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The Stranglers announce 50th anniversary tour with Manchester date at O2 Apollo

One of the biggest UK rock bands of all time is coming back to Manchester next year. (article contains affiliate links)

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 18th May 2023

Legendary rock band The Stranglers have announced a UK and Ireland tour for their 50th anniversary and, naturally, they’ll be visiting the music capital of the world, Manchester.

Yes, music veterans and punk icons have been around for half a century and while the lineup may be different these days, the love for these lot hasn’t gone anywhere.

Championing the new wave moment in the 1970s and 80s, The Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands from the era and have an incredible 19 UK top 40 albums, as well as 23 top 40 singles.

Now, to celebrate their decades of success, the Guildford-formed band are embarking on the ‘Fifty Years In Black Anniversary Tour’ in March next year, arriving at the O2 Apollo on 15 March to play the best of the best from throughout their 18 studio albums.

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Originally formed in Guildford, west Surrey, the band was started by frontman and guitarist Hugh Cornwell, drummer Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy), bassist and joint vocalist Jean Jacques Burnel, as well as keyboardist and guitarist Hans Wärmling.

Various members left and were replaced over time and drummer Black sadly died in December last year, but Jean Jacques still remains in the band to this day and is keeping the spirit of the rat alive along with current frontman Baz Warne, new drummer Jim Macaulay and Toby Hounsham on keys.

With so many memorable tracks to their name — ‘Golden Brown’, ‘No More Heroes’, ‘Peaches’, ‘Midnight Summer Dream’ and countless others — it’s set to be a real trip through time and their huge discography, meaning it’s a must-see for die-hard fans.

Pre-sale tickets for The Stranglers are already available for Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester, with general admission going live from 9pm on Friday, 19 May. You can grab yours HERE.

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

Featured Image — Supplied

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Sugababes announced as headliner for this year’s Homobloc queer block party

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Homobloc is returning for 2025 - full line-up announced

Homobloc has unveiled its line-up for this year’s massive queer block party, and they’ve roped in Sugababes as a headliner for 2025.

The phenomenal LGBTQ+ party, which takes over Depot Mayfield every year as part of the Warehouse Project season, will also see performances from Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, and Beth Ditto.

The huge line-up also includes Patrick Mason, Slayyyter, Peaches (DJ) b2b Erol Alkan, Hercules And Love Affair – Live, Todd Edwards and many more.

As well as music, there’ll be performance art from queer collectives like Pxssy Palace, Butch Revival, T4T, Feel It, Ghetto Fabulous, House of Spice x Zindagi, and Red Rodeo Club.

Taking place in December, Homobloc will be returning for its sixth edition, with its most diverse line-up yet.

Once again, it’ll be an all-evening-and-into-the-night party that’s all-inclusive to all artists, performers, spectators and clubbers.

Homobloc is one of the biggest dates in the calendar for Manchester, with a diverse line-up of live acts, DJs and performers, showcasing rising talent and queer icons alike.

It’s a party with purpose, too, raising £137,399 for vital LGBTQ+ charities since its inaugural event in 2021.

This year, the team have hosted a series of one-off events, including events with Romy, Princess Superstar, and closing Manchester International Festival, as well as making its Ibiza debut at Amnesia.

This winter, Homobloc will be lead by pop royalty Sugababes, fresh from their European tour.

Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025
Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025. Credit: Jody Hartley
Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025
Credit: Jody Hartley

Homobloc favourites Honey Dijon and The Blessed Madonna will be back once again, plus Berlin-based techno powerhouse and creative director Patrick Mason, the iconic Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters fame, and a rare DJ set from Gossip’s magnetic frontwoman, Beth Ditto.

The line-up also includes American singer Slayyyter, a special b2b DJ sets from electroclash icon Peaches and Erol Alkan, live performance from dance music project Hercules & Love Affair, and a set from Grammy Award-winning house legend Todd Edwards.

There will be DJ sets from Sally C b2b I.Jordan, Roi Perez, Eliza Rose, Joshua James, Fat Tony, Grace Sands, and Manchester’s Aiden Francis, Gina Breeze and Kim Lana.

It’s all taking places across all three main stages at Depot Mayfield, as well as The Plant Room, the Star & Garter pub next door, and the Loft up on the rooftop.

Rod Connolly, Promoter from Homobloc, commented: “We can’t wait for people to dive into our 2025 lineup of queer excellence, proudly merging global and local artists, returning friends, and scratching the underbelly of the scene to showcase the rawest talent from the queer underground.

Homobloc 2025 line-up annouced
Homobloc 2025 line-up announced. Credit: Jody Hartley

“In a time of rising division, events like Homobloc matter more than ever. We deserve a space for our community and allies to come together and hold each other up on a dancefloor full of love and resistance.

“We are the beings the bastards can’t grind down and we invite everyone to join us to shake off the bullshit, recharge, realign and carry our queer power back out onto the streets of Manchester.”

Sophie Bee, Homobloc Creative Director, added: “The team are super excited to be back. We’ve got some unreal collaborations booked in for this year, from Jodie Harsh and Clayton Wright’s London community strong, weekly club night Feel It to local hot talent Rojak.

“Loads of favourites are back like the Fvck Pigs, Sue Veneers, Ghetto Fabulous, Cute Cartel and Jay Jay Revlon, and there’s some really exciting b2b’s. We’re working with mind blowing producers such as Runway X Banksie and the nations favourite, Lill, producing a fabulous line up of queens.

“We’re also cooking away at some special happenings with Sam Buttery and Beau Azra. As always, we just want to blow your socks off and have the best time with all our pals.”

House Of Spice commented: “Homobloc is more than a festival to us – it’s a celebration of queerness, music, and chosen family.

“As a South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African queer brown collective, House of Spice is proud to bring our flavour to 2025, featuring Club Zindagi, Armana Khan, Shanika Sunrise, DJ Chafik, and our performers Lucky Roy Singh (Mother), Mixed Spice, Chilli Spice, Saffy Saffron Spice, and Rachel Pro-Filing.

“Together we’re excited to create a space that is unapologetically free, joyful, and rooted in community. Homobloc represents unity and visibility, and we can’t wait to dance, perform, and celebrate with everyone under one roof.”

This year’s Homobloc is set to take place on Saturday 6 December – grab your tickets HERE.

Pre-sale will be live on Thursday 11 September at 10am ahead of general sale from 10am on Friday 12 September.

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Featured image: Supplied, Jody Hartley

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Country star Tyler Childers is coming to town for his biggest Manchester show to date

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tyler Childers Manchester tickets

US country music star Tyler Childers is returning to Manchester for his biggest ever show in this city, and tickets go on sale very soon.

Fresh off the back of his new album, Snipe Hunter – which was only just dropped back in July – the 34-year-old singer-songwriter is riding a fresh wave of excitement after years of hard work within the genre, mixing in plenty of classic bluegrass and folk into his modern take on the classic American sound.

As one of the most-streamed and well-respected contemporary country musicians on the scene right now, the Kentucky-born solo star and understated acoustic guitarist often falls into that category of your favourite artist’s favourite artist.

Now Tyler Childers is coming to our most legendary arena as part of his UK and European tour early next year, and we’ll certainly be queuing online for tickets.

As far as AO Arena shows booked in for the new year go, we’re very excited about this one.

His seventh studio album has been well-received by his die-hard followers and newcomers alike, delivering that same traditional Appalachian storytelling and hard-bitten humour, as well as plenty of attitude and anecdotal idiosyncrasies, not to mention plenty of vocal range as always.

Having not long come back from a pilgrimage to India, Lawrence County king teamed up with legendary producer Rick Rubin (along with some help from Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn) to create one of his most eye-opening, broad and best records yet.

Post-release, the Associated Press went on to label him “one of country music’s most compelling and unpredictable artists”, and we tend to agree.

The LP immediately spawned plenty of fan favourites, and we certainly have ours – and the video has definitely had a hand in it:

It may just be his best work yet.

Experimenting with his current unique take on country rock sound more than ever, you couldn’t ask for a better time to go and see him live.

To quote the words of Rolling Stone magazine, he’s “one of his generation’s most important voices”, and you really should see him live if you can.

Once again, Tyler Childers comes to the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday, 8 March 2026, with an official pre-sale available via Three+ from 9am on Wednesday, 10 September.

As for general admission, tickets go live at the same time on the following Friday (12 Sep); you can get ready to grab yours HERE.

We don’t know about you, but we’re very much enjoying our country moment at the minute…

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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)

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