The AO Arena has pretty much all but confirmed an upcoming Twenty One Pilots gig here in Manchester after teasing the band’s highly-anticipated return with a single silhouetted poster.
Yes, literally just one medium-sized poster and we’re already losing it. Well done, AO.
With the American alternative and electro-pop duo having recently confirmed the release date for their seventh studio LP, Clancy, their die-hard fan base is once again ramping up the excitement for a new album cycle.
It’s their first new music since 2021 and is set to drop on 17 May but better still, it looks like they’re already earmarking a few big gigs around the launch, as this poster appearing outside the entrance to Manchester’s AO Arena on Tuesday, 26 March.
It looks like Twenty One Pilots are coming back to Manchester — the question is when?
While the poster might look a little puzzling at first glance – just two solid black figures on a red background with some yellow writing too small to read from a distance – the poster is part of the wider imagery surrounding their new record.
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As seen above, the main album artwork for Clancy has already been revealed and features a similarly obscured pose from frontman Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, but the group began releasing other promotional visuals earlier this month.
In fact, AO Arena are by no means the only ones getting involved in the teaser campaign which many are increasingly confident is a big tour in support of new album and now thought to be fast approaching.
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As it turns out, a whole host of massive music venues all over the globe have been plastering the big poster on their walls.
Again, we’ve had nothing confirmed as yet but we’d be daft not to assume Twenty One Pilots will be touring the latest album when it lands and will no doubt be coming back to Manchester when they do so.
Regarding the new material, the lead single ‘Overcompensate’, has already arrived (great track, by the way) and the follow up called ‘Next Semester’ is expected to be released later this week as well.
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As for performing live, the band haven’t been in Manchester since the ‘The Bandito Tour’ back in 2019, so let’s just say the scramble for grabbing these tickets, still hypothetical mind, is likely to leave us Stressed Out.
Harry Styles One Night Only at Co-op Live in Manchester – phones-free policy, stage times, and everything else you need to know
Daisy Jackson
Harry Styles will play an exclusive, intimate (for him) one night only concert in Manchester this week.
The show at the Co-op Live coincides with the release of the star’s fourth album, ‘Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally’, both of which will land on Friday 6 March.
Fans have waited years for HS4 and for more live shows from the former One Direction musician, only for him to announce a residency all the way down in London and no northern shows.
But Harry Styles threw us here in Manchester – the closest big city to where he grew up – with the news of a ‘One Night Only’ album release show.
If you’re one of the lucky few thousand who snagged tickets, here’s everything you need to know.
Stage times for Harry Styles One Night Only
Premium doors for Harry Styles will open at 6pm, with general admission entries from 6.30pm.
Harry and the venue haven’t yet publicly announced what time he’ll take the stage, or whether there’ll be any sort of support act.
But we’ll keep this updated as soon as we hear more.
How do tickets work?
Tickets for the Harry Styles Manchester gig were dished out in an unusual ‘ticket request’ format, where fans who registered their interest were randomly allocated tickets – no usual ‘Ticketmaster War’ competing in a first-come, first-served sale.
Those who have been successful will have been charged the £20 per ticket fee, and should be able to see their event details now in the Ticketmaster or Co-op Live apps.
Don’t panic if you can’t see your barcode just yet – they should drop in in the next day.
And remember to save your tickets to your phone’s wallet so you don’t struggle with signal at the doors.
Harry Styles’ show in Manchester on Friday night will have a strict no-phones policy, it’s been confirmed.
Instead, the lucky few thousand of fans heading to his One Night Only gig will be handed proper disposable cameras to capture moments from the night.
Any use of cameras, smart glasses, smart watches, or other recording devices won’t be permitted in the venue on Friday night.
Fans will instead have to secure their phones inside recyclable bags, which will allow them to be used in normal ways for communications, but without the camera. At the end of the night, your phone will be removed from the bag and the bag will be recycled.
Anyone caught using a digital recording device during the Harry Styles One Night Only phones-free show may be asked to leave the venue.
Instead of a sea of phones, Harry Styles will be asking fans to capture their memories from the night on disposable cameras, which will be included with every pair of tickets sold.
When can I watch Harry Styles One Night In Manchester on Netflix?
Harry Styles’ One Night Only gig in Manchester will be the subject of a Netflix documentary
Netflix will be joining Harry Styles at the Co-op Live to film for an upcoming special, Harry Styles One Night in Manchester.
A teaser trailer shows behind-the-scenes footage of the former One Direction star rehearsing in the studio.
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
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Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
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For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner
Cruz Beckham and The Breakers live in Manchester – a torch passed from father to son?
Lonnie Bowes
Cruz Beckham graced the stage of The Deaf Institute in Manchester last night. Whether it’s your first time through the doors or you’ve been going for years, the venue carries an unmistakable energyand always will.
With a feel and set in its Victorian past, unmistakable Mancunian patina, the building leaves a mark on you – and on every grassroots artist who plays there.
The intimate upstairs room has long been a springboard for acts who go on to much bigger stages. History certainly likes to repeat itself, and perhaps this was a small sign of things to come for the youngest son of David and Victoria Beckham.
With his dad watching from the wings – fittingly in a number seven shirt synonymous with his years at Man United – Cruz stepped onto the stage with quiet confidence. For the next hour, he set his sights firmly on the crowd, eager to show exactly who he is as an artist beyond the famous surname.
Backed by a tight band that seemed to fit together like a glove, the set leaned into guitar-driven indie with an easy chemistry between players.
There were moments where the group locked into a groove, so naturally, it felt less like a new project and more like a band that had been touring together for years.
Cruz and co’s audience reflected the curiosity surrounding the night; inside the packed room was an eclectic mix of indie fans, university students, couples of all ages and a fair share of Beckham devotees – all keen to see whether the hype surrounding the young performer translated on stage.
The 21-year-old ran through his most popular (albeit limited number of) tracks thus far, including ‘Lick the Toad’, ‘Optics’, and ‘For Your Love’, each of which was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
His songs showed off a good deal of melodic indie sensibility, with jangling guitars and hooks that landed well in the intimate setting of the venue.
While Cruz held the stage, there were emotional moments playing out just above him. Throughout the set, David Beckham could be spotted proudly filming and what appeared to be FaceTiming other family members to share the moment in real time. We’re not sure Brooklyn’s picking up at the minute…
Toward the end of the night, visibly moved, the former footballer appeared to wipe away a tear — a quiet but powerful reminder that beyond the celebrity and headlines, this was still a father watching his son manifest his own destiny.
For Cruz Beckham, the night wasn’t about stadium lights or global headlines: it was about proving himself in a room that has hosted literally countless emerging artists before him. If the energy inside Deaf Institute was anything to go by, this may well be one of those early chapters people look back on later.
Did any of you head to the venue as a fan or purely out of curiosity – and if so, what did you make of Cruz Beckham’s first proper Manc gig?
Danny Jones -
26th March 2024 
