In case you missed it, JLS are getting band back together and heading out on a massive UK tour later this year.
And of course, they’re paying a trip to visit us here in Manchester.
After finishing runners-up on ITV reality singing competition X Factor, JLS broke through in 2009 when their debut single ‘Beat Again’ shot straight tonumber one on the UK Top 40, before their follow-up singles ‘Everybody In Love’, ‘The Club Is Alive’, ‘Love You More’, and ‘She Makes Me Wanna’ also enjoyed chart success.
Another five top 10 hits, a self-titled number-one debut album, three more top-three records, two BRIT Awards, and five MOBO Awards then followed, all before they said goodbye with their ‘Greatest Hits’ album in 2013.
But after the lads made their first comeback in 2021 and it was a huge success, the hugely-popular boyband is going back out on the road on a massive UK and Ireland arena tour later this year.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the EVERYBODY SAY JLS: The Hits Tour.
The suspense is over… 😂 We couldn't be more excited to announce another UK and Ireland arena tour later this year🙌🏾🙌🏾 Last time out was totally surreal and we’ve been eagerly awaiting the right time to do it all over again!! https://t.co/uJhlPb03Ytpic.twitter.com/6VlGaIxTdf
When does the tour start? And what cities are they heading to?
Kicking off in Dublin on 20 October, Aston, Marvin, Oritsé, and JB will take to the stage in several major UK cities such as Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, and Liverpool, before they make their way over to see us in Manchester.
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Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, and Nottingham are some of the other cities on the list, as well as two nights in London at the O2 Arena.
The tour is set to run from Friday 20 October – Sunday 11 November 2023.
When are JLS playing in Manchester?
After playing to roaring crowds at some of the UK and Ireland’s biggest arenas for the last couple of weeks of October, JLS will be arriving in Manchester to play to tens of thousands of adoring fans inside the AO Arena in early November.
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They’ll be taking to the stage in our city on Thursday 2 November 2023.
JLS will take to the stage at the AO Arena in Manchester later this year / Credit: AO Arena
How much will tickets cost?
It’s expected that there’ll be three different price brackets of general admission tickets, so you can pick from seats or standing costing either £39.25, £53, or £75, depending on your budget.
If you’re a super fan looking to splash the cash though, there’s also the JLS Best Seat VIP Package for £141 per ticket.
This package includes a top-price seated ticket to see JLS at the AO Arena, as well as a limited-edition A4 tour print that’s pre-signed by all four members, and an exclusive VIP gift chosen by the band.
When do tickets go on sale? And where can you buy them?
The question you’ve presumably all been looking for the answer to, tickets for EVERYBODY SAY JLS: The Hits Tour go on general sale this Friday 3 March at 9am.
“We couldn’t be more excited to announce another UK and Ireland arena tour,” the boyband said in a statement ahead of the tour.
“Last time out was totally surreal, and we’ve been eagerly awaiting the right time to do it all over again, as playing live and seeing our amazing fans is definitely the best part of being JLS.”
Featured Image – Mark Hayman
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The Pogues announce Manchester gig on first tour since death of frontman Shane MacGowan
Danny Jones
The Pogues have announced their first UK tour since the death of former frontman, Shane MacGowan, with Manchester one of just half a dozen cities chosen.
Nearly a full year on from his death at just 65, the Anglo-Irish favourites best known for their eternal Christmas classic, ‘Fairytale of New York’, are gearing up for their first outing since their iconic lead singer’s passing as a celebration of his life and their seminal second album.
It’s been 13 years since their last headline tour shortly before their split and it will be 40 years since the release of Rum Sodomy and the Lash by the time they hit the road along with special guests.
Safe to say it’ll be an emotional series of shows for everyone involved.
The Pogues return in 2025 for their first UK Tour since 2012 to celebrate 40 years of Rum Sodomy & the Lash Ft James Fearnley, Jem Finer, Spider Stacy & special guests. Tickets go on sale 9:30am Fri 22 Nov. Sign up at https://t.co/PxhZ8bnwBA by 5pm on 19 Nov for presale access ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/hFACjdf7yc
Revealing just six shows here in the UK, the long-standing band are set to play their sophomore release in full as well as a selection of their greatest hits.
The tour will feature remaining original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Peter Richard ‘Spider’ Stacy, as well as a series of support that are yet to be confirmed.
Speaking on the upcoming dates, The Pogues said: “After the uproarious bash which was the 40th anniversary of our first record, Red Roses for Me, in 2024, we wanted to do it again, but with Rum Sodomy & the Lash.”
The music veterans are remaining tight-lipped about who they’re bringing along but they have promised their selections have been “thoughtfully chosen”.
With MacGowan, lead guitarist Philip Chevron (2013), bassist Darryl Hunt (2022) and long-time collaborator Kirsty MacColl (2000) now having passed away, the band will be roping in plenty of help on vocals and instrumentation.
Even though the gigs themselves will be coming at the of next spring, you can rest assured you’ll get to hear your beloved festive ballad.
Kicking off the tour in Leeds, The Pogues will play their first Manchester show in over a decade – and without Shane MacGowan front and centre – at the O2 Apollo on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/Mordac (via Flickr)
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Rizzle Kicks announce massive Manchester comeback show at Castlefield Bowl
Danny Jones
In case you missed it, Rizzle Kicks are BACK and they’re making their return to Manchester in a big way with a massive outdoor show at Castlefield Bowl.
Named as the latest artists to join the Sound of the City (SOTC) lineup for 2025, with only a few acts having been named thus far, the British pop duo will be playing a huge sun-soaked set next summer.
The 2010s hit-makers were a regular presence in the UK charts for a good few years, releasing just two albums in 2011 and 2013 before slipping into a somewhat unannounced hiatus to work on other things.
Jordan Stephens and Harley ‘Sylvester’ Alexander-Sule have both enjoyed multiple other music projects separate from the group, as well as getting into presenting, podcasting, acting and more, so they’ve been plenty busy while they’ve been away. But now they’re back with new music on the horizon too.
MANCHESTER. WHO’S READY? FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025 ‼️
We told you that more shows are coming and we’re so buzzing to announce that we’ll be playing Castlefield Bowl this July. This is going to be a big one and we’d love to see you all there.
Confirming their SOTC festival gig on Monday, 18 November, Rizzle Kicks said on socials: “We told you that more shows are coming and we’re so buzzing to announce that we’ll be playing Castlefield Bowl this July [2025]. This is going to be a big one and we’d love to see you all there.”
The announcement also comes not long after the pair revealed their third studio album is on the way almost 12 years on from their sophomore record, Roaring 20s.
Speaking on their return to the music scene and the upcoming release, Jordan said: “We allude to the fact that we acted off the cultural encouragement and the reality of the time. I think now we’d like to believe that we’ve distanced ourselves from those just through experience.”
The new Rizzle Kicks sound touches on sobriety and paternity,“not just with Harley becoming a father and all the growth that comes with that role, but also in a larger sense as we get older we feel a responsibility to share our wins and our failures”, added the 32-year-old.
Entitled Competition is for Losers, the new studio LP is set to release on 14 February next year just before their official tour gets fully underway in March. Stephens and Sule played their first show together in nearly a decade at KOKO in Camden earlier this month and are eager to get back to business as usual.
Their other Manchester date, which was already announced, is set to take place on 19 March at the O2 Ritz and sold out – along with all the other shows – in just 15 minutes. Wow.
For those fans dying to be at their Castlefield Bowl gig on Friday, 11 July, you can pre-order Competition is for Losers to access pre-sale from 10am this Thursday.
General admission tickets will be available from the same time on Friday (22 November).
Issuing a call-out to the die-hard Rizzkle Kickers, lovingly referred to by the band as the #tunesquad, they said: “You already know the drill, tickets are going to go fast. LET’S DO THIS.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th February 2023 
