, we thought we’d give you a rundown of everything you need to know ahead of their big gig on Friday, 7 July.
Oh dear, Bastille at the Bowl is all sold out, what a shocker.
ADVERTISEMENT
In all seriousness, this lot are one of the biggest bands in Britain and you were always going to have to get in early if you wanted to stand a chance of getting a ticket, especially considering they sold out the Arena last year.
Of course, it’s worth keeping your eye out for spares on resale sites like Twickets and TicketSwap but, as always, we advise being cautious when dealing with any resellers and urge you to stay away from ticket touts at all costs. No point in getting stung and making the problem even bigger, folks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Who’s supporting Bastille in Manchester?
Before the Bastille boys themselves, you’ll be treated to three different support acts over the several hours you’ll be spending in the glorious outdoor arena.
Starting with a warm-up from a DJ that is yet to be announced — as has been the case every night at this year’s festival — you’ll then get to see one of Merseyside’s rising stars in 21-year-old, Michael Aldag, who’s opened for the likes of the Lightning Seeds, Miles Kane and many more.
After that, your second support will come from popular Irish singer-songwriter, Orla Gartland, who’s been on the scene for some time now and will also be returning for her own headline show later this year at Manchester Academy 2.
As for when everyone’s turning up, doors will be open from 5:30pm as it has every night in this series and the DJ will be pumping out the tunes from the moment you walk into the venue.
The first support Michael Aldag is due to kick things off at 6:45pm, followed by a short interval before Orla Gartland comes on at 7:45pm, as well as one last break before the main event.
Bastille are due to come on stage at 9pm and the curfew is likely to land around 11pm, so you’ve got a good couple hours of partying. Enjoy!
Setlist (have a guess …)
Listen, this is the ’10 Years of Bad Blood’ anniversary tour: it pretty much does what it says on the tin and considering this was the first time we were introduced to Bastille, we’re more than happy to roll back the years.
As verified by previous shows on Setlist.fm, the band will be playing the album in full as well as an encore where they might mix things up a bit more, but here’s the previous order they played things in:
If you’ve never been before, Castlefield Bowl is a beautiful amphitheatre-style outdoor venue right here in Manchester city centre. Although all tickets are billed as unreserved standing, if you’re quick you can take a seat on the large concrete steps that curve around the stage.
Best view in the house and you can obviously stand throughout; plenty of people also take a perch up on the grassy banks at the back of the venue too, which gives you a great view of the stage and the rest of the roughly 8,000-strong crowd.
Castlefield Bowl is located at 101 Liverpool Road in the city centre, with the closest tram stop being Deansgate-Castlefield just a six-minute walk up the road; you can also walk it from the major train stations, or use the 101, 197, 255, 256, 41, 50 or X50 buses.
It’s looking like it’s gonna be a hot one on Friday, with temperatures set to peak at around 26C between 5 and 6pm, i.e. just as you arrive at the venue.
ADVERTISEMENT
Luckily, it’s set to be clear skies pretty much all day apart from very early in the morning, so you’ll be able to soak in all the proper festival vibes.
Once again, this is an outdoor venue and there’s only coverage on the canopied section of stone steps towards the back of the amphitheatre, so get plenty of fluids down you, whack on some suncream and maybe take a hat — you can always throw it on stage at the frontman and his glorious hair at the end.
We’ll cheers to that. Another night of Sounds of the City is nearly here and Castlefield’s going to popping yet again — bring on Bastille at the Bowl!
Fast-rising alt-rock cult favourites Keo announce Manchester gig on new UK tour
Danny Jones
Up-and-coming alternative rock band Keo have just announced a new UK tour and “most ambitious chapter yet” in terms of live performances, including a Manchester gig that we CANNOT wait for.
Combining the likes of post-grunge, garage rock and more, Keo are one of the most exciting and fast-emerging new acts in the space right now, having seen their recent run of half a dozen domestic shows sell out completely.
Pulling influences from artists of The Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden, as well as most notably fellow contemporaries and former tour partner, Wunderhorse, they’re well-positioned at the front of the guitar-driven revival and are bound for big things. We’re by no means the only ones banking on it either…
Having been described as “already that band” by Dork and delivering “a sound that has given UK guitar its biggest kick up the fretboard in years” by Rolling Stone, you can bet tickets for these shows will be snapped up in seconds, too.
UK and Europe spring 2026. Pre-sale: 03 Nov 2025 10AM GMT On Sale: 05 Nov 2025 10AM GMT pic.twitter.com/Xz1km0Z93O
Set to play their biggest Manchester venue to date, Keo will be playing the O2 Ritz on Whitworth Street next spring, and let us tell you, that sprung floor is not ready…
Co-fronted by two brothers, Finn and Conor Keogh (originally from Devon before ultimately getting their music careers underway in the capital), the now London-based group make quite a racket for just the four of them.
That being said, they also do quiet moments well, too, as seen in several of the ‘calm before the storm’ breakouts in songs like ‘Thorn’, ‘Fly’, ‘Crow’ and many more.
If you like anything close to grunge or even just shoegazey riffs, trust us, they’ll be right up your street.
One of the most exciting parts about this lot is how feverishly their fans have packed out their audiences all over the country, somehow learning every single word to every song before most of the material had even been released on any kind of platform. They’ve led with their live reputation – and it shows.
Case and point – the crowd at The Key Club in Leeds, where our mates over at The Hoot got to witness them up close and personal as the entire room erupted in a chorus of screams about a girl called Amber:
“To be playing venues like these with only five songs out still feels surreal”, says lead singer Finn Keogh. “We always imagined we’d reach this level after years of supporting other bands, but somehow we’ve skipped that step.
“It’s mad, come March, our biggest indoor shows will have been our own. Electric Ballroom [in London] is a special one for me personally; I’ve seen some life-changing gigs there. To be on that stage this time around is going to feel unreal.”
Listing a total of 16 live show dates up and down the country throughout March and April of 2026, it’s fair to say we Mancs are excited to see them playing their biggest room in our city to date, having absolutely smashed Gorilla this past October.
Tickets for Keo at the O2 Ritz in Manchester go on sale next Wednesday, 5 November at 10am; you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
The debut release from Keo has delighted fans and critics alike, and their Manchester gig is sure to be a stormer.
IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena
Danny Jones
Cult favourite frontman Joe Talbot of IDLES fame is set to for an eye-opening sit-down interview as part of AO Arena’s ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series.
The lead singer of the politically-charged post-punk band will be joining the in-conversation event opposite BBC 6 Music host and popular radio host, full stop, Chris Hawkins.
Having often drifted into hardcore, art rock and even spoken word at times, Joe Talbot and co. have become known for the cutting lyricism and insightful songwriting in general, so we can only assume that diving into his own musical influences will be just as riveting.
Joining his fellow audophile on stage at the city’s legendary live music and entertainment venue this November, Talbot and Hawkins will be running through the tracks that quite literally helped create the musician we know today.
According to the AO, the arena will host an in-depth chat with the provocative 41-year-old artist as he walks Chris Hawkins through “the most important musical chapters of his life, his stunning musical journey from resident DJ at one of Bristol’s hottest clubs, through to headlining Glastonbury festival.”
It is quite the career he’s had when you break it down.
They go on to promise “raw honesty and trademark wit” as Joe reflects on the record, acts and cultural moments that shaped him as a young performer before breaking onto the scene with IDLES.
As for the ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series itself, it may be what it says on the tin, but most interestingly, being in the crowd and hearing it from each different group/individual changes the experience entirely.
“More than a story of success—it’s a journey of resilience, passion, and community”, they go on to add. “Expect an evening of candid conversation, unexpected anecdotes, and deep dives into the music that has not only defined Joe’s career but also resonated with millions around the world.
If you’re fans of the band or Talbot, in particular, you’ll already know they’re great orators; plus, if you caught even a small clip from his own fledgling Oh Gatekeeper podcast, you’ll know he loves nothing more than diving deep into tunes that shape not just the audio landscape but people at their core.
Just casually getting the lead singer of The Strokes on for in the first season, as you do…
On a personal note, we’ve watched the IDLES x Grammy Museum interview on multiple ocassions at this point, and know how much artistry there is behind everything they do.
The same goes for Talbot, specifically – there’s no doubt about that.
If you’re interested in being part of the audience for Joe Talbot’s in conversation event with Chris Hawkins as part of ’10 Songs That Made Me’, tickets for the date at AO Arena on Tuesday, 25 November are live now, and you can grab yours via Skiddle right HERE.
Last but not least, special mention goes to the interviewing expert himself, whose recent chat with Tim Burgess about The Charlatans getting back into the studio is also well worth a listen.
Tune in to 6 Music from 1pm today, @Tim_Burgess is my very special guest and rumour has it that we might get to hear a brand new Charlatans track… pic.twitter.com/vzoGDnvS7G
Danny Jones -
7th July 2023 
