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Coldplay appear to announce massive Manchester gig through hidden message in music video

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 18th August 2022

Coldplay appear to have just announced a huge concert in Manchester through a hidden message in their latest music video.

The British rock band released the video for Humankind last night, which features footage from their stadium show in Mexico City.

At the very beginning of the video, a drone whizzes around the quiet city streets – but all is not quite as it seems.

Did that taxi passing by have ‘Amsterdam’ written on it? Why is there a poster in the train station advertising Cardiff? And who has scrawled Barcelona in the graffiti under the bridge?

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it easter eggs and clues in Humankind also mention cities including Coimbra, Milan, Naples, Zurich, Gothenburg and Copenhagen.

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If Coldplay’s fans are to be believed, this is the group announcing new 2023 tour dates across Europe – and Manchester looks to be on the cards.

A teaser for Zurich in the new Coldplay video.

I have neither the time nor the patience to decode the scrambled symbols scrolling around on screen, but one clever sod on Twitter has done the work for us.

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They found that it contained a potted history of Coldplay’s 26-year career, as well as venues around Europe.

If their decoding work is to be believed, Coldplay are going to perform at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

It’s great news for Mancs, as the band skipped our city on their current tour, which has included six sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium as well as dates in Glasgow.

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Read more: Noel Gallagher is joining Jamie Carragher for a massive fundraising gig at Old Trafford cricket ground

Coldplay are famously big fans of a cryptic message, even inventing their own language to tease details of their most recent album, Music of the Spheres.

And now it looks like they’re dropping a trail of breadcrumbs for their next tour too.

Watch this space…

Featured image: Publicity picture

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Barry Manilow says he’s booked the AO Arena ‘just in case’ the Co-op Live isn’t ready for Manchester gig

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Barry Manilow has said he has reserved a spot to perform at the AO Arena in Manchester, on the off-chance that the delays with the new Co-op Live arena continue.

The 80-year-old music legend has said he ‘shares the concerns’ of fans who have questioned whether his show on 19 May will be able to go ahead.

And following the news that several shows are moving to Co-op Live’s rival venue, Barry Manilow has said he is ready to do the same.

In a lengthy statement shared by his husband and manager Garry Kief, Barry assured his fans that he ‘already has a backup plan’ should the arena remain delayed.

Co-op Live’s official opening date has crept further and further back in recent weeks, with OVG boss Tim Leiweke saying in a statement last night that they were taking ‘a short pause’ to make things right.

Shows that have been effected by the delay so far have included Take That (moved to AO Arena), A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (ditto), Keane (postponed), Olivia Rodrigo (also postponed), Peter Kay (rescheduled) and The Black Keys (rescheduled).

In the statement shared to Barry Manilow’s social media, he and Garry said: “Dear Friends……   Many of you have expressed your concerns about the ongoing status of the new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. We share your concerns.  

“Contrary to some opinions, however, we don’t have any double secret inside information on the condition of the building.

“We do know that our brilliant co-promoter,  Danny Betesh at Kennedy Street Enterprises. already has a back up plan and just in case, has reserved the same night….MAY 19th at Manchester’s AO Arena.

“We also know that we limited capacity to 12,500 guests. That means that even if we have to move, there will plenty of room for everybody.  

“Right now, that’s a big IF. And we don’t know.  

“We promise that we will let you know as soon as we know IF we have to move the concert from Co-op Live to AO Arena. Like you, we would love to have this resolved sooner than later.  

“In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding while everyone works together to sort this out.

“Barry and all of us are looking forward to seeing you all onMay 19th. Until then…..all best, Garry.”

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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Liam Gallagher says he’ll ‘gig in Lidl’ if Co-op Live still isn’t ready – and they sound pretty game for it

Danny Jones Danny Jones Liam Gallagher says he'll play a Lidl supermarket is Co-op Live isn't ready for June gig

Following the ongoing palaver with Co-op Live, Liam Gallagher has joked that he’d happily play his scheduled gigs in a Lidl if the arena still isn’t ready – at least we think he’s joking…

Wednesday night saw more shows postponed, moved to rivals AO Arena or cancelled altogether, with Manchester legends Elbow now set to be the venue’s opening act on Tuesday, 14 May.

Fingers crossed, anyway.

With Liam Gallagher having been named as one of the first acts booked to play Co-op Live last year, many are now wondering whether the venue will even by June, with the former Oasis frontman set to play four Definitely Maybe 30th-anniversary sets. That being said, he’s come up with a solution if not.

Turns out Liam Gallagher isn’t an Aldi man, he’s team Lidl.

Vintage LG, we’ll give him that.

Obviously a bit of a tongue-in-cheek quip at the venue being sponsored by a supermarket and convenience store chain, it could have been any other competitor that the ever-witty youngest Gallagher brother picked but it somehow made it extra funny that he chose a budget brand like Lidl.

However, with the 51-year-old already having fun with stunts like voicing the tannoys on the Metrolink last year, for instance, we wouldn’t put it past him to take this joke a little further.

Better still, not that we’re getting carried away or anything but Lidl themselves seem pretty keen on the idea too; they even spent the time to build an entire setlist for the fictional show. Fair play.

Some top-notch punnage going on here, it has to be said.

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Can you imagine? Liam Gallagher swapping the occasional tambourine shake for beeps from a barcode scanner as he moves back and forth on the conveyor belt. We know it’s absolute nonsense and we definitely shouldn’t be even remotely considering it… BUT it’s the stuff of dreams and strange things have happened.

A lot of stranger things have happened this week alone. As for the latest with Co-op Live, the Chairman and CEO of key-backers Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke, issued a full statement sharing his “sincere apologies” and insisting that they understand “there is work to be done to rebuild your trust in us.”

With the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Peter Kay, The Black Keys and more having their gigs pulled by the venue due to numerous issues, including an air conditioning unit falling from the ceiling, fans are understandably fearful that other upcoming events could face delays or general misfortune.

Much like the venue itself, we imagine we’ll be playing catch-up on this whole saga for the foreseeable, but here’s a recap of the story so far:

Co-op Live boss issues statement as troubled Manchester venue takes ‘a short pause’
A whirlwind round-up of Co-op not-so-Live’s chaotic ‘opening’ weeks.

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

Featured Images — Lidl GB/Exit Festival (via Flickr)/The Manc Group

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The boss of Co-op Live has issued a statement after the venue was hit with further delays. Credit: The Manc Group

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Co-op Live boss issues statement as troubled Manchester venue takes ‘a short pause’

Take That gigs moved to AO Arena as Keane's Co-op Live are cancelled

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Manchester’s AO Arena scoops up Take That gigs as Keane’s Co-op Live gig is cancelled in ongoing venue saga

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig from Co-op Live to AO Arena after cancellation

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A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig to AO Arena following Co-op Live cancellation

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