A brand-new comedy festival is set to take over one of the city centre’s newest arts venues this summer.
That’s right… some of the UK’s best comedy names are coming to Manchester.
That’s because renowned production company, A Lovely Time, has put together an absolutely jam-packed lineup of television names, internet sensations, and hotly-tipped newcomers, for a weekend full of comedy shows in the heart of the city centre at the exciting new arts venue Fairfield Social Club – which is tucked away down at the Green Quarter.
The exciting new festival, which is called A Lovely Weekend, will kick off on Friday 7 June with a gala show hosted by the company’s very-own Amy Gledhill, who comedy fans may recognise from appearances on BBC‘s Would I Lie To You, and more.
Then, across the rest of the three-day long weekend lineup, you can expect to catch comedy sets and work-in-progress performances from the likes of Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Phil Ellis (Icklewick FM on BBC Radio 4), and Olga Koch (Live at The Apollo on BBC One), Paddy Young, who recently won the BBC New Comedy Award, Chris Cantrill (Avoidance on BBC One), and Blackpool’s-finest Tom Lawrinson.
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Internet sensations such as Stevie Martin and Abi Clarke are also on the lineup, as well as hotly-tipped Edinburgh debutante, Hannah Platt, and Geordie sketch supergroup, Metroland.
You can even catch something a little bit different from Poppy Hillstead too, who’s set to transfer her popular podcast to the stage.
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One of Manchester’s newest arts venues is set to host a brand-new comedy festival this summer / Credit: @see_hef (via A Lovely Time on Instagram)
Split across two venues over three days, A Lovely Weekend is all looking set to be the largest undertaking from comedy production super-duo, A Lovely Time, which was created by promoter John Stansfield and comedian Chris Cantrill, and, as mentioned, it will take over the newly-opened Fairfield Social Club – a venue which has already hosted brilliant shows from the likes of Josie Long, Three Bean Salad, Ashley Gavin, and Nick Helm since opening back in March.
“We’re so excited to be bringing A Lovely Weekend to Manchester,” commented founder, John Stansfield.
“The city is long overdue a proper comedy festival, and across the three days at Fairfield Social Club, we’ve programmed some of our absolute favourites to ensure a lovely time for all.”
Tickets to A Lovely Weekend have just gone on sale yesterday (Wednesday 1 November), and are already selling fast – with both day and full weekend passes available from £20, and individual show tickets up for grabs from £6 each too.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 20 – 26 May 2024
Emily Sergeant
We’re into our final full week of May now, and we just can’t believe how fast the month has gone.
Throughout the month of May so far, the Greater Manchester social calendar has featured the likes of foodie festivals, cultural celebrations, wholesome spring-themed events, and so much more… and thankfully, there’s loads more where that came from this week – especially as we’ve got another bank holiday weekend.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Brilliant Bodies Month
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 20 – Friday 31 May
Brilliant Bodies Month / Credit: Science Museum Group
Fancy diving into the “gloriously gross” world of our brilliant bodies?
With schools across Greater Manchester breaking up for half term at the end of this month, and parents and carers gearing up to entertain the little ones, the Science and Industry Museum has a wide range of events and activities planned eespecially for the holidays.
The city’s most-visited museum is promising visitors a May half term “full of family fun” inspired by its world-first exhibition Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You.
Find out more about what’s on at the Science and Industry Museum this half term, and the rest of the month here.
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Manchester Jazz Festival 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 20 – Monday 26 May
Manchester Jazz Festival 2024 / Credit: mjf
mjf2024 is currently underway at venues and sites all across across Manchester city centre.
After kicking off with a spectacular opening weekender at its vibrant First Street urban neighbourhood this past weekend, you can now make the most of a jam-packed programme full of events happening all throughout this week.
There’s nightly gigs at Matt & Phreds, events at RNCM, Stoller Hall, Forsyth Music Shop, St Ann’s Church, and The Carlton Club, and so much more, all before the festival closes out with an extended weekend-long party at Band on the Wall.
Manchester Green Spaces Trail / Credit: Carl Sukonik | Annapurna Mellor
Workers and visitors are being invited to discover some stunning outdoor spaces across Manchester city centre and beyond this summer.
Keen to get out and about on foot? Manchester has launched Manchester Green Spaces Trail – a brand-new walking trail celebrating the best green, blue, and outdoor areas the cities of Manchester and Salford have to offer.
Created in collaboration with Manchester tour guide, Jonathan Schofield, the walking trail is free to do and accessible via a downloadable map, and it features 16 garden and water spaces.
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition
Manchester Central Library
Monday 20 May – onwards
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition / Credit: Supplied
Photography students from The Manchester College are now showcasing their ‘Greater Mancunians’ project as part of a landmark exhibition at Manchester Central Library’s Main Exhibition Hall.
150 students have participated in the groundbreaking photography project, and it features images of some of Manchester’s most famous and influential people shot at numerous locations across the city.
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More than 100 contributors are featured in the project, including musicians Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr, athletes Diane Modahl and Ricky Hatton, local politicians Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, and Bev Craig, actors Maxine Peake and Bill Roache, artists Stan Chow and AKSE P-19, and other local figures like Jonathan Warburton, Simon Martin, and Professor Erinma Bell MBE.
NEW OPENING – Malibu Beach Club / Credit: Malibu Drinks
Malibu Drinks has just opened a pop-up outdoor lounge with a relaxed beach bar theme, bright decor, and an extensive summer cocktail list in Manchester.
The only official Malibu bar outside of London, and aptly-named ‘Malibu Beach Club’, the colourful pop-up has opened right in the heart of Manchester city centre on Great Northern Square, and you can expect cute and colourful aesthetics, an unbeatable beachy charm, quirky lanterns, and palm trees.
There’s also plenty of seating both in the beaming sunshine (… or when it arrives) or undercover and heated for when it inevitably rains.
Did you see that Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024?
Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is already familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world.
But now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.
The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.
A brand-new art exhibition curated by visual artist Emma Evans in partnership with six other creators is now open in Manchester, and it’s completely free to visit.
Tales of Manchester 2.0 down at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a collection of multi-platform art celebrating our brilliant city, and it’s showcasing six spoken word pieces by established Manchester based poets – Griot Gabriel, Ilaria Passeri, Lisa O’Hare, Mark Jackson aka Keith’s Brother, Matt Concannon aka The Thirsty Poet, and Sarah Attwell.
The spoken word is paired with visual pieces painted by self-taught artist Emma Evans, where the words have served as inspiration for the art.
Disney’s smash-hit musical Aladdin is currently touring the UK for the first time ever, and the magic carpet will be landing here in Manchester for the summer from this week.
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Based on the beloved 1992 animated film of the same name, and following several critically-acclaimed and sold-out runs on both Broadway and in London’s West End since it first debuted back in 2011, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated production will be taking to the stage down at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.
The musical features all the timeless songs we know and love from the film, and it’s set to be a seriously magical show.
Diecast is set to launch its huge outdoor beer garden for the summer this week.
‘Summer Town’ will be the biggest summer garden party space in Manchester once it throws open its doors this Thursday, with space for 800 revellers to make the most of the sunshine over the next few months.
Diecast’s famous daiquiris will dominate at Leno Ex Machina’s central bar, with up 49 flavour combinations pouring from their gigantic Bacardi Frozen Daiquiri machines, while at the centre of the garden is the brand-new ‘Barbecue Kitchen’, where you can took into burgers, chargrilled hanger steaks, hot dogs, kebabs, and chef’s specials while the sun shines.
Great Northern Warehouse is getting ready to kick-starting the summer season with the return of the annual Deansgate Mews Festival.
Now in its fourth year, and known for taking over Manchester’s hidden pedestrianised street that’s nestled above Deansgate, the popular festival is taking place this late May bank holiday weekend from Friday 24 – Sunday 26 May, and it’s FREE to attend with no tickets needed.
There’s set to be something for everyone of all ages across the three-day event, and festivalgoers are being promised a “lively outdoor celebration”, with lots of live music and entertainment, shopping from a variety of stalls offering products from talented traders and local artisans, and some seriously-good food & drink to tuck into.
Manchester Flower Festival 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester will become one of the most picturesque places in the UK this bank holiday weekend.
That’s because the city is getting all dressed up in celebration of the annual Flower Festival, which is back by popular demand for its seventh year, and this means that plants and flowers will be seen covering landmark buildings, shop windows, doorways, balconies, statues, fountains, and more for as far as the eye can see.
There’s also a ‘Manchester Icons’ floral trail, and visitors are being told they can expect to see 10 glorious displays inspired by Manchester-born figures, music icons, and even legendary buildings created by local artists, gardeners, and flower enthusiasts.
Find out more about everything happening at this year’s Manchester Flower Festival here.
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Vintage 1940s Weekend
East Lancashire Railway
Saturday 25 – Monday 27 May
Vintage 1940s Weekend / Credit: ELR
Fancy stepping back in time? The Greater Manchester public is being invited to “dig out your gladrags” and head on down to East Lancashire Railway (ELR) this late May bank holiday weekend, as an ‘immersive’ 1940s-themed weekend is back by popular demand.
The Vintage 1940s Weekend been an absolute hit in previous years, and has always been one of the heritage railway’s most popular events.
You can expect an exciting programme of live music all throughout the three-day weekend, as well as food, fashion, and memorabilia of the 1940s being brought to life.
Freight Island’s Spring & Summer Festival Season 2024
Depot Mayfield
Saturday 25 May – onwards
Freight Island’s Spring & Summer Festival Season 2024 / Credit: Freight Island
In case you missed it, Freight Island has announced a huge lineup for its Spring/Summer season, with a free-to-attend festival series.
The huge urban street food and entertainment destination, located at Depot Mayfield just beyond Manchester Piccadilly, is now back open in full swing, and is promising its most electrifying season yet throughout this spring and summer.
David Rodigan, Greg Wilson, Crazy P (DJ set), and Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) are just some of the names on the lineup over the next few months.
Flashes Festival of Nature 2024 / Credit: Wigan Council (via Facebook)
Flashes Festival of Nature is one of Wigan’s best-loved and most wholesome events, and it’s returning for 2024 this weekend to coincide with the National Nature Reserve Week.
Taking over the popular nature reserve, Pennington Flash, on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May from 11am through to 3pm, the free two-day festival is all about helping Wigan residents reconnect with nature through a wide range of fun and interactive activities – including workshops, wildlife themed art stalls, eco crafts, and more.
Find out more about everything happening at the festival this year here.
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Great Manchester Run 2024
Manchester
Sunday 26 May
Great Manchester Run 2024 / Credit: Great Run Company
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run is the city’s original and best-loved running event, and it’s back for another year this weekend.
Taking over the city centre this Sunday 26 May and set to be “an experience like no other”, thousands of runners will be hitting the streets in an attempt to complete either the world-famous 10K or half marathon routes… and not only that, but in true Mancunian style, it’s also set to be a party from start to finish.
There’ll be a high-energy soundtrack, live music, and entertainment zones at every turn, plus some of the loudest and most enthusiastic local support seen anywhere in the UK.
You can find everything you need to know about the Great Manchester Run 2024 here.
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Featured Image – Science Museum Group | The Manc Group | Great Run Company
What's On
The Black Keys at Co-op Live – tickets, support act, stage times, setlist and more
Danny Jones
With the Co-op Live finally open (we can hardly believe it either), it feels like the action-packed live season in Manchester this summer is starting to ramp up and with blues rock heavyweights The Black Keys set to follow Manc music royalty as the brand-new arena’s second night, we can’t wait.
The Manc Audio had the pleasure of reviewing their incredible show at the AO Arena last year and it only served as a reminder of just how polished these guys are when it comes to bringing the last 23 years of studio material to life on stage, so it was little surprise when they were confirmed for the Co-op.
Ok, yes, they might have been on the unfortunate end of the venue’s early setbacks, but the fans haven’t gone anywhere and, fortunately, their rescheduled show is now set to go off without a hitch this Wednesday, 15 May.
That being said, unless you happened to be at Elbow last night as well, this will be your first time at Co-op Live so, as always, we thought we’d put together a useful gig guide with all the important information you need to know ahead of The Black Keys’ highly-anticipated headline slot.
They put on quite the show, we’ll tell you that for nothing. Read our full review from last time out.
Are there tickets left for The Black Keys at Co-op Live?
If you’re hoping to swindle a last-minute ticket for Co-op Live’s sophomore show, you’re in luck. Given the rescheduled date, there are quite a few tickets left for The Black Keys‘ Manchester gig – it just depends on how much you’re willing to pay.
With standing and resale tickets on the floor starting from £42.50 (before fees), there are also plenty of seats available all around the arena’s lower bowl; all of these spots are nice and close to the stage too, with tier-one seating ranging anywhere from £75.95 to £88.06 depending on your view.
You can grab yours HERE and, of course, we strongly urge you to avoid illegal ticket touts. No gig is worth the risk of being stung over.
Who’s supporting The Black Keys in Manchester?
Arguably one of the most exciting parts about The Black Keys’ return to Manchester is who they’ve picked as the support act for this UK tour, as they’ve kept things fittingly North West because, you know, all the best music is from ’round here, isn’t it?
They might not be Mancs but Liverpool-based Circa Waves have become favourites amongst the indie scene over the past decade or so, not only playing huge festival slots but selling out their own headline tours all over the UK for years now.
We’d pay good money to see Circa on their own – in fact, we have and will continue to – so folding them in as part of Wednesday’s night performance makes this an insanely good value-for-money show as far as we’re concerned.
As for when you’ll get to see both of these incredible acts, doors Co-op Live open from 6:30pm and, according to the website, Circa Waves are due to start the gig at 7:30pm.
There will be an interval between sets and we can estimate that The Black Keys themselves won’t take the stage until 9pm, meaning that you’re in for a roughly two-hour action-packed headline show before the curfew at 11pm.
As always with gigs, these times are always subject to change, so make sure to keep an eye on the artists and the venue’s socials for all the latest information.
Setlist
The Ohio rockers kicked off the UK leg of their massive European tour with three nights at London’s Brixton Academy – where they also brought out Manc music legend and recent collaborator, Noel Gallagher – before nipping for a couple of shows in Paris before flying back here to Manchester.
Going entirely off the songs they played across those shows, we think we have a pretty good idea of the setlist, and there are plenty of tunes off the new album too. Here’s what you can expect (we think):
I Got Mine
Gold on the Ceiling
Your Touch
Tighten Up
Have Love Will Travel (Richard Berry & The Pharaohs cover)
Everlasting Light
Next Girl
Lo/Hi
This Is Nowhere
Heavy Soul
Weight of Love
Howlin’ for You
Beautiful People (Stay High)
Only Love Matters
Fever
On the Game
Wild Child
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Gladys Knight and The Pips cover)
Is The Black Keys’ ‘record hang’ party still happening in Manchester?
Now, The Black Keys tours have become famous for their ‘record hang’ parties at local venues all over the globe, with their last visit to Manchester ending in the YES. I know, imagine bumping into Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney in Pink Room (we literally did).
Obviously, their April show had to be ultimately rescheduled the venue they did have earmarked for after their Co-op Live gig was cult favourite nightclub, Hidden, over in Cheetham Hill.
Although there has been no update from the band as to whether or not their afterparty is still happening, we thought it only right to give you a heads-up in case they decide to follow through with their original plan and go play a semi-secret DJ set – and again, keep an eye out for any announcements.
Travel info – how to get there, parking etc.
Tram
Now, as for how you’ll get to shows at Co-op Live, luckily 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 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
If you want to take another new and improved arm of Manchester’s public transport system, not only is there a whole host of routes that drop you off close to the venue but there’ll also be a free shuttle bus from the city centre to and from events between 20 April-30 June 2024.
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. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
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 come 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 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 through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the boke 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.
That should be just about everything you need to know if you’re heading to see The Black Keys at the Co-op Live in Manchester tonight and we sincerely hope you have a belter.
Better still, we hope the venue lives up to your expectations and we must admit, now we’ve seen inside and it truly is Live, it is pretty darn impressive.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd May 2024 
