A huge charity dinner has been announced this week, taking over New Century to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, with a live Q&A with Andy Burnham himself.
Guests will tuck in to food from the venue’s mix of independent traders, and enjoy live music on Wednesday 26 April.
This inaugural charity dinner, hosted by Matt White, will raise money to help tackle rough sleeping and homelessness in the region.
All proceeds from An Evening with Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity will go to supporting A Bed Every Night. The flagship scheme aims to provide a bed (and wraparound support) for anyone rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping, in Greater Manchester.
Previous events have raised more than £45,000 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. These have included a solo charity gig from Courteeners frontman Liam Fray, and a DJ Battle between Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram – which famously featured a special appearance from Angela Rayner.
A Bed Every Night was launched by Andy in 2018 – since then, it’s helped more than 4000 people, providing emergency accommodation for anyone rough sleeping across the city-region, regardless of status.
New Century. Credit: Henry Woide
In January 2023, there were on average 582 people in A Bed Every Night accommodation across Greater Manchester.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said of the dinner event: “As patron of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, I’m looking forward to an evening of food and entertainment at New Century raising vital funds to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness in our city-region.
“We are coming out of what has been a really challenging winter. We’ve seen the numbers of people rough sleeping edge upwards, and increased pressure on all our services. But together, we can make a difference.
“Join us for another great fundraiser and let’s show the world that in Greater Manchester, we don’t walk on by.”
Tim Heatley, chair of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity said: “Hot on the heels of the incredible gig from Liam Fray, we are excited to bring to the people of Greater Manchester another great evening of entertainment raising funds for a vital cause.
“The cost of living continues to hit people hard, and we’re seeing a widening cohort of people at risk of experiencing homelessness. It is more important than ever that we unite to prevent homelessness, and support those who might otherwise face a night on the streets. We look forward to welcoming Greater Manchester on the night!”
Jemma Scott, director of Spaces & Stories said: “As a location and event provider with a difference, Spaces & Stories is delighted that New Century will be the backdrop to this immensely important initiative to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and make a real difference for people at risk or currently experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.”
Stage times confirmed for Oasis Live ’25 at Heaton Park in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Oasis will finally return to Manchester for five massive hometown gigs this week – and stage times for their Heaton Park show have been confirmed.
The Gallagher brothers have already reunited for two gigs in Cardiff ahead of their Manchester shows.
Oasis will be performing in Heaton Park on 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 of July, with support from long-time friends Richard Ashcroft and Cast.
With about 80,000 people expected to flock to the fields for the Oasis Live ’25 shows, there’s a lot of planning going on behind the scenes.
And the stage times for the Oasis Manchester gigs have just been confirmed by the band.
Oasis will be taking to the stage at 8.15pm, and with a 10.30pm curfew, that’s around two hours of glorious Gallagher hits.
Gates to Heaton Park open at 3pm and organisers are expecting large crowds – they’re encouraging fans to allow plenty of time for travel and arrive early.
As a reminder, there are shuttle buses running directly from Lever Street to Heaton Park from 1.30pm, but these are almost sold out.
You can also get tickets for Big Green Coach here, or use trams from Victoria Station up to the venue.
Confirmed stage times for Oasis at Heaton Park, Manchester
The first-ever Horrible Histories live concert is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Any fans of childhood favourite Horrible Histories in the house? Well, you might want to pay attention because the iconic kids’ show is bringing its first-ever live concert to Manchester.
The beloved educational comedy by CBBC was, for many of us, the first time we showed a proper interest in history, and we’ll confess, we still go back and comfort-watch it from time to time.
Running from 2009 until 2014, it featured countless funny faces that went on to become stars in the UK comic scene and even spawned a smash-hit live show, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.
With that in mind, to help celebrate the milestone, the team behind the cult classic are putting on a special a pretty extensive series of live shows to bring the music of Horrible Histories to domestic audiences, including two right here in Manchester.
Credit: BBC/Supplied
Teaming up with Birmingham Stage Company and Lion Television, the BBC and Horrible Histories crew will soon be playing all the hit songs from the TV programme in the flesh.
Based on the books, CBBC show and the success of the theatre show, this unique music-driven live format is written by the TV series’ writers Ben Ward and Claire Wetton.
Led on stage by the Horrible Histories song master, Richie Webb, himself – who has written all the songs from the smash-hit BBC series – you’re getting the full, authentic experience.
Featuring a live band performing the sensational TV songs, including guest appearances from Charles II, Dick Turpin and a bunch of Vikings that we couldn’t stop barging through the stage door, this is one show you don’t want to miss.
You can find all the 32 ‘Horrible Histories: Live (And Dead)! – The Concert’ UK tour dates down below:
Early 2026
Spring 2026
– Fri 23 January, Darlington Hippodrome – Sat 24 January, Darlington Hippodrome – Fri 30 January, Bristol Beacon – Sat 31 January, Bristol Beacon – Sun 1 February, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre – Fri 6 February, Manchester Opera House – Sat 7 February, Manchester Opera House – Fri 13 February, Liverpool Empire – Sat 14 February, Liverpool Empire – Tues 17 February London Royal Festival Hall – Fri 20 February, Birmingham Alexandra – Sat 21 February, Birmingham Alexandra – Fri 27 February, Milton Keynes Theatre – Sat 28 February, Milton Keynes Theatre – Sun 1 March, Cambridge Corn Exchange – Sun 8 March, Sheffield City Hall – Fri 13 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre – Sat 14 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre – Sun 15 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre – Fri 20 March, Glasgow Theatre Royal
– Sat 21 March, Glasgow Theatre Royal – Sun 29 March, Nottingham Concert Hall – Thur 2 April, Southampton Mayflower – Fri 3 April, Southampton Mayflower – Sat 4 April, Southampton Mayflower – Mon 6 April, York Barbican – Tues 7 April, York Barbican – Thur 9 April, Brighton Concert Hall – Fri 10 April, Brighton Concert Hall – Sat 11 April, Brighton Concert Hall – Fri 17 April, Sunderland Empire – Sat 18 April, Sunderland Empire
Coming to the city centre and the storied Manchester Opera House for two evenings early next year, if you’re a fan of the series or the live theatre act, this one has to be on your list.
The whole cast for the tour is yet to be fully confirmed, but you can expect plenty of humour and talent from start to finish.
ATG+ presale has just gone live, and general admission will be available from Friday, 11 July, with prices starting from £18 and school tickets costing just £13.50
Daisy Jackson -
14th April 2023 
