New images have been released that give a glimpse inside the Co-op Live arena, the enormous 23,500-capacity venue that’s being built beside the Etihad Stadium.
As the UK’s only music-first arena, and with expert design input from Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles, Manchester’s exciting new arena will feature an innovative ‘smart bowl’.
It will have the largest floor space of any indoor venue, a lower ceiling than other arenas, and tiered seating that will take fans closer to the action.
Co-op Live is the first of its kind to be built with concert acoustics as a priority.
Not only will gig-goers experience state-of-the-art acoustics, there’ll be nothing to detract from the visual spectacles on stage either – the bowl will feature no corporate branding, and soundproof black curtains will be used in the suites that line the edges of level two.
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The smart bowl at Co-op Live arena. Credit: Supplied
There’ll be 32 bars, restaurants, and lounges around the site, including a locally sourced and sustainable food and drink offering.
The shell of the arena is now clearly taking shape just north of the city centre, with the project set to be complete in December 2023.
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It’s a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group, with Harry Styles as a private investor and consultant in the design.
Harry said: “I am incredibly happy to be partnering with OVG on their plans for Co-op Live.
“Manchester is an incredible city filled with incredible people and I couldn’t be happier to be involved in this project. It very much feels like coming home.”
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President of OVG International, Jessica Koravos, said: “Co-op Live is about the fan and the artist, it is specially designed to deliver the best sound, atmosphere and experience for everyone who walks through our doors.
“Innovative technology and design will bring a unique live entertainment experience to the UK.”
The venue will also have 330 tonnes of rigging capacity and eight loading bays, so some of the world’s biggest live productions can come to Manchester.
More images of Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena
The state-of-the-art smart bowl at Co-op Live. Credit: SuppliedThe Co-op Live’s atrium. Credit: SuppliedThe entrance. Credit: SuppliedA bar at the Co-op Live arena. Credit: SuppliedCanalside. Credit: SuppliedCredit: SuppliedThe backstage club. Credit: SuppliedThe Deck Suite. Credit: SuppliedThe Atrium Mezzanine. Credit: SuppliedAtrium. Credit: SuppliedDressing room. Credit: SuppliedBackstage Club entrance. Credit: Supplied
Audio
Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | February 2026
Danny Jones
Well, hello again – glad to see you’re back here looking for more new music and rising artists from in and around Manchester.
Not to toot our own horn, but we’re confident you won’t be disappointed.
Obviously, everyone is busy wrapped up in BRITs fever, us included; however, we’ve also been having a very good time sitting in the comfort of our headphones and listening to the sound of our hometown.
Let’s get stuck in, shall we?
Greater Manchester music you should check out
1. Roukaya B
First on our list this month, what better place to start than Audio North‘s inaugural Artist of the Month, Roukaya B? Yes, she does happen to be a Manc (a nice bonus), but this new series – which has just debuted over on our dedicated music Instagram page – looks at talent all across the top of the country.
This soulful Salfordian and energetic singer-songwriter had a great musical education, and it shows, as there’s plenty of new school takes on rap and UK hip-hop, as well as plenty of familiar R’n’B flavour from down the years in her style too.
We recently got to chat with her following the release of her latest single, ‘HEAT’, but we love the rhythm behind ‘Out of Sight’ and ‘I Got It’ is still one of our favourites for that beat alone. Hear more from the woman of the moment and Audio North’s first-ever AOTM.
Next up is someone whose work still needs some refining, but we can’t deny that there’s something that keeps us coming back to check on him every few months or so, which means he must be doing something right. His name is Fxsion, and he’s been coming up on the local grime scene for years now.
We’re not going to try and claim we love every lyric, every flow and every track, but there’s definitely something to like in most of the tunes he’s released so far, and you can tell that the production levels and technical skill are improving not just in terms of audio, but the visuals that go along with it all too.
The first song we ever heard from Fxsion was ‘From The Ground’ with Yung Fume, and we still enjoy how he rides the beat, but his music has come quite a way since then, and we’d say two of his best examples at present are more recent releases like ‘Get With The Plan’ and ‘Brightside’.
3. Sâlo
In at number three is someone we’ve already written about this month, but couldn’t possibly pass up the opportunity of hyping for you all once again. We’re talking about Sâlo: also an up-and-coming, genre-bending, Salford-raised solo star who, like Roukaya, we’re expecting big things from in 2026.
Mixing in everything from drum and bass, as well as other electronic-influenced genres, with her classical piano training, jazz, neo-soul and more, to try and put her in just one category would be pointless. Try out ‘So I Stay’, ‘Give Me Time’, or ‘Yearning’, and you’ll get a different vibe every time.
The child of a family who fled her home country for the safety of Britain, we’d urge you not only to listen to her music but also to learn about her incredible backstory. You can read more down below.
From the new kids on the block to those who’ve been at it for ages at this point, K-Klass ran so that a lot of these young artists could walk, and they’re still going all these decades later. These guys first made it big back in the 1990s, and they’re still showing people how a proper re-up is done.
While they might hail from the likes of Chester and Wrexham, they broke through right here in Manchester at the likes of the legendary Haçienda nightclub and have forgotten more about what it takes to make it in the city’s scene than most will ever learn.
Obviously, they’re still best known for mixes like ‘Rhythm Is a Mystery’ and ‘Let Me Show You’, but we’re glad to see that apart from performing live, they’re also enjoying another fresh period of productivity studio-wise. Case in point:
And finally, on our list for February, our last pick of the month is Lei Hope, an alternative R’n’B artist who was born in Zimbabwe, raised in Leeds, and now based in Greater Manchester. Our aesthetic, if there is such a thing, is one he’s taken to like a duck to water
We love stories like this that put us in mind of other previous artists of the month like Nxdia and so many others who’ve blown up after arriving here. In the case of Lei Hope, a friend who also recently performed at city centre venue Low Four Studio put us on to him, and then we began our deep dive.
Starting with ‘Cranium’ and working backwards, there’s a wonderful softness to the youngster’s work so far; he loves a funky guitar and a fair bit of bass, and there’s definitely some indie-pop pulling focus away from some of those more obvious R’n’B traits. We’re big fans of ’21’, and ‘Day Job’ might be his best yet.
That’s it for Feb; we hope you enjoyed what we, or rather, this city’s incredible talents served up.
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It’s also worth noting that everyone on the lineup for this month has roots not only here in 0161 but all over the UK and beyond.
At a time when we need reminding that people of all colours, creeds and genders help contribute to the incredible creative culture we’re known for the world round, maybe more than ever, we’ll never stop being proud of all the different kinds of people that help put the great in Greater Manchester.
Last but not least, if you want to see who made it on our first round-up of the year, you can find a whole other batch of good listening down below.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/StreamGM (supplied)
Audio
Bunny Jackson’s offer Foo Fighters and Mancs incredible deal if they play their stage after Ritz gig
Danny Jones
Beloved dive bar Bunny Jackson’s has offered the Foo Fighters and Mancunians alike an incredible deal, provided the legendary band if they play on their stage after their gig at the O2 Ritz.
As well as Manchester ramping up the 2026 BRITs Week buzz ahead of the awards at Co-op Live this weekend, a little-known American rock group called the Foo Fighters decided to announce a surprise gig here in town.
But the bigger story now, we’d argue, is that the city centre boozer – which serves as a regular go-to both before and after gigs – is offering free drinks if Dave Grohl and co. pop up to perform on their usual bandaoke platform. As in for EVERYONE.
As explained by the Bunny’s boss, if the Foos make what is quite literally a minute trip down the road to OG Jackson’s wing joint and late-night watering hole after their Ritz gig is over, they’re promising to hand out free booze to all inside the venue.
Joking that they can quite literally “do anything” and may not even fit on their even smaller stage – with this being one of the tiniest of Manchester’s small-cap venues – it’s worth reminding that they wouldn’t be the first big name to surprise punters.
It was only a couple of years ago that both The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo showed their faces, with the former getting behind the bar and pouring drinks themselves, and the latter even hopping on the mic herself – yes, really.
Just last March, members of Bilmuri also hopped behind the decks for a DJ set, and saxophone player Gabi Rose couldn’t resist hitting some horns live for the crowd, too.
You might want to be at Bunny’s even if you’re not going to the gig anyway. (Credit: Bunny Jackson’s)
So what we’re telling you is that this isn’t entirely beyond the realms of possibility. Keep absolutely everything crossed.
BJ’s was already hosting a pre- and post-curfew party for the big Manchester gig, as they often do, but just think how incredible it would be if the rock icons actually turned up in person. You can find out what else they’ve got planned on the night HERE.
Not only would it mean free-flowing beer for everyone in the gaff, but this would go down as one of the greatest stories in Greater Manchester music history.
If you want to up the chances of this happening, make sure you share it far and wide, getting @ing and pestering them, and hopefully we’ll see you at Bunny Jackson’s with the boys from Foo Fighters!
Oh, and lads, if you’re wondering why we all love it here, look no further:
Daisy Jackson -
19th October 2022 
