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Blossoms and Rick Astley combine to deliver one of the coolest Live Lounges in ages

It's been a hot minute since we've had a Live Lounge that stuck in our heads. Cue the SK boys and big Rick to the rescue.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 16th October 2024

Let’s start this off by clearing something up: we’re by no means saying that there haven’t been good appearances in the Live Lounge of late but, in terms of the calibre of covers to have ever graced BBC Radio, this Blossoms and Rick Astley collab is one of the best we’ve heard in years.

Blossoms and Rick Astley have become firm friends and have performed together on multiple occasions in recent times – most famously performing a number of The Smiths classics back in 2021 – so it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when we saw him joining them at the Radio 1 studios earlier this week.

The Newton-le-Willows-born singer even featured in videos as well as promo clips for their latest album Gary, which went straight to number one back in September, and now his latest crossover comes in one of the coolest little remixes the Live Lounge has been given for a while.

Please enjoy Charli XCX‘s ‘360’, the lead single from her smash-hit record, Brat, bleeding seamlessly into ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ by Stardust.

Come on, how clever is that?

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The first time we saw this clip reposted on social we didn’t even know Rick was going to pop up towards the end but boy are we glad we did it.

After Blossoms frontman Tom Odgen delivers his pared-down performance of one electronic pop song, the 59-year-old effortlessly sidles up to sing the other, even putting a bit of gruff behind that chorus.

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With Josh Dewhurst blending the two tracks perfectly with that instantly recognisable little guitar riff, it’s like the listener gets that exciting moment of realising where the remixed cover is going – a feeling we’ve not had from a Live Lounge session in some time.

Not only does it work as a split but it also works because those key tones and the simple but catchy acoustic progression running throughout do feel very Blossoms, and if there’s one thing that outlines a great BBC Radio Live Lounge it’s an artist covering an iconic track whilst still sounding like themselves.

We tend to agree with these guys – though we still stan Soft Play’s (a.k.a. Slaves) cover of Shutdown by Skepta with a fierce passion.

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It’s also worth noting that this isn’t even the first time the Stockport boys have nailed a Live Lounge performance as their 2017 cover of ‘In Da Club’ by 50 Cent still live rent-free in our heads too.

We really enjoyed their performance of their ‘Perfect Me’, ‘There’s A Reason Why’ and ‘I Like Your Look’ on the day too and the whole session served as yet another reminder of how the local lads really are on top form.

It also begs the question: are they up there with the best Live Loungers ever?…

You can watch the rest of Blossoms‘ Live Lounge performances over the years down below:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC Radio 1 (via YouTube)

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Nelly announces massive Manchester gig on Where The Party At Tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Nelly has announced a huge tour that includes a Manchester date. Credit: Publicity picture

Hip-hop star Nelly is heading to Manchester on his upcoming Where The Party At Tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut album Country Grammar.

The Hot In Herre singer and rapper has announced a run of shows across the UK and Europe for next year.

Those include a massive gig at the AO Arena in Manchester, where Nelly will perform hits from across his career.

He’s lined up some huge support acts to join him on the UK leg of the Where The Party At Tour too, including Eve, Fabolous, Jermaine Dupri and St. Lunatics.

Expect to hear chart-topping hits like Hot In Herre, Dilemma, and Ride Wit Me, in a show that he promises will be ‘packed with surprises’.

Nelly is a multi-platinum, three-times Grammy Award-winning entertainer and entrepreneur, who very recently landed a gig as a special guest for Janet Jackson’s Together Again Tour.

His newly-announced 54-date tour will take him across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States, kicking off on 21 March 2025.

Nelly said: “Yo, ‘Where Da Party At Tour’ we are taking this tour worldwide – I got my folks with me Ja Rule, Jermaine Dupri, Eve, the St. Lunatics, and Fabulous — so you know it’s all 2025… LETS GOOOOO..!!! Da Party AT…!!”

Nelly will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 7 June 2025.

General sale tickets are available from 10am on Friday 13 December, with various presales live from Tuesday 10 December.

Nelly UK tour dates for 2025

  • Wed 4 June – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Thu 5 June – London, UK – The O2 Arena
  • Sat 7 June – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Mon 9 June – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro

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Featured image: Publicity picture

Audio

Lidl are offering a reward for their Liam Gallagher plaque to be safely returned

Danny Jones Danny Jones Missing Lidl Liam Gallagher plaque reward

Supermarket chain Lidl are desperate and in dire need of our help: they’re offering a reward to whoever safely returns one of their most treasured possessions – a Liam Gallagher plaque.

If you don’t remember the rather silly story from earlier this year, Oasis’ soon-to-return lead singer did plenty of poking fun at the Co-op Live‘s opening date being pushed back and multiple cancellations.

The iconic frontman ultimately ended up playing his four nights at the state-of-the-art arena with no issues, but as a tongue-in-cheek testament to his joke that’d he play a “gig in Lidl” if the venue wasn’t ready in time, the German-founded group erected a plaque in memory of the gag.

However, Lidl’s beloved Liam Gallagher plaque has since gone missing but rather than launch a full-scale manhunt, they’re trying to keep up the festive spirit and instead offering a pretty significant reward to the person that brings it back to them.

Although leads on the missing bit of royal blue metal are scarce, the plaque that was hung outside their Newton Heath store back in June disappeared this month.

Not only was it an amusing bit of history for the brand but the sign itself actually became a bit of an ironic but nevertheless genuine tourist attraction, with people grabbing snaps next to it and it even featured on the Manchester Taxi Tour itineraries.

This little plaque was actually just the start of a weird love affair between the two; back in October, Lidl also dropped an absolutely perfectly placed advert right in front of a giant poster of Liam Gallagher’s Berghaus ad campaign in the centre of Manchester.

Very good indeed.

All that being said, they really would love to be reunited with the memento of their relationship, so much so that they’re offering a whopping £500 to spend in Lidl vouchers for its safe return.

Credit: James Speakman/PA Media Assignments (supplied via Lidl GB)

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Just think of all the nonsense you could buy in the ‘Middle of Lidl’ aisle, a.k.a. the best part of the whole shop.

Those who have any information on the whereabouts of the Liam Gallagher plaque should email the following address: [email protected]. The Burnage brothers aren’t holding grudges anymore and neither are Lidl.

Let’s bring Liam home for Christmas. As you were x

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Lidl UK (supplied)

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