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Jane McDonald announces huge new arena tour, with gig in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th November 2025

National treasure Jane McDonald has just announced a brand-new arena tour, including a show here in Manchester.

The singing sensation has shared details of a new UK tour and album for 2026, with the Living The Dream tour hitting 19 stages.

Jane McDonald, star of stage and screen, will be performing at the AO Arena in Manchester next September, following the release of her new album in the spring.

Living The Dream is her 11th studio album, and boasts nine original songs plus four re-workings of country classics.

Jane has been a British icon ever since she appeared in the BBC docusoap The Cruise back in 1998.

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Since then she’s sold out some of the world’s most iconic venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

As well as her singing and stage career, she’s known for her TV work including the BAFTA Award-winning Channel 5 series Cruising with Jane McDonald, Celebrity Gogglebox with best friend Sue Ravey on Celebrity Gogglebox, and her starring position on Loose Women.

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She’s also recently launched her sold-out cruise charter, Cruise with Jane McDonald, with a seven-night round-trip for 1,400 fans planned for next October.

Before heading out on tour, TV audiences will also see Jane undertaking an ocean expedition for Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole, where she’ll be travelling from the Antarctic to the Arctic.

In May 2026 Jane will headline the main stage at Mighty Hoopla festival in London in her first ever festival headline appearance.

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Making the announcement, Jane said: “It’s true, I am officially Living The Dream so what better way to celebrate that than with a new album and a new tour.

“I love Country music and I love partying with you so I want to bring that together by bringing you some exciting new music along with the songs you know and love.

“We had brilliant fun on the last tour and we’re stepping it up a notch this time to visit even bigger venues so buckle up and let’s make even more memories together.”

Jane McDonald will play the AO Arena in Manchester on Thursday 10 September.

Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 28 November HERE, but you can pre-order Jane’s album HERE for access to the pre-sale.

  • 28 Aug DERBY, Vaillant Live
  • 29 Aug BLACKPOOL, Opera House
  • 30 Aug BLACKPOOL, Opera House
  • 1 Sep NEWCASTLE, O2 City Hall
  • 2 Sep ABERDEEN, P&J Live
  • 4 Sep GLASGOW, SEC Armadillo
  • 5 Sep EDINBURGH, Usher Hall
  • 7 Sep BRIGHTON, Brighton Centre
  • 8 Sep NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena
  • 10 Sep MANCHESTER, AO Arena
  • 11 Sep LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena
  • 12 Sep BIRMINGHAM, Utilita Arena
  • 15 Sep LONDON, The London Palladium
  • 16 Sep LONDON, The London Palladium
  • 20 Sep BELFAST, Waterfront Hall
  • 23 Sep SHEFFIELD, Utilita Arena
  • 24 Sep BOURNEMOUTH, BIC
  • 25 Sep CARDIFF, Utilita Arena
  • 25 Sep LEEDS, First Direct Arena

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Featured image: Matt Crockett

Audio

Bastille at AO Arena – A night of nostalgic throwbacks

Dec Kelly Dec Kelly Bastille at the AO Arena in Manchester

A night like this – when Bastille took to the stage at the AO Arena – reminds you exactly why live music matters.

It felt like travelling back to our early teens – windows down, speakers up, yelling Bastille lyrics like our lives depended on it. That familiar rush came flooding back the moment we stepped into the legendary AO Arena.

And honestly, the whole experience, from securing tickets through AXS to walking into one of Manchester’s best venues, was seamless and stress-free, setting the tone perfectly for the night.

The band opened with a classic from their debut album Bad Blood. A single orange beam flickered across the stage, almost like a fire dancing in the dark, creating an intimate calm before the storm. Dan Smith’s slow, acoustic rendition of ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ pulled the entire crowd into silence. It was raw, emotional, and the perfect way to kick off a night dedicated to the anthems that shaped a decade.

From there, the pace picked up. The show unfolded like a living scrapbook of Bastille’s 15 years of music, skipping through albums and eras with effortless precision. Every transition felt like rediscovering a memory of songs we’d forgotten we loved, songs we never stopped playing, and songs that hit harder live than they ever could through headphones. It was a rollercoaster of indie brilliance, nostalgia, and the kind of energy only Bastille can create.

Bastille at the AO Arena in Manchester
Bastille at the AO Arena in Manchester
Credit: Bastille at the AO Arena in Manchester

One of the biggest highlights of the night was the VS. (Other People’s Heartache) segment. We genuinely don’t talk enough about what a masterpiece that project is. The band stripped back their setup as two DJ decks rolled out centre stage, transforming the arena into a full-blown Bastille club experience. It was unexpected, refreshing, and showed off the band’s ability to bend genres without ever losing their identity. The lighting, the bass, the crowd reaction everything came together to create a completely different vibe, proving just how dynamic and experimental Bastille can be.

And then came ‘Pompeii’ and ‘Happier’ , two songs that feel almost woven into modern music culture at this point. Hearing thousands of voices echo those choruses back at Dan Smith was genuinely spine-tingling. It’s moments like that when you realise how much Bastille’s music has grown, evolved, and connected with fans over the years. Their audience now spans generations, and you could feel that unity in the room of parents with teens, old fans, new fans, and everyone in between, all sharing the same unforgettable moment.

What also stood out was the atmosphere. There’s something special about AO Arena: the acoustics, the crowd energy, the lights that sweep across the entire venue. Every detail enhances the performance, making even the quietest moments feel grand and the biggest hits feel monumental.

And honestly, the whole experience was made so much easier by AXS. Keeping track of gigs, managing tickets, and discovering upcoming shows is all right there in the app. No stress, no scrambling, just tap, book, go. It’s the perfect way to make sure you’re always one step ahead and never miss out on seeing your favourite artists live.

Last night wasn’t just a concert, it was a reminder of why we fell in love with Bastille in the first place. A celebration of their past, a showcase of their growth, and a promise that they’re not done surprising us yet.

And if this tour is anything to go by, your next best memory might be only one AXS tap away.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Audio

Lorde at AO Arena, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more essential info

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Lorde will perform at the AO Arena in Manchester this week

Lorde is performing a huge gig at the AO Arena in Manchester this week, as part of her Ultrasound World Tour.

The New Zealand-born singer burst onto the music scene at the tender ages of 16 with her smash-hit single Royals, way back in 2013.

Since then, she’s gone on to break several records with the releases of her four studio albums, and scooped up a handful of GRAMMYs and BRIT awards along the way too.

As well as her gig at the AO Arena here in Manchester, Lorde will also be calling at major UK cities including London, Birmingham and Glasgow.

The tour comes hot off the heels of the release of her latest album, Virgin, which once again topped the Official UK Album Charts.

If you’re heading to see Lorde at the AO Arena, here’s everything you need to know.

Lorde UK tour dates

  • 15 November – AO Arena, Manchester
  • 16 November – The O2, London
  • 17 November – The O2, London
  • 19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
  • 20 November – Utilita Arena Birmingham

Who is supporting Lorde at the AO Arena?

Experimental musician and producer Blood Orange, otherwise known as Devonte Hynes, will be the main support act for Lorde in Manchester.

The British musician has worked with the likes of Florence and the Machine, Mac Miller, Kylie Minogue, and – of course – Lorde, and will be warming up the crowds ready for our headliner.

Also taking the stage before Lorde will be electronic and indie pop star Jim-E Stack, whose solo releases have featured everyone from Bon Iver to Charli XCX.

Tickets for Lorde’s gig in Manchester

Lorde will perform at the AO Arena in Manchester this week
Lorde will perform at the AO Arena in Manchester this week
Credit: Thistle Brown

At the time of writing, there are just a handful of random tickets left for Lorde’s gig.

These are priced between £48.60 and £161.30.

Otherwise, your best bet is to look at resale tickets from a reputable site.

Stage times for Lorde at AO Arena Manchester

The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed the exact stage times for Lorde, but has said that doors will open from 6pm with a start time of around 7pm.

At other shows, Lorde has typically arrived on stage at around 9pm.

You can roughly expect stage times to be as follows:

  • Doors 6pm
  • Jim E-Stack 7pm
  • Blood Orange 8pm
  • Lorde 9pm

Keep an eye on the AO Arena’s socials for the latest.

Expected setlist for Lorde at AO Arena

  • Hammer
  • Royals
  • Broken Glass
  • Buzzcut Season
  • Favourite Daughter
  • Perfect Places
  • Shapeshifter
  • Clearblue
  • Current Affairs
  • Supercut
  • No Better
  • GRWM
  • The Louvre
  • Oceanic Feeling
  • Big Star
  • Liability
  • Man of the Year
  • If She Could See Me Now
  • Team
  • What Was That
  • Green Light
  • David
  • Encore: Ribs

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Featured image: Thistle Brown

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