What's On

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 27 June – 3 July 2022

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 24th June 2022

It’s hard to believe that we’re waving goodbye to June and saying hello to July across Greater Manchester already.

Where are these months going?

The start of July does mean that summer is really here now though, and the events calendar is packed with plenty to be getting up to across the region this week, so we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.

As always, some of the events we’re going to mention are completely free, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.

Here’s our top picks.

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Box on the Docks

MediaCityUK

Monday 27 June – onwards

Box on the Docks / Credit: BOTD

Box on the Docks has returned to the banks of Salford Quays for the summer, and there’s be flowing beers, freshly-baked bagels, and boozy ice cream.

Back for its third year in a row, MediaCity’s popular outdoor dining concept, Box on the Docks, is set for another busy summer on the waterside piazza – but for the first time, it has taken on a brand-new format, as this year’s event is in partnership with SEVEN BRO7HERS.

The Salford-based brewing company has been put in charge of operating a rotating residency of the region’s emerging and established independent food and drink pop ups.

There’s also been an exciting lineup of live music and events for all ages.

You can find out more here.

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Amazônia

Science and Industry Museum

Monday 27 June – onwards

Amazônia / Credit: Science and Industry Museum

A critically-acclaimed photography exhibition has officially opened in Manchester as part of its international tour.

In what is the first UK exhibition of this scale outside of London for over 20 years from the world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, the Science and Industry Museum has will welcomed Amazônia – a major photography exhibition that celebrates the indigenous peoples and breathtaking landscapes of the Brazilian rainforest.

Salgado worked in the Amazon for seven years with 12 different indigenous communities, and the result is an incredible collection of powerful photographs that present his vision of a forest that is approaching a crucial tipping point in the fight against climate change, the Museum says.

You can find out more here.

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British Pop Archive

John Rylands Library

Monday 27 June – onwards

A new national collection dedicated to “the preservation and research of popular culture” has now opened in Manchester city centre.

The British Pop Archive (BPA) has been created by the University of Manchester (UoM) and has opened at the iconic John Rylands Library on Deansgate in the heart of the city centre, with the aim of celebrating British popular music and other aspects of popular culture to recognise its “pivotal influence” on the world stage.

Featuring “iconic items” relating to quintessential British bands, legendary UK television, youth culture, counter-culture, and more that have set trends around the globe, the BPA will be an important academic resource for research and teaching, UoM says.

It’ll also be a public resource for exhibitions and public events that’s open to all.

Find out more here.

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Looking for some new restaurants and bars to try out that have just opened in Manchester city centre this month?

While some big familiar restaurant names have rocked up in Manchester in recent weeks, and will continue to do so before June is out, there’s also plenty of homegrown talent popping up all over the region – including some old favourites moving up in the world.

Corner Slice x Jimmy’s, Pollen, and Neon Tiger / Credit: The Manc Group

Take Pollen, who have just moved into their enormous new site at KAMPUS, or pizza pedlars Corner Slice, who have paired up with Jimmy’s in Ancoats, as well as a very familiar old name in the form of a new Blockbusters cocktail bar, and plenty more newcomers joining the fray.

You can read our round-up to find out where to put on your list this month here.

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Sounds of the City 2022

Castlefield Bowl

Tuesday 28 June – Friday 8 July

Sounds of the City 2022 / Credit: SOTC

Sounds of the City is back in Manchester city centre for 2022.

After having established itself as a staple part of the Manchester music scene, with some of the most acclaimed live artists taking to the stage over the years, the festival will be taking over Castlefield Bowl for a series of headline concerts this summer.

Lewis Capaldi, Foals, Crowded House, The Libertines, James, Pixies, Sam Fender, and Hacienda Classical ​​​​​​are all set to play shows.

You can find out more and grab tickets here.

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NFM x Trafford: MCR’s History of Women’s Football

National Football Museum

Friday 1 July

NFM x Trafford / Credit: National Football Museum

You can join esteemed football historian Dr Gary James for a celebration of women’s football this week.

The day is split into two halves, and the event kicks off with Gary outlining the history of women’s football locally, with stories of games played in Trafford in the 1890s, the sport’s growth in the early twentieth century, the 1921 FA ban and its local impact, the pioneering teams and individuals of the interwar and post war years, and then the game’s rise and development throughout to the modern day.

Dr James will then chair a discussion with women who played football in the region.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

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Festival Manchester 2022

Wythenshawe Park

Friday 1 – Sunday 3 July

Festival Manchester 2022 / Credit: Festival Manchester

Live music, a fun fair, extreme sports, and a huge beach are just some of the attractions kicking off summer in Manchester this weekend.

​​After a number of community action projects and events have been taking place across the region over the last few months now, Festival Manchester is set to finally come together for one last huge celebration in Wythenshawe Park.

Taking place on Friday 1 – Sunday 3 July, and organised by hundreds of churches, and businesses, as well as local charities The Message Trust and Luis Palau Association, Festival Manchester will also include a family fun zone, a high-tech gaming lobby, a mass children’s choir, and live music from a lineup of local acts.

The festival is free for everyone to attend, and you can find out more here.

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Greater Manchester Fringe 2022

Greater Manchester

Friday 1 – Sunday 31 July

Greater Manchester Fringe 2022 / Credit: Craige Barker

The Greater Manchester Fringe is an annual city-wide theatre festival that celebrates new and emerging talent, and it’s back and taking over the region once again this month.

First taking place back in 2012 with six different venues and a handful of shows in each, the Greater Manchester Fringe has since grown each year with more performances, more ticket sales, and more venues taking part, and many past productions have moved onto established theatres, such as Bolton Octagon, Lowry Theatre, Royal Exchange theatre, and HOME theatre, have been recognised at the Manchester Theatre Awards.

Tickets are now on sale, and some shows are even free to attend, so you can find more information and grab yours here.

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Summer Natural Wine Night at GRUB

Cheetham Hill

Friday 1 July

Summer Natural Wine Night / Credit: GRUB | Reserve Wines

Manchester’s largest street food fair GRUB – which is currently based at the Red Bank Project just outside of the city centre in Cheetham Hill – is inviting you to a talk and guided tasting of six summer natural wines with Michael from Reserve Wines this Friday.

You’ll then get the chance to purchase bottles to take home from Michael’s mini natty wine sale.

Find out more and grab tickets for £20 each here.

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Paloma Faith

Haydock Park Racecourse

Friday 1 July

Paloma Faith at Haydock Park Racecourse / Credit: The Jockey Club Live

Paloma Faith is just one huge name set to play a headline show as part of a live concert series at Haydock Park Racecourse this summer.

The Jockey Club Live is renowned for bringing live music to thousands of fans in the relaxed open-air setting of some of the UK’s biggest racecourses, and as double platinum and BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith will be heading out on her second UK tour within a year with this summer, she will be stopping off at Haydock Park on Friday 1 July.

She’ll perform and have fans singing along to hits from her extensive and much-loved repertoire, as well as new songs from her fifth studio album Infinite Things.

You can find out more and grab tickets here.

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Power UP

Science and Industry Museum

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 July

Power UP / Credit: Science Museum Group

A huge gaming event has returned to Manchester.

With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP is back at the Science and Industry Museum for the first time in three years, taking ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming, with everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more.

Power UP will be taking place every weekend and school holiday from 18 June all the way through to December 2023, and every ticket includes unlimited play all day.

You can find more information here.

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IRONMAN UK 2022

Bolton

Saturday 2 July

IRONMAN UK 2022 / Credit: Ironman

IRONMAN UK returns to Bolton once again this weekend.

With Bolton having been the UK-based home to the world-renowned triathlon event for the past several years now, IRONMAN UK has become known for its iconic spectator support, incredible bike course scenery, and impressive finish line that’s in the heart of the town centre.

A number of temporary road closures will be in place across Bolton on race day to ensure the safety of athletes and the public.

You can find out more about IRONMAN UK 2022 here.

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Food4Thoughts Wellness Festival

Cheshire Oaks

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 July

Food4Thoughts Wellness Festival / Credit: F4T

Cheshire Oaks is partnering with Manchester-based nutrition and wellness brand Food4Thoughts (F4T) to bring an exclusive Wellness Festival to the designer outlet village this weekend.

The weekend takeover will see F4T – co-founded by famed Mancunians Scott Thomas and Eden Thomas – hosting fitness classes, live cook-a-longs, and wellness workshops led by industry experts across the two days, and all visitors will get to make the most of a range of live entertainment and music for free,

Visitors will even be given access to some exclusive offers, and the chance to enter a prize draw worth up to £2,500.

You can find out more and grab tickets for free here.

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Murder Mystery Night

East Lancashire Railway

Saturday 2 July

Murder Mystery Nights / Credit: ELR

East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is hosting another one of its Murder Mystery Nights this weekend.

If you’re a big fan of Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, or you just enjoy a brilliant night of entertainment and fine dining, then the heritage railway’s popular Murder Mystery Nights are back, and you’re invited to bring your best detective people skills and hop aboard a stunning steam train travelling through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.

Hosted by award-winning events company After Dark Entertainment, you will be guided through some “serious sleuthing” to find out whodunit, with each night featuring a different theme, a different cast, and a different riddle to solve.

This Saturday is the turn of ‘An Invitation to Murder’, and you can join an eclectic collection of famous golden age detectives as they investigate the killing of a reclusive author.

Find out more and book tickets here.

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Featured Image – Sounds of the City | Craige Barker

What's On

New app launches taking music fans on an immersive AR tour around Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The history of Manchester’s globally-renowned music scene is now being celebrated through the launch of a unique new app.

Manchester Music Mooch is an app that takes you on an immersive journey of the city’s iconic musical heritage locations, all while giving emerging artists a platform to shine. 

Made possible through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, and by using the power of Augmented Reality (AR), the app takes music lovers on an interactive trail across five grassroots music destinations.

The app was created by MediaCity-based Dig Media and award-winning app developers, ArcadeXR, ahead of an expected 1.3 million music tourists arriving in Manchester this summer.

It was developed in collaboration with Manchester Digital Music Archive, Salford University, Toasted Productions, and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), as well as with support by Visit Manchester and ABID.

Some of the famous grassroots music sites featured on the toor included like Tony Wilson Place, Band on the Wall, Fat City Records, and the Roadhouse.

Influential music spots in the Oxford Road Corridor like Manchester Academy, Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), and the former BBC building, can also be explored on the tour, as well as influential clubs in the Gay Village.

Loads of well-known and upcoming musical names will be providing the narrative for the tour along the way, such as DJ Paulette, Rowetta, Luke Una, and even Middleton-born singer songwriter JP Cooper.

A new app has launched and it’s taking music fans on an immersive AR tour around Manchester / Credit: Supplied

The app’s launch comes as the city celebrates a sensational summer of live music, with a whole series of music-themed activities taking place across the city as part of Manchester City Council’s MCR Live ’25 campaign – including Wild In Art’s Music for the Senses art trail.

“Manchester’s music history is globally renowned, but the city often struggles to convey its story cohesively,” commented Simon Marsland, who is the founder of app creators, Dig Media.

“With Dig Media’s expertise in media production, archiving and technology, alongside extensive local and international music networks, we’re spearheading a resilient way of sharing Manchester’s musical legacy never done before.”

Read more:

The Manchester Music Mooch app is free to download online, where you can also find extra interactive content, more in-depth history, and information.

Download the app here.

Featured Image – Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)

What's On

The Maccabees’ Orlando Weeks on Gavin and Stacey, Glastonbury and comeback tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Orlando Weeks interview The Maccabees

UK indie band The Maccabees announced their comeback tour earlier this year alongside a very impressive All Points East headline date.

Since rocking into the music scene in 2007, The Maccabees have a Mercury Prize nomination to their name as well as three UK top 40 singles and one chart-topping album ‘Marks To Prove It’.

Just last year, the band ingrained themselves into UK pop culture for eternity thanks to the inclusion of their single ‘Pelican’ in the finale of the much-loved TV classic Gavin and Stacey.

The Maccabees have been a staple in British culture and indie music alike, and it’s safe to say fans were overjoyed when the news of a comeback tour was announced.

The Maccabees Manchester gig tickets
The Maccabees are coming to O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on 21 and 22 August.

After nearly a decade apart, the lads are ready to hit the road again with a string of UK tour dates, which are in preparation for their huge All Points East headline date at the end of August.

Lead vocalist for The Maccabees, Orlando Weeks, sat down with us to talk reuniting with fellow bandmates after almost a decade, as well as all things Glastonbury and the upcoming All Points East headline slot.

Orlando Weeks from The Maccabees | The Interview

The Maccabees have played Manchester almost 20 times since entering the music scene in 2007. What is it about our Manc crowds that keeps pulling you back?

Manchester has a musical heritage, which means there are enough venues that we can come back to so many times and people not be sick of us. The crowds are great, it’s always a good gig and always a good night out.

Having that kind of heritage and pride in your city makes it the kind of place [bands] want to come back to.

This will be the band’s first time playing O2 Victoria Warehouse, and after playing a variety of Manchester City centre music venues, how excited are you to be playing this one for the first time?

I’ve had friends that’ve played it, and everyone said that it’s a good gig. I have no doubt it’ll be good.

Due to incredible demand, you’ve had to add a second date after the first show sold out – what’s it like for you hearing news like this?

The original offer for us was to play All Points East, and so when we got that, it made up our minds to play these summer shows.

Getting to play once in Manchester will set us up [for this headline slot], and getting to play twice will set us up even better. I love being in Manchester anyway, so to have a little bit longer to have a wander and a drink is great.

What was it like getting back into the rehearsal process with the rest of the band after nearly 10 years of not performing or touring together? 

It’s very odd how powerful muscle memory is. It’s crazy how quickly all of the songs, structures and playing came back to us.

When we used to play, I invented so many completely useless little triggers for me to help remember lyrics or a chorus that I’d get stuck on, and I still remember those foot taps and placements that bring it all back.

Felix [White] boasted before we even started rehearsing that he remembered everything off by heart, and he could go straight into a gig. To be fair to him, it’s amazing how much his brain has retained.

At your first show in nearly a decade at The Dome in London, you created artwork to raise funds for the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society. Will fans be able to buy your artwork and support this charity at both the Manchester dates?

There will be an MS charity stall as well as one for Doctors Without Borders. If you’re reading this or coming to either of the gigs and have anything that you can contribute to either of those charities, then we as a band would be extremely grateful.

This 2025 tour sees support from indie rock band, Sorry – how excited are you to head out on the road with this talented group?

 The Maccabees have always been very lucky to travel around the world with other bands who are amazing, and Sorry are definitely part of that list.

You have a reason to get down early, because if you’re a fan of The Macs, you’ll be a fan of Sorry. I can guarantee that you’ll have a good time.

The Maccabees are taking part in some of the biggest events in the British music calendar [Glastonbury, All Points East]. How does it feel to have such immense support nearly 20 years into your career?

20 years in and 10 years off. There are a few people who aren’t in the band but have been such a big part of it, even through the 10 years that we weren’t really doing anything. They would say if you ever did wanna do something, there’ll be people there.

I just didn’t know that [The Macabees reunion] would be as popular as it has been. It’s very hard to explain or get your head around, really.

On the topic of Glasto, how surreal was it to be playing this major music festival for the third time?

@bbc6music Just WOW – #Florencewelch #themaccabees #Glastonbury ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

I think we’ve been at least four times, maybe five times.

Headlining ‘The Park’ stage was special, and it was also the first time my son came and saw me on a stage singing. It was a great ‘take your son to Work Day’. We had Florence [Welch] coming out and singing with us, too.

I’ll remember all of The Maccabees’ Glastonbury experiences, but I think that’s the one I’ll hold onto for the longest.

Speaking of surreal moments, your song ‘Pelican’ featured in the finale of British favourite, Gavin and Stacey. How did this opportunity come about?

@nessa_smithy How has it already been 4 weeks since the finale came out?😭💗 #foryou #gavinandstacey #fyp #gavinandstaceyfinale #gavinandstaceyclips #ruthjones #jamescorden #gavin #stacey #britcomedy #smithy #nessa #unclebryn #pamandmick #davecoaches #themaccabees #robbrydon #gavinandstaceychristmasspecial #smithyandnessa ♬ Pelican – The Maccabees

I think Matt might’ve texted me, but it was Christmas and I was swept up in all sorts of celebrations. We got a lot of messages after it aired because an insane number of people watch the show.

It’s all thanks to James Corden and Matt Horne, who have always been fans from early on. It was very flattering and very nice to be part of [Gavin and Stacey].

And finally, after playing Manchester so many times, are there any shops or special spots that you always make sure to visit when you’re in the city?

I remember when we were in Manchester last time for ‘The Farewell’ tour, I’d started running by then – and I loved the canals.

Usually, I defer to local friends and I’ll just let them take me to whichever pub or place they recommend – Wherever they go, I go.

The Maccabees are set to play two nights at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, and there are still tickets available for their second date HERE.

The Maccabees announce huge Manchester gig on hotly-anticipated reunion tour
You should have heard our editor’s (whose favourite band is The Maccabees) screams when the comeback was confirmed.

Read more:

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

Featured Images – Press shots/David Dixon (via Geograph)/tv.bomb.co.uk (via WikiCommons)

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