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.”
Yes, it’s true – in what is news that admittedly sounds fake, but somehow actually isn’t, one of the best rappers of all time has revealed himself to be an avid watcher of Britain’s longest-running soap, and is such a fan of it, in fact, that he said he’s “determined” to make an appearance on it sometime in the future.
The iconic ITV soap – which is set in the fictional Manchester suburb of Weatherfield, and celebrated an impressive 60 years of entertaining the masses back in 2020 – currently averages around six million viewers per episode, and has developed a well-deserved legion of loyal fans over the last six decades.
And it turns out, one of those loyal fans is chart-topping rap superstar Snoop Dogg.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun this week, the 51-year-old first spoke about how he’s “down to perform” at King Charles III‘s Coronation in a couple of months time, before he launching into how much he loves another type of coronation.
“Coronation Street, I love it,” the 17-time Grammy Award nominee admitted.
Snoop Dogg says he’s a massive Coronation Street fan / Credit: ITV / The Manc Group
“If they call me I’ll do it. I’ll play whenever they need. I love the cinematography, acting, the storylines and just the reality.
“I’d like to be a part of it because they’ve been a part of my culture.”
As bizarre as it all sounds, this surprisingly isn’t the first time the rapper – whose real name is Calvin Broadus Jr – has publicly revealed he’s a fan of the soap, and even famously admitted all the way back in 2010 that he had his agent get in touch with ITV to see if there was any chance he could make an appearance.
“I had my agent reach out to them to see if they could try to get me on and they said they were interested so hopefully it might happen,” Snoop told the BBC.
“It would be perfect for me to be on the show.”
The chart-topping rapper says he’s ‘determined’ to get a role on it / Credit: ITV
The Drop It Like It’s Hot and The Next Episode rapper isn’t the only famous name who’s revealed himself to be a fan of Coronation Street in recent months.
One of the greatest and most well-respected singer songwriters of all time, Bob Dylan, also admitted in an interview with WSJ back in December 2022 that he loves binge-watching the soap.
Dylan explained that that he’s “no fan of packaged programs or news shows”, and that the ITV soap makes him “feel at home” despite being “old-fashioned”.
Featured Image – ITV / The Manc Group
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Craig David announces huge outdoor gig at Barton Aerodrome in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Craig David is bringing his legendary TS5 party to Manchester for a massive outdoor summer show.
The legendary singer, songwriter and DJ will be taking over City Airport in Manchester, also known as Barton Aerodrome.
The special show will combine old school anthems with R&B, garage, and bashment, alongside plenty of contemporary hits.
Craig David, who rocketed to fame in the late 1990s, first launched his TS5 parties, where he sings, MCs and DJs, as an exclusive pre-party at his own penthouse in Miami.
Initially, Craig used them as a way to play his favourite music to the people he loved the most – but it proved such a hit that he started to take it on the road.
Craig David presents TS5 at Barton Aerodrome. Credit: Supplied
Guaranteed to be a great night out, Craig David Presents TS5 is now heading to Manchester for a summer show.
The star has sold more than 15 million albums, secured more than 10 top 10 hits, and achieved multi-platinum status in more than 20 countries around the world.
His TS5 shows now sell out at prestigious venues across the globe, and he’s even taken it to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
The unique live concert will take place at City Airport in Manchester on Friday 14 July, just outside the city – the huge space surrounded by lush green fields will be transformed with epic light and sound productions.
You can expect a night of sing-along hits, good time grooves and Craig David classics.
Tickets will go on sale from 9am on Friday 31 March with Skiddle.
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2022 
