It takes a lot to cheer up a cloudy Manchester day – but Ziggy Alberts and his sunny Aussie folk proved to be just the ticket last weekend.
Ziggy Alberts is an Australian singer/songwriter whose music follows a very narrative structure. He’s an acoustic artist whose songs include elements of folk and Americana, with most tracks using stripped back instrumentals underneath the his prominent vocals.
For newcomers to this performer and even those who want to learn a little bit more about the star, he has a playlist on his Apple Music profile dedicated to his influences, where you’ll find artists including American band The Lumineers and Irish talent Hozier. The 90’s R&B group En-Vogue even make an appearance in the list with their song ‘Whatta Man’.
But this world tour is not a solo mission. Ziggy Alberts is accompanied by Steph Strings, a fellow Australian, who is supporting him on this 2024 concert run including at his Manchester show.
The 23-year-old even switched her setlist up for the ‘rowdy crowd’ as Mancs proved to be simply too energetic. On behalf of all Mancunians, we’ll accept the compliment.
The Melbourne-based singer had all grounds covered, with guitar in hand, kick pedal on the right foot and tambourine on the left.
Keeping spirits high, Ziggy opened with ‘Days in the Sun’, with a steady drum kick which built adrenaline amongst the already bubbly crowd. Using the two elements he knows best – his voice and his guitar – Alberts brought the crowd to life, and replaced buses and bustling streets for sun, sand and sea much like the title of his 2014 debut ‘Land & Sea’.
With 1.35 million Spotify listeners, the 30-year-old singer is no stranger to performing to packed out crowds, performing in this lovely city just over 12 months ago. Manchester’s Albert Hall is one of the city’s many iconic live music venues and Alberts definitely didn’t feel out of place, especially with his own iconic look… that impressive moustache.
Alberts has three rules for anyone visiting his shows “Don’t diss the moustache”, “Take care of each other” and “Sing loud”.
He may live a 24 hour-flight away from the UK, but he made sure to make it his home, rocking the stage with a snazzy rug and no footwear in sight.
Steph Strings, who supported Ziggy Alberts at the Albert Hall in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupZiggy Alberts played at Albert Hall in Manchester last weekend. Credit: The Manc Group
Halfway through the show during an interlude, the Australian star ran off the stage and into the crowd. There’s a real sense of fan-love and this moment proved it. Ziggy created a call and response with an unreleased song titled ‘Where Does The Love Go?’, and fans were all for it.
The show concluded with an encore of three songs, the banjo-laced ‘New Love’ was a real highlight. The song itself opens with Ziggy Albert confessing: “Feels like I’ve been running for most my life,” and when you’re currently embarking on a world tour it’s safe to say this is more than reasonable.
His newest release and also the title of his current world tour, if Ziggy is ‘Making space for new love’ then you could say we’re making space for a permanent residency in Manchester – we don’t want him to leave.
Finishing with the Australian’s 2018 single ‘Laps Around The Sun’, Alberts found himself repeating the lyrics “Oh how much there is left to learn” with echoes from the crowd (Primary School taught us well).
The crowd have been so captivated by this man and his guitar that we didn’t realise almost two hours had passed by, and the singer’s performance had to come to an end.
What a phenomenal show and as he said himself, he’s ‘done it all independent’.
Soft rock heroes Foreigner announce UK tour including big Manchester gig
Thomas Melia
Foreigner are bringing their soft rock classics over the waters and to the UK as they embark on a new tour which features a Manchester stop.
Formed in the 70’s, Foreigner are a British-American rock band known for their catalogue of soft rock, including hits like ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ and ‘Cold As Ice.’
These rockers have gained a newfound following of late thanks to their music making an appearance in an array of yet more contemporary TV shows like Stranger Things, Euphoria, Wednesday and more, having been heard in plenty of films over the years.
This UK tour marks the band’s return to Manchester after four years – and no, you’ve not got ‘Double Vision’: they are in fact revisiting the same iconic arena they played back in 2022, AO Arena.
The band may look a little different on their next visit as Kelly Hansen, former vocalist of Foreigner, has stepped down after 20 years and has handed the reins over to the equally impressive Luis Maldonado.
This newest gig announcement, set for 2026, will celebrate a landmark 50 years since the band formed back in 1976, and you can expect to hear all their greatest hits.
Foreigner are no strangers to the charts with a chart-topping album and single as well as five Top 40 hits and five Top 40 albums – I guess you could call them the ultimate ‘Juke Box Hero’.
The band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2024, and to celebrate, they played their timeless classic ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ with pop singer Kelly Clarkson performing alongside.
Whether you’re there for ‘Urgent’, ‘Double Vision’ or ‘Waiting For a Girl Like You’, the New York-formed rockers will be smashing out their variety of anthems at AO Arena next year.
Now, Foreigner are coming back to Manchester and the AO Arena on Thursday, 18 June, with tickets for the gig going on presale this Wednesday, 3 September at 10am GMT.
As for general admission tickets, they will be available from the same time on Friday, 5 September – you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
They’re not the only rock legends booking big Manc arena gigs recently, either.
Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)/Jim Geuther (via Vinyl Records Gallery)
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Aussie punk rockers and cult favourites Amyl and the Sniffers announced biggest Manchester gig yet
Danny Jones
Australian pub rockers and punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers have announced their biggest Manchester headline show to date, and we CANNOT wait.
In case you hadn’t guessed, we’re pretty big fans here at The Manc Group.
The cult favourites have made a big splash on the music scene over the past couple of years, playing big festival slots at the likes of Glastonbury and R&L Fest 2025, winning over new fans in the process. We had a feeling they were bringing some big to our shores…
I mean, you could argue they made it fairly obvious where it was going to be held, but it was still a cool little teaser campaign, nevertheless.
That’s right, Amyl and the Sniffers have booked the O2 Victoria Warehouse – an ideal venue for any heavy gig – later this year, following the big poster going up outside the venue in Trafford Park last week.
Fronted by frenetic frontwoman Amy Taylor, they’ve grown a strong following outside of their home country of late, not only winning multiple Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards but picking up gongs from the NME, Kerrang and more since 2022.
They received plenty of accolades for their sophomore record, Comfort To Me, and collected even more for their latest album, Cartoon Darkness, which they’ve been touring pretty much ever since.
It’s that same project that they’re bringing to Victoria Warehouse this autumn, with the punchy ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ performers almost nailed on to sell out the 3,500 capacity venue.
Tipped as a ‘one-night only’ experience, with support from Floodlights and The Menstrual Cramps, this should be a tasty one.
Aussie rock and indie really is having a moment right now, with the likes of Spacey Jane and Royel Otis both set for big Manc gigs this year too.
The early access window opens from 10am this Wednesday, 3 September, with general admission tickets live from the same time the following Friday (5 Sep). Besides the sold-out Ally Pall show, this is their very LAST headline gig of the year, don’t miss it.
You can get ready to grab yours for 22 October right HERE.
In the meantime, why not watch the moment Amy joined Fred Again in the flesh for a live set over in Sheffield last month?
Thomas Melia -
6th August 2024 
