Audio

A song called ‘F**k the Tories’ has shot into the charts and is chasing LadBaby for Christmas number one

Nothing says Christmas like some political rage...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th December 2022

A new song has entered the running for Christmas number one with just days to go – and it’s not as wholesome as your normal festive tune.

The Kunts are back with another seasonal single, following the success of previously hits Boris Johnson is a F***ing C**t and Prince Andrew is a Sweaty N***e.

This time they’ve got the Conservative Party back in their sights, releasing single F**k the Tories right in time for Christmas.

They’ll be facing stiff competition, with the unstoppable freight train, a veritable Polar Express, that is LadBaby on track for a FIFTH consecutive Christmas number one. 

The LadBaby duo Mark and Roxanne Hoyle have teamed up with Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, on Food Aid, which will raise money for The Trussell Trust. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Also in the running are absolute classics All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey and Last Christmas by Wham.

LadBaby’s Food Aid is the current favourite for Christmas number one. Credit: Publicity picture

Joining The Kunts in the new entries is Lizzo, with her cover of Stevie Wonder’s Someday at Christmas.

ADVERTISEMENT

F**k the Tories the song romped straight into the top 20 of the UK Official Singles Chart at position 12, but has since dropped down slightly into 19th place.

It’s still performing well in the trending charts though, sitting in fourth place – so don’t count it out yet.

Read more

The band say they’re ‘spreading a little Christmas misery to those who’ve given us such a shit year (and previous 11 years…)’.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lyrics in the song include ‘They f*cked up the economy, they f*cked the NHS / they f*cked up the environment we’re in a f*cking mess.’

The music video features someone in a Boris Johnson mask wrestling with a pensioner.

The official Christmas number one will be unveiled on Friday evening on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show.

Featured image: Publicity picture

Audio

John Cooper Clarke announces latest UK headline tour along with new book

Danny Jones Danny Jones John Cooper Clarke Manchester live show gig tickets 2026

The ‘Bard of Salford’ himself, Dr John Cooper Clarke, is back with another UK headline tour in 2026, plus a brand-new book to boot.

Now 76 and still as fiery as ever, ‘The Godfather of Punk Poetry’s career spans more than half a century, and as a Greater Manchester native and cultural icon, he’s still just as worth celebrating as ever with each passing year.

Becoming the first poet to ever headline a UK arena with his landmark Co-op Live back in March, it’s been another milestone 12 months for local legend, and he clearly has absolutely no intentions of slowing down next year either.

Revealing a raft of new tour dates on Monday, 1 December, John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his spoken word stylings and latest collection – satsifyingly titled Have It – to crowds all over the country.

Confirming a total of 20 new live shows, JCC will be kicking off his next tour in October 2026 in time for the launch of his latest title.

Following on from last year’s release, ‘WHAT‘, which became an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and his memoir (published back in 2020), this will be his fifth book to date.

2025 also saw him receive the prestigious Northern Music Award (NMAs) in recognition of his phenomenal influence in the music world and art as a whole.

As for us here at Audio North, we recently also had the incredible privilege of sitting down to chat with Cooper Clarke ourselves ahead of the announcement, so keep your eyes peeled for that one…

You can see John Cooper Clarke’s list of live shows in full down below.

JCC UK headline tour dates 2026

We’ve kindly italicised all the Northern dates for you as well.

  • Wed, 7 Oct – Southend Palace Theatre
  • Sat, 10 Oct – Poole Lighthouse
  • Sun, 11 Oct – Bristol Beacon
  • Wed, 14 Oct – Brighton Theatre Royal
  • Thu, 15 Oct – London Palladium
  • Sat, 17 Oct – Sheffield City Hall
  • Tue, 20 Oct – Glasgow Pavilion 
  • Wed, 21 Oct – Carlisle Old Fire Station
  • Fri, 23 Oct – Stoke-On-Trent Victoria Hall
  • Sat, 24 Oct – Birmingham Town Hall
  • Wed, 28 Oct – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
  • Sat, 31 Oct – Leeds City Varieties Music Hall
  • Wed, 4 Nov – Whitley Bay The Playhouse
  • Fri, 6 Nov – York Grand Opera House
  • Thu, 12 Nov – Dublin 3 Olympia
  • Sun, 15 Nov – Belfast Mandela Hall
  • Wed, 18 Nov – Blackpool Opera House
  • Sat, 21 Nov – Manchester O2 Apollo
  • Wed, 25 Nov – Leicester De Montfort Hall
  • Fri, 27 Nov – Edinburgh Queens Hall  

Tickets for Dr John Cooper Clarke in October 2026 will be available from this Friday, 5 December at 10am via Gigs and Tours as well as his official website.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/The Manc Group

Audio

Wolf Alice at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

London-formed rock band Wolf Alice are now on the road for their UK tour, and they’re visiting AO Arena in Manchester to put a ‘Smile’ on our faces.

We’re trying our best to be ‘Formidable Cool’, but when Wolf Alice come to town, we think everyone is allowed to lose it a little bit.

Known for bangers like ‘Don’t Delete the Kisses’, ‘Silk’ and ‘Lipstick On The Glass’, just to name a few, this band have built a cult following thanks to their always-impressive discography.

15 years since forming and just over 10 years since their debut album My Love Is Cool hit airwaves, with their lead singles ‘Fluffy’ and ‘Bros’, just three months later, they’ve been on a roll since. Now, Wolf Alice are playing their biggest Manc gigs to date at none other than our iconic 21,000-seater venue, AO Arena.

Gig guide | Wolf Alice at AO Arena Manchester

Wolf Alice's upcoming gig is taking place at AO Arena in Manchester on Friday 28 November / Credit: Press Shots (via Supplied)
Wolf Alice’s upcoming gig is taking place at AO Arena in Manchester on Friday 28 November / Credit: Press Shots (via Supplied)

Wolf Alice UK tour dates

  • Fri 28 November – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Sat 29 November – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Mon 1 December – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Tue 2 December – London, UK – The O2
  • Wed 3 December – London, UK – The O2
  • Fri 5 December – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
  • Sun 7 December – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Mon 8 December – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena

Wolf Alice tickets for AO Arena gig

This band might be bigger than any ‘Giant Peach’ you could possibly think, but you might just be able to get your hand on a ticket or two for the last Wolf Alice gig in Manchester on their final night this Friday, 28 November.

Stop ‘Leaning Against the Wall’ and get onto your favourite ticket site as there are still a handful of tickets for Wolf Alice’s upcoming Manchester show available right HERE.

Wolf Alice setlist

  • Thorns
  • Bloom Baby Bloom
  • White Horses
  • Formidable Cool
  • Just Two Girls
  • Leaning Against the Wall
  • How Can I Make It Ok?
  • The Sofa
  • Bros
  • Safe From Heartbreak (If You Never Fall in Love)
  • Safe in the World
  • Bread Butter Tea Sugar
  • Yuk Foo
  • Play the Greatest Hits
  • Silk
  • Play It Out
  • Giant Peach
  • Smile
  • Don’t Delete the Kisses

What are the stage times for Wolf Alice in Manchester?

AO Arena has a curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home in time for some ‘Bread Butter Tea Sugar’ before the early hours.

There’s not one but two incredible acts set to support Wolf Alice, and it’s none other than former-FRIGS lead singer, Bria Salmena, as well as American rock trio, Sunflower Bean.

Doors for this event are opening from 6pm, and Wolf Alice are expected to take the stage from around 7:30pm onwards before combining into a supergroup in time for closing time.

Getting to AO Arena

Tram

For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.

Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Train

Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.

Bus

A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.

A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.

Getting there by car and parking

The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.

Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.

ADVERTISEMENT

Walk/cycle

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.

@the.manc When are you next heading to the @AO Arena? 😱 #themanc #manchester #aoarena #preshow #entertainment #gigs #music #liveshow ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Shots (via Rachel Fleminger Hudson/Supplied)

More Audio

New adidas Originals x Oasis Live '25 drop 2 collection release date

Audio

Oasis and adidas drop yet more new merch in the Live ’25 collection

Lily Allen has announced a gig at the AO Arena in Manchester. Credit: Charlie Denis

Audio

Lily Allen adds another massive Manchester arena show to West End Girl tour

Sankeys nightclub in Manchester is set to relaunch

Art & Culture

Sankeys nightclub is returning to Manchester

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches