Gig-goers heading to Wythenshawe Park this week are in for a surprise on the tram network as Courteeners’ Liam Fray will voice on-stop announcements for the run of major concerts at the venue. The Middleton indie-rockers are one of the big names playing at Wythenshawe Park between Friday 21st August and Sunday 30th August, with other headliners including The Cure, Lewis Capaldi, Pulp, and The Prodigy.
Fans travelling by tram will hear the frontman’s voice on each date – including special announcements for the Courteeners show on Saturday 29th August. Tram users stopping at Moor Road can hear Liam Fray say announcements like “If you’re heading to Live from Wythenshawe Park to see us then fair play, you have fantastic taste.”
Live from Wythenshawe Park: how to get there
By tram
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says there will be as many double trams as possible running from the city centre every seven-and-a-half minutes. Concertgoers are advised to travel on the Airport line to Moor Road tram stop, which is around a 10-minute walk from the concert entrance.
By bus
Buses from the city centre will depart from Aytoun Street, close to Manchester Piccadilly, every six minutes, while services from East Didsbury’s Parrs Wood will run every 15 minutes. There will also be dedicated shuttle buses for all five concerts, providing direct connections from Manchester city centre and East Didsbury to Wythenshawe Park.
Fans can buy an event travel pass for just £8 per event day, which can be used on any combination of Bee Network bus, tram or shuttle bus on the event days. This can be bought in advance on the Bee Network app.
A number of regular Bee Network bus services also stop close to Wythenshawe Park, including the 41, 103, 370 and 371 on Palatine Road and 11, 248 and 249 on Altrincham Road. People intending to travel on these services should check the Bee Network app or website before travelling as some diversions will be in place on event days.
By car
Meanwhile, those travelling by car can make use of nearby park and ride sites and continue their journey by tram or shuttle bus. Sale Water Park has 285 spaces and a direct connection to Moor Road. East Didsbury has 278 spaces and direct connection via the shuttle bus.
Wythenshawe Park, Manchester Pride and Premier League matches: Manchester city centre is set for two busy weekends
TfGM has also advised that people should expect a busy city centre across the last two weekends of the month, including the August Bank Holiday. Manchester Pride runs from Friday 28th August to Monday 31st August, with the parade on Saturday 29th August.
The return of the Premier League also sees Manchester City take on Bournemouth on Sunday 23rd August, while Manchester United are at home to Ipswich on the following Sunday (August 30).
TfGM has “put comprehensive plans in place” – including a new £8 travel pass
Fran Wilkinson, Customer and Growth Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “We’re looking forward to helping thousands of people travel to Live from Wythenshawe Park later this month and have put comprehensive plans in place – including a new £8 travel pass – to make it as easy as possible for people to get to and from the concerts.
“Pride and big games at the Etihad and Old Trafford are also coming up over the same weekends as the concerts, so expect it to busy in and around the city centre too.
“We’d encourage everyone to plan ahead, check their travel options before they set off and consider using public transport wherever possible. The Bee Network offers a convenient and affordable way to get to around, helping people spend less time worrying about travel and more time enjoying their event.”
Full travel information, including maps, tickets and journey planning advice, is available on the Bee Network website.
