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Enter Shikari announce Manchester residency at New Century Hall

They'll be doing a night at the increasingly popular Manchester venue every month from February to April in 2023.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 12th January 2023

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 AKFTWW
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:

February

  • Feb 15: HERE at Outernet – London
  • Feb 16: New Century Hall – Manchester
  • Feb 17: KK’s Steel Mill – Wolverhampton
  • Feb 19: SWX – Bristol
  • Feb 20: St Luke’s – Glasgow

March

  • Mar 14: New Century Hall
  • Mar 15: St Luke’s
  • Mar 16: KK’s Steel Mill
  • Mar 17: HERE at Outernet
  • Mar 18: SWX

April

  • Apr 13: St Luke’s
  • Apr 14: New Century
  • Apr 15: KK’s Steel Mill
  • Apr 16: SWX
  • Apr 17: HERE at Outernet

Read more:

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!

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

Featured Image — Enter Shikari (via Instagram)

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Gig guide | Lady Gaga at Co-op Live – tickets, times, setlist and more for ‘The Mayhem Ball’

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Pop champion Lady Gaga is heading to the notable Manchester music venue, Co-op Live, for two nights of her spellbinding ‘Mayhem Ball’ this October.

Little Monsters, “It’s time to cast your spell tonight” as ‘Mother Monster’, a.k.a. 14-time Grammy-winning singing sensation, Lady Gaga, is treating us lucky lot here in Manchester to not just one but TWO theatrical performances.

This pop mastermind has soundtracked many over the past two decades, and her latest LP, Mayhem, continues this streak with the success of its enchanting and harsh-pop lead single, ‘Abracadabra.’

Gaga has cultivated a worldwide following thanks to hits like ‘Poker Face’, ‘Telephone’, ‘Bad Romance’ and ‘Die With a Smile’, which will all receive a huge reception when across the two nights at Co-op Live.

Lady Gaga is playing Co-op Live in Manchester twice on 7 and 8 October as part of her Mayhem Ball tour / Credit: Supplied
Lady Gaga is playing Co-op Live in Manchester twice on 7 and 8 October as part of her Mayhem Ball tour / Credit: Supplied

Most recently, the US vocalist found her hit ‘Bloody Mary’ trending alongside the coming-of-age Netflix series Wednesday, which led to her creating ‘The Dead Dance’ for the show’s second season.

Now we’re ready to see our much-loved monster in the flesh

Lady Gaga at Co-op Live, Manchester – all you need to know

Lady Gaga UK tour dates

  • Mon 29 September – London, UK – The O2
  • Tue 30 September – London, UK – The O2
  • Thu 2 October – London, UK – The O2
  • Sat 4 October – London, UK – The O2
  • Tue 7 October – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Wed 8 October – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live

Lady Gaga tickets for Co-op Live gig

If you want to see this ‘Perfect Celebrity’ through your own eyes, you’ll have to act fast, as there’s only a handful of seats left to witness the star in action. Get ready to ‘Just Dance’ the night away with tickets HERE.

After avoiding all the ‘Paparazzi’? Then why not treat yourself to exclusive tickets in one of Co-op Live’s luxury boxes on Tuesday 7 October and enjoy premium seats, a dining experience and more HERE.

Lady Gaga ‘Mayhem Ball’ setlist

  • Bloody Mary
  • Abracadabra
  • Judas
  • Aura
  • Scheiße
  • Garden of Eden
  • Poker Face
  • Perfect Celebrity
  • Disease
  • Paparazzi
  • LoveGame
  • The Beast
  • Killah
  • Zombieboy
  • The Dead Dance
  • LoveDrug
  • Applause
  • Just Dance
  • Shadow of a Man
  • Kill for Love
  • Summerboy
  • Born This Way
  • Million Reasons
  • Shallow
  • Die With a Smile
  • Speechless
  • Hair
  • Vanish Into You
  • Bad Romance
  • How Bad Do U Want Me
The Mayhem Ball marks pop heavyweight Lady Gaga's first time returning to Manchester in over 10 years / Credit: Supplied
‘The Mayhem Ball’ marks pop heavyweight Lady Gaga’s first time returning to Manchester in over 10 whole years (Credit: Supplied)

What are the stage times for Lady Gaga in Manchester?

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning that Mother Monster won’t get the opportunity to ‘Marry The Night’ – however, this does mean fans can get an early night.

There is no official support act listed for any date across her UK tour, with doors set to open from 6:30pm and no start time for the show, but her London dates did kick off around 8:30pm.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

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  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

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Featured Images – Press Shots (via Supplied)

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Self Esteem at Manchester Academy – a night of pure energy and immaculate music

Kristen MacGregor-Houlston Kristen MacGregor-Houlston Self Esteem in Manchester

A Complicated Woman – the name of Self Esteem’s album, she is currently touring around the UK and Europe. While she may be complicated, there is nothing complicated about how absolutely sensational a performer is.

I only ‘got into’ Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) this year. I kept hearing others talk about her and her music, but I’d never really given her a listen until we saw her on the line-up for Glastonbury. A Complicated Woman had just come out, so that was my intro, and I immediately became a massive fan.

I was lucky enough to watch her set at Glastonbury, which brought tears to my eyes for being both an incredible performance and thematically. When the opportunity then came to see her again, but at home in Manchester, I practically bit the promoter’s hand off.

The energy is palpable at Manchester Academy; everyone is just buzzing with a joyful energy that’s incredibly infectious.

Unfortunately Moonchild Sanelly, the collaborator on ‘In Plain Sight’ and Self Esteem’s support act on this tour, was unwell, so the delightful Tom Rasmussen stepped in at the last minute.

Fresh from a family christening and pulling in some last-minute pals, he delivers a delightfully camp and moving show, getting everyone pumped up.

The lights went down at 9pm, and the audience was met with a wall of handmaids, and then Rebecca walked out on stage to a huge eruption from the crowd. Her fans (myself included) clearly love her. She opens with ‘I Do And I Don’t Care’ which brings a tear to my eye once again.

This is more than just a ‘gig’. It is a full, theatrical experience with dancing and storytelling the whole way through.

Whilst Taylor is very clearly the focus, her team of performers are an essential element of the whole show: they’re so much more than just simple backing singers/dancers. They’re so in sync with each other, and there is so much joy on stage as they shine together – a very clear bond ripples through with such love.

The show flows almost as different ‘Acts’, with the running order not following the album order itself, with a mix of songs from her current album and the 2021 album, Prioritise Pleasure. ‘Mother’ gets the crowd grinding away as she moves onto ‘Lies’ and ‘69’ – which always gets a chuckle from the crowd.

We are fixated on her. She just draws you in and holds you there throughout the whole gig. Nobody is shifting around to go to the loo or get a beer; everyone is just glued to their spot and basking in her sensational energy. Despite some of the themes during the gig, everyone was abuzz with energy.

Credit: Audio North

When ‘Fucking Wizadry’ comes on, every single person sings (or screams) along, and Taylor and her onstage posse absolutely lap it up. 

With Moonchild Sanelly being unwell during our gig, when ‘In Plain Sight’ is performed, Self Esteem still moves to the side of the stage when the recording of Moonchild is played, giving space to where she would have been. Hopefully, she is feeling better for her further dates, because her presence would have been a powerful addition to the song, and I’m gutted to have not experienced it.

When ‘Cheers To Me’ came on, the party really began; the audience went utterly MAD for it when the inflatable men (like the ones you see at car garages) appeared. It is honestly so hard to describe the feeling of euphoric joy that is just blasting through the crowd – it is a sight and sensation to behold.

Now you may or may not know, but Self Esteem is personal friends with Julie Hesmondhalgh – yes, as Hayley Cropper from CORRIE! – in who appeared on stage on night two of her three-night gig in Manchester.

She admits to us that on night one, she forgot that Julie was only doing night two and had shouted to introduce her during ‘If Not Now, It’s Soon’, which had apparently caused a bit of a stir with some of the night one’s audience.

Making light of it, she asked if the crowd wanted her to shout Julie Hesmondhalgh again, so we all felt equal – of course, we did.

The show goes from strength to strength, “finishing” with ‘The Deep Blue Okay’ which perfectly encapsulates the raw emotion and talent of Self Esteem. The crowd is beside itself with cheer as they erupt in applause, deafening just about everyone around them as the stage empties and the lights dim.

Self Esteem returns to the stage alone initially, and chats to us about two important charities she is raising money for, the Schools Consent Project, which goes into schools and teaches kids about consent, and the other is X – helping relocate people displaced as a result of conflicts around the globe.

She then moves into ‘I Do This All The Time’, joined by her troupe again on stage, and finally finishing on ‘Focus Is Power’. Emotions are incredibly high. There isn’t a single person who hasn’t been moved and hyped by the whole show.

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Self Esteem is truly a force to be reckoned with, an absolute star and show woman, yet I feel like not enough people know who she is.

A hidden gem on display in front of everyone waiting to be noticed, and she should be, because she is absolutely, boneshakingly sensational. 

Tickets are still on sale for her show in Sheffield, and you would be absolutely mad to miss her. I will be there – I’d better see you there too…

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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