Local Entertainment

The 1,177th lunchtime recital since taking over from the council in 2001 featured Rochdale’s own Phoenix Opera Company.

Creativity is a right, not a privilege is a statement proudly proclaimed by Tracing Steps, a dance studio in Rochdale, championing the underrepresented.

A touring production of Madama Butterfly at Manchester Opera House delivered a visually rich and emotionally driven interpretation of Puccini’s classic opera.

A new poetry anthology featuring work from more than 80 local writers has been launched in Rochdale, marking the borough’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

A production of Carmen directed by Ellen Kent has been staged at Manchester Opera House, offering audiences a traditional interpretation of Bizet’s well known opera.

A group of young performers are set to appear alongside experienced actors in a new staging of Antigone at a local theatre in Ramsbottom.

A touring production of Verdi’s La Traviata has arrived at Manchester Opera House, presenting a traditional interpretation of the 19th century opera with an international cast.

Irish artist Barry Kerr has been named the first winner of the Folk Album of the Year Award for his 2025 record Curlew’s Cry. The announcement was made during a ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall on St Patrick’s Day.

I was 13 in 1995, right in the middle of the whole Blur vs Oasis era, and like most Manchester teens at the time, I loved both, but let’s be honest, Oasis had the edge.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival has announced its main stage headliners for summer 2026, with Gabrielle set to perform in the town centre.

Performance poet Tony Walsh will host an afternoon of live poetry in Rochdale as part of the town’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture. The event will take place at Number One Riverside on Saturday 21 March and will also launch two poetry anthologies created by local writers.

Manchester is known by many for its historically renowned music scene; however, the scenes and sounds of Madchester, Oasis and the likes commonly overshadow the notable influence of surrounding towns within Greater Manchester. Rochdale, Greater Manchester Town of Culture for 2026, is one of those towns whose musical influence is understated and a lot of the time, unknown.

A Bolton choir for people affected by cancer is inviting new singers to join as it begins rehearsals for the new year.

Thousands of music lovers descended on Bury during Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August 2025, for Glaston-Bury, the annual one day music festival in aid of Bury Hospice and other local causes. Since it began in 2008, the event has raised over £300,000 and has become one of the town’s biggest highlights of the year.

Day One at Parklife 2025 is done, and what a day it was. Over 50,000 people packed into Heaton Park for a massive Saturday, with sets from FLO, Rudimental and a huge headline performance by 50 Cent.

Tens of thousands of music fans are pouring into Parklife, as the day one of the festival gets underway.