The Cure will headline Live From Wythenshawe Park this Friday (21 August), with support from Slowdive and The Slow Readers Club. The concert is one of only a handful of UK dates for the band this year, following their appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in June and ahead of a performance at the Edinburgh Summer Sessions later this month.
Band history and current line-up
Formed in Crawley, Sussex, in the late 1970s, The Cure have shaped the sound of generations with their unmistakable style and uncompromising back catalogue. Since their first show in 1978, they have performed nearly 1,800 concerts worldwide, released 14 studio albums, more than 40 singles, and a collection of concert films, live albums, box sets, books and soundtracks.
While the band has had 13 members over its 47-year history, the current line-up is settled with founder and frontman Robert Smith, Simon Gallup on bass, Jason Cooper on drums, Roger O'Donnell on keyboards and Reeves Gabriels on guitar. Last year saw the release of 'Mixes Of A Lost World', a triple album reimagining the 2024 Cure album 'Songs Of A Lost World', curated by Robert Smith and featuring contributions from artists such as Orbital, Paul Oakenfold and Four Tet.
Support acts
Joining them on stage will be English rock band Slowdive, whose shimmering soundscapes and acclaimed return to form have earned them a new generation of fans. They'll perform alongside Manchester's own The Slow Readers Club, known for their anthemic blend of indie and electro-driven rock.
The Slow Readers Club, hailing from Manchester, evolved from previous band Omerta with original members James Ryan and Aaron Starkie continuing to play together. The current four-piece line-up is Aaron Starkie on vocals, Kurtis Starkie on guitar and backing vocals, James Ryan on bass and David Whitworth on drums. The gig will mark a homecoming for the Starkie brothers, who are from the Wythenshawe area.
Slowdive formed in Reading in 1989 and consists of Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Christian Savill, Nick Chaplin and Simon Scott. Known for pioneering shoegaze and dream pop, their most famous tracks include 'When the Sun Hits' and 'Alison' from their 1993 album Souvlaki.
Stage times and venue information
All set times are subject to change but the following timings have been confirmed by organisers: doors at 4pm, The Slow Readers Club at 5:25pm, Slowdive at 6:35pm, and The Cure at 8:15pm.
The park is located on Wythenshawe Road, Manchester M23 0AB. Prohibited items include no balaclavas or masks, no alcohol or liquids of any kind, no aerosols, sprays or pressurised containers, no drugs, no knives or weapons, no perfumes or aftershaves, no glass, no umbrellas, no food, no dogs, no flares or fireworks, no camp chairs or stools, no bikes, no re-entry, no selfie-sticks, no flag poles, no rucksacks or large bags, no bags larger than 21cm x 30cm x 8cm (A4 size), and no professional cameras. Water bottles are allowed if they are plastic, see-through and under 500ml. Sun cream in a small bottle in its original packaging is allowed. Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult; 14-17 year olds are allowed unaccompanied.
Getting there
Organisers are encouraging people to walk or cycle if they can. The hard-standing car park will still be available for general park users, with a separate dedicated car park for concert attendees on show days. Spaces are limited, so booking ahead is advised.
The nearest Park and Ride sites are Sale Water Park (285 spaces, 16 disabled spaces) and East Didsbury (278 spaces, 18 disabled spaces). From Sale Water Park, take the tram directly to Moor Road in less than 10 minutes. From East Didsbury, take the tram to St Werburgh's Road and transfer to the Airport line for Moor Road.
The closest tram stop is Moor Road on the airport line. From the stop, walk down Bideford Drive towards the park, then a 15 to 20-minute walk through the park to West Gate. The Metrolink service is likely to be busier than usual between 2pm and 8pm to the park and 10pm to midnight from the park, with an enhanced tram service during these times. Wythenshawe Road and Baguley tram stops will be closed from 9pm.
A shuttle bus will run from Aytoun Street/Minshull Street near Piccadilly station every 6 minutes, taking around 35 minutes with drop-off on Palatine Road opposite Parkway House. From East Didsbury, a shuttle bus departs from Parrs Wood every 15 minutes, taking around 15 minutes with drop-off near Northenden Health Centre. An event travel pass for £8 can be used on any combination of Bee Network bus, tram or shuttle bus on event days, available in advance on the Bee Network app. One-way shuttle tickets cost £4 for adults and £2 for concessions on the day.
Post-event shuttle buses will depart from outside Parkway House on Palatine Road from 10pm, stopping at Parrs Wood before continuing to the city centre. Big Green Coach is providing sustainable coach returns from numerous cities including Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield, with drop-off at the Athletics car park.
If travelling by train, transfer to the tram to complete the journey. From Manchester Piccadilly, take a tram to St Peter's Square and transfer to the Airport line for Moor Road (approximately 40 minutes). From Manchester Victoria, take a direct tram on the Airport line (approximately 35 minutes). From Manchester Airport Station, take a direct tram on the Airport line (approximately 25 minutes).
Road closures will be in place on each event day: Rackhouse Road (entire length) from 11am to 2am; Wythenshawe Road (from Sale Road to Northolt Road), Moor Road (from Wythenshawe Road to Altrincham Road), Palatine Road (from Wythenshawe Road to Longley Lane) and Greenpark Road (from Palatine Road to Homewood Road) all from 9.30pm to 2am.
