It is an absolutely massive few days of music here in Manchester and although while plenty will be focused on the arrival of Parklife, there’s another big name arriving at the Etihad this Weeknd.
See what we did there?…
That’s right, Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weeknd is one of many amazing incredible acts set to perform this Saturday, following Coldplay last week by taking the stage at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
With The Courteeners kicking off the Heaton Park party vibes on Friday before the Parklife festivities get into full swing, you obviously can’t cram absolutely everyone onto one big field, so for those of you that are going along, here’s everything you need to know.
Are there any tickets left for The Weeknd’s Manchester gig?
We’ve got some bad news for you, tickets to see The Weeknd at the Etihad sold out a while ago — we’re talking seated, standing, hospitality, the lot.
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He is one of the biggest pop and R&B artists on the planet, so not that much of a surprise, to be fair.
You can obviously always keep your eye out on resellers like TicketSwap and Twickets for any spares that might go up but, as always, we advise caution when purchasing second-hand tickets from anyone and to steer well clear of ticket touts.
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Who are The Weeknd’s support acts?
As for those of you who have managed to bag a ticket, you’re in for an absolute treat as not only will you be seeing The Weeknd but his support acts are absolutely dynamite.
As well as prolific producer Mike Dean (not the one that’s usually at the Etihad) as the first support, who has worked with the likes of Kanye West, Travis Scott, Drake and countless other big names — The Weeknd included, obviously — you will also get to see global DJ and electronic sensation Kaytranada before the main event.
Madness, right? For anyone still sleeping on Kaytra (there can’t be many of you left in the world), the fellow Canadian is arguably one of the best live acts going at the minute, selling out stadiums all across the world, headlining Coachella and costing a fair few quid to see alone.
Now, when it comes to setlists, given that artists like switch things up from show to show all the time, we can only ever really give you predictions.
However, according to Setlist.fm and his last show in Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Portugal, he is what you very well be hearing come Saturday night.
We’ll warn you now, it’s an absolute whopper of a line-up.
Take My Breath
Sacrifice (Swedish House Mafia remix)
How Do I Make You Love Me?
Can’t Feel My Face
Lost in the Fire
Hurricane
The Hills
Often
Crew Love
Starboy
House of Balloons
Heartless
Low Life
Reminder
Party Monster
Faith
After Hours
Out of Time
I Feel It Coming
Die for You
Is There Someone Else?
I Was Never There
Wicked Games
Call Out My Name
The Morning
Save Your Tears
Less Than Zero
Encore
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Blinding Lights
Double Fantasy
Creepin’ (Metro Boomin cover)
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What a show this is going to be.
Stage times
Mike Dean/Kaytranada/The Weeknd (via Instagram)
Speaking of the lineup, in case you’re wondering when you can expect each of them to rock up to the Etihad stage, doors are set to open at 4pm and with Manchester set for yet another gorgeous day, you can spend hours enjoying tunes in the heat before the sun even goes down. Wonderful stuff.
While the exact times of each act are yet to be fully announced, the live entertainment is set to start around 7pm, with The Weeknd expected to take the stage around 9pm.
With a setlist this long, who knows how long he tends to go on for, but we’d ballpark that the show will finish around 11pm.
How to get to the Etihad Stadium
Last but not least, getting to the Eithad should be a doddle regardless of how you’re getting there. If you’re choosing public transport, the Metrolink is the most direct route, with a tram stop right outside the ground and just a few stops away from Manchester Piccadilly.
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Both Holt Town and Velopark Metrolink stops, located on either side of the Etihad Campus stop, will not be open for at least an hour after an event at the stadium and they’ll obviously be very busy, so just make sure plan accordingly.
The trams will be very busy though, and since the weather looks so nice again, so you might prefer to walk; if so, it’s only around a 30-minute stroll from town with this safe walking route recommended.
If you need to drive in, official car parking is priced at £25 for cars, £50 for coaches and £40 for minibuses. There are of course other unofficial car parks and drop-off points nearby too, so just make sure you’re not getting ripped off.
Elbow get behind campaign to save Jodrell Bank from closure
Danny Jones
Manc band Elbow are among the latest to get behind the campaign to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from closing permanently.
The Greater Manchester natives famously played a sold-out gig at the important scientific and cultural landmark for a very special live album recording well over a decade ago, and know all too well the site’s national and, indeed, global heritage.
Choosing the Observatory and the rare chance to perform a show in the shadow of the world-renowned James Lovell Telescope, it probably remains one of their most significant standalone UK date ever.
With that in mind, the local lads have been left just as worried by the news of its impending closure as everyone else, and have therefore issued a fresh appeal to help keep it open.
Posting a timely statement on social media, the group wrote: “Jodrell Bank has long been close to elbow’s heart. In 2012, the band played beneath the Lovell Telescope for one of the most memorable shows in our history.
“The recent news that funding for the e-MERLIN radio telescope network is set to end in 2028 puts the future of the scientific work at Jodrell Bank under serious threat. It is a remarkable place, with an extraordinary history, and one that continues to play an important role in science, culture and education.”
In addition to reliving clips and images from the historic live set all the years later, they also pointed people towards their ‘elbow – Live at Jodrell Bank‘ album documentary, which has now been made available online for the very first time as part of wider efforts to raise awareness around the cause.
Directing people to key online resources shared by the institution and astrophysics centre itself following their unfortunate update late last month, the push to not only find the funding but sustain support for the facility continues to ramp up throughout the world of science, arts and industry.
For anyone who somehow missed the news – 2028 being the current deadline handed down as per budget cuts across the sector – concerned parties here in the North West and all over the country have since started petitioning to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from shutting down for good.
In addition to being described as a “huge blow” to the field by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), some have even gone so far as to describe the decision as a form of “vandalism” when it comes to research and British culture as a whole.
Having also served as the host venue for the annual bluedot Festival since 2016, the multi-genre science and arts celebration could soon be forced to find a new home.
The battle is far from over yet, and the community has time to rescue Jodrell Bank Observatory from its fate, but it will take lots of money and more notable public figures to make it happen.
Once again, you can do your bit by signing the petition mentioned above right HERE.
Featured Images — Emma Farrer (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group
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Manichester organisers confirm tribute festival will return in 2027
Danny Jones
For anyone who didn’t manage to make it to the inaugural ‘Manichester’ festival held earlier this year in memory of British music legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, you’ll be glad to hear that the tribute festival will be returning in 2027.
Set up in the name of the late, great Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, the event sold out in the blink of an eye, as hordes of Mancs and more turned up to honour the local icon through live music.
Following paying their respects in the immediate aftermath, his surviving family members, peers and other figures from within the industry then held that wonderful evening, where several big names turned up to remember with live performances – and it’s official: they’re not done yet.
Writing in a lengthy caption, the brand said, “The family of Stone Roses legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield have thanked everyone who made Manichester at Diecast such a special day — performers, organisers, and the thousands who turned up to celebrate a true Manchester icon.”
The evidently emotional and grateful statement goes on to read: “On behalf of Gene, George & the Family — thank you to everyone who performed, contributed and attended Manichester on 30 May 2026, and for all your kind words of support.
“The response was massive — fans travelled from everywhere, demand through the roof, love for Mani louder than ever. [Local fashion label] GioGoi even said they could’ve filled Old Trafford.”
Revealing that the team of organisers have now green-lit the follow-up edition next year, they promise to deliver the same kind of magic, only “bigger, better, built properly” and with more music and people involved this time around.
They also thanked Manc-Mexican musician and creative, Alejandro Reyes Knight, for filming and editing the content on the night, adding that since he “grew up in Madchester”, there was no better person to be tasked with the job.
For anyone who was there at Diecast on the special memorial evening itself, we don’t need to tell you how special the energy was in the room.
We spent a good week or so looking back at footage following the maiden Manichester festival, as we’re sure plenty of you did, too; safe to say we’re glad we’ll have another opportunity to celebrate his life and career in the best way we know how: with plenty of tunes and singing our hearts out.
It remains to be seen whether Diecast will remain the host venue for the sophomore tribute fest, and the next date is also still yet to be fully set.
All we do know is that with such a good lineup and turnout the first time around, you can expect an excellent and equally heartfelt sequel in 2027.
You can register your interest right HERE. Wherever and whenever it is, we’ll see you there.
@the.manc Yesterday, Manchester laid one of the city's greatest music legends, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, to rest at Manchester Cathedral. 🍋 Fellow band member and life-long friend Ian Brown read out a speech as hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist. Mani will be missed by many, and we send love to all his family and friends. ❤️ #manchester#mani#ianbrown#thestoneroses#stoneroses♬ original sound – The Manc
Danny Jones -
9th June 2023 
