One of our favourite live acts we’ve ever seen is coming back to Manchester as Unknown Mortal Orchestra are set for a stunning return to the city – and at one of our most beloved venues, no less.
The New Zealand psychedelia-infused rock and indie outfit may not be on everyone’s radar just yet, but the genre-bending outfit is comfortably up there with some of the best we’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in the flesh.
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, in the States, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) is fronted by multi-instrumentalist and visionary experimentalist producer, Ruban Nielson, who first began the project on his own over a decade and a half ago.
Closer to a three-piece these days, you won’t find many bands that boast a collection of such varied and talented musicians, and they’re heading to Albert Hall.
As detailed by Albert Hall themselves, this show is also just one among a very small handful of dates here in the UK as part of their run of shows across Europe.
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Other shows include one on the night following their Manchester gig over in Yorkshire, which our friends at The Sheff will no doubt be buzzing about, as well as on opening night at Barrowland in Glasgow ahead of a four-show residency in London.
Dubbing their work as nothing short of “psychedelic mastery” (we couldn’t agree more), the iconic live music space will be welcoming them early next year after landing on the mainland continent.
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Other stops on the 2026 Unknown Mortal Orchestra European tour include Lithuania, Latvia and Poland; Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Paris.
Now consisting of Nielsen, bassist Jacob Portait, and often Ruban’s brother as well as fellow singer-songwriter, musician and engineer, Kody Neilson – also known for his work with The Mint Chicks, Opossom, Silicone and more – all of whom are as talented in the studio as they are on stage.
They also happen to have one of our favourite Tiny Desks of all time.
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Sorry, but this HAS to be up in there in the top 10.
The London residency already looks to be in high demand, so you can bet their only date here in Manchester and at a venue like Albert Hall will sell out extremely fast.
As well as an entirely instrumental outing earlier this year, UMO also dropped their latest EP entitled CURSE back in June, and it’s fair to say it’s some of the most ‘out-there’ material to date.
If you haven’t listened to it yet and are just expecting more art-poppy indie bops like ‘Hunnybee’, you couldn’t be more wrong…
Unknown Mortal Orchestra play the Albert Hall in Manchester on Friday, 27 March, and you can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.
Repercussion returns to The Warehouse Project for 2025 and its first-ever winter edition
Danny Jones
Fan favourite club event Repercussion is back for 2025, and this year’s Warehouse Project season is seriously starting to ramp up.
The annual Warehouse Project programme is now well underway and hasn’t disappointed us one bit so far upon its return to Depot Mayfield.
With the likes of Annie Mac, Fisher and Worried About Henry having already ticked off the opening events on the WHP25 calendar, there are so many other big nights now coming up – and there are very few that are quite as big and/or popular as Repercussion.
Judging by the calibre of acts they’ve got for what will be their first-ever winter edition at WHP, that reputation is only going to get bigger…
The Repercussion 2025 lineup is now yours. Underworld – true pioneers of electronic music – perform live, joined by Caribou (live), Floating Points, Joy Orbison, Job Jobse, Daphni, Chloé Caillet and many, many more.
As you can see, the Repercussion lineup for 2025 is absolutely stacked, with names such as Caribou (live), Floating Points, Joy Orbison and others already confirmed.
You’ve even got the likes of legends of London’s late-night scene like Shy FX and SHERELLE closing out the party as Greater Manchester’s most iconic clubbing institution goes full steam ahead into the early hours of the morning.
God, we’re a lucky bunch to have something as world-famous as WHP on our doorstep, aren’t we?
There’s plenty of the Manc music scene on show too, with local station CROP Radio taking over the nearby Star & Garter, as the pub and live music venue continues to champion top grassroots talent.
Furthermore, there’ll be plenty more spotlighting next door at Freight Island’s Plant Room, too, which boasts some of 0161’s finest selectors, including Metrodome, Joey T, Jim Bane, Camilla Reghenzi and Joe Motion.
There’s plenty more to be enjoyed beyond just the music itself, as well.
For 2025, Repercussion is also hosting a new record and retail market, featuring curated vinyl from Northern Quarter tastemakers and former record shop pioneers, Eastern Bloc, as well as lifestyle items from concept store, Suzy Loves Milo.
These collaborations are a celebration of Manchester’s independent spirit, and it goes without saying that Repercussion, Barry Can’t Swim, Homobloc, and so many other huge electronic nights wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the grassroots tradition running throughout our city’s culture.
Pre-sale will be available from 9am this Friday, 9 October, and general admission goes live from 12 noon; get ready to grab your tickets HERE. In the meantime, you can study the rest of the WHP 25 dates in full down below.
Lola Young cancels all upcoming shows after collapsing on stage
Danny Jones
Rising UK pop star Lola Young has unfortunately cancelled all of her upcoming gigs “for the foreseeable future” after recently collapsing live on stage.
This, of course, includes her two scheduled dates at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, as well as the rest of the dates on her breakout world tour.
Young, a BRIT School graduate whose career has taken off over the past year or so, took to social media to reluctantly inform fans that all her remaining shows are now cancelled as he prepares to take some time for herself and recover.
Admitting that it “pains her”, it is clearly the right decision for her overall health, and we hope she returns to full strength soon.
In case you missed the headlines or the clip that went viral online, Lola Young passed out mid-performance during the 2025 All Things Go music festival.
Whilst up on stage at the Forest Hills Stadium in New York, the 24-year-old singer could be visibly seen losing her footing and grasp of the microphone, before dropping it entirely and falling backwards as she lost consciousness.
Not only did this include a serious risk of head injury and/or concussion, but it is not the first time alarm bells have been raised surrounding her welfare in the past few months alone.
Shortly after struggling with in-ear monitors during her biggest-ever show at Wembley for Capital FM’s Summertime Ball, Young also threw up on stage during her Coachella debut.
The London-born artist has opened up multiple times in the past about struggling mentally at times, as well as ADHD and, most notably, her schizoaffective disorder diagnosis, which often revolves around symptoms such as depression, mania, mood irregularities and more
She ultimately had to pull out of a set in Washington, DC, as well; in fact, even before the incident this past Saturday (27 September), she told the crowd she had been having a difficult time.
Lola Young opens up about having a “tricky couple of days” at All Things Go NYC after canceling a Friday concert “due to a sensitive matter.”
Posting after the DC cancellation, Young said: “I love this job and never take my commitments and my audience for granted, so I’m sorry to those who will be disappointed by this.”
Echoing the same sentiment she shared above, she went on to add, “I hope you’ll give me another chance in the future. Thank you to all those who listen and care.
“To all those who love to be mean online, please give me a day off.”
It goes without saying that we wish her all the best, and that it’s worth noting that Lola Young isn’t the first artist who has risked putting entertainment before their own health, which raises real questions around what the industry can do to better safeguard individuals and prevent situations like this.
Danny Jones -
1st October 2025 
