Manchester will get a new open-air nightclub this year, with a six-month programme of music and events.
Progress Centre has been created with dancing in mind, from its line-up ‘curated by the people of Manchester’ to its outdoor (but covered) dance floor.
Early artist impressions of the space show a canopy of glittering streamers suspended above the dance floor, plus colourful outside seating areas and food options.
The open-air nightclub, which wants to take a ‘European’ approach to clubbing, will have a Funktion One sound system and a custom lighting rig.
Its first season will bring local, national and international artists to the Progress Centre, which has found its home in Ardwick.
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Located just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly, the Projekts Skate Park, and Escape to Freight Island, the venue’s season is set to run between April and September.
The bill for the first run of April shows has been revealed today, and includes Traumer, Randal, Dyed Soundorom b2b Gene on Earth, Sasha, DBridge, Dusky, Fabio, Swoose, Mr. Sosa, Gemma Arnott, Liam Schooling, Liam Palmer and many more.
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Progress Centre comes from the team behind The Loft, Animal Crossing and Summer of Love festival, the full six-month summer programme will feature Locus, Slapfunk, Freak, Meat Free, The Ghost, Get-Traum, Hit & Run, Sahsa, 23 Degrees, You&me, Appetite and plenty more still to be announced.
Promoter Olli Ryder said, following a social campaign that gathered customer feedback: “For us to include the voices of the people in the space curation further amplifies that it will be fit for purpose.
“Options are scarce across the city and the UK, so when a new space is introduced, it’s key to ensure you deliver exactly what the people want.
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“It’s the community of dancers you do this for; it’s those who make this all possible; you’re asked if you’d like any dessert at the end of a meal, so why should it be any different when creating a club?”
The remainder of the programme will be revealed throughout the coming months.
Featured image: Supplied
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Barry Manilow says he’s booked the AO Arena ‘just in case’ the Co-op Live isn’t ready for Manchester gig
Daisy Jackson
Barry Manilow has said he has reserved a spot to perform at the AO Arena in Manchester, on the off-chance that the delays with the new Co-op Live arena continue.
The 80-year-old music legend has said he ‘shares the concerns’ of fans who have questioned whether his show on 19 May will be able to go ahead.
And following the news that several shows are moving to Co-op Live’s rival venue, Barry Manilow has said he is ready to do the same.
In a lengthy statement shared by his husband and manager Garry Kief, Barry assured his fans that he ‘already has a backup plan’ should the arena remain delayed.
Co-op Live’s official opening date has crept further and further back in recent weeks, with OVG boss Tim Leiweke saying in a statement last night that they were taking ‘a short pause’ to make things right.
Shows that have been effected by the delay so far have included Take That (moved to AO Arena), A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (ditto), Keane (postponed), Olivia Rodrigo (also postponed), Peter Kay (rescheduled) and The Black Keys (rescheduled).
In the statement shared to Barry Manilow’s social media, he and Garry said: “Dear Friends…… Many of you have expressed your concerns about the ongoing status of the new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. We share your concerns.
“Contrary to some opinions, however, we don’t have any double secret inside information on the condition of the building.
“We do know that our brilliant co-promoter, Danny Betesh at Kennedy Street Enterprises. already has a back up plan and just in case, has reserved the same night….MAY 19th at Manchester’s AO Arena.
“We also know that we limited capacity to 12,500 guests. That means that even if we have to move, there will plenty of room for everybody.
Dear Friends……
Many of you have expressed your concerns about the ongoing status of the new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. We share your concerns.
Contrary to some opinions, however, we don’t have any double secret inside information on the condition of the building.
“We promise that we will let you know as soon as we know IF we have to move the concert from Co-op Live to AO Arena. Like you, we would love to have this resolved sooner than later.
“In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding while everyone works together to sort this out.
“Barry and all of us are looking forward to seeing you all onMay 19th. Until then…..all best, Garry.”
Liam Gallagher says he’ll ‘gig in Lidl’ if Co-op Live still isn’t ready – and they sound pretty game for it
Danny Jones
Following the ongoing palaver with Co-op Live, Liam Gallagher has joked that he’d happily play his scheduled gigs in a Lidl if the arena still isn’t ready – at least we think he’s joking…
With Liam Gallagher having been named as one of the first acts booked to play Co-op Live last year, many are now wondering whether the venue will even by June, with the former Oasis frontman set to play four Definitely Maybe 30th-anniversary sets. That being said, he’s come up with a solution if not.
Turns out Liam Gallagher isn’t an Aldi man, he’s team Lidl.
Vintage LG, we’ll give him that.
Obviously a bit of a tongue-in-cheek quip at the venue being sponsored by a supermarket and convenience store chain, it could have been any other competitor that the ever-witty youngest Gallagher brother picked but it somehow made it extra funny that he chose a budget brand like Lidl.
However, with the 51-year-old already having fun with stunts like voicing the tannoys on the Metrolink last year, for instance, we wouldn’t put it past him to take this joke a little further.
Better still, not that we’re getting carried away or anything but Lidl themselves seem pretty keen on the idea too; they even spent the time to build an entire setlist for the fictional show. Fair play.
Liam Gallagher @ Lidl Arena – Setlist:
– Lidl by Lidl – Champagne Superoffer – Super(market) Sonic – The Importance of Being Lidl – Tiger Roll With It – Don’t Look Back in Hanger – Some Might Save
Can you imagine? Liam Gallagher swapping the occasional tambourine shake for beeps from a barcode scanner as he moves back and forth on the conveyor belt. We know it’s absolute nonsense and we definitely shouldn’t be even remotely considering it… BUT it’s the stuff of dreams and strange things have happened.
A lot of stranger things have happened this week alone. As for the latest with Co-op Live, the Chairman and CEO of key-backers Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke, issued a full statement sharing his “sincere apologies”and insisting that they understand “there is work to be done to rebuild your trust in us.”
With the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Peter Kay, The Black Keys and more having their gigs pulled by the venue due to numerous issues, including an air conditioning unit falling from the ceiling, fans are understandably fearful that other upcoming events could face delays or general misfortune.
Much like the venue itself, we imagine we’ll be playing catch-up on this whole saga for the foreseeable, but here’s a recap of the story so far: