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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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“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
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Yungblud announces huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK tour
Daisy Jackson
Yungblud is heading back to Manchester for a huge gig next year as part of a nationwide arena tour.
The Doncaster-born rock artist is behind songs like Fleabag, Cotton Candy, and Parents, with three studio albums to his name and a fourth set for release this month.
Yungblud, 27, has also collaborated with some of the biggest rock artists in the world, including Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker, and Bring Me The Horizon.
Along the way, he’s built up an incredibly loyal fanbase, who refer to themselves as the Black Hearts Club, and championed individuality and acceptance.
And now Yungblud is finally heading back out on tour, with a massive gig at the AO Arena next spring.
This boundary-pushing artist has announced the tour in support of his upcoming fourth album, Idols, which he describes as being a modern rock opera.
He’s famed for his explosive and energetic live shows, and has even launched his own festival, Bludfest, to challenge the high cost of other live music festivals.
Announcing the UK tour this morning, he said: “UK. It’s been two years! I’m so excited to announce our biggest shows yet.
“Pre-order the album from my official store before Tuesday 10am for early access to tickets/ presale on Wednesday 10am. General tickets onsale 10am FRIDAY 13th. Link in bio. Let’s go.”
As well as his AO Arena gig in Manchester, Yungblud will also play at cities including Leeds, London and Birmingham.
Yungblud will perform at the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday 25 April 2026. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 13 June.
Drake adds extra Manchester date to UK tour after ‘unprecedented demand’
Emily Sergeant
An extra date has been added for Drake’s run of Manchester shows next month following ‘unprecedented demand’.
In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, Drake announced that he’ll be coming to Manchester for two huge gigs next month (yes, literally next month), but now following so-called ‘unprecedented demand’, an extra date has been added.
The GRAMMY award-winning and multi-platinum global artist teamed up with fellow Canadian rapper PARTYNEXTDOOR to release their collaborative album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, and now to celebrate the release, the duo are making their highly anticipated return to the UK and Europe.
The arena tour, aptly named ‘$ome$pecial $hows 4 UK’, will kick off on 20 and 21 July at Birmingham Utilita Arena, before Drake comes to visit us Mancs shortly after.
JUST ANNOUNCED @drake Drake returns for the first time in six years. Bringing the $ome$pecial$hows 4 UK tour to Manchester on 25 & 26 July 2025. Support from @partynextdoor.@coopuk Member Presale: 4 JUNE 12:00 General Sale: 6 JUNE 12:00
The Toronto rapper was already set to take to the stage at Manchester‘s newest live entertainment arena, Co-op Live, on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July, following three nights of headlining Wireless Festival at London’s Finsbury Park.
But now, Monday 28 July has also been added into the mix in Manchester.
Following his three nights in Manchester, the tour will then continue across Europe, with stops in Munich, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and more, all before wrapping up on 23 September in Hamburg at Barclays Arena.
The tour marks Drake’s first return to Europe and the UK in six years, following his 2019 Assassination Vacation Tour.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Drake completed his monumental sold-out 80-date It’s All A Blur Tour across North America, featuring special guests 21 Savage and J. Cole.
$ome $pecial $hows 4 UK 2025 dates:
Sunday 20 & Monday 21 July – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July – Co-op Live, Manchester
Monday 28 July – Co-op Live, Manchester
Breaking more records along the way, Wireless announced Drake as the 2025 headliner for all three nights, each featuring unique setlists and special guests, and the festival sold out within minutes – which is the fastest sell-out in its 20-year history.
Drake will be at Co-op Live on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July, and again on Monday 28 July, and in true last-minute fashion, tickets go on general on sale today (6 June).
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2023 
