Manchester musician Robbie Cavanagh is set to release his third studio album at the end of this month – and he’s announced a homecoming gig at Band on the Wall to celebrate.
The artist, recipient of the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award, will be performing at the iconic gig venue on Thursday 18 May.
It’s ahead of the release of Tough Love, which is due for release on Friday 26 May. Robbie and his band have announced a pair of very special live shows, the first of which will be in the newly-refurbished Bar room of Band on the Wall.
This homecoming gig will be a celebration of his history with the city, from trips to see the family’s beloved Manchester City to discovering the joys of live music around our many gig venues.
Robbie now lives in the city centre and is a familiar face on the stages of The Blues Kitchen, The Castle and Gullivers, alongside a whole host of other venues he has performed in regularly over the past 10 years.
Robbie, who has lived and worked around Manchester his whole life, says he’s a devotee of ‘real music’. That means great musicians, real instruments, and performances packed with emotion.
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He says he’s in the game to create ‘fine dining music’.
‘Tough Love’ will come as a grittier and stronger-minded letter to himself and to anyone who may need a touch of tough love.
Robbie has written his album over the last five years, creating a record of ‘country tinged americana with british blood running through its veins’.
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Robbie Cavanagh
While creating this latest release, he went on a journey of self-reflection and maturity, which is reflected in each track.
It’s a contrast to his previous 2017 album ‘To Leave/To Be Left’, which grappled with emotions of loss and self-pity from leaving or being left behind.
Over the years, Robbie Cavanagh has received huge nods of approval from the likes of Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 (“One of my absolute favourite UK grassroots artists”) and BBC Radio Manchester, Absolute Country Radio and Chris Country Radio.
He and his band have also taken to the stage at festivals like Kendal Calling, Wilderness, Black Deer, Cornbury, Silverstone Woodlands, Americana Fest UK & USA, British Country Music Festival, Maverick, and Buckle & Boots.They’ve performed in the UK, Europe and USA alongside artists including The Shires, Us The Duo, Charlie Winston, Wildwood Kin, Ferris & Sylvester, The Wandering Hearts, Mary Gauthier, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Fiona Bevan, Cale Tyson, and Aaron Lee Tasjan.
After their show at Band on the Wall, Robbie and his band will make their way down to London to perform at Pizza Express’s intimate underground live venue in Holborn, a very special show hosted by ‘Nashville Meets London’, on 24 May.
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Tickets for Robbie Cavanagh’s gig at Band On The Wall on 18 May are on sale now with See Tickets.
Robbie Cavanagh 2023 tour dates
18 May – Band On The Wall, Manchester
24 May – Nashville Meets London
9 June – Thorington Theatre, Suffolk
23 July – Coolham Music Club
25 August – The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth
3 September – The British Country Music Festival, Blackpool
Plus more UK live dates to be announced for autumn 2023.
Featured image: supplied
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Lorde at AO Arena, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more essential info
Daisy Jackson
Lorde is performing a huge gig at the AO Arena in Manchester this week, as part of her Ultrasound World Tour.
The New Zealand-born singer burst onto the music scene at the tender ages of 16 with her smash-hit single Royals, way back in 2013.
Since then, she’s gone on to break several records with the releases of her four studio albums, and scooped up a handful of GRAMMYs and BRIT awards along the way too.
As well as her gig at the AO Arena here in Manchester, Lorde will also be calling at major UK cities including London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
The tour comes hot off the heels of the release of her latest album, Virgin, which once again topped the Official UK Album Charts.
If you’re heading to see Lorde at the AO Arena, here’s everything you need to know.
Lorde UK tour dates
15 November – AO Arena, Manchester
16 November – The O2, London
17 November – The O2, London
19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
20 November – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Who is supporting Lorde at the AO Arena?
Experimental musician and producer Blood Orange, otherwise known as Devonte Hynes, will be the main support act for Lorde in Manchester.
The British musician has worked with the likes of Florence and the Machine, Mac Miller, Kylie Minogue, and – of course – Lorde, and will be warming up the crowds ready for our headliner.
Also taking the stage before Lorde will be electronic and indie pop star Jim-E Stack, whose solo releases have featured everyone from Bon Iver to Charli XCX.
Tickets for Lorde’s gig in Manchester
Credit: Thistle Brown
At the time of writing, there are just a handful of random tickets left for Lorde’s gig.
These are priced between £48.60 and £161.30.
Otherwise, your best bet is to look at resale tickets from a reputable site.
Stage times for Lorde at AO Arena Manchester
The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed the exact stage times for Lorde, but has said that doors will open from 6pm with a start time of around 7pm.
At other shows, Lorde has typically arrived on stage at around 9pm.
You can roughly expect stage times to be as follows:
Doors 6pm
Jim E-Stack 7pm
Blood Orange 8pm
Lorde 9pm
Keep an eye on the AO Arena’s socials for the latest.
Aitch’s brief statement as Moston rapper heads into the I’m A Celebrity jungle
Daisy Jackson
Manchester rapper Aitch is officially taking party in this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
The rumoured line-up had been swirling for days as stars were spotted touching down in Australia ahead of the ITV series restarting for 2025.
And now I’m A Celebrity has officially revealed its line-up, which includes MOBO and Brit Award-winning Aitch, Ruby Wax, Martin Kemp, and Jack Osbourne, to name a few.
Aitch has said on his final post on Instagram before he disappears into the Australian bush that he’s ’bout to go f*ck up the jungle the Manchester way’.
He wrote: “I’ve made songs with most people I grew up listening to, now I’m going on the show I grew up watching.
“Mam this one’s for you. bout to go f*ck up the jungle the Manchester way. Cinnabit.”
Aitch, real name Harrison Armstong, hopes to raise awareness about Down Syndrome while he has the platform of the I’m A Celebrity camp – a genetic disorder his beloved sister Gracie has.
He said: “I feel like I have got this calling to raise awareness for Down syndrome and I feel that’s the perfect place.
“Also, you don’t always want to be stuck in the same world forever. You can branch out and do other things. You don’t have to stick to the code (rap world), because you think that’s cool.
“I did have to cancel some gigs for it. But you are never going to branch out if you do the same thing all the time.”
Joining Aitch in the I’m A Celebrity jungle will be presenter, author and comedian Ruby Wax, who wants the public to see that she’s not as ‘aggressive and pushy’ as her TV persona sometimes seems.
The full I’m A Celebrity 2025 line-up, including Manchester rapper Aitch. Credit: ITV
Also heading in will be Martin Kemp, whose presenter son Roman finished in third place on a previous series.
Martin said: “I’ve had to cancel some jobs, but when Roman was on I’m A Celebrity, I was addicted. I watched it every day and enjoyed it so much. I felt it was now time in my life for an adventure.”
DJ and model Kelly Brook said that she has surprised herself in several ways since being with her husband, including starring on Race Across The World and running the London marathon – now it’s time to see if she can be queen of the jungle.
Jack Osbourne, son of the late, great Ozzy Osbourne, will be starring on I’m A Celebrity and said the hardest thing for him will be being away fro his ‘lots of kids, my wife, and my family still int he wake of my dad passing’.
Also on this year’s I’m A Celeb line-up is former Lionness Alex Scott MBE, who said her partner Jess Glynne thinks she’s ‘absolutely mental’ for signing up for the reality show.
Social media sensation Angry Ginge will be appearing in the Australian jungle this year, saying he’s interested to see how he’ll cope without a phone, having only ever spent a week away from it before.
Joining him is Eastenders star and West End actor Shona McGarty, who is a ‘massive fan’ of the show and is excited for audiences to see what she’s like when she’s ‘completely myself’.
Comedian and radio host Eddie Kadi says he’s been prepping for his stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle by doing intermittent fasting, but doesn’t know ‘how he will survive’ without flavour.
The final campmate joining Aitch in the I’m A Celebrity jungle is Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, who finally said yes to ITV ahead of her milestone 50th birthday next year.
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I’m A Celebrity starts Sunday at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player.
The full I’m A Celebrity 2025 line-up
Aitch – Rapper
Ruby Wax OBE – Presenter, author and comedian
Martin Kemp – Actor and pop star
Kelly Brook – DJ and model
Jack Osbourne – TV Personality
Alex Scott MBE – Sports broadcaster and former Lioness
Daisy Jackson -
6th May 2023 
