This time of year really keeps you on your toes – Manchester’s calendar is full of gigs and festivals, and new ones are being added at light speed.
There are some huge gigs going on sale this morning, with new arena shows and other massive music events announced for later in the year.
Tickets are likely to fly out for all of these, so you’ll want to be poised at your laptop and ready to start shopping from the first on-sales at around 9.30am.
There’s everything from festival favourites to legendary rockers heading back out on tour.
Here are some of the Manchester gigs going on sale today, and how you can get tickets.
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Little Simz – 6 November
Little Simz gig tickets for Manchester go on sale today. Credit: Publicity picture
Little Simz has announced a brand new tour with her biggest UK gigs to date – and it will all kick off right here in Manchester this November.
The multi-award-winning rapper has already picked up awards for Best Solo Act, Best New Artist, Best New Album and even the 2022 Mercury Prize — all within the last three years.
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Just over a day after shutting down the Saturday set at Parklife 2023, she announced a limited run of just four shows that promise to be her biggest yet.
Tickets for Little Simz’s gig in Manchester on sale from 10am on Friday 16 June through See Tickets.
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The Prodigy – 17 November
The Prodigy Live Photo 2023 – Credit Andrea Ripamonti
Hot off the back of their blistering headline set at Parklife, The Prodigy have announced a massive UK arena tour.
The electronic music titans will be taking to the stage at the AO Arena in November.
It’s all part of their Army of the Ants tour, which will also visit venues across the UK, supported by SOFT PLAY (formerly known as Slaves) throughout.
General sale for tickets for The Prodigy at AO Arena Manchester begins at 9.30am on Friday 16 June with See Tickets.
Queens of the Stone Age – 14 November
Queens of the Stone Age Manchester AO Arena tickets. Credit: Andreas Neumann
These rock heavyweights will soon be hitting the road again on a huge European tour, including a visit to Manchester.
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The Seattle rockers have announced their The End Is Nero tour ahead of their headline slot of The Other Stage at Glastonbury.
You’ll be able to see the group back on stage in support their upcoming eighth studio album In Times New Roman…, which is due for release today.
Bring Me The Horizon tour including Manchester gig – and how to get tickets
Bring Me the Horizon have had a heck of a few years, selling more than five million albums globally, playing to sold-out audiences in more than 50 counties, and wowing crowds at festivals all over the planet.
The metal group, formed in Sheffield way back in 2004, are on their way back to the live circuit early next year with their Post Human: NeX GEn tour.
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You’ll catch them at the massive AO Arena on Saturday 13 January 2024.
Tickets go on sale with See Tickets from 10am on Friday 16 June.
American rap icon Ice Cube is another big name selling gig tickets for Manchester today – and he’s being supported by some fellow heavyweights from the music scene.
The ‘It Was A Good Day’ singer is going to be supported by hiphop group Cypress Hill, as well as rapper The Game.
Tickets for general admission will be priced between £63.25 and £96.25 including booking fees.
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Tickets for Ice Cube with Cypress Hill and The Game go on sale today at 10am from See Tickets here.
Featured image: Publicity picture
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Major Manchester theatre show issues casting call for a DOG to star on stage
Thomas Melia
One of the world’s most famous theatre shows is coming back to Manchester, and they’ve opened a casting call in search of the ‘canine equivalent of Brad Pitt’.
The unusual casting call is seeking a ‘dog with star quality’ to star in La Bohème when it returns to the Manchester Opera House on 21 February.
Dorothy has Toto, Annie’s got Sandy and now another show is in search of a four legged companion who wouldn’t mind being in the spotlight.
La Bohème is coming to Manchester at the end of this month and as well as bringing in theatregoers to fill up all the seats, they’re also looking for one prized pooch to take centre stage.
This Italian opera, which translates to ‘The Bohemian’, tells the tale of a poor seamstress and her artist friends with all the events taking place in the city of love, Paris.
As with most casting calls there are a few regulations however the trickiest requirement may be the owner’s involvement in the production.
Your four legged friend could be the next doggy diva gracing the Manchester Opera House stage.Your pooch could be on set day-dreaming of Hollywood… or doggy treats? Credit: Supplied
Dogs are asked to be small to medium sized and very well behaved, while owners have to go on stage in costume as part of the background ensemble – get those jazz hands ready!
Award-winning opera director and producer Ellen Kent said: “People say never work with children or animals but I love to do both.
“The first time was 20 years ago when my pet cat Holly Go-Lightly was in one of my productions and was an instant hit. Since then, we’ve had horses, dogs, goldfish and even a golden eagle with a 6ft wingspan on stage.
“When we last did La Bohème in 2023 we asked local people to volunteer their pets – it was a huge success. We even used a rescue dog once and found him dozens of new owners!
“We’re a nation of animal lovers after all. I’m sure there is plenty of doggie talent out there.”
She’s also helped source a water garden in Madam Butterfly, a horse for Carmen and a pair of Afghan Hounds which featured in Rigoletto.
So there’s no better fit for this current casting call which entails finding a drama-loving doggy for La Bohème than Ellen Kent.
La Bohème is looking for an all-star pooch for their upcoming February production.La Bohème is coming to Manchester at the end of this month at Manchester Opera House.Credit: Supplied
Anyone who thinks their pup is the perfect fit for this upcoming production of La Bohème are requested to email [email protected] with photographs of your dog, including your contact number and address as well as the breed, height, weight, age and name of your dog. The show will contact you if you are successful.
La Bohème is making its grand return to Manchester Opera House on 21 February 2025 with tickets for the show available HERE.
There’s a non-alcoholic pairing dinner coming to Manchester this Dry Jan
Thomas Melia
A one-night-only pairing of two dining out staples from the food and drink world is coming to Manchester next month, and it also happens to be non-alcoholic for anyone doing Dry January.
Taking place at the wonderful Maray over on Lincoln Square, each dish served throughout the night will be expertly paired with a non-alcoholic drink from zero-per cent experts, Lucky Saint.
This Middle Eastern eatery is always surprising its diners, last September they made their infamous roasts free for one day only, and this upcoming event is sure to be as exciting with its unique tastings.
Lucky Saint came to fruition after partnering with a historical brewery in Bavaria who’ve produced beer for over 400 years, creating a non alcoholic alternative which greeted UK drinkers in 2020.
Lucky Saint will be readily available and paired with every meal.Diners can expect some sensational food as always from Maray. Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Titled ‘The Official Beer Of Dry January’, supplying IPAs and lagers to a host of stockists, not only are their products fully non-alcoholic but they’re also entirely plant-based – meaning they’re the perfect tie-in with Veganuary.
If their website is anything to go by, diners are set to enjoy refreshments such as their unfiltered lager and a 0.5% ‘Hazy’ IPA which contains juicy tropical notes. Don’t mind if we do.
Although it’s hard to say what the food offerings may be, it’s guaranteed that anyone who attends is in for a treat as this site has even served famous faces like Dua Lipa back in 2022 while she was on tour.
Their vegan menu features some meat free feasts like a falafel sharer and a delicious oyster mushroom shwarma, it’s a well-loved restaurant.
Vegans are certainly catered for at this event as it’s not only the free-flowing drinks that contain no animal products, there will also be an entirely vegan menu on hand.
Maray have multiple locations but anyone who couldn’t get enough of the flavours the first time in Manchester can attend their Liverpool pairing dinner which is happening the very next day.
The Maray x Lucky Saint Dry January Pairing Dinner is coming to Manchester on Wednesday, 15 January from 7-9:30pm with tickets live HERE.
And if you’re looking for other places to enjoy a guilt-free drink in the city centre this month, we’ve got a few suggestions for you:
Doing #DryJan doesn't have to mean staying in or saying goodbye to the pub. 🍹
Daisy Jackson -
15th June 2023 
