A Manchester gaming bar is throwing a 2000s-themed Myspace party this week, taking it back to a time when studded belts were all the rage and angsty bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, and Taking Back Sunday ruled the airwaves.
Staff at Pixel Bar are getting ready to relive their Myspace Scene kid days with a free-to-enter ‘Myspace social’, which will take place on Tuesday 4 October at the Northern Quarter gaming bar.
Promising a night full of emo, pop punk and scene classics, if you regularly find yourself listening back to old Brand New songs and fingering packets of blue-black hair dye in Boots, this is probably a party for you.
Throughout the night Pixel Bar will be running a 40% industry discount on food and drink for partygoers, as well as hosting games of beer pong and giant Jenga.
Dressing up is not mandatory but it is encouraged, and its bar staff will be going all out in their best emo and Scene kid get-ups – so expect to see a lot of kohl eyeliner, sweeping fringes, and maybe even a few pairs of fingerless gloves.
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Sharing the news of the upcoming party on social media, Pixel Bar wrote: “We’re officially bringing Myspace back!
“Head down next Tuesday for our Myspace special. Mega industry discount with 40% off food and drink!
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“@camthedj is spinning all the Scene/Emo tracks bringing back the emo fringe.”
Originally hailing from Leeds, Pixel Bar opened its second site in Manchester at the end of 2021 and became an instant hit with the city’s gaming community.
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Selling 18 different gaming-themed cocktails, with choices like ‘Jigglypuff’, ‘Princess Perch’ and the ‘Yoshi’s Island Iced Tea’, plus a selection of ‘magic potion’ shots promising do deliver ‘full health’ and ‘stamina’, it has quickly become a haven for gamers.
The bar also has a signature cocktail called ‘Who’s that Pokemon?’ – a combination of vodka, lemon juice, soda and your choice of flavoured syrup.
Elsewhere, you’ll find the newest PlayStation 5, Xbox X Series, and Nintendo platforms, arcade games, high-spec PCs and a downstairs club room playing early 00s pop punk until the early hours.
Clubland announce huge throwback arena tour that will take you back to your youth
Danny Jones
Clubland have announced a massive UK arena tour to mark their 20th anniversary and, my word, it’s an absolute throwback.
As revealed on Monday, the iconic legendary record label and album series is holding Re-live the Night of Your Life tour to celebrate 20 years of club anthems, the first live arena tour in over a decade.
Featuring the likes of Cascada, Scooter, BassHunter; Ultrabeat, DJ Sammy, a Darren Style DJ set and more, you’ll be transported back in time as you party through non-stop noughties bangers.
Here is your full Clubland 2023 Arena Tour line-up:
Credit: Supplied
The Clubland compilation albums began way back in 2002 and went on to become the iconic umbrella brand for an entire movement of commercial dance music.
Clubland albums went on to sell in excess of 30 million copies and became the market leader in dance music during this time, even managing to outsell Cream and even Ministry of Sound.
Then, in 2008, the first Clubland Live was launched, playing to tens of thousands of people across the UK in packed arenas – the first time most club and dance music had headlined in such venues.
There were a further 2 sold-out tours in the following couple of years which many fans coined as ‘The Night of Your Life’. Now, all this time later, the winning formula of those noughties shows is back with the Re-live the Night of Your Life Clubland Arena Tour 2023.
To make each night even more special, there are some artists that will only be appearing on select nights. Lucky for you, Manchester‘s Clubland line-up is a belter:
Clubland @ AO Arena Vengaboys / Basshunter / *Secret Headliner To Be Announced* / LMC ft Rachel McFarlane / Ultrabeat ft Rebecca Rudd / Kelly Llorenna /Flip n Fill ft Karen Parry
Tickets go on general sale at 9:00am on Friday 9 December. You can grab yours HERE.
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott ‘working on plans’ to screen England vs France game at AO Arena gig
Daisy Jackson
Paul Heaton has said that he’s ‘working on plans’ to screen the England vs France World Cup match ahead of his gig in Manchester this weekend.
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott are set to play a huge gig at the AO Arena this Saturday – clashing with England’s quarter finals game.
Paul has said that they understand fans ‘might prefer not to miss the youthful looks of Jack Grealish’.
His announcement that they are hoping to show the game has drawn a mixed reaction from fans.
Many welcomed the news that they wouldn’t have to miss the huge match from the Qatar World Cup.
To all of our fans in Manchester who still want to listen to the dulcet tones of Paul & Jacqui, but might prefer not to miss the youthful looks of Jack Grealish- We're working on plans to show the football next Saturday- we'll keep you posted
But others said that it would ruin the show, with one person tweeting: “Please don’t ruin the show with that. I’ll be wanting my money back if I’m going to see football rather than the music!”
Paul replied to say: “We won’t. We just have to make sure the place isn’t half full.”
He has now gone on to address the divided opinions on the football being screened at the AO Arena, sharing a photo of himself pulling a silly face with the words: “Me trying to work out what to do next Saturday @England @AOArena.”
Many fans have pointed out that Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott aren’t actually due on stage until 9pm and that, all being well, the game will be over by then anyway.
Others have pleaded that they don’t cut the show short to fit it in around the England vs France game, and wondered what it would mean for Billy Bragg’s supporting slot.
Jacqui Abbott hasn’t been able to perform with the group for the last few shows due to ill health, but it’s hoped she’ll be back on stage with her former The Beautiful South bandmate by the time they gig in Manchester.
The duo offered refunds to anyone who no longer wanted to attend the concerts without Jacqui after she was told to sit them out on doctor’s orders.
Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott’s gig will clash with the World Cup. Credit: Publicity picture
But Paul added: “For those who choose to retain their tickets for the next three shows, I promise you that myself & the boys will put on a show to remember. We’ll sorely miss Jacqui but our intent is to make those who refund their tickets bitterly regret that decision. Thanks for your support.”
The pair were on the receiving end of a lot of praise from members of the public after announcing the tour, and capping ticket prices at £30.
They went on BBC Breakfast to speak about rising costs in the music industry while promoting their new album.
He said at the time: “I’m very much against greed in the industry. I feel as though there is quite a lot. We are trying to just battle and say ‘we’ll do it for as low as we can’.”
They also said they want to ‘set a bit of an example’ for the rest of the industry.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd October 2022 
