What's On
What's On
Sam Fender to play massive outdoor gig at Wythenshawe Park this summer
Emily Sergeant
Sam Fender is set to play a massive outdoor gig at Wythenshawe Park this summer following the release of his next album.
The North Shields singer-songwriter has undeniably made a name for himself since bursting into the mainstream back in 2019 with the success of his debut album, followed by the even more successful release of his second, and so-called ‘coming of age’ record, Seventeen Going Under, in 2021, as well as several memorable festival headline slots and appearances, and arena and stadium shows.
Only recently, Fender blew the roof off Manchester’s newest – and largest – live entertainment venue, Co-op Live, last December, playing to tens of thousands of adoring fans and cementing his place as one of the greatest live acts of the moment.
But now, with his forthcoming third studio album, People Watching, merely days away from release on 21 February, it’s been announced that he’ll headline Wythenshawe Park this summer.
The 30-year-old indie rocker and his band will take to the stage at what is quickly becoming one of Manchester’s most popular outdoor venues in August.
Fender fans will get to sing along to the band’s most well-known hits, from title tracks ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ and ‘Seventeen Going Under’, to everything in between, as well as here the tracks from the upcoming People Watching album – which is being billed as “a collection of colourful stories and observations of everyday characters living their every day, but often extraordinary, lives”.
Sam is currently gearing up for a sold-out tour of Europe in March, ahead of a US tour in the spring, and then a trio of sold-out shows at his boyhood football club’s stadium, Newcastle’s St James’ Park, as well as his biggest headline show to date at the London Stadium.
The boy really is bigger than ever.
Support at Wythenshawe Park will come from acclaimed neo-soul singer, Olivia Dean – with further opening acts to be announced soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
![Sam Fender on stage](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sam_Fender_Leeds_2019-1600x1068.jpg)
![Wythenshawe Park gig](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/437713494_7322625681163490_1852557510763545801_n-1600x1067.jpg)
Sam Fender will play Wythenshawe Park on Saturday 16 August 2025, following the likes of Noel Gallagher and Blossoms as the names to have graced the massive outdoor stage so far.
Rather unbelievably, he’s playing just a day after the equally massive Fontaines D.C., who will also be playing one of their biggest shows to date to Wythy locals and the thousands of others set to descend on the venue from all over Greater Manchester.
Keen to get yourself some tickets then? Fans are advised to register or pre-order the album for the opportunity to get their hands on pre-sale tickets, with the registration period for this open now until Monday, 17 February at 10am.
The pre-sale itself starts on Tuesday, 18 February at 11am and concludes the following day on (Wednesday 19 February) at 10am.
All remaining tickets will then go on general sale on Friday 21 February at 10am, the same as the album release date. You can grab tickets HERE.
Read more:
- Sam Fender at Co-op Live, Manchester – one of the world’s greatest live acts | Review
- BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Greater Manchester next month
- Three iconic Manchester bands nominated to join the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Image – Press photo (supplied)
What's On
KSI reveals the names who turned him down before booking Misfits fight in Manchester
Danny Jones
Social media star turned musician and boxer KSI has revealed a laundry list of names he wanted to fight instead of his upcoming opponent at the latest Misfits Boxing match in Manchester.
KSI’s next bout against mixed martial artist and multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion Dillon Danis was officially booked at the start of this month, with the fight just a little over a month and a half away.
The advent of celebrity/influencer boxing isn’t going anywhere – if anything it’s only getting more and more popular as time goes on – and the clamour for the recent Misfits franchise here in the UK is only further proof of that.
However, the promotion doesn’t have all of the pulling power it would hope to at present, as KSI revealed that he didn’t get his first choice of fighter when it came to picking an opponent – in fact, he claims Dillon Danis was actually his fifth choice overall.
KSI reveals all the opponents that declined to fight him in March and why he ended up fighting Dillon Danis 😳
— KSI NEWS (@ksinews_) February 11, 2025
– Nate Diaz
– Donald Cerrone
– Tony Ferguson
– Jorge Masvidal pic.twitter.com/tYJVL4r4Ed
As you can see in the clip above, taken from his most recent YouTube upload in which he discussed fellow celebrity boxer and influencer Jake Paul‘s potential fight against Canelo Alvarez was called off, the 31-year-old insisted that Danis was a backup.
“You guys always say that my opponents have been terrible but how many people pull out? I don’t think you understand how many people pull out of fighting me”, he began.
“Even with this fight, I know I’m not even allowed to say it but f*** it. Dillon Danis wasn’t even my fourth choice. We went to Nate Diaz, he said no; we went to Donald Cerrone, he said no; We went to Tony Ferguson: he said no. These guys said no to me.
“Even [Jorge] Masvidal [said no] – we went to Masvidal to fight. He can’t do it because of the UFC. Guys, we’ve been trying to find people to fight.”
Is this just some early and casual form of trash-talking from KSI? Maybe, but we know lots of these big conversations happen as proven by the younger Paul brother’s fight against Mike Tyson actually coming to fruition late last year.
![tommy fury ksi rematch](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/tommy-fury-ao-arena-fight-12-2-25-the-manc-group-DJ-903x1600.png)
![dillon dancis ksi manchester](https://themanc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dillon-danis-fight-record-12-2-25-ghazi-twaissi-wikimedia-commons-DJ-1132x1600.jpg)
Even bringing up the discussion of a potential match-up against Darren Till following his fight against Tommy Fury falling through, he said that the Liverpool-born MMA and former Muay Thai fighter likely wouldn’t be willing to meet the ‘rehydration clause’, which essentially restricts a fighter’s weight limit.
So, for now, Danis it will have to be.
General admission for KSI vs Dillon Danis on 29 March and will be streamed live on the DAZN app and platform – will you be tuning in at home?
You can watch his full video speaking ahead of the fight HERE and grab your tickets down below:
KSI VS DILLON DANIS: UNFINISHED BUSINESS‼️ TICKETS NOW ON SALE‼️
— AO Arena (@AOArena) February 12, 2025
Don't miss out! 🎟️ https://t.co/OGIUBGyCwg pic.twitter.com/xQxwhXUj8A
Read more:
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- Henry Cavill’s James Bond audition has been leaked online – and people have thoughts…
- Pep divides fans after naming ‘best player’ during Man City’s collapse against Real Madrid
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — KSI (screenshot via YouTube)/Press Shot (supplied via AO Arena)