Candlelit dinners, intimate moments, cosy nights in – OR, for a few thousand of us, a Valentine’s Day spent putting our eardrums to the test and watching a slender rock star wriggle about for two hours.
I know which I’d choose, any day of the week, because despite a five-year break from touring, Cage the Elephant remain one of the most electrifying live acts on the planet.
And frontman Matt Shultz still remembered to get us flowers, flinging dozens of red roses into the audience. What a romantic.
The six-piece, formed back in 2006 in Kentucky, are back in town for the first time since early 2020.
In that time, Shultz experienced a medication-induced psychotic breakdown, something he’s spoken publicly about and that he addresses on stage, saying he feels ‘grateful’ to be back performing.
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Cage the Elephant have got a new-ish album with them in Neon Pill, but they don’t give it much weight in the setlist, which is mostly filled with songs from Tell Me I’m Pretty, Melophobia and Social Cues.
For long-time fans of the band this is a relief.
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It’s hard to beat their tracks like Trouble with its zig-zagging bass, the surprisingly moving Cigarette Daydreams which has an entire room belting along, and the slow-build, semi-Western anthem that is Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.
They get off to a very strong start, firing through Broken Boy, Cry Baby and Spiderhead before they pause to say hello to a crowd that’s been suitably loosened up by the glam-grunge sound of Sunflower Bean, the New York outfit whose lead, Julia Cumming, is either teetering on fiercely high platforms or otherwise thrashing her bass from her knees.
As usual with Cage the Elephant’s staging, most of the kit is crammed into a third of the stage. You need A LOT of space for a firecracker frontman like Matt Shultz, not to mention his guitarist brother Brad.
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I can only imagine how chaotic their house was growing up, but they’re the most entertaining siblings in rock n roll and yes, I’m aware how inflammatory that sentence is on a Manchester page.
There’s even a guitar smash towards the end from Brad, which I didn’t think was a thing we were still doing. In this economy!?
The energy they bring to the O2 Apollo is never-ending, like during Mess Around when it seems that Matt might wriggle out of his own skin, Cold Cold Cold where he gets so giddy he can’t keep both feet on the ground, and Sabretooth Tiger which is intensely lively.
The hardest working person in the crew is the poor fella trying to keep Matt spotlit as he judders and slinks back and forth across the stage.
Cage the Elephant clearly LOVE Manchester, even enquiring about the status of Big Hands (yep, still thriving).
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And by the time we hit the encore, wrapping up with Come A Little Closer, it’s pretty clear this crowd loves them right back.
Cage the Elephant setlist
Broken Boy Cry Baby Spiderhead Too Late to Say Goodbye Good Time Cold Cold Cold Ready to Let Go Neon Pill Social Cues Halo Mess Around Trouble Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked Skin and Bones Rainbow Telescope House of Glass Sabertooth Tiger Encore: Back Against the Wall Shake Me Down Cigarette Daydreams Come a Little Closer
The global super glam party legends have announced a fully-flamboyant, flamingo-esque festival of disco starring a truly show-stopping lineup.
Famed for throwing immersive disco and house parties, and normally a resident over at the equally iconic – but much smaller and more intimate – Albert Hall, you can expect La Discothèque to be just as heavy on the confetti, feathers, and sequins as it usually is when it takes over Manchester‘s massive AO Arena in June.
If the hugely-popular club night wasn’t already known for its unrivalled production as it is, The Disco Arena will be even bigger and better than ever before.
The legendary La Discothèque 22-piece orchestra will perform at the AO Arena live for the first time, featuring Barbara Tucker and Anita Ward, alongside other major acts such as the former ladies of The Supremes and Norman Jay’s Good Times Band.
Manchester’s epic club night La Discothèque is taking over AO Arena this summer / Credit: Supplied
You can also expect to catch the House Gospel Choir, and Disco Voix featuring Jenna G, as well as a tribute to legend Donna Summer by The Feel Good Choir.
A very special guest is also soon to be announced, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
La Discothèque is taking to the AO Arena stage on Friday 6 June 2025, and tickets are ready to go on sale from this week.
The mega lineup includes some huge names / Credit: Supplied
There’ll first be two separate pre-sales, a Three pre-sale on Thursday 20 March from 10am, followed by the AO Arena’s own venue pre-sale this Friday (21 March) also from 10am, before general sale tickets go live next Monday 24 March, again from 10am.
A horror, rock and wrestle festival is coming to Manchester this month
Thomas Melia
Manchester is known for hosting all kinds of celebrations from Parklife to Pride, and now the city is obsessing over horror and rock.
The always wonderful Bowlers Exhibition Centre, one of Greater Manchester’s biggest and busiest event spaces, will be hosting a brand-new event this weekend.
This new ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’ will boast an unmissable line-up boasting faces from the Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchises.
Expect to see David Arquette, Joseph Whipp, Jsu Garcia, Caroline Williams and more actors who have contributed to horror cult classics.
But it’s not just horror that’s taking centre stage at this convention, there’s also chance to spotlight both the rock and wrestling world.
Musicians and professional wrestlers Joe Hendry and Chris Jericho will also be making an appearance with Robert Maillet getting in on the action too.
With so many celebrities of film and screen all popping up in one building, any attendees might think they’ve entered a mini Hollywood.
Taking place at BEC Arena, also known as Bowlers Exhibition Centre, this event will bring together not just film stars and legends, but lots of fun activities and interactive workshops too.
There’s no confirmation of who’s taking the wheel for the rock scene but there is a chance that guests will see live performances from ‘renowned rock bands’ at this mighty ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’.
You’ll also be able to grab a tattoo, with previous years seeing many fans getting the actor’s signature tatted on them for life, all done by on-site professional artists.
An insight into past events similar to Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival.With the Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival could we see Chucky paying another visit to Manchester?Credit: Supplied
Attendees are encouraged to show off your creativity by cosplaying as your favourite character, wrestling icon or rock legend.
Across these two dates there will also be live wrestling matches, circus acts and stunt performers, and even monster trucks.
Collectors get ready as the Exhibitor Hall will be packed with all things comics, collectables, merchandise, apparel and more.
Where else can you meet one of your movie idols then shortly after get a tattoo, watch some wrestling and weave your way through a scare maze?
There will be plenty of guest talks and live performances too.Some of the crazy outfits we might be seeing at Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival.Credit: Supplied
Taking place on 22 and 23 March ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’ is coming to Bowlers Exhibition Centre and you can find out everything you need to know and bag yourself some tickets HERE.