British rock and post-hardcore outfit Enter Shikari have announced a Manchester residency at popular food hall and music venue, New Century Hall, later this year.
The St Albans-based band arrive in 0161 come February and will be enjoying a short-run as residents at the city centre spot until April.
Set to appear at various slots on the festival scene over the coming months and embark on a repeat-venue tour in 2023, their Manchester residency signals the start of a new chapter for the band as they prepare to release their new album, A Kiss For The Whole World.
Known for their high-energy performances and light show-filled sets, they’re sure to bring A Flash Flood of Colour to this already stunning and psychedelic space.
Credit: New Century Hall
Formed all the way back in 1999, if you can believe that (yes, we’re all getting old), the electronically-influenced alt-rock group have been one of the UK’s biggest exports for some time and has seen several iterations sonically down the years.
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Their debut album, Take to the Skies, dropped in 2007 and it’s actually been three whole years since we last got a Shikari record in the shape of Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible, which reached number two in the charts — their highest ranking to date.
Now though, following the release of ‘Bull’ (feat. Cody Fost) in November 2022 and their latest single ‘(pls) set me on fire’ — which landed today, 12 January — both die-hards and newcomers will be treated to more new music with their upcoming record later this year.
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The best part is, fans living in Manchester have multiple opportunities to enjoy the hits and get a taste of their new material, with three New Century gigs pencilled in for 16 February, 14 March and 14 April.
Enter Shikari’s seventh album, A Kiss For The Whole World, drops this April (Credit: Supplied)
A Kiss For The Whole World is Enter Shikari’s seventh studio album; frontman and keyboardist Rou Reynolds says this next instalment sees them getting “back to basics.”
He went on to remark that “this album is powered by the sun, the most powerful object in our solar system. And I think you can tell. It’s a collection of songs that represent an explosive reconnection with what Enter Shikari is”, labelling it “the beginning of our second act”.
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Carrying out various other residencies in the likes of London, Wolverhampton, Bristol and Glasgow, the band are raring to get back out there and introduce their fans to “Enter Shikari 2.0”. You can see their full list of special residency shows below:
The new Enter Shikari album, A Kiss For The Whole World, drops on 21 April 2023 and those who pre-order the album can bag themselves exclusive access to one of three New Century concerts.
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Exclusive access to tickets begins on 19 January for pre-orders and members of the band’s fan club, with general sale tickets going live on 26 January.
You won’t be able to ‘Stop the Clocks’ when it comes to grabbing these ones, so you best be quick once they’re out. We’ll see you there!
A ‘disco for grown ups’ party is coming to Manchester this year
Thomas Melia
A disco party for ‘grown ups’, centred around 70s, 80s and 90s music, is making its way to Manchester this year.
The wildly popular Discos for Grown Ups will be heading to town in May, encouraging some serious boogie action with its playlist of soul, disco, pop and dancefloor from across the decades.
The night out has been created for those who feel ‘too old to go clubbing, but still love to dance’, with people your own age, and with a sensibly early finish time.
When the night is still young but you might not be, you can let loose under a light and laser show featuring the fabulous Discos for Grown Ups stage dancers.
Whether you’re a ‘Material Girl’ who craves the spotlight or or a shy dancer who comes out of their shell after catching a case of ‘Night Fever’, this night will be spoiling you with its array of tracks.
Credit: Supplied
Discos for Grown Ups was founded by Simon Stanford after discovering there was nowhere for a ‘grown up’ to go that played the music he loved.
Simon Stanford from Discos for Grown Ups says: “We are really looking forward to bringing our Discos for Grown Ups 70’s 80’s 90’s Disco Party back to the O2 Ritz Manchester this year.
“Our first show was an incredible night of dancing and sold out very quickly, so we can’t wait to bring our full production with dancers, lights and lasers back – it’s going to be another amazing night of boogie!”
Expect a night of fun-filled dancefloor bangers spanning three golden decades of music.Credit: Supplied
Self Esteem drops new single along with huge UK tour full of double headers
Danny Jones
Rising Northern star Self Esteem has just dropped the new single from her forthcoming new album along with a bunch of big new UK tour dates, including two nights right here in Manchester.
The singer-songwriter, also known simply as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, has seen her popularity skyrocket in the last few of years, winning BBC Music’s Introducing ‘Artist of the Year Award’ back in 2021 and being nominated for the Mercury Prize less than 12 months later.
Fast forward to 2025 and not only has she recieved plenty of critical acclaim for her first two records but her live presence on stage has also been heavily praised and now the 38-year-old is gearing up for her next album cycle.
Announcing her latest single, ‘If Not Now, It’s Soon’, which has quickly selected as BBC Radio 1’s ‘Hottest Record’, the new track has also dropped along with 14 major UK tour dates, with a string double headers in multiple cities.
Born and bred in Rotherham but with strong ties to nearby Sheffield, her journey began as one half of folk pop duo Slow Club. They formed back in 2006 but split in 2017 as both she and bandmate Charles Watson parted ways to pursue their respective solo projects.
Set to release her third studio LP A Complicated Woman on 25 April, these latest tour dates are some of the biggest she’ll have ever played – including a massive Yorkshire homecoming gig at the Utilita Arena which will be a momentous show for our friends The Sheff to make the most of.
Discussing the new project, Taylor says: “Personally, you have to wait and one day you’ll get somewhere less painful. But the world will hopefully get somewhere less painful too. It’s about hope, perseverance and patience.”
As for those who’ve been lucky enough to get an premature listen of the album in full, the early reviews are looking seriosuly strong.
Described by The Guardian as “her best yet”, it features the likes of Nadine Shah, Moonchild Sanelly and Sue Tompkins from Life Without Buildings; Meatball and even Lancashire actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh, best known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street. Now that’s what we call a feature.
Self Esteem comes for a two massive nights at Manchester Academy on Saturday and Sunday, 27-28 September later this year.
Her previous raft of dates for A Complicated Woman Live – an ambitious quasi-theatrical experience of the album in person and on stage at The Duke of York’s in London – sold out in a flash, and you can expect plenty of that same production value when it comes to her upcoming concerts.
Fans get an exclusive pre-sale code for all UK and Ireland dates by pre-odering the album before 1pm GMT on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, and as for general admission, you’ll have to join the queue like the rest of us when they go live (still TBC).
In the meantime, you can join us in being as obsessed with her other recent release as we are:
Danny Jones -
12th January 2023 
