A series of concerts that take place surrounded by thousands of flickering candles will be taking over several of Manchester’s most beautiful landmarks.
The Candlelight Concerts series takes the work of world-famous artists like Beyonce, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac and Coldplay, but strips it right back to basics.
Gone are the high-tech special effects and lighting installations we’re all so accustomed to now, replaced instead by simple candles and a small orchestra, plus occasional ballerinas.
As well as paying tributes to huge pop acts, there are some events focused on more classical artists, like a production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker with ballet performances.
The work of legendary composer Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, Interstellar and The Dark Knight) also stars in another event, and the late, great Amy Winehouse is honoured in another.
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Venues being used include Edgar Wood, Manchester Cathedral, Stoller Hall and Halle St Peter.
The event organisers say: “Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Manchester.”
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Each candlelit concert lasts around an hour and is fully accessible.
There are usually two showings per day, at 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
You can buy tickets for different zones within each venue, but then it’s first-come first-served to get your actual seat.
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The full list of upcoming events is below and you can get your tickets here.
A Tribute to Beyonce – Edgar Wood – 2 December
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and More – Manchester Cathedral – 27 January
Christmas: Love Actually, Home Alone and more – 13 and 21 December
A Tribute to Fleetwood Max – Halle St Peters – various dates
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A Tribute to Amy Winehouse – Halle St Peters – 24 November and 12 January
A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald – Halle St Peter – 14 January
Hans Zimmer’s Best Works – Halle St Peters – 22 December and 2 February
A Tribute to Coldplay – Manchester Cathedral – 11 November and 20 January
A Tribute to Oasis – Halle St Peters – 15 December
It’s been nearly eight years since Jordan Stephens and Harley Sulé, otherwise known as iconic British duo Rizzle Kicks, released music together and played to audiences of adoring fans nationwide, instead favouring acting and other solo projects in the meantime – but now, the pair is drawing their indefinite hiatus to a close and heading out on a UK tour in 2025.
The duo, which has sold more than one million singles and 600,000 albums in the UK, is set to peform their first headline show in nearly a decade at London’s iconic KOKO in Camden next month, before they hit the road.
The highly sought-after London show sold out in less than a minute, so it’s expected that eager Greater Manchester fans will also quickly snap up tickets to see the duo’s first tour when they go on sale later this week.
Rizzle Kicks will be arriving in Manchester and taking to the beloved O2 Ritz stage in March 2025, as well as headlining other major cities like Birmingham and Brighton.
Rizzle Kicks – UK Tour Dates 2025
Wednesday 19 March – O2 Ritz, Manchester
Friday 21 March – O2 Institute, Birmingham
Saturday 22 March – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
Friday 16 May – Brighton Dome
The pair returned in style with comeback single ‘Javelin’ being released this past summer, and have now followed on with this continuation of their mature and evolved sound with new track ‘Gumdrops’ – which offers a nuanced discussion about masculinity and lad culture.
Both singles are taken from a forthcoming, as-yet-untitled, project that sees Rizzle Kicks return to the pop music space sober, in love, and equipped with life lessons, self awareness, and a maturity they’ve built on separately, while still retaining their sense of humour and humanity that sets them apart from other artists.
Rizzle Kicks will perform take to the O2 Ritz stage in Manchester on Wednesday 19 March 2025, and tickets will go on general sale from this Thursday (10 October) at 10am.
World-renowned Matilda The Musical is coming to Manchester on its major UK tour
Emily Sergeant
The world-renowned Matilda The Musical is set to head out on a major tour of the UK and Ireland from next year.
And, of course, it’ll be stopping off here in Manchester.
It has been announced today that the Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash-hit musical production, which is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book of the same name, will embark on its second tour of the UK and Ireland in October 2025, and this includes a special four-week run at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.
The critically-acclaimed musical has been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities around the world since it first debuted, and it continues to play to packed houses in London’s West End and on Broadway each week.
Maggots, it's time to be REVOLTING! 🦎@TheRSC's Matilda The Musical is heading back on tour across the UK and Ireland from Oct 2025, returning to a venue near you.
The beloved production about a determined heroine with a vivid imagination has won more than 100 global awards – including 24 for Best Musical.
Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the show will be celebrating its 15-year anniversary when it heads out on its UK tour towards the end of next year.
It’ll be opening at Leicester Curve in October, before travelling to other major cities like Bradford, Liverpool, Plymouth, Sunderland, Edinburgh, and of course, Manchester – where it’ll run through March and April 2026.
The cast of Matilda The Musical on stage in the West End / Credit: Manuel Harlan
“When we first started working on the show, our aim was to make a lovely little jewel of a musical for the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon,” explained composer and lyricist, Tim Minchin. “We never imagined that all these years later it would still be running in the West End, have been made into a film, and is now about to embark on its second tour of the UK and Ireland.
“I’m deeply proud of Matilda The Musical, and every single talented person who continues to work on it with passion and enthusiasm.”
The cast of Matilda The Musical on stage in the West End / Credit: Manuel Harlan
Matilda The Musical will be on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre from Thursday 26 March – Saturday 25 April 2026, and tickets go on sale next week.
Priority Booking for RSC and Theatre Members, and ATG Cardholders, will be from 10am on 22 October 2024, with general on sale for all venues, including Manchester, from 10am on 24 October 2024.
Daisy Jackson -
25th November 2022 
