Affiliate

Rick Astley announces new album and massive Manchester gig on UK arena tour

This article contains affiliate links.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th June 2023

Rick Astley has announced he’s releasing a new album later this year, and he’s heading out on an arena tour of the UK to celebrate.

It may have been 36 years since the iconic singer-songwriter from Newton-le-Willows first shot to fame with his massively-popular 1987 hit song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ – but Rick Astley is arguably a more prominent force in popular culture now than he ever has been before.

Over the past couple of years, it seems the 57-year-old has been amassing new fans left, right, and centre, all thanks to on-stage performances with the likes of US rockers Foo Fighters, or beloved Manchester bands Take That or Blossoms, and claiming the strongest run of album chart positions of his entire career.

After having become an unlikely social media sensation since the turn of the 21st century, Rick says he’s been “simply embracing the unending love” from all his enthusiastic supporters.

And now, the popstar is ready to make his fans’ days after announcing a new album and UK tour.

Rick Astley announces new album and massive Manchester gig on UK tour arena tour / Credit: Rick Astley (via Facebook)

Rick’s long-awaited ninth studio album, titled Are We There Yet?, is set to be released out into the world on 6 October 2023, and to give people a taste of what’s to come, the first single off that album, ‘Dippin My Feet’, is out today.

But the new album isn’t all that fans of the Lancashire legend have to look forward to, as Rick says “the road ahead remains open for further exploration”, and so has today revealed details of a major UK headline tour starting later this year and drawing to a close in early 2024.

Rick Astley – UK Tour Dates 2023/24

2023

  • Wednesday 1 November – Royal Albert Hall (London)
  • Thursday 02 November – Royal Albert Hall (London)

2024

  • Thursday 22 February – Motorpoint Arena (Nottingham)
  • Friday 23 February – Utilita Arena (Newcastle)
  • Saturday 24 February – First Direct Arena (Leeds)
  • Monday 26 February – Cardiff International Arena
  • Tuesday 27 February – OVO Hydro (Glasgow)                     
  • Thursday 29 February – Bournemouth International Centre
  • Friday 1 March – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
  • Saturday 2 March – AO Arena (Manchester) 

Two prestigious dates at London’s Royal Albert Hall will kick-off Rick’s UK tour this November, followed by a series of massive arena dates nationwide.

The tour will culminate with a huge homecoming gig at the AO Arena here in Manchester on Saturday 2 March 2024.

Speaking ahead of the release of his new album, Rick said: “The phrase ‘Are We There Yet?’ has multiple meanings. Are we there yet in my musical ambitions? Am I done with my career? Have we arrived? Or are we still travelling?”

He admits the new album and accompanying singles are Americana-influenced.

“It’s definitely not country, but I’ve never twanged a guitar as much as I have in the past couple of months,” Rick continued.

“And there’s a bit more emotion with those guitar parts. I just think spending five months in America has retuned my ear a little bit.”

The legendary singer-songwriter is heading out on a massive UK arena tour / Credit: Supplied

Rick Astley’s ninth studio album ‘Are We There Yet?’ is now available to pre-order here.

Fans who pre-order before 7pm today (20 June), will receive access to a pre-sale for tour tickets – which opens at 9:30am tomorrow (21 June) and will remain live until remaining tickets go on general sale from 9:30am this Friday (23 June).

Read more:

You can grab tickets to Rick’s AO Arena gig on Saturday 2 March 2024 here.

Featured Image – Rick Astley (via Facebook)

Affiliate

Billie Eilish at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Billie Eilish is ready to take over Co-op Live for four nights of tear-jerking, heart-wrenching, belly-aching hits right here in Manchester.

Ms. ‘Ocean Eyes’ herself is coming to Manchester this month, and we’re on hand with all the info you need so you don’t have to ‘Guess’ anything on the day of your show.

Billie Eilish has cemented her position in the music industry as one of the leading hitmakers, and at only 23 years old, this artist has won nine Grammy Awards and racked up three UK number-one singles.

The American star has been grafting since her early teens, dropping her first ever EP, don’t smile at me, in 2017 at only 16 years old and has reached height after height ever since.

Billie Eilish gig guide

Billie Eilish Co-op Live Manchester tickets
Billie Eilish is playing at Co-op Live in Manchester on 19, 20, 22 and 23 July.
Credit: Press shot (supplied)

Her latest album ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’, which is also the name of the tour, is Eilish’s third studio album and it’s stacked with bangers like ‘Birds of a Feather’, ‘Lunch’ and ‘Wildflower’, just to name a few.

Now, Eilish is ready to play four nights at Manchester’s largest indoor entertainment venue, Co-op Live, and join a roster of acts in the top 10 biggest gigs in Manchester music history.

Billie Eilish UK tour dates

  • Tue 8 July – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Thu 10 July – London, UK – The O2
  • Fri 11 July – London, UK – The O2
  • Sun 13 July – London, UK – The O2
  • Mon 14 July – London, UK – The O2
  • Wed 16 July – London, UK – The O2
  • Thu 17 July – London, UK – The O2
  • Sat 19 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Sun 20 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Tue 22 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Wed 23 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live

Are there tickets left for Billie Eilish tickets in Manchester?

Anyone after tickets to any of the upcoming Billie Eilish gigs in Manchester might be in for a ‘not-so-lovely’ surprise, as you can expect, as most general tickets are sold out.

However, anyone who’s missed out on tickets for Billie’s FOUR-gig run in Manchester can still take a look at a variety of premium ticket packages.

You can grab your ‘Birds of a Feather’ and a ticket or two for the Saturday, 19 July show HERE.

Pack your ‘Lunch’ and put on your best outfit because there are exclusive tickets for the Sunday, 20 July gig HERE.

Your friends will be calling you ‘The Greatest’ when you let them know about the premium tickets still left for Tuesday, 22 July right HERE.

Finally, grab ‘L’amour De Ma Vie’ and sing your heart out with a range of hospitality tickets to choose from on Wednesday, 23 July HERE. And breathe…

Billie Eilish setlist

  • Chihiro
  • Lunch
  • NDA
  • Therefore I Am
  • Wildflower
  • when the party’s over
  • The Diner
  • ilomilo
  • bad guy
  • The Greatest
  • Your Power
  • Skinny
  • TV
  • bury a friend
  • Oxytocin
  • Guess
  • everything i wanted
  • lovely / Blue / ocean eyes (Medley)
  • L’amour De Ma Vie
  • What Was I Made For?
  • Happier Than Ever
  • Birds of a Feather

What are the stage times for Billie Eilish in Manchester?

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning concertgoers can be safe knowing ‘when the party’s over’ it won’t be well into the early hours.

Doors for ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ tour are scheduled for 6pm with support acts Syd and Magdalena Bay on hand to soundtrack your evening and leave you feeling ‘Happier Than Ever’ before Billie at 8pm.

The first act, Syd, is known for co-founding influential R’n’B band, The Internet (big fans, by the way), and has just dropped a new solo single ‘Die For This’ ahead of her Billie Eilish tour stint.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour’ will mark Billie Eilish’s first ever Co-op Live appearance.
Credit: William Drumm (supplied)

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue,e but this must be pre-booked ahead of time and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day – though estimates will vary, obviously:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes via the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (supplied)

Affiliate

The first-ever Horrible Histories live concert is coming to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Horrible Histories live concert Manchester tickets

Any fans of childhood favourite Horrible Histories in the house? Well, you might want to pay attention because the iconic kids’ show is bringing its first-ever live concert to Manchester.

The beloved educational comedy by CBBC was, for many of us, the first time we showed a proper interest in history, and we’ll confess, we still go back and comfort-watch it from time to time.

Running from 2009 until 2014, it featured countless funny faces that went on to become stars in the UK comic scene and even spawned a smash-hit live show, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

With that in mind, to help celebrate the milestone, the team behind the cult classic are putting on a special a pretty extensive series of live shows to bring the music of Horrible Histories to domestic audiences, including two right here in Manchester.

horrible histories live show
horrible histories the concert tickets
Credit: BBC/Supplied

Teaming up with Birmingham Stage Company and Lion Television, the BBC and Horrible Histories crew will soon be playing all the hit songs from the TV programme in the flesh.

Based on the books, CBBC show and the success of the theatre show, this unique music-driven live format is written by the TV series’ writers Ben Ward and Claire Wetton.

Led on stage by the Horrible Histories song master, Richie Webb, himself – who has written all the songs from the smash-hit BBC series – you’re getting the full, authentic experience.

Featuring a live band performing the sensational TV songs, including guest appearances from Charles II, Dick Turpin and a bunch of Vikings that we couldn’t stop barging through the stage door, this is one show you don’t want to miss.

You can find all the 32 ‘Horrible Histories: Live (And Dead)! – The Concert’ UK tour dates down below:

Early 2026Spring 2026
– Fri 23 January, Darlington Hippodrome 
– Sat 24 January, Darlington Hippodrome 
– Fri 30 January, Bristol Beacon 
– Sat 31 January, Bristol Beacon 
– Sun 1 February, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
– Fri 6 February, Manchester Opera House
– Sat 7 February, Manchester Opera House
– Fri 13 February, Liverpool Empire
– Sat 14 February, Liverpool Empire
– Tues 17 February London Royal Festival Hall
– Fri 20 February, Birmingham Alexandra
– Sat 21 February, Birmingham Alexandra
– Fri 27 February, Milton Keynes Theatre
– Sat 28 February, Milton Keynes Theatre
– Sun 1 March, Cambridge Corn Exchange
– Sun 8 March, Sheffield City Hall
– Fri 13 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre
– Sat 14 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre
– Sun 15 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre
– Fri 20 March, Glasgow Theatre Royal		– Sat 21 March, Glasgow Theatre Royal
– Sun 29 March, Nottingham Concert Hall
– Thur 2 April, Southampton Mayflower
– Fri 3 April, Southampton Mayflower
– Sat 4 April, Southampton Mayflower
– Mon 6 April, York Barbican 
– Tues 7 April, York Barbican 
– Thur 9 April, Brighton Concert Hall 
– Fri 10 April, Brighton Concert Hall
– Sat 11 April, Brighton Concert Hall
– Fri 17 April, Sunderland Empire
– Sat 18 April, Sunderland Empire
manchester opera house
Credit: The Manc Group

Coming to the city centre and the storied Manchester Opera House for two evenings early next year, if you’re a fan of the series or the live theatre act, this one has to be on your list.

The whole cast for the tour is yet to be fully confirmed, but you can expect plenty of humour and talent from start to finish.

ATG+ presale has just gone live, and general admission will be available from Friday, 11 July, with prices starting from £18 and school tickets costing just £13.50

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC/The Manc Group

More Affiliate

Affiliate

Mika announces first-ever arena gig in Manchester next year

Affiliate

Stevie Wonder at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Mean Girls The Musical

Affiliate

Smash-hit musical Mean Girls to open in Manchester at start of its first UK tour

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches