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
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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 especially 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.
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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 – Sunday 26 May
Manchester Jazz Festival 2024 / Credit: mjf
mjf2024 is currently underway at venues and sites all across across Manchester city centre.
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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
Bad Bunny: What you need to know about the Super Bowl LX headliner before his big halftime show
Thomas Melia
Global superstar Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show, and we’re giving you the rundown about the current reigning reggaeton artist.
Despite being world famous and hugely popular in Latin America as well as other Hispanic countries, not everyone had heard his name before now.
And since there seem to be more places showing the Super Bowl than ever in Manchester this year, we thought we’d give you a little explainer of his story so far and why you should care when he takes one of the world’s biggest stages.
So, if you’ve been wondering, “who is Bad Bunny?” – well, this is who…
Who is Super Bowl halftime show headliner, Bad Bunny?
Born in Puerto Rico, Benito Antonio – now more widely recognised by his artistic moniker Bad Bunny – is a fast-rising Spanish-speaking act who has transported modern-day reggaeton from Latin America to all new heights.
The Puerto Rican powerhouse has only ever visited the UK once, performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town in London seven years ago as part of his first-ever run of global shows entitled ‘La Nueva Religión’ (The New Religion) tour.
Since then, ‘El Benito’ has dropped seven full-length studio albums and nine musical projects overall, which have all helped establish him as a major force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Bad Bunny is headlining the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show on 8 February / Credit: Press Shot via Apple Music(Supplied) / Unsplash via Naveen Venkatesan
Alongside his musical career, Bad Bunny has seen himself at the forefront of various pop culture moments thanks to his innovative fashion sense and notable charm.
Iconic moments Bad Bunny is known for
With his first album X 100Pre (an abbreviation meaning Forever) dropping back in 2018, Bad Bunny has spent almost eight years in the limelight, so it will come as no surprise that there are plenty of iconic moments you might remember.
Bad Bunny as a drag queen – To coincide with the release of his single ‘Yo Perreo Sola’ (I Twerk Alone), Benito stepped into unchartered territory, debuting three different Drag personas to combat toxic masculinity in the reggaeton music scene.
WWE – Benito is a huge fan of wrestling. He first appeared for a performance at the Royal Rumble in 2021, before returning later that year and teaming up with Damian Priest to take down The Miz and John Morrison.
VMA performance – The Latin multi-hyphenate made headlines in 2022 after kissing a male dancer on-stage. Both fans and media outlets stated the performance harked back to Madonna’s similar showcase two decades prior; you can watch Bad Bunny’s kiss HERE (skip to 2:50).
Met Gala – Well-recognised for its glamorous and glitzy outfits, the Met Gala brings together A-Listers for a showcase of all things fashion. Bad Bunny was styled by fashion house Jacquemus and wore a backless suit with a 26-foot train.
The Super Bowl is a huge accomplishment for all artists; now Bad Bunny joins the headlining roster / Credit: Jorge Rojas via Unsplash (Supplied)
SNL – The LATAM star has appeared on American comedy sketch-show SNL numerous times, both as an artist and as a part-time comedian. In 2023, Bad Bunny and Pedro Pascal became an overprotective aunty and mum duo and had crowds laughing uncontrollably.
Carpool Karaoke – James Corden’s nighttime show segment was welcomed into the reggaeton world courtesy of Bad Bunny. However, it’s his cover of ‘Break Free’ by Ariana Grande where he discusses it’s the first English-spoken song he ever learnt that had people falling in love with him.
Coachella – This desert-based music festival is known for its large-scale productions, and in the early summer of 2023, Bad Bunny became the first Spanish-speaking artist to headline this mega music celebration.
No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí – Translating to ‘I don’t want to leave here’, this was the title of his Puerto Rico residency. As well as creating lifelong memories for fans, this 31-date experience also boosted the economy of his home country.
What songs will Bad Bunny perform at his Super Bowl halftime show?
With 28 songs over one billion streams, Bad Bunny is going to have a tricky time deciphering which of his hits to include in his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance.
His most recognisable album is the beach-inspired Un Verano Sin Ti (A Summer Without You), which features six tracks with over one billion streams, so it’s safe to say this LP is guaranteed some love.
The latest addition to El Benito’s discography, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I Should’ve Taken More Photos) might also steal the spotlight due to its focus on exploring traditional Puerto Rican sounds.
And, after reconciling late last year, Bad Bunny might take his friendship with J Balvin to Super Bowl status, performing songs from their collaborative album OASIS as well as their Cardi B link-up ‘I Like It’.
Audio North‘s Bad Bunny Super Bowl setlist prediction:
NUEVAYoL
Tití Me Preguntó/ Me Porto Bonito/ Moscow Mule (Medley)
Dákiti
I Like It (With Cardi B and J Balvin)
La Canción (With J Balvin)
Callaíta (With Tainy)
Un x100to (With Grupo Frontera)
Baile Inolvidable
Super Bowl halftime show performances normally contain around 10 songs, and the setlist is being kept very tight-lipped as per usual; however, it’s always fun to throw out a prediction or two before the event on Sunday, 8 February.
Which special guests will join Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show line-up?
Bad Bunny has worked with a multitude of artists from reggaeton sidekicks to pop supremes like Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa and Drake.
Although it’s highly unlikely these big names will all be free at the same time, when it comes to ‘The Bowl’, anything is possible.
The ‘Tití Me Preguntó’ songwriter is heading to the UK for the second time ever in his career, for his Debí Tirar Más FotosWorld Tour, and he’s chosen Tottenham Hotspur as the location for this huge cultural moment.
If you’re wondering where to get tickets, you have two chances to watch this superstar in his element as he’s performing on June 27 and 28; you can grab your tickets for either date HERE and HERE, respectively.
Hopefully, now you’ve discovered more about who this Latin American sensation is, so you’re not left completely clueless when the Seahawks and Patriots take a quick 15-minutebreak mid-game.
Featured Images – Press Shot via Apple Music(Supplied)/Unsplash via Naveen Venkatesan (Supplied)/Jorge Rojas via Unsplash (Supplied)
What's On
Jason Derulo at Co-op Live – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American chart topper Jason Derulo is visiting Co-op Live in Manchester for a night of radio bangers that will get stuck ‘In My Head’ and yours too.
Known for soundtracking the early 2010s and beyond, Derulo is heading back to Manchester for his first-ever appearance at the Co-op Live arena.
The Florida-born performer has five UK number one singles to his name, so it’s safe to say his setlist will be stacked with massive hits sure to ‘Take You Dancing’ all night long.
His latest effort, The Last Dance, is an eight-track EP featuring collaborations with INNA and Melody as well as the bouncy lead single ‘Sexy For Me’.
Gig guide – Jason Derulo at Co-op Live, Manchester
This leg of shows is titled after that very same project, and Derulo is asking anyone going to wear their best futuristic or metallic attire and accessories – if you’re lucky, you might end up being his ‘It Girl’.
Jason Derulo is making his Co-op Live debut (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Jason Derulo UK tour dates
Fri 30 Jan – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Sat 31 Jan – London, UK – The O2
Mon 2 Feb – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
Tue 3 Feb – Brighton, UK – The Brighton Centre
Thu 5 Feb – Bournemouth, UK – Bournemouth International Centre
Fri 6 Feb – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
Sat 7 Feb – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 9 Feb – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
Jason Derulo tickets for Co-op Live gig
If you want to see Jason Derulo ‘Talk Dirty’ to a huge 23,500 arena crowd over some ‘Trumpets’, then you’ll want to get tickets to this event.
Luckily, there are still opportunities for you to see Mr Derulo ‘Wiggle’ right in front of your eyes as there are tickets available HERE.
Jason Derulo setlist for 2026 tour
Although the tour hasn’t kicked off yet, here’s one of the pop/R’n’B champ’s latest sets from September last year, which contains some 2010s classics and big belters.
Swalla
Wiggle
Take You Dancing
Acapulco
Savage Love
Whatcha Say
Who Hurt You
Tip Toe
Breathing
In My Head
Ridin’ Solo
Spicy Margarita
Love Tonight
The Other Side
Dame Un Grrr
Talk Dirty
Want to Want Me
Don’t Wanna Go Home / Shots
Who Hurt You
What are the stage times for Jason Derulo in Manchester?
The ‘It Girl’ hitmaker’s ‘The Last Dance Tour’ across the UK is already underway. (Credit: WikiCommons)
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning as much as we ′Don’t Wanna Go Home’, at least we’ll be tucked up in bed before the early hours.
Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm, with a kick-off time expected to be 7:30pm, with support from Czech rising star THERA and local Manc-EDM group, LZ7.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know 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 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
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 on 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 on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike 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.
Emily Sergeant -
16th May 2024 
