The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will return to the AO Arena in Manchester early next year, with free tickets.
The huge event will be hosted by local comedian Jason Manford, and will bring together jaw-dropping performances from the biggest West End and touring musicals.
Audiences will be treated to hits from shows including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, A Chorus Line, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, GREASE, Hadestown, and Guys & Dolls.
The massive glittering event will take place on Monday 22 January, to be aired on BBC One, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds at a later date.
And tickets for The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals are completely free – all you need to do is be a National Lottery player.
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The 12,000 free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 1pm today, Thursday 30 November, at bignightofmusicals.com.
The event has been created to thank National Lottery players, who in the past year have helped support over 750 theatre-related projects across the UK.
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Jason Manford will be joined by special guest, West End legend and singing sensation, Beverley Knight, who has starred in theatre shows including The Bodyguard, Cats, Memphis, Sylvia, and Sister Act.
The National Lottery has awarded more than £517m to arts projects across the country, with £46m of this going towards theatre related projects.
For The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals, players will be able to reserve up to four tickets for free, plus a £2 booking fee applies per ticket and proof of purchase of a National Lottery product is required.
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Comedian, musical theatre performer and host Jason Manford said: “I’m thrilled to be hosting The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals once again.
“We’ve got another amazing line-up of smash hit shows for the Manchester Arena audience to enjoy. And the best thing about this show is that the tickets are free!
“It’s a thank you from The National Lottery to all the people who have supported the performing arts through these crucial years by playing each week.”
Beverley Knight, who also performed in the 2022 launch of The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals, said: “It’s great to be coming back to be part of this incredible show. The support National Lottery players make to the theatre industry is crucial to the performers and myriad of people – at large and small venues – who help make a night at the theatre so special.
“I can’t wait to see this astonishing line up of talent in Manchester belting out musical classics.”
The Script announced as latest Co-op Live act as they head back to Manchester
Danny Jones
Irish rock pop band The Script have been confirmed as the latest artists set to play Co-op Live arena as they prepare to make their Manchester return later this year.
Announcing the Co-op Live gig as part of their upcoming Satellite world tour, in support of their new album which is set to drop in just a few months’ time, the noughties and 2010s hit-makers will be coming to Manchester’s newest venue this fall.
With the trio having not long lost their lead guitarist and best mate Mark Sheehan during their run of Greatest Hits shows, this will be the first full tour they are set to play without him in the lineup.
Having gone back and regrouped, made a new record and now dropped their latest single ‘Both Ways’ at the same time on Friday morning, it’s full speed ahead for the boys with a massive world tour now on the horizon, including 20 European dates.
After being reduced to just two of the original found members, frontman Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, the Dubliners have since doubled, inviting bassist Ben Sargeant and guitarist Ben Weaver to join the band earlier this month. They’re also still out on tour with pop legend Pink.
Their new album, Satellite, will mark their seventh studio LP and the first material released as a four-piece and is scheduled for release on 16 August, promising to deliver a whole new energy from the band.
Taking inspiration from the likes of The Black Eyed Peas and Bruno Mars, bassist Glen admitted that the sound “maybe not what people might expect from us but we’re The Script, and now we have something to prove: that there’s life and light after the darkness. It’s why we’re coming fast and strong with that one.”
Lead singer Danny added: “The album cover is silhouettes of me, Glen and Ben Sargeant, our bassist, who’s been with us from the beginning. Then we have a hooded silhouette, because the air of Mark is still there.
“He always will be, but it’s also giving a tip of the hat to the future. It’ll never be the same Script. We’re just trying to get on and do what it is that we all feel is the next right thing to do and that’s to keep making more great music.”
As for the show itself, The Script arrive at Co-op Live on 30 November – the final show of their UK leg and over two years since their last visit to Manchester at the AO Arena.
For those looking to grab tickets, fans who pre-order Satellites from the band’s official store before5pm on Tuesday, 21 May will receive access to an exclusive pre-sale for tickets for the UK and Irelandtour dates.
Pre-sale opens at9:30am on Wednesday, 22 May and general admission tickets go live at the same time on Friday, 24 May. You can grab yours HERE.
We’ve had the luxury of popping along to the brand-new arena a few times now and we have to say, it didn’t disappoint.
Black Keys at Co-op Live, Manchester – huge venue’s first taste of the blues
Charlie Watkinson
As a huge Black Keys fan, when I found out they were set to be the first band to grace the stage at Co-op Live, I just knew I had to be there.
Of course, it didn’t turn out that way.
After numerous cancellations and rescheduling, Elbow managed to nab the first spot, with the Black Keys taking to the stage the following night instead (several weeks later than their original show date).
Let me tell you though – they did not disappoint.
Having been one of the starry-eyed fans at Elbow the previous night, and been properly impressed by the sound quality inside the massive new Manchester venue, the thought of hearing Dan Auerbach’s epic bluesy riffs had me beyond excited.
Entering the stage playing the heavy-hitting I Got Mine, followed by one of their most well-known tracks, Gold on the Ceiling, it was evident we were in for a great show.
I have to admit, though, as a die-hard Black Keys fan, I couldn’t ignore how static the crowd was throughout the whole performance.
It almost seemed like the room was filled with people who didn’t know their songs, perhaps due to rescheduling and Co-op Live dishing out tickets to say ‘sorry for the inconvenience’?
The quiet stillness of the crowd did a great disservice to the electrifying talent on stage. Luckily, this didn’t matter too much.
Closing with their most popular song, Lonely Boy, I almost forgot how still the crowd had been as I watched the entire stadium howling, “DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH – DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH.”
Although I wanted more from the crowd, all in all, the Black Keys played a setlist fit for a super fan and gave Co-Op Live its first taste of the blues.
I just wished the audience had been Howlin’ for You all night, not so Tighten Up’… As you were.