'The Scattering' will be headlining Manchester City's 'City Square'

Photo: Sam Kutereba-Wall

The Scattering

'The Scattering', an 'Irish Country Rock' band from Rochdale, will be headlining Manchester City's 'City Square' on Sunday 19 March to mark the St Patrick's celebrations.

They will be playing before the top of the table football clash between Manchester City and Liverpool at The Etihad Stadium.

The gig is part of the band's 'Five Drunken Night's Tour' which also takes in Albert Square, The Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale and the Farmer's Arms, Burnage.

Andy Kelly, from The Scattering, whose family hail from Draperstown in County Derry, said: "St Patrick's week is going to be our busiest ever and playing at City Square is going to be extra special. We were so pleased when we were approached by Man City to do the gig. It's going to be great because City are playing Liverpool - a club with so many Irish links. I'm sure it'll be a brilliant atmosphere. We loved playing in the Manchester Irish Festival last year are delighted to have doubled our number of gigs this time."

The Scattering formed in 2015 and is made up of musicians from the Rochdale and Middleton area. The six-piece outfit mix traditional Irish songs with country, rock and contemporary music - all done in their own individual style.

The band will also play the Farmer's Arms in Burnage on Saturday 18 March. Manager Tony Harte, from Cork, said, "Our customers are really looking forward to the ultimate celtic rock party. The Scattering come with a reputation as such a lively live act. It's going to be a great, raucous end to our Irish Festival celebrations. Their gig at The Farmer's Arms will also be a great warm up for their Man City gig."

This is not the first time that football has marked St Patrick's Day in the city. In 2013 nearly 68,000 spectators at Old Trafford joined a mass rendition of the famous Irish folk anthem Dirty Old Town.