Whilst it feels like summer might be over now, there is still a whole load of open-air events you can get stuck into at Castlefield Bowl this week to help you prolong the summer feeling as much as possible into September.
Since 2013, Sounds of the City has been bringing some of the best UK bands and artists to the city. We’ve seen Manchester bands New Order, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Elbow and Courteeners have all been invited to perform in their hometown, along with the likes of Arcade Fire, The Kooks and Catfish And The Bottlemen over the years.
But finally, after a year away, the series is back and bringing even more of the UK and Ireland’s finest to Castlefield Bowl this September in celebration of the 2021 edition.
So, from next Tuesday there are six nights of top-class concerts happening down there – and here we’ve picked out our top three selections, all of which have still got tickets left.
Brit-award nominated Dermot Kennedy will visit on Tuesday
Dermot spent some time touring America in August. Credit: @jessedeflorio/IG
Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy catapulted to stardom in 2019 following the release of his debut album ‘Without Fear’, and it seems there’s no chance of him slowing down any time soon.
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On its release, the album became the fastest-selling album of 2019 in Ireland, topping the UK Charts too.
Bridging hip-hop and folk genres, Dermot has developed a unique sound over the years. You’ll be able to witness the Irish powerhouse in action on Tuesday 21 September as he visits Manchester as part of the Sounds of the City series.
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He’ll have support from Mimi Webb who is best known for her song ‘Before I Go’ which was featured by Charli D’Amelio on TikTok. This week, Mimi dropped her debut album which entered straight into the Top 50.
This show will be a warm up for Dermot’s upcoming tour this Autumn which includes two sold-out dates at the O2 Victoria Warehouse.
For your chance to see Dermot live at Castlefield Bowl, tickets are selling fast but grab them here.
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Lively Wednesday night antics with Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs visited Halifax’s Piece Hall last weekend. Credit: Kaiser Chiefs/IG
Indie-rock band Kaiser Chiefs have been in the game for 21 years and on Wednesday 22 September they’ll bring their years-worth of stage experience to Castlefield Bowl.
The band’s last album ‘Duck’ went to number three in the charts in 2019 and was followed by a Europe and UK tour before lockdown in early 2020.
So far this summer, the band have been busy with a number of one-off gigs and festival appearances including Isle of Wight Festival last Saturday. Now, they’ll add Sounds of the City to their 2021 calendar.
Support will come from fellow renowned UK band Razorlight, plus all-woman rock band PINS who are born and bred right here in Manchester.
So, if you fancy heading out for a bit of midweek live music, you can find tickets for this one here.
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End the weekend with the melancholic sounds of Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol were finally back in action last weekend. Credit: @bradleyquinnphotos/IG
Rounding off the Sounds of the City series this year will be indie rock group Snow Patrol. Throughout their stellar career, they’ve racked up five UK platinum albums, along with Grammy, BRIT and Mercury Music Prize nominations.
Not only that, but the band has the accolade of the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio with ‘Chasing Cars’. And now, you can hear the iconic anthem live at Castlefield Bowl on Sunday 26 September.
Irish-born singer Lucy Blue will provide support on the night. The bedroom pop artist also supported Snow Patrol for their first gig back in a while last weekend at Scarborough’s Open-Air Theatre.
As well as Lucy, Wigan band The Lathums will complete the bill. The band has been tearing up the indie music scene in Manchester recently. And with the announcement of their special one-off gig at the legendary Empress Ballroom in Blackpool the band is expected to go from strength-to-strength in the next couple of years.
To witness Snow Patrol, The Lathums and Lucy Blue in the final instalment of this year’s Sounds of the City, get your tickets here.
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Tickets for all the shows are selling quickly, so don’t wait around. For more info on the Sounds of the City series and all the ticket links, head here.
And don’t forget to follow The Manc Audio on Instagram to stay up to date with music and events in Manchester.
Featured image: Sam Neill
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Fans stunned as indie band The Reytons announce Co-op Live gig
Daisy Jackson
The Reytons have just announced their biggest shows to date – and fans can’t quite believe the size of venue they’ve gone for in Manchester.
The indie group will be playing at Co-op Live later this year as part of their very first world tour.
It’s comfortably the biggest indoor music venue in the UK, and will be the largest gig on the entire tour, which also includes shows at Alexandra Palace, plus venues across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
The Reytons have most recently been out touring with a headline slot at Tramlines Festival in Sheffield, as well as pulling Gary Neville up to play with them on stage.
The Rotheram-formed group recently announced their fourth studio album ‘A Love Letter To A Broken Town’ – due for release in July.
Frontman Jonny Yerrell said: “I honestly feel like this album is the best we’ve ever done!
“A lot of bands and artists like to change direction later in their careers, but that’s just not us. We absolutely love the style of music we make, the social commentary aspects and the people who turn up to jump around with us. Why would we change?
“Expect more, just bigger and better with a few surprises on the side!”
This latest announcement for The Reytons sees them booking an incredibly ambitious jump in venue size – the 23,500 capacity Co-op Live, compared to last year’s 5,000 capacity Aviva Studios.
And now a load of fans are bickering online about whether they’ll be able to sell it out, with one person writing: “Everyone said they wouldnt sell out sheffield arena, clifton park, tramlines or wembley arena… they sold out all 4. I know 3 are local shows but people will travel to see them as well as proven by the Wembley gig.”
Another said: “People will follow them, doesn’t matter where they go. When it sell out, ill make sure to come let you know.”
Even their own press release described it as an ‘against all odds’ rise to success, describing the band as ‘UK music’s biggest underdogs’.
Tickets for The Reytons world tour, including their Co-op Live gig in Manchester, will go on sale at 10am on Friday 24 April HERE.
Louis Tomlinson at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson is heading out on a UK tour, visiting Co-op Live for his biggest Manchester solo show to date.
10 years since launching his solo career with debut single ‘Just Hold On’, Tomlinson is hitting the road again for his tour, which shares its title with the name of his latest LP – How Did I Get Here?
Tomlinson’s last visit to Manchester saw him gracing the impressive 21,000 seater AO Arena – a stage he was already familiar with during his UK boyband days.
But now, the Doncaster-born musician is visiting one of Manchester’s biggest indoor live music venues, Co-op Live, and it’s sure to be a jam-packed night of live music.
Are there tickets left for Louis Tomlinson at Co-op Live?
Well if you’ve made it this far through, it’s safe to say the fact you’re after Louis Tomlinson tickets is ‘Written All Over Your Face’.
If you’re wanting to ‘Face The Music’ or ‘Jump the Gun’ you can do so as there’s tickets to his Manchester show at Co-op Live HERE.
Louis Tomlinson is bringing the How Did I Get Here? tour to Manchester on 24 April / Credit: Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
Louis Tomlinson setlist for 2026 tour
The How Did I Get Here? Tour officially kicked off in Europe and it prioritises songs from his latest LP.
Here is the set list:
Lemonade
On Fire
Written All Over Your Face
Out Of My System
Bigger Than Me
Saturdays
Angels Fly
Dark to Light
Broken Bones
Defenceless
Just Hold On
Lazy
Sunflowers
Lucid
Jump the Gun
Imposter
Sanity
Kill My Mind
Face the Music
Silver Tounges
The Observer
The Answer
Miss You
Palaces
Stage times
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you can get home before having to watch the sky turn from ‘Dark to Light’.
Anyone attending this show is in luck as the North has been well and truly represented in the form of Manc-based rock group Pale Waves and Doncaster talent ADMT.
Great to see another one of our own, Alex Spencer, also joining the bill for the EU leg, even if it means Manchester just misses out on getting to him hit the stage.
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 1am 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.
Getting there by car and parking
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.
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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.
Hannah Starkie -
14th September 2021 
