An iconic Manchester music venue is hosting a Taylor Swift listening party to celebrate the release of her upcoming album this autumn.
The devil may work hard, but Ms. Swift sure works harder – as less than 500 days since the release of her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor has announced her twelfth LP titled The Life of a Showgirl, meaning the pop titan is back in full force with an era full of glitter, glitz, and showbiz glamour.
To celebrate, Manchester’s historic Deaf Institute is hosting a night dedicated to the newest era, and you’ll certainly be able to make ‘make the whole place shimmer’ as you walk into this Grade ll-listed building this October.
Get ready to hear everything from Taylor Swift’s stacked discography – including her humble beginnings like ‘Tim McGraw’, all the way through to her claiming the title as the ultimate ‘Anti-Hero’.
The DJs on the night will be spinning every single new track from Swift’s twelfth studio album too, all while mixing in some of her other standout songs.
Anyone keen to attend this Taylor Swift ‘Wonderland’ must be over 18 years old, and have their ID with them on the night, as unfortunately, there’s no ‘invisible string’ you can use to sneak yourself into this venue.
And if you’re turning 22 -or celebrating any other birthday – between 4 and 18 October, then you can score yourself free entry into this live music venue too, isn’t that ‘Gorgeous’?
Richard Ashcroft says each Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour date is like a ‘World Cup final’
Danny Jones
Manchester music veteran Richard Ashcroft has come out to join Noel Gallagher to discuss just how special this summer’s Oasis reunion shows have been so far, comparing each and every night on stage to “a World Cup final.”
The Wigan legend has been supporting the Burnage boys on their Live ’25 concerts since the opening night at the Principality Stadium.
Following fellow long-standing scouse indie rockers, Cast, for each date, Richard Ashcroft’s own performances have been heaped with praise since day one of the world tour, with many fans praising his timeless vocals and impressive stage presence against the backdrop of the biggest band in the world.
In fact, his own renaissance as part of the whole phenomenon has not only seen excitement build for his first new album in seven years, but he’s even booked a massive arena run amidst all the buzz. Speaking to Virgin Radio this week, he says he continues to feel the weight of each and every gig.
Joining host Chris Evans via video call for the interview on Tuesday, 19 August, the former Verve frontman could only echo the elder Gallagher brother’s sentiment when it came to describing that first night in Cardiff, agreeing that it felt pretty “overwhelming” and kind of “passed like a movie.”
Struggling to fully articulate the magnitude of what has genuinely become a globally observed cultural event, as you can see, he explains that it isn’t just about “nostalgia” and fans rolling back the year; he says that this specific chapter in music history and collective feeling can’t be put into words.
While arguing that “we need to find a new word” for whatever this is, we think the closest you’ll get is the zeitgeist of the moment, or perhaps ‘collective effervescence’.
Having noted that he’s seen Noel a few times since the reunion got underway, Ashcroft insists the 58-year-old seems to be “in great spirits” and “in a good place” since the Oasis comeback began.
We’re sure you’ll agree this was a particularly touching moment from the interview – and not the only one we’ve got this week…
Us listening to Noel talking about Liam in that @talkSPORT interview. 🥺
As for his 53-year-old songwriting peer – who the Oasis icon and High Flying Birds frontman has often cited as one of his favourite lyricists of all time and even dedicated ‘Cast No Shadow’ to – Ashcroft could only reiterate his own “respect” for both of the Gallaghers and the rest of the band.
He goes on to wax lyrical about “the power of the song”, too, expressing that even tracks he thought wouldn’t be the biggest favourites, adding that this is “what time does to a tune.”
Describing the entire journey thus far as a “healing, celebratory event” for the thousands who have already, he labelled it nothing short of an “amazing experience” thus far.
Even those who didn’t manage to get tickets were still somehow able to create memories to last a lifetime, and what we would argue was one of the most surreal snapshots in music history – at here in Britain, certainly.
Countless numbers gathered on a muddy hill to listen to Ashcroft and Oasis’ hometown reunion.
As well as reinforcing just how creatively charging the tour has been for him so far – quipping that the 40+ shows overall could either “retire or inspire” him, but has certainly encouraged him to pull out his trusty acoustic guitar and write even more music – there was one comment that stood out the most.
Besides acknowledging how moving it is to see them walking out holding hands, laughing and joking mid-performance, as well as hugging at the end of each night, it was how Ashcroft portrayed how much it means not just him, but those out in the crowds.
“We play like a World Cup final every day and every time I play, I win 7-0; everyone’s on my side, and then they win 22-0 at the end. We’re all on the same team.”
Having just wrapped up the first leg of UK and Ireland shows, with just two Wembley nights remaining in September, the band and their tour mates are set to arrive in Toronto, Canada, for the North America shows this weekend.
You can watch and/or listen to Virgin Radio and Chris Evans’ full interview with Richard Ashcroft down below, and if you’re an Oasis fan, we would strongly suggest you do.
Even Evans looked visibly stirred by Ashcroft’s words, calling them “prophetic and profound.”
Featured Images — Virgin Radio (screenshot via YouTube)/Audio North
Gigs & Nightlife
Noel Gallagher speaks out in first major interview since Oasis reunion began
Danny Jones
Noel Gallagher has given his first major interview since the long-dreamt-of Oasis reunion tour began this summer, and it’s quite surreal to hear some of the candid commentshe made in his most recent talkSPORT appearance.
Appearing on a radio show this week, the world-famous Mancunian songwriter spoke with lead anchor and friend, Andy Goldstein, as well as guest host Darren Bent, on how the tour has gone so far, even addressing talk of more shows next year.
Steady, let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet…
Nevertheless, the clip of the rather off-the-cuff chat quickly went viral online, with the elder Gallagher brother beginning by stating that “it’s difficult to put into words”, joking that he’s “not usually” short for them – and that’s just the intro.
"I'm completely blown away."
"It's difficult to put into words. It's been truly amazing."
Noel Gallagher speaks on being 'blown away' on the response to Oasis' reunion gigspic.twitter.com/m8aKCCAoOb
As he goes on to explain, each night of the Live ’25 tour has had that element of “the first time”, especially given that each set of fans inside the various arenas each night is genuinely ending their 16-year wait every time they step out on stage.
But, most notably, it’s what Noel goes on to say about his brother Liam that has been lapped up on social media, and it’s not hard to see why.
After being probed by Goldstein on what it’s like to be back playing with him post-reconciliation, the 58-year-old admitted, “It’s just great being back in the band with Liam” and the rest of the boys.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Noel went on to say: “Liam‘s smashing it […] I’m proud of him”, confessing that he doesn’t think he can deliver that same level of stadium-size frontman energy night after night.
One part that particularly moved us and millions of others online was the moment he simply said, “I forgot how funny he was.”
We’re not crying, you are.
👏 "It's great being back in the band with Liam. He forgot how funny he was."
While he wouldn’t be drawn into any overly emotional talk about reuniting with his previously estranged sibling and bandmate, reiterating that there are just not those kinds of people, you could clearly hear how touched the Manc music legend has been by the whole experience already.
Conceding that “when it’s all said and done, we’ll sit back and reflect on it”, the images of him welling up mid-song, laughing and joking with Liam, dancing with Bonehead as they play guitar opposite each other, and so many other moments paint a thousand words.
The reaction from fans has been just as wholesome and heartwarming, too; some joked that “the planet has well and truly healed”, another said, “You have no idea how happy this makes me,’ and one went so far as to say ‘I’ve never heard him talk about Liam like this.”
You can hear everything from the Oasis-related section of Noel Gallagher’s most recent talkSPORT interview in full down below:
We’ve heard Noel talking about Liam before, and multiple times in talkSPORT appearances, but he’s never given an interview like this.
Thomas Melia -
20th August 2025 
