Gigs & Nightlife

Bluedot festival 2022 headliners revealed after two years of cancellations

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 1st February 2022

Bluedot festival is finally set to make a return in 2022, with headline performances from Bjork, Groove Armada, Mogwai and Metronomy.

The popular festival at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire has revealed the first wave of its line-up for this July’s event.

Bluedot marries the worlds of music, science and culture in a family-friendly four-day extravaganza.

Both its 2020 and 2021 festivals had to be cancelled, with organisers saying a ‘lack of government support around insurance’ had forced them to call it off.

Bluedot will return in 2022. Credit: Lucas Sinclair

But Bluedot will be back between 21 and 24 July for its fifth instalment.

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There’ll be huge performances beneath the 76-metre-wide Lovell Telescope, which will be lit up with projections as a huge digital artwork for the first time.

Bjork will close this year’s Bluedot in a UK festival exclusive, with a uniquely commissioned performance with the Halle Orchestra.

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Bluedot has revealed its 2022 headliners. Credit: George Harrison

On Friday night, dance act Groove Armada will headline as part of the band’s final live tour.

Scottish post-rockers Mogwai are set to headline the Saturday night, following the release of their Mercury Prize-nominated As The Love Continues.

They’ll be joined on the Saturday evening by Metronomy, who’ll perform tracks from their upcoming seventh album, Small World.

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Bluedot’s now-traditional opening concert on the Thursday evening will see Mercury-nominated Hannah Peel and Paraochestra take to the stage.

  • Bluedot Festival. Credit: Lucas Sinclair
  • Bluedot Festival. Credit: George Harrison

Also confirmed on the bill are psychedelic space rockers Spiritualized, current chart-toppers Yard Act, Warp Records mainstay Squarepusher, multi-instrumentalist composer Anna Meredith, the legendary likes of A Certain Ratio and Tim Burgess, and techno producer and creator of the official theme for the 2023 Women’s World Cup Kelly Lee Owens.

Bluedot 2022’s science programme will welcome key speakers including Radio 4’s Jam Al-Khalili, British filmmaker David Olusoga, space scientist Monica Grady, and many more.

Comedians such as Desiree Burch, Olga Koch, Robin Ince and Ahir Shah will also be making appearances as part of the culture programme.

Read more: Where to find the best Chinese restaurants in Manchester

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The family-friendly festival will also have curations from Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman Animations and Clangers, and an enormous range of science-focused activities, workshops and live experiments across the Star Fields.

Festival director Ben Robinson said: “After two years away we are thrilled to be able to return with such a unique and diverse line up to the iconic Jodrell Bank for the fifth instalment of bluedot.

“We can’t wait for people to join us beneath the Lovell Telescope in July to experience four days of cosmic adventures which will close with a very special orchestral performance from Björk and The Hallé.”

Visit discoverthebluedot.com for more.

Featured image: Scott Salt

Gigs & Nightlife

The Weeknd finally adds Manchester stadium gig to huge tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Weeknd has added a Manchester date to his upcoming tour

The Weeknd has added a whopping seven dates to his upcoming tour – including a stadium gig here in Manchester.

The Blinding Lights singer is taking his The After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour to massive venues across Europe next year, but had previously skipped our city in favour of London.

But today The Weeknd has announced a night at the Etihad Stadium next June, along with new dates in Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Copenhagem, Munich and Lille.

The diamond-certified global star performed here back in 2023, with a giant moon balloon hanging over the Etihad Stadium.

The 2026 After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour was already a 40-date sold-out stadium tour, and now the Live Nation produced tour has added extra stops.

Playboi Carti will appear as The Weeknd’s support act on all EU/UK dates.

The Weeknd adds Manchester gig to upcoming stadium tour
The Weeknd has added a Manchester date to his upcoming tour
The Weeknd adds Manchester gig to upcoming stadium tour
The Weeknd adds Manchester gig to upcoming stadium tour

This particular tour celebrates his album trilogy of After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025).

The Weeknd will perform at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on 11 June 2026.

Tickets will go on sale via an artist presale and Mastercard presale from 12pm on Tuesday 14 October, followed by a Nespresso presale, and then general sale from 12pm on Friday 17 October.

The Weeknd UK and European dates for After Hours Til Dawn 2026 tour

  • Thu Jun 11 – Manchester, UK – Etihad Stadium – NEW DATE
  • Fri Jun 19 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken – NEW DATE
  • Sat Jun 25 – Munich, Germany – Allianz Arena – NEW DATE
  • Fri Jul 3 – Lille, France – Stade Pierre Mauroy – NEW DATE
  • Wed Jul 8 – Paris, France – Stade De France – NEW DATE
  • Fri Jul 10 – Paris, France – Stade de France
  • Sat Jul 11 – Paris, France – Stade de France
  • Sun Jul 12 – Paris, France – Stade de France
  • Thu Jul 16 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
  • Fri Jul 17 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
  • Sat Jul 18 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff ArenA
  • Tue Jul 21 – Nice, France – Allianz Riviera
  • Wed Jul 22 – Nice, France – Allianz Riviera
  • Fri Jul 24 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
  • Sat Jul 25 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
  • Sun Jul 26 – Milan, Italy – San Siro Stadium
  • Thu Jul 30 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
  • Fri Jul 31 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
  • Sat Aug 01 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
  • Tue Aug 04 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
  • Wed Aug 05 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
  • Sat Aug 08 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
  • Sun Aug 09 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
  • Mon Aug 10 – Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
  • Fri Aug 14 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
  • Sat Aug 15 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
  • Sun Aug 16 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
  • Tue Aug 18 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
  • Wed Aug 19 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
  • Sat Aug 22 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park
  • Sun Aug 23 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park
  • Fri Aug 28 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
  • Sat Aug 29 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
  • Sun Aug 30 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
  • Tue Sep 1 – Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys – NEW DATE
  • Sat Sep 5 – Lisbon, Portugal – Estadio do Restelo – NEW DATE

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Featured image: Sebastien Nagy

Gigs & Nightlife

A massive social for Manchester runners is happening in the city centre this winter

Danny Jones Danny Jones

With the bulk of race season nearly over, the local running community is finally starting to wind down and indulge in some well-deserved rest and relaxation – well, that and a sprinkle of clubbing, as the massive Cross Club Social for Manchester runners is back for 2025.

Following a successful sophomore edition last winter, the MCR Cross Club Social is returning for another proper good bash and looks to be shaping up nicely.

Hosted at a brand new venue, with sets from Manc-based DJs, karaoke and even giveaways on the night, the runners are going BIG this year.

So, if you’re part of a local running club or even just a Greater Mancunian who’s partial to a bit of jogging and looking for a night out, you’d best keep 8 November free.

cross club social mcr
running event fairfield social club manchester
Credit: Cross Club Social

Combining forces once again, the third iteration of the Cross Club Social sees multiple Manchester running clubs putting on one of the biggest parties of the year, with people from all over the community turning up to swap their trainers for dancing shoes.

Ticket prices have crept ever so slightly this year, mainly because of just how well attended the 2025 event was, but also to help raise money for their official charity partner.

Helping generate funds for the annual Manchester 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness, which takes place less than a week after this year’s Cross Club date, it’s also for a good cause.

Clubs signed up this year include:

However, it goes without saying that all newcomer clubs and solo runners in general and welcome to come along to this year’s event, which is also the first to be held at Fairfield Social Club near Angel Meadows Park – the more the merrier, as far as these lot are concerned.

For example, here’s a taste of the kind of turnout it got last year…

Speaking to The Manc, organiser and resident MC Dave ‘Macca’ McLaughlin said of Cross Club Social 2025: “This event is a celebration of the local running community, by the local running community.

“It’s a great chance to get some of the biggest running clubs in Manchester together to celebrate their achievements of the year without the running kit or carbon-plated trainers.

“It’s a pleasure to organise an event that local runners seemingly love, alongside some of Manchester’s biggest running clubs, all while raising money for our charity partner. Last year, we were able to contribute nearly £400 to their fundraiser, and we’re aiming for even higher this year.

“The demand has been huge – our first event sold out in under 50 minutes, last year was just under two hours at a bigger venue. This year we’re going even bigger to handle the demand, with more clubs than ever and a venue with three separate rooms for different kinds of entertainment.

“Me and Sophie [de Greenlaw – fellow DJ and co-founder] hope to continue expanding the event into a day-long running festival; we’d love to book bigger venues, get more clubs and sponsors involved, and make this a day that every local runner has marked on their calendar. See you there.”

Credit: Supplied

Early bird access will be on sale from 10am this Friday, 10 October, with the general admission tickets going live at the same time next week (17 Oct).

The social itself will run from 5pm until midnight, with last entry at 8:30pm, and you can bank on there being some kind of after-party elsewhere on the night. Get ready to grab your tickets HERE.

It’s also worth noting that the two previous years sold out fast, so make sure you put in a PB-worthy performance when it comes to that online shopping basket if you want to be there.

Once again, the Manchester Runners Cross-club social is a completely non-profit event; all funds from ticket sales go directly towards setting up the next one, back into the running clubs who take part, and to charitable organisations like The MCR 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness.

Speaking of which…

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Brand new venue confirmed as the host of The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Supplied

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