BRIT Award-winner Jorja Smith has announced she will play an intimate Manchester gig as part of a short run of shows.
In honor of releasing her highly anticipated second album ‘Falling or flying’ later this monththe BRIT award-winner has announced a series of intimate headline shows.
Beginning in her home city of Birmingham on 7 November, she’ll stop in Manchester on 9 November before concluding the short run of gigs in London on 10 November.
For her Manchester show, she’ll take over the stage at The Albert Hall – a 5,000-capacity venue in the heart of the city set within a former chapel.
Further to climbing the charts with her huge summer single Little Things, Jorja returned last month with Falling or flying; a sleek and soulful offering taken from her highly anticipated second album of the same name.
ADVERTISEMENT
In addition to releasing the new single, Jorja also unveiled the tracklist for the record which will include features from British rapper J Hus and Jamaican singer Lila Iké, alongside 12 brand-new, unreleased tracks.
The singer last played The Albert Hall in 2018 for a run of two back-to-back sold out shows, and it’s expected that this short run will sell out fast.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2019, she was named Best British Female Artist at the Brit Awards and she was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Image: Jorja Smith
Image: Jorja Smith
Of the many British voices in music today, Jorja is among the most commanding, writing at a pitch of intensity and urgency that few can match.
Over the past five and half years, since the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Lost & Found, she has been celebrated unanimously across the world for her evocative songwriting and powerful delivery.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2021 Jorja finally broke her hiatus from music – releasing Be Right Back, the holding space between the sensation that was Lost & Found and her next project.
Be Right Back was born from playing, jamming, freestyling, and sounding out what Jorja had been on the edge of expressing all her life.
It was a project entirely for her fans, with Jorja saying at the time: “Be Right Back did exactly what I wanted it to do. It was a little waiting room so people knew I was coming back.”
Read more:Olivia Rodrigo announces massive Manchester gig at brand new Co-op Live arena
Come back she did – entering a chapter of her return to music that’s certain to draw in and intoxicate Jorja’s fans and new listeners alike.
Speaking on what has changed for her, in the five years since ‘Lost & Found’ dominated the charts and the soundscape, Jorja said: “I like this world that I’ve just come into. And I’m still figuring things out. Always figuring things out.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“This is the first time I’m putting stuff out there that I can connect with right now.”
Tickets are on pre-sale from 10am BST Wednesday 20 September and on sale from Friday 22 September. They can be purchased from Jorja Smith’s website here.
Featured image – Jorja Smith
Audio
A new open mic night series has started at a massively underrated Manc bar and music venue
Are you an inspiring musician or just like hearing the next best thing before they blow up? Well, one of the newest open mic nights in the area has just got underwayin Manchester.
It also happens to be taking place at what we think is one of the most underrated small-capacity music venues in the city centre. If you’re interested, keep reading…
Up on Deansgate Mews is full of what social media brands like us to love to call ‘hidden gems’, but in the case of Lions Den, we couldn’t be more sincere about it.
The first event has already been and gone – safe to say it went down a treat:
If you’ve never been to this unassuming but undeniably brilliant little bar and gig space, it’s known not only for a great drinks lineup at affordable prices and a lovely sun-soaked terrace, but regular live music nights as well.
We’ve had the pleasure of seeing local bands such as Hi Sienna and Balancing Act play there outdoors, whereas inside the venue, you’ll also find a 200-cap room for when those rare rays subside and to cater to the frequent gig-goers year-round.
Manc lads Malcolm got the proceedings underway this month, and the second open mic night is coming up on Tuesday, 8 April.
Kicking off at 7pm, the new weekly open mic night is an opportunity for talented Manchester musicians and those looking to make it some day to take to the stage and share their work with the world.
Well, with us for now, but who knows which future supergroup or solo star might be next?
Strawberry Lemonade have gone from playing here to selling out The Deaf Insitute.Balancing Act playing The Rodeo night at Lions Den before booking all those massive festival slots.(Credit: The Manc Group)
More importantly, there’s absolutely no need to book: anyone looking to take part can just turn up and play, so whether you’re hoping to be spotted or just practice playing live, this is a great chance to do so.
Even better still, each act will receive a drink on the house AND professional performance photos to help populate that press shot portfolio and share on your socials.
There’s no entry fee either, whether you’re performing or just a punt, and with great student deals like £3.50 pints and two for £6 spirits, we can see this series taking off.
Catch you in the Den sometime soon.
We’ve had plenty of good times here. (Credit: The Manc)
The queen of British rap, the one and only Little Simz, is coming back to Manchester for what will be her biggest headline show in this city to date.
A whole three years on from her last album No Thank You, the rapper from Islington is heading back out on the road after wrapping up the recording of her sixth studio LP, Lotus.
The first single ‘FREE’ has already dropped, and despite the release date itself being pushed back, news of a new Little Simz tour later this year more than makes up for it, if you ask us.
Little Simz already has two NME Awards to her name for Best British Solo Act and Best British Album, not to mention a BRIT itself for Best New Artist in 2022; oh yeah, and she won the Mercury Prize as well as a BET Hip Hop Award over in the States for ‘Best International Flow’ – all before she turned 30.
With that in mind, you can understand why so many are frothing at the mouth to hear her new record when it does finally drop.
There doesn’t appear to be any problems with the album itself: Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, to use her full name, is simply busier than ever and has just booked a role in a film because, yes, she acts too.
Lotus will now drop on Friday, 6 June, just in time for fans to get learning the lyrics ahead of festival season, which we have no doubt she’ll play a big part in.
You can hear the first taste of the next chapter down below:
Little Simz returns to Manchester for a Co-op Live debut on 16 October with tour supports still yet to be announced.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 9 April from 10am for official Co-op members and general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (11 April).
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2023 
