Seasoned British singer-songwriter and pop legend Alison Moyet is coming back to Manchester and more after announcing an extensive run of 2026 EU, UK and IE tour dates.
No rest for the wickedly talented and long adored.
Alison Moyet last visited Manchester in February last year, playing the stunning Bridgewater Hall in support of her latest album, Key, the 10th studio LP of her solo career.
However, now the 64-year-old artist and music veteran is set to play songs from her eighth record, the minutes, as well astracks from her days with Yazoo and more across Europe.
NEW: @alisonmoyet is headed on tour! Playing songs of Yazoo, including cuts from the minutes & Other, with a date at #O2ApolloManchester Fri 16 Oct.
— O2 Apollo Manchester (@O2ApolloManc) March 9, 2026
Moyet (real name Geneviève Alison Jane Ballard) formed Yazoo with ex-Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke in 1981, releasing two albums and becoming one of the most influential British groups of the time.
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While clashes on multiple fronts saw the synth-pop duo ultimately break up in ’83, a handful of Yazoo hits like ‘Only You’, ‘Don’t Go’ and ‘Situation’ have continued to crop up in the Basildon-born artists over the years.
Once nicknamed ‘Alf’ as a youth – the same title she gave to her seminal debut album, released the year after the split – the young ‘tomboy’, turned teen punk, then synth, soul and pop act has experimented with everything from electronica to printmaking.
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Put simply, she remains just as much of a creative force today as she was back then.
2025 saw her first full headline tour in eight years, playing shows not just here and over in Ireland, but across the mainland continent, Australia and New Zealand.
This current calendar will also see her touring with fellow 80s icons The Human League and Soft Cell on their ‘The Generations Tour’ in the summer – but by the autumn, she’ll be rolling back the years and working through her own back catalogue.
As you can see, as well as coming to Manchester’s O2 Apollo, other dates to see Alison Moyet live in the North this October include the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, Sheffield‘s City Hall, Buxton, Blackpool and several others.
Speaking on the upcoming tour, Alison said: “Many years touring the same pool of songs, and I am keen for a palate refresher.
“Specifying which years I will be fishing from, too, I think, is a grand way to serve potluck for specific tastes. No bones…” Ever the wordsmith.
The domestic pre-sale window here opens at 10am this coming Wednesday, 11 March, with general admission tickets going live at the same time the following Friday (13 Mar); you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
Oh, and if you were wondering how her live performances sound these days, look no further than her recent Isle of Wight slot.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (supplied)/Hinnerk Rümenapf (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Co-op Live appears to tease major Mariah Carey Christmas gig sending fans into a frenzy
Emily Sergeant
All we want for Christmas… is Mariah Carey in Manchester.
And maybe, just maybe, our Christmas wish might come true very soon, as Co-op Live has taken to social media today to tease its next gig announcement with its hundreds of thousands of followers, and without jumping to conclusions, it does appear to be hinting at the queen of Christmas herself making an appearance.
Look, we know it’s only July and right in the middle of summer, but even if you think it’s too early to be talking about the festive season, you have to admit that the potential of Mariah Carey coming to Manchester is worth getting excited any time of the year.
The US pop powerhouse last performed in our city nearly a decade ago now when she brought her famous All I Want For Christmasshow to the UK for the first time ever, taking to sold-out Manchester Arena stage on 10 December 2017.
Mariah has not performed in Manchester since, but all that could be set to change as Co-op Live has hinted that an announcement is ‘coming soon’.
Taking to its official social media platforms today, Co-op Live posted a very festive-themed AI video of snow falling on the arena as the camera zoomed in and the instrumental of Mariah’s absolutely iconic hit ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ playing in the background, and the caption hinting at the song’s title too.
Of course, we could be wrong, it might not be Mariah at all, but if the 300+ comments from fans in a frenzy thinking the same as us are anything to go by, it’s looking like we might be right.
“The countdown to Christmas is on,” Co-op Live said in its video, before letting fans know that they would be getting some form of confirmation soon.
So, is it Mariah then? What do you think? Only time will tell, so stay tuned.
Featured Image – Picryl
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DMA’S announce VERY intimate shows ahead of major tour
Daisy Jackson
DMA’S have just announced details of some of their most intimate gigs yet, with the Aussie trio set to perform at record stores and tiny music venues around the UK.
The indie-rock heavyweights have just announced a handful of very intimate shows this summer, ahead of their much larger tour in 2027.
DMA’S will be treating fans to up-close acoustic gigs in cities including Manchester, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Dundee and Bristol.
The shows are to celebrate the release of their self-titled fifth album, which is due for release on 21 August.
DMA’S will be playing the outstore gigs the week after the album is released, kicking things off in Kingston on 24 August.
Then they’ll head out to some of the nation’s finest record stores and intimate event spaces, which means a show at The Yard here in Manchester.
DMA’S announce VERY intimate shows ahead of major tour. Credit: Roman Jody
DMA’S Manchester gig will be with Crash Records and Piccadilly Records, using the Cheetham Hill creative hub and record studio for the actual show.
Then they’ll end up back up North with a gig at Wardrobe in Leeds.
The announcement follows the release of the band’s latest single Killing Time, a fast-paced, euphoric and instantly infectious anthem that continues to build anticipation for the album.
This is a rare chance to see DMA’S – Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O’Dell – in an intimate setting, when they normally dominate some of the biggest stages in the world.
DMA’S have accrued over 500 million streams across their catalogue, four multi-platinum singles, multiple ARIA Award nominations, and 13 songs in triple j’s coveted Hottest 100.
These intimate outstores mean that fans won’t have to wait all the way until 2027 to see the boys live again, when they’ll be playing huge shows including two nights at the Manchester Academy.
DMA’S intimate record store shows
Monday 24 August – Kingston, Circuit (with Banquet)
Tuesday 25 August – Manchester, The Yard (with Crash & Piccadilly)
Wednesday 26 August – Middlesbrough, Empire (with Jacaranda)
Thursday 27 August – Dundee, Fat Sams (with Assai)