Audio
DMA’s at O2 Apollo Manchester – a band on the right side of riotous
No one comes to a DMA's gig expecting a nice polite evening... (contains affiliate links)
The DMA’s are still, four albums in, hell-bent on starting a riot everywhere they go.
But an evening spent at one of their gigs is the best kind of chaos, with music that immediately strips inhibitions and unleashes child-like, gleeful energy.
For a full 90 minutes at the O2 Apollo, there’s a swirling mass of 3500 people – from my perch up on the balcony, all I see is limbs and flashes of grinning faces.
The Australian trio are back out on tour, showing off music from their latest album How Many Dreams?
That new music, only a couple of weeks old at this point, is peppered throughout and received politely – but no one comes to a DMA’s gig wanting politeness.
What we want is to belt out ‘The End’ with our elbows in each other’s faces, or sing ‘Tape Deck Sick’ with so much gusto you can feel it from your diaphragm.
The energy never gets more frenetic than it does for ‘Hello Girlfriend’, which truly is a bucket list experience for live music fans. Just when you think it’s over, just when the only sound left is feedback, Matt Mason is back at the mic chanting “Such a funny thing for me, try to explain” – and the band’s back, crashing drums and pounding guitars. Then quiet again, then Matt returns, and the pattern repeats, over and over, getting louder and louder, the crowd getting livelier and livelier. It seems like it will never stop – like we’ll all be sucked into a swirling vortex of flung pints of Carling and sticky floors for the rest of eternity.
But it does stop and slow down a little – for ‘Delete’, it’s less about shoving and more about hugging. I even spot a two-storey cuddle happening between a group of mates who are still on each other’s shoulders.
It’s pretty clear that frontman Tommy O’Dell has us all in the palm of his hand when he walks a stage-width away from his mic for the full ‘Silver’ chorus and we all fill in the gaps for him.
Their gigs in Manchester always have an air of a homecoming show about them. It doesn’t really make sense – they’re half-a-globe away from their actual home – but this bunch of Aussies have adopted that very distinctive Manc swagger, down to the waterproof parkas they all wear on stage.
Johnny Took sincerely tells us: “You guys have changed our lives. You’ve taken us under your wing and it blows us away, so thank you.”
It makes sense then that the next time the DMA’s are back in Manchester, they’ll be supporting the Courteeners at their huge Heaton Park gig. Chaos is guaranteed.
Tickets for Courteeners supported by DMA’s are on sale now with See Tickets.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Audio
Kaiser Chiefs continue debut album’s 20th anniversary celebrations with more tour dates
Danny Jones
Northern music veterans Kaiser Chiefs are set to continue the celebrations of their debut album’s 20th anniversary with even more milestone tour dates next year.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since their very first LP, Employment, was first released, just before the onslaught of indie landfill took over the UK and beyond back in the 200s, but it really has been that long.
2025 has seen the beloved Yorkshire band rolling back the years and playing all the hits from the seminal debut record, and since the scenes at Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Latitude and more have been such good vibes, they’ve decided to keep the party going even longer.
Announcing further tour dates next February, the Leeds legends will be heading back on the road before you know it and playing all of the hits.
Confirming a dozen new live shows, the noughties hit-makers behind ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Oh My God’ and many more will be heading to Manchester for just the second stop on their upcoming tour.
Heading to O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, 14 February, the ever-familiar British five-piece haven’t yet announced a hometown gig.
That being said, we have a feeling you can expect something extra special – perhaps a Temple Newsam 2.0 – to be revealed for them not too far down the line.
Speaking on the tour extension, frontman Ricky Wilson said: “This summer, we played a load of shows to mark the release of our debut album, Employment. It went well. Probably better than our first summer 20 years ago.
“It was the year after that first year that things really took off, so we hope you will join us in February to help celebrate with us ‘the year it really took off’.
“If you were with us the first time, or unfortunately missed out due to other commitments, we hope you will join us for a joyous lap of honour. (Plus, I spent quite a bit on a new blazer and want to get my money’s worth)”.
Our Audio North followers will be glad to hear that there a plenty of gigs taking place up at the top end of the country, and you can see the full list of ‘More Employment‘ shows down below.
Kaiser Chiefs’ 2026 UK tour dates:
- 13 Fri – Bradford, Live
- 14 Sat – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
- 15 Sun – Stockton, Globe
- 17 Tue – Dundee, Live House
- 18 Wed – Glasgow, Barrowland
- 20 Fri – London, Eventim Apollo
- 21 Sat – Hull, Connexin Live
- 23 Mon – Norwich, UEA
- 24 Tue – Swansea, Building Society Arena
- 26 Thu – Bournemouth, International Centre
- 27 Fri – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
- 28 Sat – Wolverhampton, The Halls
Tickets for the Kaiser Chiefs’ show here in Manchester, as well as all other nights live on Friday, 22 August from 9am; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We’ll see you there.
And until then, why not see what the lads had to say to our friends over at The Hoot when we interviewed them back in May?…
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Featured Images — Cal McIntyre (supplied)/press shots/The Manc Group
Audio
Manchester Pride announces Nelly Furtado as surprise headliner
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Pride has just dropped another huge headliner for this year’s festival – and it’s only global pop superstar Nelly Furtado.
The huge LGBTQ+ festival, celebration and protest had kept its final headliner under wraps for months, but has today announced the Maneater star will be joining the line-up for 2025.
Nelly Furtado will co-headline Manchester Pride alongside Olly Alexander, with tickets for both the Gay Village Party and Mardi Gras already on sale.
Also announced on the line-up today are DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly.
Manchester Pride 2025 will take place from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August, with four days of live music, celebrations, the parade, parties, and the candlelit vigil.
Already-announced headliners include Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne, Billy Porter, and Tulisa, alongside loads more queer artists.
Nelly Furtado is known for her anthems like Maneater, Promiscuous and I’m Like A Bird, and will bring Mardi Gras to an uplifting, powerful end on Sunday 24 August.
Homegrown legend DJ Paulette will also join the Sunday Mardi Gras line-up, along with South African trailblazer Moonchild Sanelly on Friday at the Gay Village Party.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “Welcoming an Icon like Nelly Furtado alongside DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly further showcases the diversity of musical tastes that we’re catering for. They’re each sure to create some unforgettable moments.
“Manchester Pride 2025 will be bold, brilliant, and bursting with Pride energy, but it’s at a tipping point.
“Pride can only thrive if our community shows up: by attending events, joining the Parade, and buying supporter bands.
“We’ve seen what happens when we don’t rally together, and we cannot let that happen in our City. This is the moment to stand up, come together, party as a protest and ensure Pride continues to shine long into the future.”
For full-day line-ups and more information on Manchester Pride 2025, download the Manchester Pride app.
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Featured image: Supplied
