Sounds of the City is set to return this month, bringing some of the world’s biggest bands to Manchester.
Over the course of nine very special evenings, bands including James, Pixies and Foals will all take to the outdoor stage.
This year’s headliners also include Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, and the return of the ever-popular Hacienda Classical.
Since launching in 2013, Sounds of the City has hosted the likes of Kylie, Arcade Fire, Elbow, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Courteeners.
As with most music events, Sounds of the City had its 2020 and 2021 summer seasons disrupted, but returned with a handful of gigs last September.
Now it’s back in full force and ready to kick off in a matter of days.
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Here’s what you need to know.
Who’s headlining Sounds of the City on which date?
Foals will be among the headliners for Sounds of the City.
Tuesday 28 June – Lewis Capaldi plus special guest Jp Saxe & Emie Nathan
Wednesday 29 June – Foals plus special guests Wet Leg & The Regrettes – Sold Out
Thursday 30 June – Crowded House plus special guest
Friday 1 July – The Libertines – Up The Bracket performed in full plus other classics plus special guests Sports Team
Saturday 2 July – James plus special guest – Sold Out
Tuesday 5 July – Pixies plus special guests The Slow Readers Club & Klangstof
Wednesday 6 July – Sam Fender plus special guest – Sold Out
Friday 8 July – Hacienda Classical with special guests Soul II Soul, Peter Hook, DJ Paulette & Tom Wainwright
Saturday 9 July – Primal Scream Presents Screamadelica plus special guests The Mysterines, Lonelady & Walt Disco – Sold Out
How do I buy tickets?
Sam Fender.
There are still tickets left for a few of the Sounds of the City gigs, as well as tickets cropping up on resale sites (as always, make sure you’re using a verified fan-to-fan service so you don’t get ripped off).
You can expect to pay between £40 and £50 for most of the events – Lewis Capaldi tickets are £44.25, The Libertines tickets are going for £47.40, and The Pixies for £50.50, for example.
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You can browse the events and see the latest ticket availability through Ticketmaster.
What are the stage and venue times?
Doors to the venue are expected to open at 5.30pm for most of the concerts.
There’ll be a strict 10.30pm curfew.
Each artist is likely to announce their individual stage times on social media in the coming days, but you can probably expect headliners to take to the stage between 8.30pm and 9pm most nights.
What’s the seating chart for the venue?
Castlefield Bowl is an amphitheatre-style outdoor venue in the city centre.
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Although all tickets are billed as unreserved standing, if you’re quick you can take a seat on the large concrete steps that curve around the stage.
Many people also take a perch up on the grassy banks at the back of the venue too.
How do I get to Castlefield Bowl?
Castlefield Bowl is located at 101 Liverpool Road in the city centre.
The closest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield, which is only a six-minute walk away.
You can also walk it from the major train stations, or use the 101, 197, 255, 256, 41, 50 or X50 buses.
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Halestorm announce HUGE Manchester gig and new album this year
Thomas Melia
Award-winning American rock band Halestorm have just announced their latest album as well as a slate of UK tour dates, and they’re stopping off in Manchester later this year.
The four-piece consists of siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale alongside guitarist Joe Hottinger and bass player Josh Smith.
This post-grunge and heavy metal-influenced collective is no stranger to regular slots on big stages, known for playing up to 250 shows a year as headliners and as support acts – impressive stuff from a prolific band who are approaching their fifth studio LP.
Lead vocalist Lzzy Hale from the band Halestorm coming to Manchester this year.Credit: Sitro47 (via GoodFon)
They also became the first female-fronted band to win a Grammy in the ‘Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance’ category back in 2013 with ‘Love Bites (So Do I)’. There’s just no stopping them.
With that in mind, Halestorm are bringing their ‘balls to the wall’ and in-your-face live performances across the Atlantic once again, stopping off in various cities including London, Birmingham and, of course, the de facto music capital of the North, Manchester.
These rockers have chosen none other than AO Arena to play ‘The nEVEREST Tour’, which is set to be nothing less than a fiery spectacle.
The group last touched down in our city back in 2022 on their ‘Back from the Dead’ tour in this very same arena to a roaring crowd of fans, which they’re nailed on to attract once again this year.
Halestorm always do things big, that’s why this tour coincides with the announcement of their new album ‘Everest’, which drops this August, giving fans plenty of time to learn all the words and get in all the head-banging practice they need.
Just look at how many tour dates they’ve got coming up in Europe and the UK alone.
We are SO excited to announce The nEVEREST WorldWide Tour coming this fall!!!
On-Sales begins Friday, May 2nd but varies by territory. Check local listings and subscribe to our newsletter for more pre-sale and on-sale information at https://t.co/9Qhzd42L52. pic.twitter.com/LW8Bhc7DTQ
Halestorm have caught plenty of attention over the years too, sharing the stage with fellow heavyweights like Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, as well as Heaven & Hell, just to name a few.
Expectations will be high as this lot are known for having the ability to dominate any sold-out stage with their serious stage presence; they will definitely deliver on the night.
Halestorm are coming to AO Arena in Manchester on 24 November 2025 with Three+ pre-sale starting from 6 May, AO Arena pre-sale from 7 May, and tickets going on general sale from Thursday 8 May – 10am across the board.
Featured Images — Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
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Music venue charity issues ‘shocked’ statement ahead of impending Manchester closure
Thomas Melia
A nationwide music charity has issued a statement after discovering the news of another impending Manchester venue loss, as student-favourite Retro Bar looks to be closing.
Reputable UK non-profit, Music Venue Trust, has come out to express their shock at the plans to shut the long-standing and well-established nightlife and music venue.
Adjacent to the University of Manchester campus, Retro Bar has catered to students and locals alike for more than 35 years. The nightclub, bar and live performance space is set to be displaced in a new venture between Bruntwood SciTech and the university.
In a statement posted on social media, Music Venue Trust wrote: “It’s just not good enough to dismiss the extraordinary value these organisations bring to their communities, the cultural ecosystem and the night time economy.”
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) was formed just over a decade ago to protect and improve independent and grassroots music venues across the UK, so they were quick to step in upon learning that Manchester’s beloved Retro Bar faces closing.
The organisation works closely with larger venues and grassroots music venues to help support the infrastructure of the music industry and live music as a whole.
They even partnered with Katy Perry, who is heading out on tour and visiting AO Arena later this year, with £1 from every ticket sold going to this charity to be distributed to independent music venues.
MVT went on to explain that “Retro has not factored into the Sister masterplan in any meaningful way and faces the very real prospect of permanent closure this July”.
The impending closure of Retro makes way for a £1.7 billion joint development, which is being labelled as the ‘Sister Masterplan‘, between the uni and the Greater Manchester property development group.
Retro hosts in excess of 200 live gigs per year and welcomes upwards of 20,000 customers annually, having served as a staple venue in Mancunian nightlife culture.
In response to the plans, the MVT is currently leading a crowdfunding attempt to save the space and has even received the backing of a very familiar face.
On the fundraising site, anyone thinking of donating will find a video from the one and only Frank Turner – a passionate grassroots advocate – who is fully behind the campaign.
Daisy Jackson -
5th July 2022 
