Some of the world's biggest music stars are heading to Manchester this month in what is being billed as the city's "mad June" with thousands of revellers set to descend on the city. The series of huge stadium gigs, festivals and concerts are set to cause heavier-than-usual traffic around the city, while hotels are reporting a huge surge in demand across the month pushing up room prices.
It kicks off this week with the start of four massive Etihad Stadium concerts from singer songwriter Ed Sheeran. 60,000 fans will pack in to Manchester City's ground on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to watch the Bad Habits star.
But Ed's weekend gigs will also fall on the same dates that Parklife festival returns to its traditional summer weekend up at Heaton Park, with an anticipated 80,000 fans on June 11 and 12. Just to ensure the city is covered from all angles, on Saturday night The Killers will play to 50,000 at the Emirates Old Trafford Stadium, while Alicia Keys will perform to 15,000 at the AO Arena.
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It is set to place a huge extra strain on trains, trams and taxi services across the weekend, and anyone attending the live events are being encouraged to plan their travel in advance and to arrive as early as possible. Naturally, the surge in visitor numbers is also having a big knock on effect for hotels across the city centre and the suburbs.
Prices for overnight stay over the busiest weekend in June, the 11 and 12, have sky-rocketed, with many hotels now reporting near 100 per cent occupancy across many dates in the month. Industry figures have told the MEN that they've never seen a month like it for demand for hotel stays due to the sheer number of large scale events taking place in the city.
The cheapest rooms still available on the busiest Saturday, June 11, are at Manchester's Sachas Hotel for £239 or at the Britannia on Portland Street for £250 on the Saturday night, with the majority of one-night stays across the city starting at £300. Prices ease somewhat on the Sunday night, with the cheapest rates we could find on booking.com of £113 for the Yotel on Deansgate, and £122 for The Gardens Hotel on Piccadilly Gardens.
Here we give a run-down of some of the biggest gig and event dates (in terms of expected audiences) across the month, and the road closures that will be in operation.
June 7 and 8 - Billie Eilish at AO Arena
One of the world's most exciting artists, Billie Eilish heads for two nights at the AO Arena in Manchester on her eagerly-anticipated Happier than Ever world tour. The gigs come ahead of the release of her new album and new track
Road closures? After the concert, Trinity Way will be closed southbound between Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road for up to one hour on larger shows, to allow concert-goers to safely exit the venue. However, if you’re parking at the arena car park, you will still be allowed to exit during this closure but you will have to turn right and follow local diversions.
June 9, 10, 11, 12 - Ed Sheeran at Etihad Stadium
Record-breaking music man Ed Sheeran makes his eagerly-awaited return to live performance with this humdinger of a show for his new Mathematics tour. He has played to record crowds in Cardiff, Belfast and Sunderland last month, and now heads for four huge gigs from Thursday onwards in Manchester.
Road closures? Roads are closed operates immediately after the event to allow pedestrians to leave the Etihad Stadium safely. This is in place for around half an hour after the end of the show. This is, however, subject to GMP approval and may be in place for longer than stated above. Roads affected by the closure are as follows: Ashton New Road – between Alan Turing Way and Darley Street; Grey Mare Lane – between Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way; Merrill Street – between Pollard Street and Ashton New Road.
June 11 and 12 - Parklife at Heaton Park
The huge Parklife festival returns to Heaton Park - with 80,000 music fans expected on both the Saturday and Sunday events that have a packed line-up of music acts. Tyler the Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, 50 Cent and Lewis Capaldi are among the big name headliners for this year's open air extravaganza.
Road closures? Middleton Road (southbound), Bury Old Road (southbound) and St Margaret's Close will be closed to all traffic between 8pm and 1am on both nights. Sheepfoot Lane (eastbound) is closed between 10am and 4pm both days.
June 11 - The Killers at Emirates Old Trafford
The Las Vegas rock lords make their big return to Manchester - with a huge gig at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket stadium. Fans will want to get their early, because support comes from Stockport's own rock idols Blossoms at the Saturday night show.
Road closures? The roads around the stadium (Brian Statham Way, Great Stone Road, Warwick Road and part of Talbot Road at the front of the ground) will have closures in place during the concert. Brian Statham Way will be closed between 10.30am and approximately 11.30pm, Talbot Road and Great Stone Road will be closed at the end of the event (between 10.30pm and approx.11.30pm) to ensure safe transit of spectators. There will be a diversion signposted via White City Way to Chester Road to bypass the event zone. The closed roads will be opened again when it is deemed safe.
June 11 - Alicia Keys at AO Arena
Fresh from her dazzling performance at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace, American songwriter Alicia Keys will head to Manchester to wow fans. The Girl on Fire star will perform to some 15,000 fans at the AO Arena on the Saturday night.
Road closures? After the concert, Trinity Way will be closed southbound between Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road for up to one hour on larger shows, to allow concert-goers to safely exit the venue. However, if you’re parking at the arena car park, you will still be allowed to exit during this closure but you will have to turn right and follow local diversions.
June 14 - Diana Ross at AO Arena
One of the world's most famous music icons heads to Manchester for her first performance here in decades on her Diamond Diana World tour. Fresh from performing at the top of the bill at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee party, she will bring some of her iconic songs to Manchester in a greatest hits set that will include I'm Coming Out, Thank You, Chain Reaction and Upside Down.
Road closures? After the concert, Trinity Way will be closed southbound between Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road for up to one hour on larger shows, to allow concert-goers to safely exit the venue. However, if you’re parking at the arena car park, you will still be allowed to exit during this closure but you will have to turn right and follow local diversions.
June 15, 16 - Harry Styles at Emirates Old Trafford
The world's hottest pop idol right now, Harry Styles makes his huge northern homecoming with two nights at the Emirates Old Trafford stadium. The Holme Chapel-raised one time One Direction heart-throb is now a global superstar in his own right thanks to anthems like Watermelon Sugar and newie As It Was.
Road closures? The roads around the stadium (Brian Statham Way, Great Stone Road, Warwick Road and part of Talbot Road at the front of the ground) will have closures in place during the concert. Brian Statham Way will be closed between 10.30am and approximately 11.30pm, Talbot Road and Great Stone Road will be closed at the end of the event (between 10.30pm and approx.11.30pm) to ensure safe transit of spectators. There will be a diversion signposted via White City Way to Chester Road to bypass the event zone. The closed roads will be opened again when it is deemed safe.
June 19 - Manchester Day
The huge celebration of the city, with a parade snaking across the city centre, will return this year after almost three years away due to lockdown restrictions. Thousands of people will be watching as hundreds take part with colourful costumes and displays along the one-mile route, as well as the just-confirmed return of Little Amal to the 2022 event.
Road closures? The full parade route has not yet been confirmed, but road closures will be in force for the full route during the morning of Sunday, June 19, with the parade itself starting at 1pm.
June 22 - Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Emirates Old Trafford
The Californian rock giants will call in to Manchester on their ongoing world tour, with a huge gig at the Emirates Old Trafford stadium on June 22. One of the best-selling bands of all time, their live gigs are renowned for their fierce, fizzing energy so this is one not to be missed for fans.
Road closures? The roads around the stadium (Brian Statham Way, Great Stone Road, Warwick Road and part of Talbot Road at the front of the ground) will have closures in place during the concert. Brian Statham Way will be closed between 10.30am and approximately 11.30pm, Talbot Road and Great Stone Road will be closed at the end of the event (between 10.30pm and approx.11.30pm) to ensure safe transit of spectators. There will be a diversion signposted via White City Way to Chester Road to bypass the event zone. The closed roads will be opened again when it is deemed safe.
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