The busyness of August, and the hustle and bustle of the bank holiday weekend has been and gone… and a new month is now here.
But while the summer may have passed us by the blink of an eye, and the kids have officially gone back to school for a new year, that doesn’t mean the fun’s stopped, as there’s still loads of events happening in Greater Manchester to get stuck right into.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s our top picks.
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Operation Ouch!
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 4 September – onwards
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Operation Ouch! / Credit: Science Museum Group
A brand-new exhibition is currently having its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, and it’s giving families the chance to “dive headfirst into the digestive system” and “travel like a poo”.
The new blockbuster exhibition, Operation Ouch!, is based on and will see the award-winning CBBC children’s TV series brought to life.
Visitors can expect interactive experiences, amazing objects from the Science Museum Group’s collection, and appearances from world-renowned doctors who will be on hand to guide audiences through this “lively, interactive, and playful adventure to better understand our brilliant bodies”.
In what is undeniably the stuff of dreams for cheese lovers, you can now take part in a cheese and wine crawl around Manchester city centre.
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The Manchester Cheese Crawl will take you around some of the cheesiest spots the city has to offer for two hours of non-stop cheese-related fun – including everything from blue cheese tasting, to cheese quizzes, competitions, and more.
Tickets cost just £25 each, and include cheese samples, optional bread and crackers, and some red wine to complement.
Manchester’s newest comedy festival is making a return to the city later this week, and there’s some massive names on the lineup set to bring the laughs.
After what was a smash-hit success in its inaugural year back in 2022, Laughterama is back in Manchester for more, and will once again be taking over the iconic Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre – with multi award-winning comedians Adam Buxton, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe, and Alan Davies being just some of the famous names on this year’s jam-packed lineup.
Festivalgoers are in for an “explosive series of shows” from some of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie / Credit: ATG Tickets
The highly-anticipated 2023 UK tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is finally arriving here Greater Manchester this week.
Following a record-breaking three-year West End residency, sold-out UK & Ireland Tour, and an Amazon studios award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically-acclaimed musical is finally set to return to The Lowry stage this week.
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The musical tells the story of Jamie New – a 16-year-old living on a council estate in Sheffield who doesn’t quite ‘fit in’ and is terrified about the future, but is determined to be a star.
Fancy trying something new? Time to conquer your fears? SEA LIFE Manchester’s snorkel cage experience lets people get closer than ever have before to more than 1,000 creatures of the deep at the Trafford Centre-based marine life aquarium.
Snorkel with Sharks is a one-hour surface snorkelling adventure.
Suitable for swimmers age 10+, the session includes a full briefing, introduction to the incredible creatures you can expect to see, and 20 minutes snorkelling in the purpose-built shark cage.
Didsbury’s very-own cookery school, Food Sorcery, is hosting another one of its popular cookery workshops dedicated to all things pasta this Thursday.
During this three-hour class, you can learn everything about how to make Italy’s staple food by hand, from how to mix and knead pasta dough, to various different rolling techniques, filling, and shaping, all before the chef will demonstrate some sauces to go with it.
So roll your sleeves up and get ready to mix, knead, bash, squash, and shape the dough into spaghetti, farfalle, ravioli, and so much more.
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You can find out more information, and book your place here.
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The Manc Audio – DJ Set
Night & Day Cafe
Friday 8 September
The Manc Audio – DJ Set / Credit: The Manc Group | Pixnio
Not only has it been an absolutely belting year for music and gigs in Greater Manchester already, but it’s about to get even better.
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The Manc Audio will be heading back to Night and Day Cafe for our second DJ takeover.
Following the success of our first night standing behind the decks at the legendary Night and Day, we’ve kindly been invited back to do it all over again – with Mr. Audio, DJ Dean himself, set to return to the stage for his sophomore show this Friday.
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this week.
Taking place this Friday 8 September, East Lancashire Railway’s Red Rose Diners are described as being “the ultimate first class foodie experience”, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
The Manc has teamed up with KAMPUS, and we’re bringing you a massive silent disco in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Kicking off from 3pm, with some brilliant DJs on the lineup set to be spinning the tunes and battling it out to get you on the dance floor, The Big Kampus Disco is an all-day FREE event – with non-stop bangers, the biggest silent disco the city’s ever seen, and so much more.
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Think DJ sets, amazing live music, dancers, performers, and all the glitter.
Silent Disco tickets are £5 plus a £10 refundable deposit for the hire of the headphones, but the rest of the event free, so find out more and grab tickets here.
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ShinDigger x Reform Radio – A Decade in the Game
Cheetham Hill
Saturday 9 September
ShinDigger x Reform Radio – A Decade in the Game / Credit: Supplied
ShinDigger and Reform Radio are coming together to celebrate their joint 10th birthday with “a day festival like no other” this Saturday.
After starting their ventures together in the same co-working space back in 2013, the two businesses have co-produced numerous events over the years, but this weekend’s aptly-named ‘A Decade in the Game’ is by far their most ambitious collaboration at The Yard in Cheetham Hill.
You can expect plenty of live music, and exclusive back-to-back DJ sets curated especially for this event, as well as food vendors, market stalls, kids’ activities, and so much more.
Doki Doki – The Manchester Japanese Festival / Credit: Doki Doki
Doki Doki – The Manchester Japanese Festival is back once again for 2023.
Taking place from 11am onwards on Saturday 9 & Sunday 10th September at Sugden Sports Centre, Doki Doki celebrates both traditional and modern Japanese culture – with a wide range of panels, talks, demonstrations, themed events, and more taking place across the weekend, as well as plenty of food and retail traders on site too.
Tickets for the festival are available to buy at the door on the day, and you can find out more here.
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Green Island Festival
Hulme Community Garden Centre
Saturday 9 September
Green Island Festival / Credit: Green Island
This year’s third and final volume of the Green Island Festival returns this weekend.
With a lineup of underground, underrepresented, and emerging artists from all across the UK, and placing global sounds at the forefront, Green Island is a grassroots festival stripped back to its most authentic form with community at its core that’s made a name for itself thanks to “bringing an enriching music and cultural escapade for all ages”.
Taking place on Saturday 9 September from 1pm-9pm, the 500-capacity festival will once again transform Hulme Community Garden Centre’s flora paradise into an “arts mecca”.
Icelandic vodka brand Reyka will be creating the ‘Fire and Ice Oasis’ at The Oast House in Spinningfields this weekend, where you can plunge into an ice bath, sit back and relax, drink cocktails, and get a good scran in too.
Taking place from midday right through to 1am on both Saturday and Sunday, with ice baths open until roughly 7pm each day, ice dippers will be given a goodie bag and a free cocktail, and anyone brave enough to take the plunge will be in with a chance of winning a trip to Iceland itself.
In the evening, there’ll also be a fire pit to cosy round as you sip on your vodka that was made with glacier water in a distillery powered by geo-thermal energy from volcanoes.
Featured Image – Laughterama | ShinDigger x Reform Radio | Green Island
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 -
1st September 2023 
