If you’re lucky enough to have bagged a ticket, here’s what you need to know.
What are stage times for Peter Kay at AO Arena?
Peter Kay. Credit: BBC
As usual with the AO Arena, doors will open a bit before the show begins, and fans are advised to allow plenty of time to get through security and to find their seats.
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The doors to the venue will open around 6.30pm.
Peter Kay’s actual show will start at 8pm prompt.
What dates will Peter Kay play at the AO Arena?
A lot of dates. Many many dates. Dates as far as the eye can see. Here they are:
2-3 December 2022
22-23 September 2023
19-20 October 2023
5-6 November 2023
1 December 2023
26-27 January 2024
9-10 February 2024
8-9 March 2024
5-6 April 2024
17-18 May 2024
14-15 June 2024
26-27 July 2024
23-24 August 2024
20-21 September 2024
18-19 October 2024
1-2 November 2024
29-30 November 2024
20-21 December 2024
10-11 January 2025
8 February 2025
5 April 2025
17 May 2025
21 June 2025
25 July 2025
Can I still get tickets and how much are they?
Peter Kay Car Share. Credit: BBC
Ooooh you might struggle if you want to go any time soon.
The demand for Peter Kay’s return was so high that several ticketing platforms crashed and he added tonnes of new dates to try and cater to all his fans.
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There are still tickets available for later shows all the way in 2025 if you’re happy to wait that long.
Your best bet for an earlier date is to keep an eye on official resale sites, and be careful that you’re getting a genuine deal.
According to Ticketmaster, this will be the seating plan for the AO Arena for Peter Kay’s gigs.
It’s a fully seated tour but every block is set to be in use.
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Venue security and requirements
Peter Kay in Phoenix Nights. Credit: Channel 4
The show is strictly for people aged 15+.
The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.
For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.
All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.
Featured image: Publicity picture
What's On
Huge street food festival to take over Rochdale Town Hall Square this month
Thomas Melia
Rochdale Town Hall Square will be packed with foodies galore later this month as it marks the return of its popular food festival.
Street Eat is one of the biggest days of the year in the Rochdale calendar, welcoming food and drinks stalls from local vendors and restaurants.
A whole host of free activities will be happening throughout the day including live Punch and Judy shows, face painting and even a caricaturist sketching portraits too.
At the food festival, there will be a live music stage with a lineup featuring tribute act fABBAlous, country rockers Between The Vines, pop soloist Saskia Starkie, a pop and rock choir from Rochdale Music Service and more.
Soak up the sun while tucking into some foodie delights.There’s plenty of kids activities taking place at Street Eat in Rochdale.
This year, Street Eat is trekking across the globe once more for its flavours with Greek, Indian, Italian, German, American and English cuisines making up the menu for the day.
Tried and tested The Manc favourites are taking part too, with hearty food offerings from The Baum and equally delicious pizzas by Vicolo Del Vino – both of which can be found in our Rochdale guide.
Two much-loved local eateries, home-kitchen-turned-popular-takeaway, Chino’s Kitchen and Indian street food pop-up, Bombay Brew are joining forces for the day as Punjabi Food Corner, yes please.
If you’ve got more of a sweet tooth, there’s Brew Box who’ll be serving up waffles, Cake Loves Cakes, as well as a whole host of dessert stalls, if you don’t get a sugar rush you’ve done it wrong.
There’s a variety of food options at Street Eat in Rochdale.Sip and Sparkle are bringing their array of drinks to this food festival.
Organiser and Business Improvement District (BID) manager, Paul Ambrose said: “Street Eat showcases the vibrant food and drink the town has to offer as well as being a really fun day to share with friends and family.“
“Whether you’re wanting to try something new or just want your favourite food to accompany an ice-cold drink while listening to some live music, Street Eat has you covered.
“It’s going to be another great day in the fabulous setting of the new Rochdale Town Hall Square.”
Street Eat is taking place at Rochdale Town Hall Square on Saturday 28 June from 11am to 7pm and admission is completely free – for more information visit HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
What's On
Legendary funk and soul act Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester
Danny Jones
In case you hadn’t heard already, iconic funk, soul, and R’n’B artist Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester after far too long away from our musical city for a massive arena gig later this year.
Coming back to 0161 ‘For One Night Only’, the award-winning US supergroup and industry giants are set to make their first appearance here in over 15 years.
With a rich back catalogue and a career spanning six decades, not to mention multiple genres including funk, soul, disco, jazz (how they first began as an ensemble) and more, it’s only fitting they be given the top billing at the one and only AO Arena.
After Manc fans have had to wait for long, this is sure to be a night of ‘Summertime Madness’.
Though they need no real introduction if you know your music history, specifically African-American and Black music culture, Kool and the Gang are arguably one of the most influential acts to ever make it.
Having performed together longer than other R’n’B outfit on the planet, stood as one of the most sampled artists of all time and released a staggering 34 studio albums to date, they’re nothing short of foundational.
While, sadly, there is only founding member Robert ‘Kool’ Bell left from the original lineup formed back in 1964, the various iterations of the surviving live band have captured that same effortless cool, charisma, and effortless control of a crowd on the road that made the OG Gang such a toue de force.
As well as touring with everyone from Elton John and the Dave Matthews Band to The Roots and even a 50-city tour alongside equally legendary rock group, Van Halen, they have no shortage of accolades to their name.
How does two Grammys, seven American Music Awards (AMAs), a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine top ten hits in the pop charts, as well as 31 gold and platinum albums, strike you?
— Melodies & Masterpieces (@SVG__Collection) May 27, 2025
Best known for beloved tracks like ‘Celebration’, ‘Get Down On It’, ‘Cherish’ and ‘Jungle Boogie’, just to name a very small few (again, their discography is huge), you’ve most likely heard their songs or at least one of their serially sampled beats more times than its possible to count.
Yep, if there’s anyone that deserves the ‘icon’ moniker, it’s these lot.
Kool and the Gang come to the AO Arena in Manchester next month on Friday, 11 July and will have fellow British soul counterparts, The Real Thing, who looked to mirror their success throughout the ’70s, along for the ride.
General admission tickets are already on sale as we speak – you can grab yours HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
1st December 2022 
