Simple Minds have announced they’re heading out on a huge global arena tour next year, with tickets set to go on sale very soon.
And they’ll be making a special visit to see us here in Manchester.
Following what was the huge success their 40 Years Of Hits Tour last year, and fresh off-the-back of the recent announcement of their Australian and New Zealand tour dates for early next year, Simple Minds have now made fans’ days on this side of the pond by announcing both a UK and Ireland leg of their upcoming Global Tour 2024.
The Scottish rock legends will be taking to the stage at some of the country’s biggest arenas next March, and Manchester is one of the cities they’ll be stopping off at.
Kicking things off in Leeds at the First Direct Arena on 15 March, the beloved band will then play eight more UK shows, and a huge gig at Dublin’s 3Arena, all before the tour draws to a close and culminates with a huge hometown concert at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena.
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The band will headline the AO Arena on 16 March 2024 as the second date on the tour.
Simple Minds announce massive Manchester gig on 2024 global arena tour / Credit: Supplied
Consistently considered to be one of the best live bands of their generation, within just the past decade alone, Simple Minds have played to hundreds of thousands of people all around the world, with the demand to see them perform smash-hits such as ‘Promised You a Miracle’, ‘Glittering Prize’, and of course, ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’, growing year on year.
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And with even more shows throughout the rest of the world rumoured to be announced very soon, the Global Tour 2024 will eventually see them play to over one million fans worldwide before it’s done.
It’s the biggest tour they’ve done since 1985.
Just Announced ✨ Simple Minds 🎸
We're thrilled to announce Simple Minds to the AO Arena next year, as part of their Global Tour! 🌍 Plus, special guests Del Amitri ✨
Frontman Jim Kerr has called live shows “the life blood of Simple Minds”.
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“It’s where we and our audience come alive and energised through music,” he added as the UK and Ireland tour was announced, “four decades on from when we first set out, this global tour will demonstrate that Simple Minds are still alive and kicking.”
Simple Minds are playing the AO Arena in Manchester on 16 March 2024, with support from fellow Scottish rockers Del Amitri, and tickets to the Global Tour 2024 will go on general sale from 9am this Friday 8 September.
Featured Image – Chris James (Simple Minds via Facebook)
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Tame Impala announces another HUGE Manchester gig after chart-topping success
Emily Sergeant
Tame Impala has announced another UK and EU tour in 2027 to celebrate recent chart-topping success.
Following sold-out runs across the globe in 2025 and 2026 – including here in Manchester – and currently in the midst of a North American arena tour, Tame Impala has announced a new run of dates for next year – with a mix of headline and festival appearances.
The announcement arrives as Kevin Parker – better known by his project name, Tame Impala – continues an extraordinary run with his latest studio album Deadbeat, released last year.
On Deadbeat, Parker aimed to sculpt a collection of ‘wickedly potent’ club-psych explorations as a vehicle for some of his most direct, ear-wormy songwriting to date.
Tame Impala has announced another huge Manchester gig after chart-topping success / Credit: Julian Klincewicz (Supplied)
After recently being featured in the new Marvel film, Spiderman: Brand New Day, the lead single from the album, ‘Loser’, has just hit number one on the Global Spotify chart.
Not only that, but the remix of the hit song ‘Dracula’, featuring JENNIE, also remains in the top 10 on various global charts, and the original version has also nominated for Best Alternative at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Critics described this most recent run of gigs as ‘one of the best live shows of the year’, so it only makes sense that he’d be back for more.
Kicking off on 28 May 2027 in here in Manchester, Tame Impala will be taking to the Co-op Live stage once again, before heading down to the capital for two nights at The O2 on 1 and 2 June, and then popping over to Paris, Rotterdam, and Cologne to.
Wet Leg will open all headlining dates next year, including here in Manchester.
Tickets go on sale this week, with Co-op Member Presale kicking off at 9am on Wednesday (26 August), followed by General Sale also at 9am on Friday (28 August).
A reimagined dance music celebration is coming to Manchester later this year
Thomas Melia
Get ready to hear some of the biggest anthems in dance music, reimagined and given an orchestral transformation right here in Manchester city centre.
Powerhouse music business Ministry of Sound has been uplifting and promoting dance music through its varied and electric live events for over three decades.
Now, it’s putting an all-new take on all your favourite dancefloor fillers that have been released over the past 30 years with a 31-piece orchestra, a whole team of vocalists and a stacked setlist.
Expect to hear the likes of Fatboy Slim with his huge tune ‘Right Here, Right Now’ alongside Darude’s standout hit ‘Sandstorm’, as performed by a live orchestral arrangement and light production.
After receiving a great reception at major music settings like Gone Wild, The Big Feastival and Silverstone Festival, paired with a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall, this all-new live show now visits the music capital of the North.
Of course, it’s only fitting that Manchester gets the chance to experience this innovative twist on classics and anthems, considering the city’s vibrant club contributions like the Madchester scene and legendary music institution the Hacienda.
Now, dance, house and trance spanning the past 30 years come together courtesy of the Ministry of Sound Classical, playing out across UK locations like Brighton, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as Manchester.
The show is playing out at city-centre gig hotspot O2 Apollo, and is about to teach 3,500 Mancunians dance music history through a dance-meets-orchestra concert like no other.
This live music extravaganza is organised and led by dance music pioneers Ministry of Sound, who developed and defined the 1990s house music scene in London and across the country.
Ministry of Sound Classical is heading to O2 Apollo in Manchester on Friday 18 December with tickets and more information available HERE.
Featured Image – Press Shot (Supplied via Ministry of Sound)
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2023 
