A brand-new nightclub is set to open in Manchester city centre this winter, promising £5 tickets to see potentially the world’s biggest and best DJs.
At the 1000-capacity Amber’s, the line-ups for each Saturday night will be unannounced, but will include world-renowned DJs, live performers, and up-and-coming selectors.
For its opening season, running until March 2025, artists will play under the radar and only revealed post-event.
The venue will also have a no-photos policy to protect the experience for both DJ and dancer.
Amber’s will be taking over the old Canvas site and creating a club and multi-room music venue, with a fully functioning live space and an electronic club venue.
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It’s aiming to be an inclusive, safe and approachable space where music-lovers can see famous names, discover new talent and dance to your favourite bands.
Bringing something new to Manchester’s world-class clubbing landscape, the live space at Amber’s will be set with state-of-the-art L-Acoustics sound system and custom lighting, while the nightclub will focus on underground electronic music.
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Set to open this December, with £5 advance Saturday tickets, Amber’s is going to bring together local, national and international promoters for seasonal programming and events.
There’ll be an in-house welfare team to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all club-goers, making sure you can have the best time every single night.
Sam Tunstall, co-director of Salford’s Un.titled Studio and La Discotheque Orchestra creator, said: “At Amber’s we want the music, sound and vibe to be the reason you come back.
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“We aim to bring some of the best artists in the world to our club, to play at an affordable price point, with the focus on brilliant music and sound, every single week.”
James Hutchins aka Hutch from fabric (and former music editor of i-D magazine) said: “We’re totally aware of the climate at the moment when it comes to nightclubs and venues in trouble, so we aim to foster an environment where promoters, artists and attendees can thrive and grow together.”
Sneak peeks inside new Manchester nightclub, Amber’s. Credit: Supplied
And Jeremy Abbott, one part of Nothing Forced content and design agency, said: “We’ve spent decades in clubs together, being part of dancefloors that have changed our lives.
“Amber’s is an amalgamation of those formative experiences, the ones that you tell people about for years to come.
“We want to channel that into a new space for Manchester, a city that’s already blessed with amazing venues, nights and clubs.”
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Amber’s will open at Circle Square on Oxford Road on 5 December. You can follow them on Instagram HERE for updates.
General sale tickets for Saturdays at Amber’s during December will go on sale Friday 1 November at 10am, or you can sign up for pre-sale access HERE.
Sam Fender under fire following outrage over ticket prices for his upcoming tour
Thomas Melia
North East superstar Sam Fender is no stranger to visiting our bustling city but this time fans of the singer are upset with the prices of tickets for his upcoming tour.
The Seventeen Going Under hitmaker has come under fire the past few days due to the ‘excessive’ and ‘hypocritical’ pricing of tickets for his upcoming tour.
Earlier this month, the Geordie rock singer started teasing his tour through visuals displayed around suspected venues for his upcoming tour, with one appearing just outside of Co-op Live.
Simply titled the ‘People Watching Tour’, Fender has announced dates and tickets for his 2024 Winter tour with prices reaching £80 and above.
The Newcastle musician is known for having a high majority of working-class fans and these are the very people criticising these ticket prices.
Another big demographic for Fender fanatics is students. They too play a huge factor in the star’s career, making up a large proportion of the rock singer’s fanbase.
£80 for a sam fender ticket is insane what is happening to our gig economy man i remember when i could see an artist play arenas for 40/50 quid and didn’t have to go through ticketmaster scams to do so christ alive
don’t get me wrong I love sam fender but it’s ironic he goes on about the working class and how the north east is deprived and then goes on to charge £80 for a ticket to his gig
Fender has been vocal throughout his career about giving back to charities and organisations with two 2020 singles raising money for separate causes.
He joined the Foo Fighters ‘Times Like These’ celebrity cover recording as part of BBC Radio One’s Live Lounge Allstars project during the pandemic to raise money for both Children In Need and Comic Relief.
In November of the same year, he also distributed ‘Winter Song’ with the single being used to raise money for The Big Issue, a charity known for creating opportunities for people experiencing homelessness across the UK.
Some have come out to defend the 30-year-old by arguing that tour pricing has more to do with management, promoters and venues than it does with the artists themselves.
Nevertheless, lots of fans have still taken issue with Fender over the ticket prices, especially given the working-class nature of not only his background but the content of his music, insisting instead that Sam and plenty of other artists do have a say over costs.
Paul Heaton capped all his arena tickets off at £35 and still profited from the tour.. artists DO have control over prices. Sam Fender charging £80+ for arena standing tickets is just disgusting. Grew up working class and has a HUGE percentage of WC fans. Do better. pic.twitter.com/FrsCs5p6rm
Announcing shows in Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and one right here in Manchester at the already world-leading Co-op Live arena this winter, this is the ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ singer’s most high-profile UK tour to date.
With the scramble for pre-sale codes already having caused plenty of panic online and with the increasingly popular Wunderhorse once again set to serve as the main support act on his first tour since Spring 2022, tickets are set to be in serious demand.
The Newquay-founded band have seen acclaim and accolades this year with their latest project, Midas, even gaining the title of ‘greatest gig of my life’ by one member of our very own Audio North team.
With dates throughout the festive period this year, Fender is set to begin his tour on 2 December with the Newcastle date on 20 December undergoing balloted tickets due to demand to watch him play the massive gig in his hometown.
The ‘People Watching Tour’ to Manchester on Friday, 6 December with general admission going live this Friday, HERE – it’s just up to you whether you’re willing to pay those prices.
What do you make of the Sam Fender ticket prices – will you be going for them or is between £60 and £90+ for seated and standing simply too much in your opinion?
Featured Images – Niall Lea/Press Image (supplied)
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Blossoms set to headline big summer festival set in Delamere Forest
Thomas Melia
Stockport five-piece Blossoms are set to perform at a festival set within a forest not too far from Manchester next year in line with the rollout of their latest album, Gary.
The newest announcement sees the cheeky chappies/stylish Stopfordians set to headline Forest Live 2025 set in Delamere, Northwich, which has been running since 2001.
Blossoms are the newest addition to the concert series as both The Script, music legend Sting and Manchester’s very own Elbow are headlining various dates in other green spaces. The local lads have also announced a number of other open-air gigs along with their Forest Live date.
This marks the second year that Live Nation has partnered with Cuffe and Taylor to deliver the forest-bound festival. Other Forestry England locations taking part include Cannock Chase, High Lodge, Thetford and Westonbirt Arboretum.
Last year, Forestry England – who is hosting the event as the organisation that looks after Delamere Forest and the surrounding areas – planted 7.4 million trees and welcomed 285 million visits throughout the 2023/24 season, as every person in England lives within an hour of one of their forests.
As for the local band themselves, Blossoms have gained a huge cult following since releasing breakout hit ‘Charlemagne’ back in 2015, amassing hundreds of millions of streams following their debut.
Lead vocalist Tom Ogden, drummer Joe Donovan, lead guitarist Josh Dewhurst, keyboardist Myles Kellock and bassist Charlie Salt have had an unreal year, with their biggest-ever gig at Wythenshawe Park and their brand new number-one album.
Inspired by an eight-foot gorilla of the same name that was stolen from a Lanarkshire garden centre in 2023, Gary has been an instant critical and commercial success.
Come on, how stunning a setting is that? (Credit: Supplied)
Support will be provided by up-and-coming Oldham act Seb Lowe and another North West breakthrough, The Guest List.
Blossoms are set to play Forest Live 2025 in Delamere Forest on Saturday, 21 June 2025 and tickets will be available from 9am on Friday, 25 October.
Prices for the festival pass start from £61.50 and you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Blossoms playing Castlefield Bowl for Sounds of the City 2023.Tom and Gary at Wythy Park this past summer.We’ve had very good fun watching these lads over the past few years – don’t miss out on this one.