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The Plaza Theatre set to hold a special show celebrating Stockport’s music history
We can't think of a more beautiful building to enjoy it in either.
The historic Plaza variety theatre and super cinema in Stockport town centre are hosting The Stockport Music Story Concert, celebrating the town’s storied musical history from the 1960s all the way up to the present day — and it’s coming next month.
An Art Deco marvel of Greater Manchester, The Plaza has held all manner of shows since it first opened the best part of a century ago, from the classic pantomimes of your childhood days to stand-up, countless movie screenings live music and more taking place within its beautiful walls.
Now though, it is that very same local musical heritage that Stockport‘s premier theatre is focusing on with its latest event, as The Stockport Music Story Concert is set to trace the town’s roots from the glory days of the legendary Strawberry Studios to its present-day heroes like the Blossoms.
As the Plaza put it: “Join us on a musical journey featuring the classic tracks of 10cc, Blossoms, Joy Division, The Beatles, The Hollies, Inspiral Carpets, The Toggery Five, Wimple Winch, Brian & Michael and many more…”
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As if this wasn’t already an enticing enough trip through time, this isn’t just a fun Manc music history lesson: there will be performances by local artists including Clint Boon, Fuzzy Sun and Kyla Brox; Pete Maclaine, The Tall Faces, The Maddocks; The Glass Hearts, Joe Beard and Chris Millward from The Purple Gang, as well as Mick and Tim Coleman and Take Note Community Choir.
The evening will also feature special performances from the children of Vernon Park Primary School, Great Moor Junior School and St Winifred’s School Choir. Wholesome stuff.
Taking place at 7:30pm on Thursday, 14 September, with support from the Arts Council England Lottery Fund in collaboration with Stockport Town of Culture, British Drum Co., Seven Miles Out Records and Stockport Music Map, tickets start from just £13.20. You can grab yours HERE.
Stockport continues to be on the up — even Andy Burnham knows it.
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Featured Image — Wikimedia Commons/Stockport Plaza/The Manc Group
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Deep Purple announce huge Manchester show at the iconic AO Arena
Daisy Jackson
Rock royalty Deep Purple have just announced a huge Manchester gig at the AO Arena.
These pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock will be heading out on a tour next year that includes shows in Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
And Deep Purple will be performing on the most iconic stage in Manchester, with a gig at the AO Arena next winter.
Even five decades on, the group remain one of the world’s most revered live acts, with 50 years’ worth of chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Perhaps best known for their legendary hit Smoke On The Water, along with songs like Highway Star and Child In Time, the group are listed as one of the genre’s most influential bands of all time.
Child In Time was reworked to soundtrack Netflix’s smash-hit series Stranger Things, capturing Deep Purple’s timeless and lasting influence.
The British rockers show no sign of slowing down, releasing a critically-acclaimed album in 2024.
They’ll be supported by Mammoth, fronted by Grammy Award-winning ssongwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen.
Also joining Deep Purple for their AO Arena gig in Manchester will be Jayler, fast-rising UK rockers.
Deep Purple will play at the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday 22 November, 2026 – tickets go on sale from 10am on Friday 21 November and you can get yours HERE.
Deep Purple 2026 UK tour dates
- Wednesday 18 November – Newcastle Utilita Arena
- Thursday 19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
- Saturday 21 November – BP Pulse Arena, Birmingham
- Sunday 22 November – AO Arena, Manchester
- Tuesday 24 November – Eventim Apollo, London
Featured image: Jim Rakete
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Kings of Leon announce Manchester arena show on short run of UK dates
Daisy Jackson
Kings of Leon have just announced a short run of UK shows for next year, which includes an arena gig here in Manchester.
The multi-Grammy Award-winning rock band will be performing at the Co-op Live arena, along with two other British dates in Leeds and Glasgow.
Kings of Leon are one of the biggest alternative rock bands in the world, and never fail to sell out arenas in Manchester when they perform here.
The group of brothers (plus one cousin) have headlined some of the world’s most iconic festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, as well as reclaiming an all-time attendance record with a fifth night at Hyde Park in London last year.
Kings of Leon have been dominating charts for more than 20 years, ever since the release of their debut album Youth & Young Manhood in 2003.
They now have nine studio albums, including last year’s Can We Please Have Fun, which (as with all their albums so far) comfortably reached the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
The band is made up of Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill, and just last week they dropped an EP with four new songs.
Now, it’s another brief run of live shows for the UK, with Kings of Leon performing at Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 4 July 2026.
Tickets for Kings of Leon in Manchester will go on sale from 9am on Friday 21 November, and you can get yours HERE.
Kings of Leon UK tour dates for 2026
- Friday 3 July – Bellahouston Park Glasgow
- Saturday 4 July – Co-op Live Manchester
- Monday 6 July – First Direct Bank Arena Leeds
Read more: Pulp announce epic Live from Wythenshawe Park gig, with support from Self Esteem
Featured image: Publicity picture
Danny Jones -
14th August 2023 
