But that doesn’t always have to be because of the clubbers themselves and their preferences, sometimes it’s actually about the clubs instead, as often, people can find these spaces to be too loud or overcrowded for them, and crucially, open too late into the night (or should we say early hours of the morning).
Luckily, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac is back to solve that very problem, as she’s set to host a series of club nights across the UK and Ireland that end before midnight.
Following the success of her big outdoor shows this past summer, the Dublin-born DJ, broadcaster, and writer has now announced that she’ll be bringing her Before Midnight clubbing concept back for more later this year, and she’ll be taking to a famous Manchester city centre stage in early November.
Annie Mac is hosting a club night in Manchester for people who want to go bed early / Credit: Eva Pantel (via Supplied)
For this upcoming series, the popular clubbing concept – which launched in 2022 – will be moving back inside, and the shows are set to be “darker, sweatier, and more intimate” this time around.
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As well as taking over Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall in the hearty of the city centre, Annie will also be heading to several other major cites – including London, Belfast, and Dublin.
Annie said she created the Before Midnight clubbing concept especially for “a generation of people who grew up with clubbing in their DNA, but who weren’t being served by the industry”, such as those who work on the weekends, who have exams to study for, who can’t afford a babysitter to stay over, or who feel particularly self conscious at a typical nightclub.
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Essentially, if you like to go to bed early, then this is also a night for you.
“I wanted to try and recreate the mood and atmosphere of a nightclub at a time that was accessible for me,” Annie said ahead of her tour later this year.
“I figured you can go and see any band, or play, or art show at accessible times, but there were few opportunities to see your favourite DJ in a nightclub at 9pm.”
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She added that the upcoming shows, including the one here in Manchester, will combine the best of everything she’s learnt from all her previous shows so far, and the main aim of the tour is to ensure parties are thrown for people who want to feel “safe, included, celebrated, and no matter what age they are, want to dance”.
Annie Mac’s Before Midnight tour will coming to Manchester’s Albert Hall on Saturday 2 November, with tickets set to go on general sale this Friday 20 September at 10am, as well as a presale the day prior (Thursday 19 September), also at 10am.
You can find out more and grab tickets to the one-off special club night here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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The Pogues announce Manchester gig on first tour since death of frontman Shane MacGowan
Danny Jones
The Pogues have announced their first UK tour since the death of former frontman, Shane MacGowan, with Manchester one of just half a dozen cities chosen.
Nearly a full year on from his death at just 65, the Anglo-Irish favourites best known for their eternal Christmas classic, ‘Fairytale of New York’, are gearing up for their first outing since their iconic lead singer’s passing as a celebration of his life and their seminal second album.
It’s been 13 years since their last headline tour shortly before their split and it will be 40 years since the release of Rum Sodomy and the Lash by the time they hit the road along with special guests.
Safe to say it’ll be an emotional series of shows for everyone involved.
The Pogues return in 2025 for their first UK Tour since 2012 to celebrate 40 years of Rum Sodomy & the Lash Ft James Fearnley, Jem Finer, Spider Stacy & special guests. Tickets go on sale 9:30am Fri 22 Nov. Sign up at https://t.co/PxhZ8bnwBA by 5pm on 19 Nov for presale access ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/hFACjdf7yc
Revealing just six shows here in the UK, the long-standing band are set to play their sophomore release in full as well as a selection of their greatest hits.
The tour will feature remaining original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Peter Richard ‘Spider’ Stacy, as well as a series of support that are yet to be confirmed.
Speaking on the upcoming dates, The Pogues said: “After the uproarious bash which was the 40th anniversary of our first record, Red Roses for Me, in 2024, we wanted to do it again, but with Rum Sodomy & the Lash.”
The music veterans are remaining tight-lipped about who they’re bringing along but they have promised their selections have been “thoughtfully chosen”.
With MacGowan, lead guitarist Philip Chevron (2013), bassist Darryl Hunt (2022) and long-time collaborator Kirsty MacColl (2000) now having passed away, the band will be roping in plenty of help on vocals and instrumentation.
Even though the gigs themselves will be coming at the of next spring, you can rest assured you’ll get to hear your beloved festive ballad.
Kicking off the tour in Leeds, The Pogues will play their first Manchester show in over a decade – and without Shane MacGowan front and centre – at the O2 Apollo on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/Mordac (via Flickr)
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Rizzle Kicks announce massive Manchester comeback show at Castlefield Bowl
Danny Jones
In case you missed it, Rizzle Kicks are BACK and they’re making their return to Manchester in a big way with a massive outdoor show at Castlefield Bowl.
Named as the latest artists to join the Sound of the City (SOTC) lineup for 2025, with only a few acts having been named thus far, the British pop duo will be playing a huge sun-soaked set next summer.
The 2010s hit-makers were a regular presence in the UK charts for a good few years, releasing just two albums in 2011 and 2013 before slipping into a somewhat unannounced hiatus to work on other things.
Jordan Stephens and Harley ‘Sylvester’ Alexander-Sule have both enjoyed multiple other music projects separate from the group, as well as getting into presenting, podcasting, acting and more, so they’ve been plenty busy while they’ve been away. But now they’re back with new music on the horizon too.
MANCHESTER. WHO’S READY? FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025 ‼️
We told you that more shows are coming and we’re so buzzing to announce that we’ll be playing Castlefield Bowl this July. This is going to be a big one and we’d love to see you all there.
Confirming their SOTC festival gig on Monday, 18 November, Rizzle Kicks said on socials: “We told you that more shows are coming and we’re so buzzing to announce that we’ll be playing Castlefield Bowl this July [2025]. This is going to be a big one and we’d love to see you all there.”
The announcement also comes not long after the pair revealed their third studio album is on the way almost 12 years on from their sophomore record, Roaring 20s.
Speaking on their return to the music scene and the upcoming release, Jordan said: “We allude to the fact that we acted off the cultural encouragement and the reality of the time. I think now we’d like to believe that we’ve distanced ourselves from those just through experience.”
The new Rizzle Kicks sound touches on sobriety and paternity,“not just with Harley becoming a father and all the growth that comes with that role, but also in a larger sense as we get older we feel a responsibility to share our wins and our failures”, added the 32-year-old.
Entitled Competition is for Losers, the new studio LP is set to release on 14 February next year just before their official tour gets fully underway in March. Stephens and Sule played their first show together in nearly a decade at KOKO in Camden earlier this month and are eager to get back to business as usual.
Their other Manchester date, which was already announced, is set to take place on 19 March at the O2 Ritz and sold out – along with all the other shows – in just 15 minutes. Wow.
For those fans dying to be at their Castlefield Bowl gig on Friday, 11 July, you can pre-order Competition is for Losers to access pre-sale from 10am this Thursday.
General admission tickets will be available from the same time on Friday (22 November).
Issuing a call-out to the die-hard Rizzkle Kickers, lovingly referred to by the band as the #tunesquad, they said: “You already know the drill, tickets are going to go fast. LET’S DO THIS.”
Emily Sergeant -
18th September 2024 
