One of Manchester’s newest and best-loved record stores has announced its closure this week.
Wilderness Record Store, which also acted as a gig venue, events space, cafe and bar, will officially close its doors on Record Store Day this weekend.
The Withington venue first opened in 2019 – also on Record Store Day – and has become a popular neighbourhood hangout.
In a post on Instagram, Wildnerness told its followers that it was ‘gutted’ to be losing ‘what is a sanctuary in the heart of Withington’.
Wilderness Record Store in Withington. Credit: Instagram @wildernessrecs
The statement also thanked the many musicians and DJs who have performed there over the last three years, as well as the customers who kept it going when live music was banned by restrictions.
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Wildnerness Record Store wrote: “It’s with a very heavy heart that we have to announce that Wilderness is closing down. Record Store Day this Saturday 23rd April will be our last day open.
“Thank you to all of the artists and bands who have played here & all of the DJs who have spun records.
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Wilderness Record Store in Withington. Credit: Instagram @wildernessrecs
“A massive thank you also goes out to every single customer who has supported us ever since we opened back in 2019, who packed themselves in like a tin of sardines to watch gigs, who kept us going throughout a global pandemic, who bought toasties when that was the only way we could reopen, and who continued to come back when the rules subsided.
“And on top of that, thank you to all of our incredible members of staff who have made the shop what it is, we know they’re a big part of why so many of you keep coming back.
“We are all gutted to be losing what is a sanctuary in the heart of Withington, but we have made amazing friends and loved sharing our music and fun times with you all! Come for one last night out with us this Saturday and buy us a drink or two, we need it.”
Hundreds of people have responded with sadness to the news of Wilderness Record Store’s closure.
Local DJ Pasta Paul wrote: “It’s always sad to see the closure of a record shop not just for the music/vinyl lovers but the community too.”
The official Record Store Day account said: “Such a shame to hear this, but we home RSD22 means you go out with a bang.”
Someone else wrote: “My fav for a takeaway coffee and discovering new tunes, genuinely gutted to see you go.”
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Wildnerness Record Store’s last day will be on Saturday 23 April.
Featured image: Instagram, WildernessRecs
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Olly Murs cancels Manchester gig after walking off stage six songs into huge arena show
Daisy Jackson
Olly Murs has now officially cancelled his show in Manchester tonight, a day after walking off stage just six songs into a huge arena gig.
The Heart Skips a Beat star had been performing in Glasgow last night when he abruptly stopped the show, apologised to fans, and left the stage.
The gig was cancelled around 30 minutes into his show, which is part of a huge UK arena tour that was meant to be heading to Manchester tonight.
A tearful Olly said that he was seeing a doctor last night and would update fans of the rest of his shows ‘as soon as I know anything’.
It’s now been confirmed that his gig at the AO Arena will not be going ahead.
Olly Murs said in a statement: “30 minutes into my set in Glasgow I lost my voice & unfortunately had to leave the stage midway through the show. This has never happened before and not something I take lightly.
“I’m sorry to all the fans who came out to the show last night and am forever grateful for your support.
“To everyone in Manchester and Birmingham I’m deeply sorry, but am unfortunately going to have to cancel my shows this weekend. I have contracted a respiratory infection and have been instructed to go on a strict 48 hour voice rest by the doctor to ensure no further damage to my vocal cords.
“I have been enjoying this tour so much, and am so sorry to let down my fans – but have to put my health first. I’m hoping to be fighting fit in a few days to finish this amazing 15 year celebratory tour with a bang.”
In a video he shared to Instagram last night, Olly Murs said: “Firstly I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I had to walk off after six songs and cancel the show. I’ve never done this in 15 years.
“Most of the time as singers you can kind of get through it if your voice isn’t 100% – I walked out tonight thinking my voice was great, I maybe felt a little bit run down but I didn’t think I couldn’t do the show. I wouldn’t have come out there otherwise.
“So to walk off after six songs, as I said, I’m so sorry. As you can probably hear from my voice, I just sounded rubbish and it’s unfair for you guys that spent all that money to come and see me. You deserve the best show and me being at my best, and I’m so sorry from the bottom of my heart.
“Hopefully I can recover from this.
“I’m actually going to see a doctor tonight which is great, so I’ll give you guys an update as soon as I know anything. Obviously I wanna try my absolute best to make these shows possible at the weekend.
“So yeah, so sorry for everyone tonight, apologies from the bottom of my heart. Gutted.”
Major star pulls out of Parklife festival due to ‘scheduling conflict’
Daisy Jackson
One of the biggest attractions of this year’s Parklife festival line-up has pulled out just weeks before the event.
Rising star and TikTok sensation Lola Young will no longer be performing at the huge Manchester festival.
She’s the voice behind ‘Messy’, that song you can’t get out of your head (or off your For You Page), and has already earned herself two BRIT Award nominations.
Lola Young was one of the biggest names announced on this year’s Parklife line-up, which has headline slots from Charli XCX, 50 Cent, Jorja Smith and Peggy Gou.
She was set to perform on the Saturday of the festival, taking place on 14 and 15 June.
But Parklife has now confirmed that Lola Young has dropped out of the lineup owing to a ‘scheduling conflict’.
In a post on Instagram they wrote: “Due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict Lola Young will not be performing at Parklife 2025.
“We would like to apologise for any disappointment.
“Full set times will be published at 5pm Tuesday 20th May on the PL25 App where we will also be announcing some surprise additions to the weekend in the run up to the festival.”
Parklife will be taking place next month in Manchester – you can keep up with the latest HERE and grab final tickets HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2022 
