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Faithless set for first return to Manchester since Maxi Jazz’s passing as part of huge new tour

It's been the best part of a decade since they were last here. (this article contains affiliate links)

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 23rd August 2024

British dance music legends Faithless are heading back out on a huge UK/EU tour later this year and are set to return to Manchester for the first time since the death of frontman Maxi Jazz.

One of the most iconic and influential electronic bands to have ever come out of the UK, the industry veterans had been off the road for a whole eight years until their first shows back on the circuit back this past June and even joined the lineup for Bestival 2024 earlier this month.

Following the huge success of the comeback gigs in the likes of London, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam, Faithless have now confirmed a huge new 21-date tour which will see them returning to the likes of Manchester, Newcastle and more for the first time in nearly a decade.

News like this can only mean one thing: God really is a DJ.

Although bandmates Sister Bliss and Rollo Armstrong had performed sets of their own since the lead singer’s sudden death back in December 2022, it wasn’t until this year that decided to get together as a group once again.

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Revealing their return in April, the clamour for tickets to their initially limited number of tour dates was massive, especially with the news that they are also working on new music, but it now seems that the demand for more live sets was so much that they had to go back on the road properly.

Jazz is said to have died peacefully in his sleep, but with his passing coming at the age of just 65 it was no less tragic and shocking for the band and the countless fans all over the world.

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The performances earlier this year also landed right around his birthday and without them going down like the storm they did, this new Champion Sound – the name given to their forthcoming eighth studio album – this tour may not been confirmed to be happening so soon.

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Safe to say it’s going to be a momentous occasion for Faithless to see them back at some seriously iconic venues including Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on 15 November, plus a baker’s dozen of shows all across Europe.

General sale begins at 10am on Friday 30 August – you can grab your tickets for Faithless in Manchester HERE.

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If it looks anything like this, then we’re in for a treat. Long live Maxi.

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

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/Jørund Føreland Pedersen (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Review | Jonas Brothers turn Co-op Live Arena into a time machine

Oli Lowe Oli Lowe Jonas Brothers at Co-op Live, Manchester gig review

Watching the Jonas Brothers at the Co-op Live Arena was like stepping into a time machine that none of us ever wanted to get out of. 

Although the tour was literally called ‘Five Albums, One Night’, we still somehow had our doubts as we walked up to the ever-impressive Co-op Live that we’d actually get the full spectrum of hits we were hoping for (mainly due to my disbelief that they’d actually play Camp Rock songs…)

But sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say ‘fair play’, because the Jonas Brothers delivered nothing non-stop hits, from nostalgic classics to the modern-day stuff.

Jonas Brothers Co-op Live review
What a venue, what a night. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Jonas Brothers at Co-op Live, Manchester – Review

Special mentions from the off

Before I really get into the bulk of the review though, I’d just like to shout out Mimi Webb, who opened the show brilliantly at the Co-op Live. From the moment she walked on stage you could have genuinely been fooled into thinking she was the one headlining.

Delivering many of her hits such as ‘Erase You’, ‘House on Fire’, ‘Good Without’ and more, she was the perfect support act for a crowd that was ready to party the night away.

Special mention also goes out to the actual venue: last night was admittedly my first time stepping foot into the Co-op Live and I was absolutely blown away, not only by the sheer size of the place but by how smoothly everything ran.

I know it may sound like a moot point but the best venues are the ones where you barely even notice all the effort that goes into the operation of ensuring customers have the best experience possible.

There’s nothing worse than paying good money for a ticket only to be held up in queues for the bar, toilet, or even just to get in; Co-op Live certainly ensures those problems don’t occur. It genuinely filled me with a little bit of Manc pride knowing that we have a music venue that good, right on our doorstep.

Let’s go, Jo’ Bros

Anyway, onto the actual concert and can I first of all just start by saying, or rather screaming, AHHHHH!…

I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and admit Camp Rock was a seminal part of my early teenage years and that I’ve had a burning love for the Jonas Brothers ever since.

One thing that I really respected about their show is how they didn’t try to hide from their roots. There’s many a ‘child actor turned superstar’ out there who would love nothing more than to eradicate the memory of them ever being a plucky Disney channel regular.

Not these lads, however. The Jo’ Bros seem to fully own their pre-teen and small screen past, wearing that reputation not with any adolescent cringe but instead like a badge of honour.

The show truly did span their entire discography, from ‘Gotta Find You’ (Camp Rock), all the way through to their latest record – fittingly called, The Album. It was two and a half hours of banger after banger… after banger, after BANGER, (I could go on—actually, I might…); after banger, after banger.

We even got a 1975 cover, for crying out loud!

Teenage screams straight from our teenage dreams

Okay, I’m done. Seriously though, the crowd were absolutely loving every moment of it. Every time one song ended and another began, within the first three notes being played, all you could hear was 23,000 simultaneous screams from adoring fans, ourselves firmly included.

In summary, the vibes were immaculate, the songs were stunning, the audience had the times of their lives and for one very special evening with inhibition left at the front door, a trio of siblings from across the pond made it felt like all might be well in the world once again.

Hyperbole? Maybe, but that’s what pop music’s all about.

For future reference, we’ll fight anyone who dares to mock the Jonas Brothers as just some guilty pleasure.

That anyone should show shame for enjoying because last night they completely rocked (‘Camp Rock!’) the show, in an arena already heralded by many music legends.

You just have to be grateful for moments like these. Thank you, Jonas Brothers.

Jonas Brothers Manchester gig review
We know this write-up is 40% ‘review’ and about 60% Jonas Brothers fanboying — deal with it. (Credit: The Manc Group)

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Audio North

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Extra date added for festive screening of The Holiday with live orchestra in Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

You can watch The Holiday on a big screen with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack in Manchester this Christmas.

The Holiday is one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time.

In case you haven’t got around to watching it before, the 2006 romcom directed and produced by Nancy Meyers stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black, and tells the story of how two women, who have never met and live 6,000 miles apart, find themselves in the same exact place in life.

They meet online through a home exchange website, and impulsively switch homes for the holiday.

Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects – a new romance.

An extra date has been added for a festive screening of The Holiday with live orchestra in Manchester / Credit: Universal Pictures

Since its release nearly two decades ago, watching The Holiday has become an annual tradition for millions worldwide every time the festive season rolls around – but how would you like to watch this classic in the most magical way possible? Streamed live onto a big screen in the theatre with a complete concert orchestra playing its soundtrack by the legendary Hans Zimmer? Well now you can this Christmas.

After a sell-out run in 2023, The Holiday In Concert will be going on a 16-date tour across the UK again this November and December, and will be taking place in the some of the country’s greatest concert halls – including The Bridgewater Hall here in Manchester.

The in-concert experience with a full orchestra and cinema-size screen is described as being an “incredibly unique” and “immersive” way to experience this cult-classic film.

Due to overwhelming demand for the Manchester show on Friday 6 December, a second date in our city has now been added to the tour’s run on Monday 23 December, and tickets for the new show are on sale at 10am tomorrow (Friday 13 September).

Liverpool, York, and Sheffield are some of the other northern English cities forming part of the tour, while the show will also be staged in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Swansea, and more.

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You can get tickets when they go on sale here.

Featured Image – Universal Pictures

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