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
Award-winning classic musical Mary Poppins is returning to Manchester next year
Emily Sergeant
One of the best-loved musicals of all time is set to return to the stage in Manchester on its UK tour next year.
Two decades after the world premiere in Bristol, and subsequent record-breaking run of productions around the world ever since, it’s now been announced that Mary Poppins is set to fly back to Manchester next April.
Direct from the West End and stopping off in our city as part of a UK-wide tour, the classic multi award-winning musical will be landing on stage at the iconic Palace Theatre from 9 April – 17 May 2025.
Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers, are both set to reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert in the 2024/25 UK and Ireland tour, after having both received critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations for their performances in the recent Australian production.
This award-winning West End musical comes from the legendary theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh, and the Disney Theatrical Group.
In case you’re somehow unfamiliar with Mary Poppins, this production is based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, and tells the beloved story of the world’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane.
The show is set to be “more magical than ever before”, and will feature dazzling choreography, incredible effects, and all the unforgettable songs we know and love.
The production has original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, with new songs and additional music and lyrics also featuring too.
The book comes from Julian Fellowes, dance and vocal arrangements are by George Stiles, co-choreography is by Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, sound design is by Paul Gatehouse, lighting is by Hugh Vanstone, and the set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley.
Mary Poppins will be live at the Palace Theatre Manchester from 9 April – 17 May 2025, and tickets are set to go on general sale next Monday (18 March) at 10am.
The Libertines add yet another Manchester date to UK tour following massive demand
Danny Jones
British indie and post-punk icons The Libertines have added an extra Manchester date to their upcoming UK comeback tour as more and more shows are selling out.
After announcing their highly-anticipated return with a huge gig at the legendary Albert Hall here in Manchester city centre, The Libertines have now been forced into adding not only a second but a third extra date due to overwhelming numbers of tickets already sold.
Set to release their first new record in nine years entitled, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade on Friday, 15 March, the London-based rockers are coming back with a bang and it’s clear the demand for their revival is well and truly there.
Now playing adding the Saturday night to their sell-out Thursday and Friday shows at Albert Hall from 7-9 November — London being the only other city on the UK tour to be graced with three dates — the Manchester music scene will be welcoming them back with open arms.
The Libertines’ fourth studio LP comes nearly a decade on from the reunion following their 10-year split and with co-frontman Pete Doherty now in a much healthier place after struggles with addiction issues, it looks like the creative juices are well and truly flowing.
Scheduled to release on Friday, 5 April, the early reviews for the new album are looking strong, with the likes of Hot Press calling it “The most evolutionary record in The Libertines’ cannon…a pure gem” and The Guardian already dubbing it “a classic Libertines album”.
Strong words considering how long the four-piece have been away and how their rifts have limited the amount of music they’ve produced since they first formed all the way back in 1997.
Also set to play an acoustic out-store event with Crash Records at Manchester Academy on Saturday, 6 April (which also sold out in a flash) we won’t pretend to be anything other than very excited to see what they’ve come up with. We also love what we’ve heard so far:
Pre-sale for The Libertines’ third and final Manchester date has already gone live and general admission tickets will be available from 9am tomorrow (Friday, 8 March).
You best be quick if you want one last chance to be at these long-waited comeback gigs.
We can’t wait to be bouncing around one of Manchester’s very best music venues to ‘Don’t Look Back Into the Sun’, ‘Music When the Lights Go Out’ and all the new ones later this year.
Be ready and waiting to grab yours HERE and in the meantime, there are a lot of big gigs coming up this month too.