But that doesn’t always have to be because of the clubbers themselves and their preferences, sometimes it’s actually about the clubs instead, as often, people can find these spaces to be too loud or overcrowded for them, and crucially, open too late into the night (or should we say early hours of the morning).
Luckily, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac is back to solve that very problem, as she’s set to host a series of club nights across the UK and Ireland that end before midnight.
Following the success of her big outdoor shows this past summer, the Dublin-born DJ, broadcaster, and writer has now announced that she’ll be bringing her Before Midnight clubbing concept back for more later this year, and she’ll be taking to a famous Manchester city centre stage in early November.
Annie Mac is hosting a club night in Manchester for people who want to go bed early / Credit: Eva Pantel (via Supplied)
For this upcoming series, the popular clubbing concept – which launched in 2022 – will be moving back inside, and the shows are set to be “darker, sweatier, and more intimate” this time around.
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As well as taking over Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall in the hearty of the city centre, Annie will also be heading to several other major cites – including London, Belfast, and Dublin.
Annie said she created the Before Midnight clubbing concept especially for “a generation of people who grew up with clubbing in their DNA, but who weren’t being served by the industry”, such as those who work on the weekends, who have exams to study for, who can’t afford a babysitter to stay over, or who feel particularly self conscious at a typical nightclub.
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Essentially, if you like to go to bed early, then this is also a night for you.
“I wanted to try and recreate the mood and atmosphere of a nightclub at a time that was accessible for me,” Annie said ahead of her tour later this year.
“I figured you can go and see any band, or play, or art show at accessible times, but there were few opportunities to see your favourite DJ in a nightclub at 9pm.”
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She added that the upcoming shows, including the one here in Manchester, will combine the best of everything she’s learnt from all her previous shows so far, and the main aim of the tour is to ensure parties are thrown for people who want to feel “safe, included, celebrated, and no matter what age they are, want to dance”.
Annie Mac’s Before Midnight tour will coming to Manchester’s Albert Hall on Saturday 2 November, with tickets set to go on general sale this Friday 20 September at 10am, as well as a presale the day prior (Thursday 19 September), also at 10am.
You can find out more and grab tickets to the one-off special club night here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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A candlelit Queen tribute concert is returning to Manchester
Danny Jones
Yes, you read that right: a candlelit tribute concert to the one and only Queen is coming to Manchester city centre.
In fact, it’s coming home, as this wonderful event started right here in 0161 back in 2021.
Concerts by Candlelight themselves host concerts up and down the country at various points throughout the year, but their much-loved ‘Queen by Candlelight‘ special knows all about lighting up Manc venues.
Having since gone on to become an internationally acclaimed live concert experience, we’re glad we still get to see the ‘Princes of the Universe’ on our doorstep.
Credit: Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
With the likes of Bridgewater Hall and the magical Manchester Monastery all having played host to the promotion on many ocassions, this time Queen by Candlelight is coming to the legendary Manchester Opera House in the new year.
One of our most historic and legendary theatres, it’s only fitting, really, that they be chosen to welcome a night of equally iconic tunes.
But it’s worth reminding more casual fans that these aren’t just British rock and pop anthems; Queen‘s discography is one that still has global recognition to this day.
That’s why this specific show has been taken to virtually every corner of the world, with the incredibly talented cast of singers and musicians delighting audiences in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and New York, to domestic crowds here in town and down in London’s West End.
‘Queenies’ or ‘Darlings’, as Freddie Mercury used to call them, can expect all the big hits, from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’, to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and plenty more from the back catalogue.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this coming January:
With tickets already flying out fast, we really would recommend securing your seats early before they inevitably sell out.
To quote the promoters themselves, “this spectacular celebration of Queen’s biggest hits is guaranteed to rock you.”
Coming to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 6 January, you can book your tickets for Queen by Candlelight right HERE.
And if you’ve never been to one of their candlelit events before, you only need to see how much of a ball we had at their country event earlier this year to find out how much fun they are…
Featured Images — Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
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An ‘extraordinary’ new Live Aid musical is coming to Manchester on its UK tour
Emily Sergeant
An ‘extraordinary’ new musical based on Live Aid is coming to Manchester as part of an upcoming UK and Ireland tour.
Producers Jamie Wilson Productions say they’re ‘thrilled’ to announce that Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical will head out on a big UK and Ireland tour starting out in March 2027, and visiting loads of major cities along the way – including Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Nottingham, and plenty more.
The production take us back to 13 July 1985 – the day music united the world.
Live Aid was an unprecedented global music event that brought 1.5 billion people together, and they all have a story to tell about ‘the day rock ‘n’ roll changed the world’.
Now, more than 40 years on from that famous day, audiences in Manchester will get to discover the behind-the-scenes story of Live Aid in a whole new way, as Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical is the story behind the greatest gig in music history.
What makes Just For One Day special? Nostalgia, relevance to today and a message for the new generation 🤘 pic.twitter.com/wRBV4Ar1Hv
— Just For One Day | The Live Aid Musical (@liveaidmusical) June 9, 2025
With hit songs by Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, Madonna, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and more all featuring, these iconic artists made history at simultaneous charitable concerts in London and Philadelphia.
The musical is written by John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard, with musical supervision, arrangements and orchestration by Matthew Brind, choreography by Ebony Molina, and casting by Stuart Burt.
“Just For One Day brilliantly reimagines why Live Aid worked then and why the humanity of that day still matters now,” commented Bob Geldoff.
“I’m delighted that more of the UK and Ireland will finally get to see this extraordinary and compelling musical. The reaction the show gets continually surprises and amazes me, standing ovations and people come back time and again, introducing the Live Aid story to new generations.”
Emily Sergeant -
18th September 2024 
