The last couple of years have been rough for the theatre and live music industries, but there are some massive shows to look forward to in Manchester this year.
Our city’s cultural scene continues to push forwards with huge festivals, world-renowned theatre and some of the planet’s biggest musicians paying visits in 2022.
Parklife will be back, as will open-air gig series Sounds of the City, and the AO Arena has a packed programme of concerts ahead.
Our theatres will also welcome global musical talent, including the UK premiere of a stage version of one of the most-loved films of all time.
Here are some key dates for your diaries.
Parklife, Heaton Park
Parklife. Credit: Andrew Whitton
Parklife is easily one of the biggest dates in Manchester’s music calendar, attracting 80,000 music-lovers to Heaton Park every day.
The line-up for its 2022 edition hasn’t been announced yet, but still 42,000 eager people have already bought tickets.
Registration is open now for this year’s festival between June 11 and 12.
Sounds of the City, Castlefield Bowl
Credit: Sam Neill
There was a tonne of disruption for Sounds of the City in the last couple of years, but the popular open-air gig series is back with a bang in 2022.
This summer’s line up at Castlefield Bowl will be made up of performances from Lewis Capaldi (June 28), Foals (June 29), Crowded House (June 30), James (July 2), Pixies (July 5) and Sam Fender (July 6).
The whole thing will wrap up with the always sold-out gig with Hacienda Classical on July 8.
There’s a seriously big show on the way to the Opera House this year, which will host the UK premiere of the Mrs Doubtfire musical between September 2 and October 1.
The theatre will also welcome some old favourites, like Singin’ in the Rain (May 9 to 14), Jersey Boys (October 18 to 29) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (March 8 to 12).
Famous faces will be on the stage too when Alexandra Burke and Jason Donovan star alongside each other in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (March 21 to April 2).
Disney will be hogging the stage at the Palace Theatre in 2022, in news that will delight thousands, with both huge runs of both The Lion King (October 27 to December 24) and Beauty and the Beast (March 31 to June 4).
School of Rock will keep playing at the Palace until January 15, before making way for a huge bill of musical biopics including 9 to 5 The Musical, and We Will Rock You.
The fun will continue with shows like Sister Act, Dreamgirls and Blood Brothers.
AO Arena
Credit: AO Arena
Strap in – it’s a BIG year at the AO Arena this year.
Manchester’s biggest indoor gig venue will host the likes of Billie Eilish (June 7 and 8), Little Mix (May 6 and 7), and Stormzy (March 19) in the coming year.
Some of the biggest names on the planet will grace the stage here in 2022 – we’re talking Celine Dion (June 5 and 6), Queen and Adam Lambert (May 30 and 31), and Bryan Adams (May 17).
It’s not just music either – Cirque du Soleil will return with Corteo, the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour will dance into town, and Alan Partridge Live will take over for two nights.
We may as well rebrand Manchester City’s home ground to the Edihad Stadium this year.
Ed Sheeran will be playing a whopping four nights here between June 9 and 12, in front of crowds of 60,000 a night.
The only other summer gig confirmed at the Etihad this summer so far is Liam Gallagher, who’s set to perform on June 1.
Royal Exchange Theatre
Credit: Royal Exchange Theatre
The Royal Exchange Theatre is one of Manchester’s most famous cultural institutions, and its 2022 programme is shaping up nicely.
Productions coming to the in-the-round theatre this year include Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie and Betty! A Sort of Musical, written by and starring Maxine Peake and Seiriol Davies.
Olivia Dean has announced a special intimate show in Manchester
Danny Jones
Soulful singing sensation Olivia Dean has set the UK music scene alight by announcing a number of intimate shows up and down the nation, including one right here in Manchester.
The fast-rising solo artist, who blends everything from pop and jazz to neo-soul as well as R’n’B, is one of the best and up-and-coming artists in Britain right now, with her highly anticipated sophomore album, The Art of Loving, set to release at the start of autumn.
As well as releasing her smash hit new single ‘Nice To Each Other’, the 26-year-old recently delighted even more music fans by joining Sam Fender on stage in London for a live twist on his track ‘Rein Me In’, which was instantly adored by millions and has now been shared as an official studio version.
Safe to say she’s flying high right now, and the second LP isn’t even out yet, which makes this small handful of gigs even more special and tickets super sought-after.
Revealing just seven pared-back shows across the country, Olivia said on her socials: “The art of loving in person! We’re doing some intimate shows, playing some songs acoustically and talking about making the album”, which is due to release on Friday, 26 September.
Partnering up with music shop chain and independent artist champions Rough Trade for the event, she’s set to play the just over 500-capacity gem that is Manchester’s Gorilla.
Other gigs up north include Liverpool at The Jacaranda and over at The Wardrobe in Leeds, where beloved local legends Crash Records will be helping host the show.
With the debut single already out, along with an already viral music video and accompanying dance alongside it, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding this project.
We’d pay virtually anything to see Olivia Dean and a group of backing singers do this at an intimate gig in Manchester.
We think we speak for pretty much everyone when we say that not only are we excited to hear The Art of Loving once it’s out, but hearing it live and in this special acoustic format is sure to go down as one of those ‘I was there moments.’
Playing smaller acoustic album launch shows is nothing new, but they are sometimes the only chance fans will get to hear their favourite musicians play their songs in such a way, so Olivia Dean die-hards are understandably going to be scrambling for these tickets.
Once again, her second album is available to pre-order now, and tickets for her show on Friday, 19 September, will go live tomorrow (Wednesday, 5 June) at 10am.
You can get ready to grab yours HERE, and for now, why not read our review of the last time she came to Manchester for what was a truly magical headline slot?
Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a series of huge concerts this year
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is famed for its music venues, from the tiny (The Peer Hat) to the massive (The Co-op Live) – and now our beautiful cathedral is getting in on the concert action too.
Manchester Cathedral will be the host of a captivating concert series this year as the Echoes live music series comes to town.
The packed programme of concerts ranges from pop music to soul and reggae, all set against the backdrop of the Grade I-listed landmark.
Running from September all the way into November, Echoes will bring together live entertainment with timeless architecture in the city’s most majestic setting.
The line-up includes nostalgic pop royalty like Peter Andre, B*Witched, and Vengaboys, who’ll be bringing pure party energy to the Manchester Cathedral.
Some of the world’s most soulful voices will also be filling the grand building, with performances from Tunde of Lighthouse Family, Heather Small of M People, and Sister Sledge.
There’ll be more 90s energy with Noughties Baby, as JLS’s Marvin Humes brings Dappy as a special guest.
Completing the line-up this autumn are indie rockers The Feeling and a night of reggae with Maxi Priest and David Rodigan.
Expect nostalgia, energy and soul beneath the historic vaulted ceilings and sandstone arches of the Manchester Cathedral.
Whether you’re reliving the soundtrack of your youth, soaking in some proper anthems, or just basking in the acoustics of the magnificent cathedral, Echoes will have something for you.
The concert series is brought to you by JBM Music with tickets on sale on Friday 27 June from 9am HERE.
You can see the full line-up with dates below.
Echoes at Manchester Cathedral concert line-up in full
Thursday 25 September – Sister Sledge
Friday 26 September – Tunde Of Lighthouse Family
Saturday 27 September – B*Witched
Thursday 2 October – Peter Andre
Saturday 4 October – Marvin Humes Presents Noughties Baby with special guest Dappy
Friday 31 October – The Feeling
Saturday 1 November – Boney M
Thursday 27 November – Maxi Priest & David Rodigan
Friday 28 November – Vengaboys
Saturday 29 November – Heather Small – The Voice Of M People
Daisy Jackson -
7th January 2022 
