Sounds of the City - Event Info & FAQs
Image: Sam Neill
WHERE CAN I GET TICKETS?
The National & Hacienda Classical shows are sold out but limited tickets remain for all other shows. You can buy for these shows until the morning of the show day HERE. or until they sell out.
Otherwise tickets will be available on the door (subject to availability). The box office will open at 3pm
HOT WEATHER INFORMATION
Please bring items to protect you from the sun such as sun cream, hats, sunglasses etc as shade is limited in the venue.
As long as the bottle is sealed then you are allowed to bring bottles of water and soft drinks under 500ml.
WHAT IF I DON'T RECEIVE MY TICKETS?
If you have not received your tickets, please contact your vendor immediately and please have your confirmation number and the Credit Card details used to purchase the ticket. Please note that unfortunately there are fraudulent websites who sell tickets they never had, please allow as much time as possible to investigate where your tickets are to allow them to send them to you via the postal system. As stated above, all tickets have now been printed and distributed to all the authorised ticket agents.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION EMAIL? WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you have a confirmation number but have not yet received a confirmation email there is no need to worry. The fact that you have a confirmation number usually signifies the booking has been successful. Please double check the email address given is spelt correctly as this can lead to failure in receiving your confirmation email.
Please allow up to 48 hours for your order confirmation to arrive. If after this time you have still not received anything, please contact your vendor.
CAN I HAVE A REFUND OR EXCHANGE ON MY TICKETS?
We regret that we cannot exchange, refund or transfer tickets unless the event in question has been cancelled or rescheduled. This is part of the purchase policy you agree to when purchasing tickets.
This does not affect your statutory rights.
HOW CAN I GET A VAT RECEIPT FOR MY TICKET PURCHASE?
Please contact your point of purchase (ticket Vendor) for this receipt.
MY TICKETS STATE 'GENERAL ADMISSION'. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
General Admission refers to seating or standing areas that are not assigned or reserved, and are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis. When purchasing tickets for a General Admission event, you may be quoted section, row, and seat numbers, however these are for inventory purposes only and do not reflect any actual seating location. Please ensure you carefully read the event information and ticket information when purchasing tickets: Any information on whether your tickets are General Admission will be posted here.
HOW DO I GET A PRESS/PHOTOGRAPHERS PASS FOR A CONCERT/EVENT?
Press/photographers passes are issued by either the concert promoter or the artist's management company and you would need to contact them directly for further assistance.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY TICKETS ARE LOST OR STOLEN?
Please contact your point of purchase if your tickets have been lost or stolen.
WHAT SECURITY CHECKS WILL BE IN PLACE?
There will be additional security checks in place at the venue. In order to make your day even more enjoyable please help us in the following ways:
- Arrive in plenty of time. Be Patient if there are queues.
- Please do not bring large bags or rucksacks with you. Anything larger than an A4 piece of paper will not be allowed into the venue.
- Please cooperate with any security/police requests and all searches.
- In the unlikely event that you see anything that concerns you, tell security or the police immediately.
Watch out for each other and enjoy the show!
BOX OFFICE COLLECTION
I HAVE CHOSEN TO COLLECT MY TICKETS FROM THE BOX OFFICE, HOW DO I DO THIS?
The tickets should be collected by the credit/debit card holder. Box office times vary from event to event but on the whole they will be available within the hour before the start of the event. You will need to quote the reference number and take the credit/debit card used to make the booking as identification.
If you want someone else to collect the tickets, please consider that the cardholder should be present when collecting tickets held for collection at the venue. This is necessary for reasons of fraud prevention. In some cases it may be possible for the cardholder to give the person collecting the tickets a letter of authorisation to pass to the venue, allowing them to collect the tickets on their behalf. Please check with your vendor if they will allow this.
However, at any time the venue box office or the promoter of a particular show may change their rules and stop accepting Letters of authority and refuse entry.
We cannot accept any responsibility should this happen and we advise customers that any booking made for collection should only be collected by the credit card holder.
If you have lost your credit / debit card and you need to collect your tickets, please contact us. You will be advised to take with you a credit card/bank statement, ideally the one with the transaction on it. You will also need to take along your confirmation code and some alternative ID, preferably with a photograph and signature.
It is imperative that you do contact us as we need to inform the venue prior to your arrival.
WHAT IS THE RUNNING ORDER AND START AND FINISH TIME FOR THE CONCERT?
(Times are approx. and subject to change)
FRIDAY 5TH JULY
Doors - 6pm
Lazy Day - 7:25pm
Bloc Party - 8:45pm
SATURDAY 6TH JULY
Doors - 5:30pm
Fuzzy Sun - 6:10pm
Bloxx - 7:00pm
Sundara Karma - 7:50pm
The Wombats - 9:00pm
TUESDAY 9th JULY
Doors - 5:45pm
Barns Courtney - 6:25pm
Nadine Shah - 7:20pm
elbow - 8:30pm
WEDNESDAY 10th JULY
Doors - 6pm
Adla Victoria - 7:20pm
The National - 8:30pm
THURSDAY 11th JULY
Doors - 6pm
Support TBC - 7:30pm
KYLIE - 8:30pm
FRIDAY 12th JULY
Doors - 5:45pm
Sea Girls - 6:20pm
The Sherlocks - 7:20pm
The Kooks - 9pm
SATURDAY 13th JULY
Doors - 5:30pm
Tom Wainwright / Herbie - 5:45pm
DJ Peter Hook - 6:15pm
Inner City - 7:30pm
Hacienda Classical - 8:45pm
TRAVELING TO THE VENUE?
You can use the address (for walking purposes only): Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4JR. The venue is less than a 2 minute walk from the Museum of Science & Industry. The nearest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield which is less than 10 minutes' walk away. Please note that there are major works on the Metrolink currently and your travel may be disrupted. Please head to: www.metrolink.co.uk for more info.
WHAT CAR PARKING FACILITIES ARE THERE?
There is no parking available within the venue however there are 3 car parks surrounding the site. There is also numerous city centre car parks within walking distance.
WHAT TIME IS THE LAST TRAIN?
Please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.
For all information on what time the last train is to your destination.
TRAVELING BY METROLINK?
Metrolink is a great way to visit the Castlefield Bowl, with the Deansgate-Castlefield stop being just a short walk away. To use Metrolink you need to buy a ticket before boarding the tram, as tickets cannot be bought onboard. For those passengers travelling in to Manchester from the south of the city please use Deansgate-Castlefield. All other Metrolink passengers including those using Piccadilly and Victoria rail stations can either use the free Metroshuttle bus service to reach Deansgate-Castlefield or alight at Piccadilly Gardens or Market Street where you can follow the walking route, which is clearly signed to Deansgate-Castlefield.
For further information please follow Metrolink on twitter @MCRMetrolink.
CAN I CAMP ANYWHERE?
Public Camping is prohibited at and around the venue, so please either arrange suitable transport to return home or go to any of the popular Hotel websites for any information on hotel rooms and other accommodation
I HAVE ACCESSIBLE TICKETS, WHERE IS THE VIEWING PLATFORM?
Those in possession of accessible tickets for the gigs should use the Duke Street entrance for platform access.
I AM PREGNANT AND AS THERE ARE NO SEATS, CAN I SIT ON THE WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM?
Unfortunately not as the Wheelchair platform is only for Registered Disabled customers who have purchased their tickets in advance.
CAN ANYBODY WITH AN INJURY, SUCH AS A BROKEN LEG SIT ON THE WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM?
As above, the platform is only for registered disabled and the Platform is completely sold out.
CAN I BUY ALCOHOLIC DRINKS?
Yes. There will be a range of bars, selling lager, bitter and wine in the arena, Soft drinks and mineral water will also be available.
WHAT ABOUT PLACES TO EAT?
A large variety of cuisine is available in the arena.
ARE THERE ANY CASH MACHINES IN THE VENUE?
There will be no cash machines in the venue however as it is a city centre event there are numerous cash machines nearby. Please enter the event with enough cash for the evening.
CAN I TAKE A CAMERA INTO THE VENUE?
The use of audio, audio visual or video equipment, laser pens and unauthorised photographic equipment, i.e. professional photographic cameras, are strictly prohibited within the venue. You can take in small compact digital personal use cameras but nothing with either a large or detachable lens.
WHAT ITEMS CAN I NOT TAKE INTO THE VENUE?
- Please do not bring large bags or rucksacks
- Folding Chairs, Stools, Tables
- Shooting Sticks
- Golf or Large Umbrellas
- Glass
- Cans
- Weapons
- Drugs
- Flags, Banners, Poles, Sticks
- Cool Boxes / Picnic Hampers
- Luggage / Trolley Cases
- Animals (except Assistance Dogs)
- Recording Equipment
- Professional Cameras (i.e. anything with a detachable or large lens)
- Alcohol (carried in any container)
- Any water or Soft drinks in bottles larger than 500ml
- Food
- Laser Pens
- Bicycles, Scooters, Skateboards
- Footballs, Golf Balls, Darts (or any Sport Equipment)
- Pushchairs / Prams (No under 5's permitted)
- Tents/ Gazebos/ Sun Shelters
- BBQ's, Candles, Lanterns
- Fireworks, Flares
- Air horns, Loud Hailers
- Hi-vis Bibs, Jackets or Vests
- Articles which may be a danger to public or cause nuisance
The management reserves the right to search all persons and personal property.
WHY CAN'T I TAKE IN ANY TYPE OF CHAIR, SUCH AS DECK CHAIRS ETC?
Unfortunately, in past events where this has been allowed, people have simply set up their chairs in the location they want to watch the event, but when the main act has started their set, crowds naturally migrate towards the stage and there were major crowd problems with people falling over objects they were not expecting or could see. Because of this, no chairs of any kind are permitted to any of our outdoor events.