World-famous musical Dreamgirls is heading out on a tour of the UK, and will be stopping off at Manchester next September.
This is the first time the hit show is set to tour the country.
The multi award-winning production – which was also notably adapted into a film starring Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson in 2006 – follows the lives of three young singers, Effie, Lorrell and Deena, as they navigate the turbulence of the 1960s and the cut-throat world of fame, fortune and show business.
Dreamgirls was originally set to tour the UK back in 2020, but all dates understandably had to be postponed and rearranged due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The tour has now been confirmed for 2021-2023, starting in Liverpool this December and arriving at Manchester’s Palace Theatre between Wednesday 13th September and Saturday 24th September 2022.
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We are completely thrilled to announce that #DreamgirlsUK Tour is now scheduled from December 2021, starring the dazzling @NicoleRaquel_D ✨💛
Dreamgirls made its West End premiere in 2016 at the Savoy Theatre, 35 years after opening on Broadway, and has since gone on to win six Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards.
Nicole Raquel Dennis – a stage veteran and a finalist on ITV’s The Voice – will play the role of Effie White.
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She is also set to star in productions of Waitress, The Book of Mormon and Dear Evan Hansen.
At present, dates for the Dreamgirls UK tour are subject to the government guidance for indoor performances, with the Palace Theatre and Opera House Theatre in Manchester yesterday publishing a joint statement on reopening dates saying: “As we continue to plan for our theatre reopening, we are today suspending performances to Saturday 26th June.
“This announcement puts us on a path towards opening our doors to you all.
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“Our team is coming back to work in our theatre and this additional period also gives our producer partners the time to prepare their amazing productions.
“If this affects your booking, you don’t need to do anything, and we will email you soon. We’ve rescheduled so many incredible productions and will continue to find new dates for these shows. If your performance is rescheduled your tickets and seats will be automatically transferred.
“We are so close to our first standing ovation and we cannot wait to share the moment with you all”.
The Dreamgirls UK tour will be at the Palace Theatre Manchester from 13th – 24th September 2022, and tickets will on sale at 10am next Tuesday 27th April.
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Wet Leg are BACK and coming to Manchester very soon
Danny Jones
One of the best up-and-coming indie bands around is returning after what feels like forever, but it’s actually only been a few years; either way, Wet Leg are back and coming to Manchester.
Their self-titled debut dropped back in 2022 and was met with an overwhelming reaction, picking up three Grammy Awards at a BRIT for Best British Group at the first time of asking.
It did slap, to be fair.
More importantly, fast forward three years and they’re back with a release date for their sophomore record, moisturizer, a brand new single by the name of ‘catch these fists’, as well as a small handful of new tour dates – including a gig at a brilliant Manchester music venue, of course.
uk pre-orders of moisturizer from the official wet leg store before 3pm bst tuesday 8th april will get early access to pre-sale tickets for uk headline live dates. pic.twitter.com/KUvazSX6NY
The Isle of Wight-founded five-piece, fronted by charismatic duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, will be heading out on a couple dozen live shows across Europe and the festival season circuit, as well as a one-off gig (for now) in the US at The River in LA.
However, just five of those are domestic headline dates, with the gang preparing to delight crowds in London, Birmingham and our friends over in Leeds.
Guess we’ll just have to go to both.
Here in Manchester, Wet Leg will be playing the cult favourite venue, O2 Victoria Warehouse, which just wrapped up this year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival programme.
As for the new album, moisturizer is due to release on 11 July, and from the small teaser we’ve been given courtesy of their new single, it sounds like there’s been some experimentation; the guitars and attitude are being dialled up even further, and they’re just as confident as ever.
An absolute jam, as expected.
Best of all, you don’t have to wait long to see them live again, as they’ll be heading out across the country just next month and are scheduled to arrive in Old Trafford on Thursday, 29 May.
Tickets for the Manchester gig and all other Wet Leg UK tour this May will be available for early access to those who pre-order the album online from 10 am local time on Wednesday, 9 April.
General sale goes live at the same time on Friday, 11 April. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd April 2021 
