There was a time, I’m fairly certain, that Justin Timberlake was the coolest man in pop music.
The Tennessee-born star is a triple threat who can sing, dance and act (…alright, last one is up for debate. We all saw In Time).
There might be a few more memes about him than he’d like these days (‘What tour? ‘The world tour’), but stick him back on a big stage and you quickly remember why Justin is often referred to as the Prince of pop.
He’s got more than 30 years of stardom to back him up, during which time he’s never stopped churning out pop bangers and arena tours, plus all those years he spent as part of boyband royalty N SYNC.
In the early days of Justin Timberlake’s solo career, I was a misty-eyed teenager with his poster on my wall. I was even gifted a mug for my 16th birthday that said ‘Born to be Mrs Justin Timberlake’, and still drink a brew out of it now.
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So the chance to see my first celebrity crush live on stage for the first time, and at the staggering Co-op Live arena, triggered the sort of giddy frisson I thought I’d left behind about the same time I stopped writing ‘DJ luvz JT’ into my school planner.
We’ve got a cracking view of the full thing from the venue’s new Hangout area, tucked up in the heights of the venue where you’re basically sat at the bar to watch the concert.
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Justin Timberlake with his dancers at Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Justin Timberlake is, obviously, not quite the same pop star I fell in love with all those years ago.
During the UK leg of his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour, there are definitely moments where he veers wildly close to cringe, like when he insists on cueing the drum solos with a point and a call of ‘DRUMS!’. It’s so aggressively American I feel like we’re all supposed to have recited the Pledge of Allegiance to be allowed in. I keep switching between having the ick and wanting to throw my bra on stage.
But once you embrace all the cheese and corn of Justin Timberlake’s live show, you’re in for a wild ride.
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His older hits like Cry Me A River, Senorita, and Summer Love blend seamlessly with material from his most recent album Everything I Thought It Was, with a sprinkling of family-friendly chart-toppers from the likes of Can’t Stop the Feeling! from Trolls.
Throughout the show, Justin spends almost as much time dancing as he does singing, as per the boyband bible of the 1990s, with at least one perfectly-executed dance break in every single song.
The floating stage at Justin Timberlake’s Manchester show. Credit: The Manc GroupJustin Timberlake on the smaller b-stage at Co-op Live Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He covers some ground too, choosing not to sneak his way over to his smaller b-stage but instead taking his time to dance and sing his way through the audience, taking a heartwarming amount of time to give a front-row performance to those seated in the accessible section.
His audience participation mostly involves being sweet to children and wooing women with birthday songs. His natural charisma does the trick. At one point he asks who’s single in the room and I let out an enthusiastic ‘WOOO’ despite the husband waiting for me at home.
The staging is full of surprises (unless you’re on Tiktok), with an entire chunk of the big screen breaking away and soaring away from the stage, spinning and tilting as it goes.
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For the encore of Mirrors, Justin rides the big screen like a comically large, glowing surfboard, then it folds away like a Murphy bed taking him with it. Does he have to abseil back down the other side? Who knows.
There really aren’t many artists in the industry who’ve been doing it this well for this long.
And that is why, even in 2024, I will proudly drink from my born to be Mrs. Justin Timberlake mug.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Audio
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for tour
Thomas Melia
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe are bringing their Together At Home tour to Manchester, here’s everything you need to know for their AO Arena gig.
The boys are back in town, and by the boys we mean multi-million selling vocalists Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, who are heading to Manchester this month.
This duo are no stranger to each other’s company making six collaborative albums since 2016 covering songs from The Greatest Showman, The Lion King and New York, New York.
Their latest release ‘Together At Home’ which doubles as the name for the tour sees the pair back to their good old tricks covering hits like ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ and ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’.
These two powerhouses know how to sing in style and that’s why they’ve chosen the impressive AO Arena to host their brand new show.
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe UK tour dates
Sat 29 March – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
Sun 30 March – Bournemouth, UK – International Centre
Tue 1 April – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
Wed 2 April – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 4 April – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
Sat 5 April – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
Mon 7 April – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live
Tue 8 April – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Thu 10 April – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
Fri 11 April – Birmingham, UK – BP Pulse Live
Sun 13 April – London, UK – The O2
Mon 14 April – Brighton, UK – Brighton Centre
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe tickets for AO Arena gig
Anyone looking at tickets for Michael Ball and Alfie Boe’s upcoming tour have plenty of opportunity to see these two singing their hearts out.
Fans of the duo better act fast as these tickets are very limited, starting from a reasonable £47.75 and reaching £98.75.
If you want to go all out on this occasion tickets are also available for The Mezz, which is the arena’s fine dining experience covering you before and throughout the show at a fixed price of £206.25.
What are the stage times for Michael Ball and Alfie Boe in Manchester?
AO Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you’ll still be able to make it home and pop the kettle on before you get your forty winks.
Their support act comes in the form of another duo, however these two mighty performers are magicians rather than singers.
The Conjurors are a worldwide renowned act famed by audiences and A Listers for their talents which they will be showing off in Manchester on the night.
How to get to AO Arena
Tram
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily it’s in Manchester Victoria Station and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena andVictoria Station on their route such as the 2 bus which stops a one minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
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Getting there by car and parking
The Arena have their own official parking partners CitiParkwith 958 spaces including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
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About the AO Arena
The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.
For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.
All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.
Band on the Wall buys adjoining The Rose and Monkey pub
Danny Jones
Beloved Manchester music venue Band on the Wall has announced that they have bought the equally popular Rose and Monkey pub and hotel next door.
The two Great Ancoats St favourites on the edge of the district and the Northern Quarter have both served as reliable, entertaining gig spaces for years now, not to mention a great spot for a drink, and their business models have always aligned so perfectly, with visitors heading from one into the other for years.
With that in mind, and in a concerted effort to support the local music and hospitality industry, Band on the Wall have decided to turn that long-standing relationship into an even closer collaboration.
Confirming the acquisition of The Rose and Monkey earlier this week, Band on the Wall and its next-door neighbour are now official partners.
Speaking in an official statement on their website, the latter wrote: “This exciting development marks another step in Band on the Wall’s mission to support grassroots music and enhance its role within Manchester’s vibrant cultural scene.
“The Rose & Monkey (formerly The Burton Arms) has a long and chequered history dating back to 1783, but in recent years has been transformed into a beloved destination for music lovers and locals alike.
“Known as one of the city’s oldest public houses, originally built as part of the original Smithfield Markets and over the road from what was the ‘New Cross’ area of the city, the venue boasts an intimate atmosphere and commitment to live music.
“The pub is now a vital part of the Northern Quarter’s creative fabric with unique features, including a beer garden, small music stage, and even Airbnb accommodation upstairs; the venue perfectly complements Band on the Wall’s (BOTW) ethos of fostering community through music.”
As it turns out, the deal to take over The Rose and Monkey was actually agreed upon a while ago and fully finalised last 2024.
With backing from Figurative – a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in ‘impact investment’ throughout the cultural and creative sector – this most recent development follows the £3.5 million refurbishment of BOTW, which was finally completed back in March 2022.
Audio North was still ‘The Manc Audio’ back then, but Band on the Wall was busy being reborn first.
Gavin Sharp, CEO of Band on the Wall, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Rose & Monkey into the Band on the Wall family. This acquisition allows us to expand our footprint while preserving one of Manchester’s most cherished independent venues.
“Together, we aim to create even more opportunities for emerging artists and provide unforgettable experiences for music fans.”
As for the pub and lodging house itself, The Rose and Monkey Hotel, to use its full name, will still remain its own bar and live music entity but will now work closely with Band on the Wall to achieve better and more diverse programming.
In addition to a place to stay on the first floor, the pub now features a newly installed ‘Wurlitzer Jukebox’, too, which has been curated by none other than American alternative rock band Pixies, BBC 6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins and the in-house team.
Finally, Band on the Wall went on to add: “The Rose & Monkey is ideally positioned to become an even greater hub for Manchester’s thriving music scene.
“Visitors can look forward to an enhanced calendar of events as well as continued dedication to inclusivity and creativity, and a jukebox specially curated by several high-profile friends and supporters of the venue.”
Daisy Jackson -
9th August 2024 
