Audio

Blossoms announce FREE gig at Manchester Academy this February

There aren't many better things than a free gig, especially when it's a name this big.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th January 2024

Stockport band Blossoms have announced they will be playing a gig at Manchester Academy next month and tickets are going to be completely free.

The Greater Manchester locals are absolutely on top at the minute, now boasting three number-one UK albums, smashing as headliners at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Kendal and more, as well as ramping up for another new record sometime in 2024.

So, when we heard that not only were they going to be playing the 2,600-capacity Manchester Academy but that they were going to be handing the tickets for nothing whatsoever, we’ll admit we did a bit of a double-take.

But don’t worry, we’ve not made a mistake: the free Blossoms gig is being put on legendary Club NME indie night with some help from lead sponsors, LadbrokesLive, and tickets are set to go in the blink of an eye this weekend — so you best be quick.

Confirming the gig on Wednesday, 10 January, as well as promising special guests who are yet to be revealed and a DJ set from Radio X presenter and festival fave, Sunta Templeton, the gig itself will be taking place exactly a month from now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Due to kick off just the second Club NME gig night since the series was resurrected with help from The Courteeners in September last year from 8pm on 10 February, the evening isn’t due to end until gone 1am — now that’s what we like to hear.

Having taken to some of the biggest stages in Britain and Europe, in general, over the past couple of years, the crowd inside the Academy is going to be packed from wall to wall and we can’t wait.

ADVERTISEMENT

We certainly enjoyed marvelling at the Manchester boys at Kendal back in August.

Read more:

The free tickets for Blossoms and Club NME at Manchester Academy go live this Friday, 12 January at 9am and trust us, these things will last about as long as a ribbon around a bomb.

You can join the waitlist and grab your tickets HERE.

ADVERTISEMENT

This isn’t the only recent gig announcement from the indie five-piece either as only a few days ago they were revealed as the support act for Noel Gallagher‘s Royal Albert Hall concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity.

The SK boys kicking off the year right!

Noel Gallagher and Blossoms confirmed for Royal Albert Hall’s Teenage Cancer Trust gig series 2024

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

Featured Image — The Manc Group/Blossoms (via Instagram)

Audio

A big party in the park is coming to Poynton and an iconic disco group is headlining

Danny Jones Danny Jones Poynton in the Park music festival 2024

Poyton’s Party in the Park is back for 2024 and has an announced legendary disco act as their biggest headliner ever.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the cult favourite event, the old Cheshire town which neighbours the likes of Stockport and Macclesfield is hosting its biggest party to date at Poynton Park this summer in partnership with the local Rotary Club, promising a jam-packed day of live music and more.

Confirming classic New York disco group and vocal trio Odyssey and the main event, with millions of records sold worldwide and some of the most iconic tracks of the 1970s and 80s to their name, this little one-day festival is set for a massive year.

Better still, as a fundamentally not-for-profit event raising money for local charities and community groups, you can party all day and all night whilst doing your bit for a good cause.

poynton in the park tickets 2024
They’re best known for tracks like ‘Native New Yorker’ and former ‘Use it Up & Wear it Out’ (Credit: Supplied)

Alongside Odyssey, the lineup for Poynton’s Party in the Park 2024 includes critically acclaimed cover bands like The Soul Providers and Soulvation Band, performing some of the greatest soul, funk, Motown and disco hits of the 1960s.

There’s plenty of local talent from around the North West on show too, such as Manchester singer-songwriter Imogen Paige, Liverpool-based indie band The Garnetts and, returning due to popular demand, Party in the Park favourites and Poynton’s very own Monkey Harris Band.

Great name and an even greater stage presence.

They’re the stuff of legend around the local area, regularly playing the likes of the Poynton Beer Festival and this is by no means their first turn around the park.

This year’s Party in the Park is being put on by local festival organiser and Hale Barns Carnival creator, Max Eden, working alongside Poynton Rotary – who founded the event two decades ago – to deliver what they’re calling a “refreshed and updated event for all the family to enjoy”.

The one-day festival also promises to feature lots of new and exciting additions for 2024 including traditional funfair rides for all ages, alongside an extended showcase of the amazing local food and drink, as well as a new VIP area offering premium seats, table service and exclusive meet and greets.

Local station Happy Radio UK will also be covering the event as the official radio partner, broadcasting in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and across various other parts of the North West, with well-known presenters like Steve Penk, Darren Proctor and Chelsea Norris all set to be involved.

Speaking ahead of the fundraising festival, Odyssey lead singer Steven Collazo said: “We’re so excited to be headlining Poynton Party in the Park this June. We’ve heard you guys know how to party and we can’t wait to get our groove on with y’all!”

name of music festival in poynton
concert poynton park 2024
Credit: Supplied

Read more:

As for organiser Max Eden, he added: “I’m thrilled to be working with Poynton Rotary this year to stage the biggest Poynton Party in the Park to date.

“We have an incredible headliner alongside outstanding local musicians and performers, amazing family attractions and the best food and drink from the local area – it’s the perfect lineup for a really good party!

“We hope to raise vital funds for Poynton Rotary to enable them to continue the incredible work they do locally in supporting charities and community groups in our area.”

Party in the Park starts at 1pm on Saturday, 8 June with tickets starting from £28.50 for adults and just £15 for 5-16s – not to mention kids four and under going completely free. You can grab your general admission, or VIP passes if you’re feeling a bit posh, right HERE.

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

Featured Image — Supplied

Audio

Manchester’s Co-op Live arena postpones The Black Keys and Peter Kay (again)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Co-op Live postpone The Black Keys and Peter Kay gigs again

The Co-op Live has announced it is postponing both The Black Keys gig and Peter Kay’s performance.

Both shows were set to take place this week as the huge arena finally opens in Manchester.

This is the second time Peter Kay has been rescheduled – the show was meant to officially open the venue earlier this week.

Co-op Live went ahead with a test event with Rick Astley last Saturday, albeit with a capacity that was reduced at the eleventh hour.

But the huge venue was hit with ‘power supply issues’ and took the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone Peter Kay.

It’s now gone one step further and pushed back The Black Keys – meant to be their first proper live music event – as well as Peter Kay AGAIN.

In a statement shared today, the Co-op Live said it has been ‘undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans’.

It said that the shows are being rescheduled to ensure they can ‘run safely’.

The 23,500-capacity arena said this will give them ‘the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly’.

The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May, and Peter Kay on 23 and 24 May.

As for the Bolton-born comedian, he sounds somewhat in disbelief himself:

The legendary British stand-up

Co-op Live’s statement reads: “Since making the difficult decision to postpone the live shows at Co-op Live due to take place this week, we have been undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans.

“To ensure that we can run all shows safely, regretfully we have now had to take the decision to reschedule the planned The Black Keys and Peter Kay shows.

“Both The Black Keys and Peter Kay have graciously agreed to reschedule their shows. The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May 2024, and Peter Kay will now perform on 23 and 24 May 2024.

“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend.

“We deeply appreciate the impact this will have on excited fans, and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause.

“Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly.

“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Press Images/The Manc Group

More Audio

Gary is outta here.

Audio

Co-op Live boss resigns just days before venue’s official opening

Audio

Why Leeds is the best city to visit this summer for live music, gigs and festivals

Moovin Festival has announced its 2024 line-up. Credit: Supplied

Audio

Moovin’ Festival 2024 – full line-up announced for Stockport’s much-loved festival as it hits major milestone

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches