It’s safe to say that Manchester is fully in the swing of a restriction-free summer, with June so far being beyond busy with events and parties.
There’s no sign of things slowing down just yet either – but in true Manc style, there’s something for everyone on the horizon this week.
There are celebrations of beer, music and a bit of both, candlelit sessions, yoga, film, and loads more.
Here are some of the best things to check out in the week ahead.
Summer Beer Thing
Kampus, 24 – 26 June
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This three day festival celebrating all things beer will be taking over Kampus this week.
Summer Beer Thing is organised by the teams behind Port Street Beer House, Common and The Beagle, and is the sister festival to Indy Man Beer Con.
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There’ll be a a brand new line up of breweries and food traders to go with its new waterside location, including Nell’s Pizza, Levanter and soon-to-be Kampus resident operators Madre, Pollen and Great North Pie Co.
Find out more here.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground, 22 June
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Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Californian rockers Red Hot Chilli Peppers will be performing an almighty gig here in Manchester this week.
The By The Way singers will take to the stage at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground as part of their 2022 world tour.
It’s the third massive artist to perform at the venue in recent weeks, following on from shows from Harry Styles and The Killers.
Salsa, poetry and music at Lock 91
Lock 91, Various dates
Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester’s brilliant lockside local bar has loads of events on throughout the week in its converted lock keeper’s cottage building.
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This week, there’s salsa dancing for all levels on Wednesday, as well as an open-mic or EP listening session from up-and-coming students from the BIMM Institute.
You can also pop down on Thursday for Punk in Drublic, a spoken word and stand-up comedy night that donates its ticket fee to Mustard Tree.
Cathedral Gardens and Exchange Square, 24 – 26 June
Credit: Gobefest
All weekend, there’ll be a celebration dedicated to the areas of Transylvania, the Carpathian Basin, and its wide-ranging traditions.
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Yep, Gobefest is back for its sixth year, bringing together culinary delights like kűrtőskalács (chimney cake), mititiei (Romanian skinless sausages), Hungarian honey bread and Csiki beer, alongside folk music and dance traditions that date back hundreds of years.
For three days in June, stages in Cathedral Gardens and Exchange Square will play host to an array of bands, choirs, ensembles, orchestras, dance groups and solo performers, hailing from as far as Transylvania, Croatia, Hungary and Romania.
As we all know, getting tickets for Glastonbury is a nigh-on impossible task, but you’ll be able to get a little taste of the magical event here in Manchester.
Grub and Vocation Brewery are teaming up on GRUBstonbury, a weekend of entertainment, music, and food while the festival itself is broadcast on the big screen.
Events include a Best of Glasto Disco Bingo, a Born To Be Wild Child family party, and a Rockstar Spirits garden bar takeover, plus live DJs, a vintage clothing pop-up, and (of course) street food.
Inside the luxury hotel suite inspired by a Christmas light trail
Thomas Melia
Located right next to Piccadilly Station, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly have curated a new hotel stay which is inspired by one of the region’s biggest light trails.
The new Christmas-themed room has been created as a continuation of Freight Island’s ‘Twilight Trail’, so you don’t need to leave the magic of the event behind in Mayfield Park.
This huge hotel, which recently underwent a £33m refurb, has been setting out to provide guests with incredible experiences and this new Christmas themed room is certainly no different.
As well as a stunning room decked out with festive decor, you can also see immaculate views of the city centre, and even the neighbouring Twilight Trail, thanks to the room being situated on the top floor of the eight storey building.
Initially launching last year, the festive-themed Twilight Trail attraction by Freight Island is only a short three-minute walk away from the all-new Christmas room at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly.
The converted ‘Deluxe Family Room’ is sure to put you in the festive spirit with everything from mood lighting to a real Christmas tree frocked in red and gold baubles.
How many reindeers could you count before you fall asleep effortlessly?It’s Christmas central at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly.The Deluxe Family Room has had a festive makeover.Credit: The Manc Group
Once you’ve unpacked your matching PJ’s and chosen where you’ll be sleeping for the night, you can head out the door knowing you get to come back to your own personal winter wonderland.
Next on your itinerary is a trip to the Twilight Trail itself, 6.5 acres of illuminations, interesting structures and fascinating displays.
If you’re not walking round this outdoor venue with a boozy hot chocolate fixed firmly in one hand then you’re definitely doing it wrong.
As you walk through the first tentacle-like tunnel, you’ll be greeted by an on-site refreshments truck serving generous helpings of hot chocolate.
After picking up your sweet drink, you’ll be plunged into a glittering world with a dramatic Christmas tree at the centrepiece of the illuminated park.
The opening tentacle-like tunnel which spans out across the floor.You can never go wrong with a hot chocolate.The grand Christmas tree towering over the various light features.Credit: The Manc Group
You can walk over a brightly lit bridge that constantly changes colours and makes you feel like you’re walking on a rainbow, literally.
This makes for a great sensory experience for all ages as you feel as though you’re a part of the trail, walking over the light displays instead of just seeing them from a distance. Class!
The twinkling tunnel lit with fairy lights makes for the perfect Instagrammable moment and is honestly core-memory worthy.
Lighting up the city centre with the Mayfield Depot sign adding some character.Look at those lights! The fairy light tunnel which are part of the Twilight Trail.Take a walk over the rainbow bridge as you soak up all this light trail has to offer.Credit: The Manc Group
Whether walking makes you hungry or you can just smell the delicious flavours of the street food vendors from next-door neighbours Freight Island, it would be rude not to pay them a visit.
It’ll probably take you just as long to decide what food you want as it did to complete the light trail thanks to the wide variety of cuisines on offer.
From 22 inch pizzas at Voodoo Ray’s to desserts on a stick at Oh My Cheesecake, you can grasp how exciting and mind-boggling the meals here are.
Burgers were the craving of the night and we left our foodie fate in the hands of the trusty Burgerism with their ‘Veggied’ and Pattersons ‘Salt ‘n’ Pepa’ single stack chicken burger.
This is one of three plant-based options from their menu and its packed with a selection of topping greats like pickles, tomatoes and a cheese slice.
Burgerism’s veggie offering was absolutely gorgeous.Pattersons flavoursome single stack chicken burger.The veggie has officially been ‘Veggied’.Credit: The Manc Group
This little Christmas themed adventure and stay is in the heart of Manchester city centre meaning it’s close to all amenities like trains, trams, bars, pubs and those all important Manchester Christmas Markets.
However when you’re sleeping in a room that has pillows galore, a built-in TV and Christmas decorations, a quiet night in was next on the agenda and you really do feel right at home.
Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly may just be one of Santa’s many little helpers and you can create your own priceless memory by staying in this gorgeous Christmas suite.
The bathroom in the Marriott Christmas room.Waking up out of bed to those stunning lights and cute tree.After your activity-filled day, fill up the tub and relax.Credit: The Manc Group
The Black Keys are coming back to Manchester for their Castlefield Bowl debut
Danny Jones
Legendary blues band, The Black Keys, are heading back to Manchester next year, set to play Castlefield Bowl for the very first time. This one’s a biggie.
As the latest headliner announced for Sound of the City 2025, the soulful Ohio rock and alternative duo are returning to 0161 for the third year running, having swapped the AO Arena for Co-op Live this past May, but now they’re set to tick another huge Manc venue off their list.
Confirmed amongst plenty of other big music news released on Monday, 2 December, The Black Keys will be heading to the Bowl as part of a new UK and European tour, with many of the dates including festival slots all over the continent.
While Manchester’s annual outdoor festival has seen some big names in the past, getting an act that boasts this kind of prestige and influence is a huge coup for Sound of the City (SOTC), the lineup for which already looks pretty stacked as it is.
Legendary rock duo @theblackkeys have just announced a run of outdoor headline shows across July 2025 🕺
The Black Keys released their 12th studio album, Ohio Players, back in April: a record heavily inspired by the vibe of band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s ongoing ‘record hang’ parties, which have become just as big a deal as their live shows themselves.
Hailed by Rolling Stone, who wrote, “Whether they set their retro-rock wayback machine to Memphis in the Sixties, the Midwest in the Seventies, or Manchester, England, and L.A. in the Nineties, it all flows together like a beautifully paced DJ set”, their latest here took place at YES over on Charles Street.
The album itself – met with vast critical acclaim (including Audio North‘s humble opinion) – was re-released as an expanded Trophy Edition on 15 November and features collaborations with everyone from our very own Noel Gallagher to Beck, Greg Kurstin, Juicy J and more, earning another Grammy nod too.
Even more excitingly, their latest collab on tour will see the mighty Miles Kane join them on the road for all three UK dates, meaning Castlefield Bowl will welcome the Birkenhead-born solo artists and Last Shadow Puppets star too. What a billing that is.
The other two shows held here on British shores will be at Alexandra Palace Park in the capital and over at Millenium Square as part of Leeds’ Sound of the City lineup for next year.
With a new music video for their latest single ‘Sin City’ having just debuted too, it’s well and truly going to be a Black Keys-heavy day on the office playlist.
General admission goes live this Friday, 6 December at 9am but fans can also get exclusive presale access which will begin at the same time on Wednesday morning (4 Nov).
You can get ready to grab your tickets to see The Black Keys at Castlefield Bowl and what will no doubt be one of the biggest shows of the summer on HERE – we’ll see you there.
Meanwhile, Manchester’s month-long music series over at its iconic amphitheatre just keeps getting better, with a whole host of UK and global favourites now confirmed for SOTC 2025.