Two more massive gigs have just been announced at Robin Park in Wigan, with both Noel Gallagher and The Lathums gigging on home turf.
There’ll be five huge shows at the new 11,500-capacity home of Wigan Warriors across the summer of 2024.
Also announced already are gigs from James Arthur, and two nights for Richard Ashcroft.
Noel Gallagher‘s High Flying Birds will be headlining on Thursday 18 July, following the release of their fourth studio album, Council Skies.
The band, fronted by the former Oasis legend, also sold out a huge homecoming gig at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park last August bank holiday weekend.
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Opening the run of gigs at Robin Park will be former X Factor champion James Arthur, who has scored four top 10 albums, and collaborated with the likes of Anne-Marie, Sigala, Rudimental, Marshmello and many more.
Up next will be Wigan locals The Lathums, with their biggest headline show to date on Friday 19 July.
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They’ll be supported by very special guests Jake Bugg and Brooke Combe, in an emotional, celebratory homecoming that will show off their two chart-topping albums in the town they grew up in.
The Lathums will also play Robin Park in Wigan. Credit: Ewan OgdenRichard Ashcroft announces first Wigan homecoming show in 25 years. Credit: Supplied
Richard Ashcroft closes the series, in his first Wigan gig in over 25 years, which has driven such demand that a second date has been added.
He said: “After 25 years, I’m back playing in my hometown. Looking forward to an amazing night in Wigan.”
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Wigan’s musical history ranges from the emergence of George Formby in the 1930s to being the beating heart of the Northern Soul scene, and also the town which created 90s Britpop legends The Verve.
Now it will build on its legacy with a new summer gig series at the multi-million pound Robin Park, built in association with Wigan council.
Located next to The DW Stadium, Robin Park is just a 20 minute walk from Wigan town centre, and Wigan North Western train station.
Live at Robin Park 2024 gigs and tickets
Wednesday 17 July – James Arthur + special guests – Tickets on sale Friday 8 December at 9am here
Thursday 18 July – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds + special guests – Tickets on sale Friday 8 December at 9am here
Friday 19 July – The Lathums + special guests Jake Bugg and Brooke Combe – Tickets on sale Friday 8 December at 9am here
Saturday 20 July + Sunday 21 July – Richard Ashcroft + special guests – Tickets here
Featured image: Matt Crockett
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Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It's the funeral of Mani of the Stone Roses on the 22nd. He lived locally. This poster is asking people to line the route of his funeral cortege to "show that he truly was adored". pic.twitter.com/X0DYHl10Hp
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC
Danny Jones
2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.
Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.
Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.
Boyzone are telling us about coming back together for one final run in their most unforgettable concerts yet 🎤
After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.
Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.
Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.
Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…
Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but
Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.
As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
Daisy Jackson -
4th December 2023 
