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DMA’s add extra Manchester gig to highly anticipated Hills End 10th anniversary tour

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Danny Jones Danny Jones - 16th October 2025

Indie favourites DMA’s have finally confirmed their highly anticipated Hills End anniversary tour, celebrating 10 years since their breakout debut album with several UK dates, including not one but now TWO here in Manchester.

The Aussie band beloved by Brits and music fans all over have been teasing a reveal of some sort over the past weeks, but now the news is official.

Up there with the Sydney music scene’s finest exports right now, DMA‘s have always had a strong following over here, but especially so up North and Manchester in particular, with their youthful, uplifting and moving style often striking up similarities to our own indie rock roots.

Revealing details of the Hills End 10th anniversary shows on social media earlier this week, the talented trio confirmed a number of Northern gigs – and then quickly had to add a bunch more…

Besides us Mancs being the first stop on the run of live shows (honoured, of course), we’re one of three UK cities getting an additional live show after fans lapped up the pre-sale.

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Perhaps the most exciting part about this announcement is that this will be the very first time that DMA’s will be performing their much-loved maiden LP live in full.

At this time, we’re not sure whether or not they’ll be playing from start to finish in order, but either way, fans are understandably very excited; you can consider us here at Audio North firmly included in that group, by the way.

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We’re sure we don’t need to remind you lot reading this per se, but cherished tracks from the record obviously include ‘Delete’, ‘Lay Down’, ‘In The Moment’.

They’ll also be playing working-class outposts like Newcastle and Glasgow (make that twice), as well as paying a visit to our friends over at The Hoot in Yorkshire. You can see the full list of shows down below.

DMA’s Hills End 10th anniversary tour 2026 – UK dates

*Italicised dates are extra shows added.

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February

  • Friday 06 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
  • Saturday 07 – NX, Newcastle
  • Sunday 08 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
  • Tuesday 10 – O2 Academy, Bristol
  • Wednesday 11 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
  • Thursday 12 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
  • Saturday 14 – O2 Academy, Leeds
  • Sunday 15 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
  • Monday 16 – O2 Academy, Glasgow
  • Tuesday 17 – O2 Academy, Glasgow

May

  • Wednesday 20 – Rock City, Nottingham
  • Thursday 21 – Rock City, Nottingham
  • Friday 22 – UEA, Norwich
WHAT an album this is.

Speaking on the initial announcement, the band said: “The UK has always felt like a second home for us. Hills End was where our story really began overseas, so it feels right to come back and celebrate it with the fans who’ve supported us from day one.”

Literally almost a full decade on from its release, the DMA’s anniversary tour kicks off at O2 Victoria Warehouse next February and, as of yet, no support act has been confirmed.

Johnny Took, Matt Mason and lead singer Tommy O’Dell will then be coming back to Manchester for round two on Sunday, 15 February.

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Tickets go on sale at 9am this Friday, 17 October; you can get ready to grab your tickets HERE.

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Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)

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Reggae legends UB40 announce massive Manchester arena gig

Danny Jones Danny Jones UB40 Manchester gig dates

UK reggae icons UB40 have just announced a massive run of domestic arena dates, including a huge show at an equally legendary venue here in Manchester.

The Brummy veterans of the British reggae and ska scene have been going for more than four decades now, blending both pop and rocksteady styles, as well as other Caribbean influences into their music.

A cult favourite group since their inception, whose lineup has always remained fluid – sometimes featuring more than nine different musicians on stage – they’re known for their brilliant live sets just as much as their studio material.

Started by the Campbell family, there might not be many founding members left now, but with American actor and singer Matt Doyle now serving as the modern lead singer since 2021, there’s still plenty of energy, youth and experience to their spirited gigs.

Revealing a return to Manchester and yet another trip to the AO Arena on Monday morning, 3 November, UB40 have also confirmed that former frontman Ali Campbell will be back on the road with them once again next summer.

While the 66-year-old hasn’t strictly ‘reunited’ with the group, he does star as the main featured artist on the upcoming 2026 tour.

He will also be joined by R’n’B/reggae-fusion artist Maxi Priest, as well as fellow contemporaries, Aswad – another seasoned act who have been making music in the genre and performing live since 1975.

Speaking on the comeback, co-founder Robin Campbell said: “For more than 40 years, we’ve been one of the hardest working touring bands in pop music.

“We aim to have a party every show. As much as we enjoyed our Zoom chats [about more shows] during lockdown, there’s no substitute for the relationship and synergy we have with our live audiences.”

Dropping a definitive UB45 compilation featuring their greatest hits back in April 2024 – and celebrating as many years in their recording career – UB40 are also set to release another new album next year, in line with the fresh UK tour dates.

UB40’s Manchester gig enters exclusive early access for Three+ members this Wednesday, 5 November from 9am onwards.

You can see the rest of their dates, including several up in the North, down below.

  • Monday 1 June – Brighton, Brighton Centre  
  • Wednesday 3 June – Cardiff, Utilita Arena  
  • Friday 5 June – London – OVO Arena Wembley  
  • Saturday 6 June – Manchester, AO Arena  
  • Sunday 7 June – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena 
  • Tuesday 9 June – Hull, Connexin Live 
  • Thursday 11 June – Glasgow, OVO Hydro  
  • Friday 12 June – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena  
  • Saturday 13 June – Leeds, First Direct Bank Arena 
  • Tuesday 16 June – Swansea, Swansea Building Society Arena  
  • Wednesday 17 June – Plymouth, Pavilions 
  • Thursday 18 June – Bournemouth, BIC  
  • Saturday 20 June – Birmingham, BP Pulse Live

Venue presale will be available from the same time on Thursday, before general admission tickets go live on the following Friday (7 Nov).

You can get ready to grab your tickets to see UB40 in Manchester at the AO Arena on Saturday, 6 June 2026, right HERE.

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

Featured Images — Pres shots (supplied)

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Five Greater Manchester-based artists we’ve been listening to this month | October 2025

Danny Jones Danny Jones New Greater Manchester music artists October 2025

Surprise, surprise, it’s that time again: we’re rounding up the best music from in and around Greater Manchester that we’ve been listening to over the past few weeks, and this month’s been a belter.

In fact, we actually got a lot of our favourite stuff of late all in one day, and that just so happened to be Halloween 2025, a.k.a. one of the best new music Fridays we’ve had in ages.

We had a few new releases on our radar come 31 October, and they didn’t disappoint, with regional artists both new and old dropping some tasty new material.

So, without further ado, here is the Greater Manchester-based music we’ve been enjoying recently.

Music from in and around Manchester we’re listening to lately

1. Richard Ashcroft

Where else to start than with the man of the moment, in our opinion: the almighty Richard Ashcroft, who recently came back to not only the live circuit in the biggest way as the main support act on the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour, but who finally returned with new music since 2018.

Releasing his seventh studio album, ‘Lovin You, this October, we’ll admit that we much prefer his classic Britpop style to the few attempts at more modern poppy rock on the record, but the second you get onto the second track ‘Out Of These Blues’, you know that his timeless sound hasn’t depreciated one bit.

Now 54 and a music industry veteran, we still firmly believe he’s one of our greatest artists and songwriters. We’d recommend ‘Find Another Reason’ and ‘Heavy News’ off the new LP, as well as ‘All My Dream’ for old time’s sake. All hail “King Richard” and here’s to more long-overdue recognition for Wigan‘s finest.

Some Oasis fans are only just discovering who ‘Cast No Shadow’ is dedicated to
We never tire of ‘They Don’t Own Me’, nor listening to the Oasis that pays tribute to him, either.

2. The Charlatans

From one local icon to another legendary British band with deep roots here in Manchester. This year’s big music story may have been the Oasis reunion, but there’s another band of Britpop/Madchester survivors that recently reared their heads again, too, and that’s The Charlatans.

Led by frontman Tim Burgess, the veteran alternative band always had one foot in the indie side of the Manc music scene, meanwhile keeping the other in the more psychedelic sub-section of UK rock, and nothing has changed with this satisfying return.

Even from the instantly recognisable and heavily processed keys in lead single ‘Deeper Deeper’, you’re immediately reminded of ‘The Only One I Know’, and the title track of their first new album since 2017, ‘We Are Love’, is one of the best in years; ‘You Can’t Push The River’ is also a quiet delight.

It’s good to have you back, lads. (Credit: Cat Stevens)

3. The Maple State

Now, this is a band that we always felt never really got the recognition back in the day, but since they’ve also been on an understated comeback trail of their own, we’d like to think they’ve picked up a few new fans – and that’s part of the reason they’re included this month, because they deserve it.

We’d argue that The Maple State never quite fully took off because the emo/American-influenced scene here in Greater Manchester didn’t either; back in 2004, when the band was formed by two brothers and some school friends who started playing regularly in college, it was still mostly a transatlantic export.

Either way, we always had a soft spot for this unsung act that tried appealing to fans of that style over here, and their debut album, At Least Until We’ve Settled In, became a cult favourite of some famous names. ‘Temperate Lives’ is a timeless track for us, and we love ‘Canonball’ from their long-overdue 2018 follow-up, but we couldn’t be happier to hear them back in the studio again. Hear more below.

4. Westside Cowboy

Speaking of US influences, one group that has arguably benefitted from that same climate shifting over the years is the hugely exciting Westside Cowboy. As a kid who grew up somewhat awkwardly straddling a love for the big bands in the States and our domestic rock artists, the ‘Britainicana’ movement is right up my street.

Delivering the exact kind of sound you’d expect with a name like that – blending those more American, perhaps even ‘Midwest emo’ sounds with more familiar UK vibe and context – this isn’t a culture clash: it’s a contrast that really works and we’re hoping to see more of, with the guys at the forefront.

Expect twangy, metallic guitar riffs, staccato snares mixed in with marching drum patterns that steadily build behind the joint vocals of their different vocalists and more. Our favourite songs so far include ‘Don’t Throw Rocks’, ‘Drunk Surfer’, and ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Love (Until I Met You)’. How very 1975 of you, WC.

5. Gustaffson

Last but not least, this one is almost more of a special mention as they’re more North West than Manc per se, but they’re only based down the road in neighbouring Warrington; plus, since we’ve already written about other bands from Cheshire and other nearby outposts, we’re making an exception.

‘Why so keen to include them…’, you ask? Well, for one, they’re so bloody brilliant we couldn’t not talk about them, and two, they already have strong roots here in Manchester. Besides, regularly visiting and performing here, they recorded their first-ever EP in our city and even feature a tram on their single art.

Speaking of their material, Gustaffson‘s debut album, Black & White Movie, was even produced by Elbow’s very own Craig Potter, which only reinforces that local connection further. The LP itself has soulful notes similar to The Teskey Brothers and St Paul and the Broken Bones, and really is a joy from start to finish – get a load of their latest track, which was also recorded and visualised in Manchester:

A soulful, funk throwback with contemporary blues and a dancey feel. What a vibe.

We hope you give this October’s round-up of new Greater Manchester music a go and find these names in your rotation for months to come.

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As always, the best part about doing this is sharing artists people may not have heard yet, so please feel free to ping your own suggestions our way.

You’ll find us here again the same time next month, but until then, why not check out September’s picks?

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | September 2025
It’s been a brilliant year for Greater Manchester music.

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

Featured Images — Press shot/Cat Stevens (supplied)/Gustaffson (screenshot via YouTube)

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