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New Year’s Eve firework display WILL return to Manchester this year – road closures and event detail

They're back with a bang...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 21st December 2023

For the first time since Covid, Manchester will have a firework display on New Year’s Eve.

The city will once again ring in the new year with a free dazzling display over the city’s skyline, featuring a live DJ set and a huge countdown to midnight.

The family-friendly event will be taking over Castlefield Bowl this year, with capacity for 10,000 people on a first-come first-served basis.

Manchester’s New Year’s Eve firework celebration will be the first to take place here since we rang in 2020 – and we all know what happened after that.

The event will kick off at 10pm on Sunday 31 December with a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee.

Then as the clock strikes midnight and we welcome 2024, a huge firework display will illuminate the skies.

Manchester City Council has confirmed that this will be an alcohol-free event, with bag searches in operation, and bags should be limited to being no bigger than A4 size.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas and New Year spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “No-one can deny that 2023 has proved to be quite the year for Manchester with a list of successes in the fields of culture and sport as long as your arm, added to a rapidly growing global reputation as a city to do business with.

“Coming as it does after the dark days of the last few years, we think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond.

“This in no way means we’ve forgotten how hard life is for a lot of people just now, but we do know that bringing people together helps – it’s what Manchester does best.

New Year's Eve fireworks will return to Manchester this year. Credit: Unsplash
New Year’s Eve fireworks will return to Manchester this year. Credit: Unsplash

“Mancunians really are the best people in the world and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us, than spending it with those we love.”

Castlefield Bowl is in a residential part of Manchester and as such, revellers will be asked to clear the area promptly after the New Year’s Eve fireworks have finished.

Councillor Pat Karney added: “We want everyone to be able to enjoy New Year’s Eve, including the growing number of local residents who live in this part of town.

“I will therefore be working closely with local Deansgate councillors and the Castlefield Forum to ensure that we minimise any nuisance for local residents.”

The event is being delivered by the city council in partnership with Hits Radio.

Road closures for Manchester New Year’s Eve firework display

  • Duke Place (Duke St – Arena) – 8.30pm – 1am
  • Rice Street (Duke St – Arena) – 8.30pm to 12.45am (Resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
  • Liverpool Rd (Potato Wharf – Lower Byrom St) – 8.30pm – 1am
  • Duke Street (Stone St – Castle St) – 11pm to 12.45am
  • Beaufort St (Collier St – Duke St) – 11pm to 12.45am
  • Castle St (Car Park – Canal Bridge) 11pm to 12.30am (restrictions out of car park between 11.30pm and 12.15am).

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Featured image: Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash

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Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a series of huge concerts this year

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a series of huge concerts this year

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.

Sister Sledge
Peter Andre
Marvin Humes will present Noughties Baby
The Feeling

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

Read more: Rising Manc star Lusaint and more to serenade cricket crowds at The Hundred 2025

Featured image: The Manc Group

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Rising Manc star Lusaint and more to serenade cricket crowds at The Hundred 2025

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lusaint performing live music at The Hundred in Manchester

The Hundred crowds inside Emirates Old Trafford are in for a real treat as rising Manchester star, Lusaint, is set to join the lineup of live music acts playing the 2025 tournament.

We’re so excited about this up-and-coming local singer and the rest of the live music lineup on show at this year’s competition.

Ahead of the fast-paced, family-friendly format returning to Emirates Old Trafford this August, the bands and musicians offering yet more entertainment on matchdays have now been announced, along with details of more activities for all ages.

The Hundred Final at Lord’s in London will be headlined by solo singer, Perrie (a.k.a. Perrie Edwards, formerly of Little Mix), and the Manchester games are boasting some great names too.

In addition to Perrie, other big names signed up for 2025 are the likes of York four-piece Glass Caves, Bristol experimental live-looper, Bexx, as well as the best of soul and R’n’B in Brighton, Iyamah.

But we can’t lie, naturally, it’s all about whose playing The Hundred fixtures at Old Trafford that we’re most fussed about.

Following past years where the competition has seen the likes of Zara Larsson, Rudimental, Bastille and Jax Jones; Raye, Becky Hill, Everything Everything and Self Esteem, they’ve managed to pique our interest yet again.

Really channelling the platforming power of the BBC Introducing partnered stages for the latest edition, Lusaint was the first name to catch our attention for obvious reasons.

She featured on our Manchester artists of the month list not too long ago, and if you haven’t given her music a try before, now’s the perfect time before seeing her in person at The Hundred – worth the ticket price on her own, if you ask us.

Better still, she’s not the only name we’re excited about seeing this summer, as joining the live music lineup in Manchester is native hip-hop, grime, soul and afrobeats musician, Prido, whose storytelling style has been making waves not just within the genre but across the city.

For instance, his last live set for BBC Introducing at Reading Festival 2024 saw plenty of attention online, and he’s definitely one to watch, even if you don’t manage to catch him at the cricket. Aimei 媚 and Lowes complete this year’s lineup and are set to take the stage throughout August.

Manchester Originals women’s player Sophie Ecclestone said: “The live music at The Hundred is one of my favourite things about playing in the competition. It brings an extra element to The Hundred which is different to other forms of cricket.”

With early bird tickets available from just £5 for under 16s and for £17 adults, it’s no surprise that 9,000 have already been sold for the Originals‘ derby against Northern Superchargers on Sunday, 17 August.

You can find out more information on what else is in store at The Hundred 2025 beyond the live music lineup and grab your tickets for Manchester HERE.

lusaint manchester
You can read our review of her recent show HERE.
Perrie
prido manchester
Prido
Just some of the names that make up The Hundred live music lineup for 2025. (Credit: Press shots/Audio North)

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/The Hundred (supplied)/Press Shot/Prido (via Facebook)

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