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There’s a SpongeBob SquarePants musical coming to Manchester next year

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Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 11th November 2022

Fancy taking a trip under the sea and stopping off at Bikini Bottom?

We know that might sound like a rather bizarre question, but it’s actually set to become a reality next year as the UK tour of the Broadway smash-hit SpongeBob SquarePants musical stops off right here in Manchester city centre.

Fans of the iconic 00s Nickelodeon cartoon by Stephen Hillenburg can expect to be entertained by the brand-new musical production that’s been described as “brilliant, bright, and hilarious.”

The SpongeBob Musical – which is written by Kyle Jarrow, conceived by Tina Landausees, and has additional music and lyrics by Jonathan Coulton and Tom Kitt – sees the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, so SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world.

With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up – optimism.

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The new “all-singing, all-dancing dynamic stage show” features a tidal wave of original songs by the world’s most iconic rock and pop artists – including Aerosmith, Cyndi Lauper, Sara Bareilles, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, and more.

Following what was an extremely successful debut on Broadway in New York, The Spongebob Musical is heading out on a long-awaited tour of the UK in 2023.

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It will be stopping off at the Manchester Opera House for a five-day run next May.

The new production is said to feature “irresistible characters, magical choreography, and dazzling costumes”, and is ready to “make a splash with audiences” of all ages as one of the must-see musicals of 2023.

There’s a SpongeBob SquarePants musical coming to Manchester next year / Credit: The Spongebob Musical (via Twitter)

The Spongebob Musical will be at Manchester Opera House from Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 May 2023, with tickets already on sale from as little as £13 each.

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You can grab yours here.

Featured Image – Jeremy Daniel (via The Spongebob Musical)

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The Pogues announce Manchester gig on first tour since death of frontman Shane MacGowan

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Pogues announce first tour since the death of Shane MacGowan

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.

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.

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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.

General admission will be available from 9:30am on Friday, 22 November but you can access pre-sale by registering via their website by 5pm this Tuesday (19 November).

Get ready to grab your tickets HERE.

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

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/Mordac (via Flickr)

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Rizzle Kicks announce massive Manchester comeback show at Castlefield Bowl

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rizzle Kicks Castlefield Bowl tickets

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.

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.

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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.”

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

It’s not the only one we’re looking forward to at the Bowl either.

Hacienda Classical announces record-breaking show at Castlefield Bowl next summer

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

Featured Images — Blacksocks (press Images supplied)

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