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Simply Red announce huge Manchester anniversary gig at Co-op Live – but you’ll have to wait a while

Shame it's literally years away. (Contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 18th September 2023

Simply Red have announced a massive homecoming gig in Manchester to celebrate 40 years of the legendary band.

The special UK and Ireland arena tour will bring them to the Co-op Live arena, making them the latest in a string of massive shows to be announced for the brand new venue.

Simply Red, fronted by Mick Hucknall, formed here in Manchester way back in 1985 and went on to sell more than 60 million albums worldwide.

With 13 studio albums, five of which made it to the top of the UK albums chart, Simply Red also hold the rare crown for having the best-selling album for two years on the trot with their classic record Stars.

And now to celebrate their 40 year milestone, the band are heading back out on the road… in 2025.

Yeah, it’s a while to wait…

Mick Hucknall said: “Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour.

“Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we’ve been on together over the past four decades.”

Simply Red will be at the Co-op Live, Manchester on Saturday 27 October 2025.

Other dates on the tour include two shows at the O2 in London, plus gigs in Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow, to name a few.

Pre-sale tickets are available from 10am on Tuesday 19 September, with general sale from Thursday 21 September at 10am through See Tickets.

Simply Red tour dates in full

September 2025

  • Tuesday 23 – Belfast SSE Arena
  • Wednesday 24 – Dublin 3 Arena
  • Friday 26 – Leeds First Direct Arena
  • Saturday 27 – Manchester Co-op Live
  • Sunday 28 – Glasgow OVO Hydro Arena

October

  • Wednesday 1 – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
  • Friday 3 – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
  • Saturday 4 – Birmingham Utilita Arena
  • Sunday 5 – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
  • Tuesday 7 – Brighton Centre
  • Thursday 9 – London The O2
  • Friday 10 – London The O2

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The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year

Danny Jones Danny Jones CMAT Mercury Prize shortlist 2025 favourites

The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.

You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.

We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.

If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.

What is CMAT’s connection to Manchester?

She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.

Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.

From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.

Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…

We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.

There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize

It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.

Further reflecting on the second shortlisting, Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (ergo, ‘CMAT’) went on to explain: “I had a weird thing happen at the Mercury Prize 2024 when Annie Mac was announcing who the winner was.

“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.

“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”

She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | August 2025
You say CMAT was our headliner last month, and rightly so, Euro-Country is an absolute triumph.

Thompson joins the likes of resurgent Sheffield Britpop icons, Pulp, as well as Wolf Alice, FKA twigs and lots more talented acts on the list.

Not only are there plenty of Northerners on the list, but our friends over in Yorkshire have had another big year too.

Leeds jazz musician Emma-Jean Thackray has also been nominated, and with the story behind her most recent heartbreaking but brilliant material, it’s no surprise.

Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?

You can see the full list of nominees down below:

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Featured Images — Raph_PH (via Flickr)/Publicity picture

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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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