Local band The Lottery Winners are riding an absolute high this year and only look to be getting bigger and better — that being said, it doesn’t get much bigger than jumping on the road for a massive arena tour with an absolute pop music legend in Rick Astley.
Not unlike the Leigh-based pop rockers, Rick Astley‘s popularity is also through the roof these days and is enjoying a real renaissance; he has been for a couple of years now, becoming best mates with the likes of The Blossoms and Foo Fighters, smashing Glastonbury and pumping out plenty of new music.
However, unlike Astley who admitted it was his first trip to Worthy Farm not just as an artist but as a punter, The Lottery Winners managed to smash out a frankly ridiculous six sets in four days and are now they’re set to jump on tour with Rick as his special guests next year. Massive.
Set to appear as supports at every show except for the two sold-out gigs at the Royal Albert Hall in London and his two Irish dates, The Lottery Winners will be opening up for Rick Astley all over the country alongside fellow 80s pop icon, Belinda Carlisle.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 57-year-old is playing a total of 12 shows across the UK and Ireland between 1 November and 5 March 2024, with the English leg ending at Manchester’s AO Arena, naturally — you can’t find a better closer than that.
On top of that, both Astley and The Lottery Winners still have various other festival gigs and tour dates to get through, respectively, with the ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ singer also set to headline Kendal Calling later this month and, lucky for you, you can still get tickets.
ADVERTISEMENT
These lot are absolutely killing it at the minute.
Last but not least, with a new album on the way this October entitled, Are We There Yet?, these shows are set to be stellar and you know that Manc gig is going to be the best of the lot.
You can grab your tickets to see Rick Astley and The Lottery Winners in Manchester HERE.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the meantime, you can always hear the man himself sharing his thoughts on what it’s like to be well and truly back on the scene and delighting fans both old and new.
Harry Styles has FINALLY come out of hibernation, with fourth album announced
Daisy Jackson
Harry Styles has FINALLY announced details of his long-awaited (like seriously, LONG-AWAITED) fourth studio album.
The pop megastar has confirmed that his next record will be called ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.’
Fans have been begging for HS4 for years, after Harry Styles set the world alight with his Love On Tour tour way back in 2022, which included two nights at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester.
It’s become something of a running joke among his fans – nicknamed ‘Harries’ – that he’s disappeared from the industry so thoroughly, instead taking on side quests including marathons, shaving his head, and watching the new Pope be announced.
Excitement over the Cheshire-born musician’s comeback has been ramping up this week after mysterious ‘We Belong Together’ posters began appearing in cities across the globe.
And now, the Grammy Award-winning star is officially back.
Details on the new album are so far sparse, but there are a few things we can tell you.
Harry Styles will release his fourth album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally in March
One – it’ll be called Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
Two – it will have 12 tracks.
Three – it’s been executive produced by Kid Harpoon, a Grammy-award winner and long-time collaborator of Harry’s, who also worked on his last album, Harry’s House.
Four – it’s set for release on 6 March 2026, and you can pre-order it HERE.
The next question will be those hotly-anticipated tour dates, with rumours swirling of residencies at Madison Square Gardens and Wembley Stadium.
Pre-ordering the album may get you in with a shot at accessing pre-sale tickets if and when he does tour.
And if Harry Styles skips Manchester on his stadium tour… *shakes fist*
As heading up North wasn’t already exciting enough, the nominations are looking well and truly stacked as always; without further ado, here is the shortlist in full:
2026 MOBOs Nominees
BEST FEMALE ACT, IN ASSOCIATION WITH got2b
FLO
KWN
LITTLE SIMZ
OLIVIA DEAN
PINKPANTHERESS
SASHA KEABLE
BEST MALE ACT, IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROSTATE CANCER UK
Danny Jones -
11th July 2023 
