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Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester – tickets, supports, setlist and more

It feels like we've been waiting Everlong for them to come back, but they're finally on their way.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 11th June 2024

It’s rare that we get to speak in superlatives like this but arguably the biggest rock band on the planet is coming to Manchester this week; that’s right, the Foo Fighters are back in town.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest names to ever do it, it’s been six years whole years since the Foos last came to 0161 and nearly a decade since they last played the Old Trafford cricket ground, delivering one of the most legendary sets this city has ever seen.

Having released their most recent record, Here We Are (Foo Fighters’ 11th studio album and the first since the tragic loss of Taylor Hawkins) around this time last year, we’re looking forward to hearing all their latest hits live for the first time – as well as all the bangers, of course.

Let’s be honest, they’re pretty much all bangers, that’s why they sell out massive arena tours all over the world. Anyway, enough prattling on, here’s everything you need to know about Foo Fighters’ return to Manchester and Emirates Old Trafford.

Tickets

We’ll be straight with you, it’s very slim pickings.

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Unsurprisingly, you’re only hope of grabbing a ticket to see Foo Fighters here in Manchester is by opting for a resale, with tickets for the main standing pitch starting from £92 on Thursday, 13 June (before fees) and what seats there are left strictly in the Platinum section. Things look even pricier for the Saturday.

We’re talking £172.50 upwards but if money’s no object and you want to spring from a fully decked-out hospitality experience, then by all means, go right ahead.

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You can see what limited availability there is left HERE and obviously, be sure to keep your eye out via trusted resellers like TicketSwap and Twickets but we urge you to avoid illegal ticket touts at all costs.

Who is supporting Foo Fighters in Manchester?

Well, the answer to this question all depends on which night you’re going along to.

For those with tickets to see the first Foo Fighters show on the Thursday, you’ll be treated to the stylings of breakout British stars Wet Leg, as well as fellow rising indie-rock and funky post-punk stars Loose Articles, from none other than right here in Manchester.

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However, if you’re heading to the weekend show on Saturday, 15 June, you’ve got a different pair of support acts in store, as Aussie singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett and Welsh alt-rock trio Chroma will be serving as warm-ups for the main event.

Either way, you’re going to have a hell of a show on your hands.

Stage times for Foo Fighters at Old Trafford

As for when you can expect all of these lovely acts to take the stage, obviously set times are always subject to change but here is everything we know so far.

It’s a much earlier start than most gigs – at least on Thursday, anyway – with gates opening from 4pm and Manc outfit Loose Articles getting things started at 5:25pm and due to finish just before 6pm.

Wet Leg are then set to follow up with the main support set at 6:15pm and playing until 7pm. From there, you’ll have a half-hour interval to grab yourself a drink, nip to the loo etc. before Dave Grohl and co. start their headline set at 7:30pm.

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The curfew is set to 10.30pm, leaving you plenty of time to get home, and although the times haven’t been officially rolled out for Saturday, you can expect something roughly similar.

Setlist

Now, we just so happen to be the first stop on the UK leg of their ‘Everything or Nothing’ at All tour, so we can only go off the most recent run of shows over in the US when looking at what the boys are going to play later this week.

Fortunately, the folks over at trusty old Setlist.fm have done exactly that to compile an average setlist for Foo Fighters’ double bill at Manchester’s Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Subject to change, as always, but here’s what you can roughly expect.

  1. All My Life
  2. No Son of Mine
  3. Rescued
  4. The Pretender
  5. Times Like These
  6. La Dee Da
  7. Breakout
  8. Medicine at Midnight
  9. Walk
  10. Guitar Solo / Sabotage / Keyboard Solo / Blitzkrieg Bop / Whip It / March of the Pigs
  11. The Sky Is a Neighborhood
  12. Learn to Fly
  13. Arlandria
  14. These Days
  15. Shame Shame
  16. Monkey Wrench
  17. The Glass
  18. Aurora
  19. Best of You
  20. Everlong

Encore:

  • The Teacher
foo fighters manchester set times
Foo Fighters have made no secret about their love of Manchester crowds and our music heritage. (Credit: Scarlet Page)

Travel info

Getting there by tram

There are a number of stops within easy walking distance of the ground:

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  • Old Trafford (Bury/Altrincham lines) – located next to the stadium
  • Trafford Bar (Altrincham/East Didsbury/Manchester Airport lines) – 10-minute walk.
  • Firswood (East Didsbury/Manchester Airport lines) – 10-minute walk.
  • Wharfside (Trafford Park line) – located a 15-minute walk from the stadium.

By bus

Along Chester Road – a 10-minute walk from the venue

  • 255 – Piccadilly Gardens – Stretford – Carrington – Partington
  • 256 – Piccadilly Gardens – Hulme – Stretford – Lostock – Flixton
  • 263 – Piccadilly Gardens – Hulme – Stretford – Sale – Altrincham

Along Chester Road/Trafford Bar – a 20-minute walk from the venue

  • X50 – Piccadilly Gardens – Old Trafford – Trafford Park – Worsley
  • 250 – Piccadilly Gardens – Trafford Park – The Trafford Centre

You can see a full interactive map for public transport down below.

Getting there car/parking

According to TfGM, congestion on the roads close to the ground is due to build around two hours before the event, with hotspots towards the ground from junction seven of the M60 (Chester Road), and the Mancunian Way if you are travelling from the city centre, as well as Trafford Park and the Trafford Centre.

If you need to travel by car to the Emirates Old Trafford, we advise you to plan your journey in advance, official parking is available at the venue with entry gates located on both Talbot Road and Great Stone Road, with ‘Pay on Foot’ machines installed at official car parks.

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It goes without saying that you need to ensure you’re parking responsibly during the events so that other road users and local residents can also use the highways in and around the ground.

For all other information on how to get there, you can also use the Bee Network’s journey planner.

Read more:

And that should be just about all you need to know about the Foo Fighters two dates at Old Trafford this week – we cannot wait to see all the footage popping up on socials.

We know it’s going to be an emotional couple of nights as this is the first time Manc crowds will be seeing the rock legends take the stage without Taylor, but you already know we’re going to sing our hearts out.

Go and make it a special one, Manchester.

Featured Images — Andi K. Taylor (supplied)/The Manc Group

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Manchester to host ‘landmark’ charity concert for Ukraine with star-studded lineup

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester is set to host a ‘landmark’ international benefit concert for Ukraine with a star-studded lineup of big names.

Taking place at Co-op Live early next February, Songs of Freedom will aim to unite iconic global musicians, artists, and cultural leaders in solidarity with the women, children, and vulnerable communities affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Bob Geldof, Madness, Chrissie Hynde, and Midge Ure are just some of the more than a dozen famous names announced to be taking part in the show, alongside the Songs for Ukraine Choir, Royal Opera Chorus, and London Metropolitan Orchestra.

And as the concert will be here in Manchester, several local names are also due to appear too, including Peter Hook & The Light, Inspiral Carpets, The Lathums, Lottery Winners, and more.

Additional artists from around the world will perform via live video link into the broadcast – with mega stars Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, and Sean Penn all lined up to contribute.

Even more names will be announced in due course, so stay tuned.

The event is aiming to raise ‘vital’ funds and global awareness, while celebrating Ukrainian resilience, identity, and spirit.

All the money raised will go to UNITED24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People of the Future), and Masha Foundation – each of which directly support urgent humanitarian relief.

Manchester is set to host a ‘landmark’ charity concert for Ukraine next year with a star-studded lineup / Credit: Supplied

Backed by key industry figures, Songs of Freedom will be bringing together a lineup of international legends and Ukrainian talent.

Ahead of the concert next year, Harvey Goldsmith CBE said: “I am really pleased to have the opportunity to play my part in helping the Children and Communities in Ukraine.

“This war has gone on far too long and more and more children are suffering as a result. The concert at Coop in Manchester will highlight their plight. We must stand together and play a role in pressuring the need to stop this war.”

Read more:

Songs For Freedom will take to the Co-op Live stage on Wednesday 3 February 2027, and tickets go on general sale next Monday (16 November) – with venue pre-sales beginning this Thursday (12 November).

Find out more and get tickets when they go on sale HERE.

Featured Image – Supplied

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Stevie Wonder’s 50th Anniversary Tour at the Co-op Live, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more

Lydia Mastrolonardo Lydia Mastrolonardo Stevie Wonder announces huge Manchester gig on 50th anniversary tour

No we can’t believe it either, THE Stevie Wonder is going to be performing at Manchester’s Co-op Live, on Sunday 8 November, as part of his Songs in the Key of Life – 50th Anniversary Tour.  

It’s about to be One Of A Kind evening, honouring one of the most influential albums ever created, including some fan favourites like ‘Isn’t She Lovely,’ ‘Love’s In Need of Love Today,’ and ‘Sir Duke.’

This absolutely legendary singer, songwriter, musician, producer and activist, is largely regarded as one of the most influential and decorated musicians of the 20th century, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. He is one of only three artists in Grammy history to win Album Of The Year three times in his career, as well as having 25 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award in his back pocket.

Wonder is deemed a child prodigy having first got signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown’s Tamla label aged 11 and since then his career rapidly took off gaining well-deserved recognition worldwide.

This show is going to be a once in a lifetime experience for many and one you definitely do not want to miss out on or you’ll be Cryin’ Through The Night. See below for all that you need to know…

Gig Guide | Stevie Wonder at Co-op Live, Manchester

Stage times for Stevie Wonder at Co-op Live

  • Backstage Club Doors: 5:30pm
  • Premium Doors: 6:00pm
  • General Admission Doors: 6:30pm
  • Venue Curfew: 11:00pm

These are the only times that are confirmed, but it’s expected that Stevie will be on stage around 8:00pm.

Can you still get tickets to see Stevie Wonder in Manchester?

Put On A Happy Face – there are still tickets on sale for Manchester!

There are remaining general sale and verified resale tickets being sold on Co-op Live’s website through Ticketmaster. Click HERE to get your last minute tickets.

What songs can fans expect to hear?

The show is part of his Songs in the Key of Life 50th Anniversary Tour, where he performs the album in full, with his own backing band.

Therefore suspected set list should follow the album as follows:

  • Love’s in Need of Love Today
  • Have a Talk With God
  • Village Ghetto Land
  • Contusion
  • Sir Duke
  • I Wish
  • Knocks Me Off My Feet
  • Pastime Paradise
  • Summer Soft
  • Ordinary Pain
  • Saturn
  • Ebony Eyes
  • Set 2
  • Isn’t She Lovely
  • Joy Inside My Tears
  • Black Man
  • All Day Sucker
  • Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call)
  • Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing
  • If It’s Magic
  • As
  • Another Star
  • Imagine (John Lennon cover)
  • Superstition

However, the 1976 release also contained with a four-track EP, A Something’s Extra, and it has not been announced whether those four have made it to the set list, so you could be in for a few extras.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

Read more…

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

Featured image: Publicity picture

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