BRIT Award-winner Jorja Smith has announced she will play an intimate Manchester gig as part of a short run of shows.
In honor of releasing her highly anticipated second album ‘Falling or flying’ later this monththe BRIT award-winner has announced a series of intimate headline shows.
Beginning in her home city of Birmingham on 7 November, she’ll stop in Manchester on 9 November before concluding the short run of gigs in London on 10 November.
For her Manchester show, she’ll take over the stage at The Albert Hall – a 5,000-capacity venue in the heart of the city set within a former chapel.
Further to climbing the charts with her huge summer single Little Things, Jorja returned last month with Falling or flying; a sleek and soulful offering taken from her highly anticipated second album of the same name.
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In addition to releasing the new single, Jorja also unveiled the tracklist for the record which will include features from British rapper J Hus and Jamaican singer Lila Iké, alongside 12 brand-new, unreleased tracks.
The singer last played The Albert Hall in 2018 for a run of two back-to-back sold out shows, and it’s expected that this short run will sell out fast.
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In 2019, she was named Best British Female Artist at the Brit Awards and she was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Image: Jorja Smith
Image: Jorja Smith
Of the many British voices in music today, Jorja is among the most commanding, writing at a pitch of intensity and urgency that few can match.
Over the past five and half years, since the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Lost & Found, she has been celebrated unanimously across the world for her evocative songwriting and powerful delivery.
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In 2021 Jorja finally broke her hiatus from music – releasing Be Right Back, the holding space between the sensation that was Lost & Found and her next project.
Be Right Back was born from playing, jamming, freestyling, and sounding out what Jorja had been on the edge of expressing all her life.
It was a project entirely for her fans, with Jorja saying at the time: “Be Right Back did exactly what I wanted it to do. It was a little waiting room so people knew I was coming back.”
Read more:Olivia Rodrigo announces massive Manchester gig at brand new Co-op Live arena
Come back she did – entering a chapter of her return to music that’s certain to draw in and intoxicate Jorja’s fans and new listeners alike.
Speaking on what has changed for her, in the five years since ‘Lost & Found’ dominated the charts and the soundscape, Jorja said: “I like this world that I’ve just come into. And I’m still figuring things out. Always figuring things out.”
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“This is the first time I’m putting stuff out there that I can connect with right now.”
Tickets are on pre-sale from 10am BST Wednesday 20 September and on sale from Friday 22 September. They can be purchased from Jorja Smith’s website here.
Featured image – Jorja Smith
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Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics is returning to Manchester next year
Clementine Hall
IconicDJ and radio presenter Pete Tong MBE is making his way back to Manchester with a whole host of guests ready to help you dance the night away.
Known for his live radio shows such as the ‘Essential Mix’ on BBC Radio 1, Tong is bringing back his widely successful Ibiza Classics club night to Manchester with an equally impressive roster of guests.
The ‘Ibiza Classics’ concept originated and debuted back in 2015 with Tong and co. taking on Royal Albert Hall as part of BBC Radio 1’s Proms schedule, paying homage to the island’s infectious anthems.
Since then, the English DJ has built a music event bigger than he could have ever imagined, and after a milestone year marking the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed Ibiza Classics show, Pete Tong has announced a brand-new run of UK arena dates for 2026.
Some of Tong’s notable releases include ‘Where’s The Music Gone’ and ‘Apocolypse’, alongside some very respectable dance music artists.
Other tracks to his name include ‘You Got The Love’ and ‘Time’, both collaborations with Jules Buckley, one of the famous faces you’ll get to see on this special Ibiza Classics tour.
The seven-date arena tour kicks off in Glasgow’s before heading to Manchester’s AO Arena on Friday 4 December 2026.
He will also be playing in Leeds, Birmingham, and Nottingham, culminating the tour with two huge nights at The O2 London.
Ibiza Classics Live 2026
Thursday 3 December – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Friday 4 December – Manchester, AO Arena
Saturday 5 December – Leeds, First Direct Bank Arena
Wednesday 9 December – Birmingham, Utilita Arena
Thursday 10 December – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December – London, The O2
He will be joined by long-standing collaborators Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra.
This night is expected to be filled with pure dance hits, and based on recent shows, there might even be appearances from even more musical talents and special guests.
Pete Tong, Jules Buckley, and The Essential Orchestra are bringing Ibiza Classics to AO Arena on Friday 4 December 2026.
Tickets go on sale next Monday 15 December, and you can get them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Indiana Jones, live in concert, is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
An all-time Hollywood favourite is being brought to Manchester audiences like never before, as a special showing of the first Indiana Jones film is coming to the city centrein concert.
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’ action-adventure series is one we all know and love – and if you haven’t seen it before, what are you playing at?
Having said that, the original beloved blockbuster still stands up as the most fondly remembered of the series to this day; put simply, the ‘best’ film in the ‘Indy’ franchise is Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Whether you agree with us or not, you can’t deny that the idea of hearing a live concert version of that iconic Indiana Jones score being played in the flesh by a proper orchestra sounds mega. Case in point:
The legendary John Williams score has been played in some of the most prestigious rooms in the world.
Now, how about hearing those incredible trumpets and French horns over the audio of the film itself, soundtracking each scene as it plays on the big screen in front of you?
Yes, we are nerding out, and so should you be.
After a globe-trotting trek that Indy himself would be proud of, the Disney Concerts production is now gearing up for its UK tour, with just a handful of lucky cities selected for the privilege.
You can see the full list of tour dates down below (we’ve highlighted other Northern shows for you, too):
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark: Live In Concert – UK tour dates | 2026
Sunday 31 May – Manchester Bridgewater Hall Monday 1 June – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Tuesday 2 June – Edinburgh Usher Hall Wednesday 3 June – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Thursday 4 June – Birmingham Symphony Hall Friday 5 June – Sheffield City Hall Sunday 7 June – London Eventim Apollo
As you can see, not only will the run of live shows be kicking off on home turf, but they have selected the one and only Bridgewater Hall for the movie concert experience – a more than fitting venue.
Released back in 1981, it’s unbelievable how timeless and instantly recognisable the iconic Indy theme and film score still is to this day.
Disney’s early access window and the presale via the venue both open from 10am this Thursday, 11 December, with general admission going live at the same time the following Friday (12 Dec).
You can get ready to grab your tickets to the Manchester screening and live orchestral performance next May right HERE.
Be it movies, TV or even games, we’re loving how many of these kinds of shows are coming to our city now, from all-time classics like Indiana Jones to cult favourite bits of British kids’ telly…
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2023 
