American rock and pop-punk icons Fall Out Boy have not only confirmed a new album is on the way, they have also announced two intimate shows out of nowhere — one being right here in Manchester.
Behind some of the biggest emo and pop-punk tracks of the 2000s such as ‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’, ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ and ‘This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race’, the band reunited in 2013 after a long hiatus and despite making plenty of music since then, it’s been five years since we’ve heard new stuff.
Announcing their new project back on 18 January, the long-standing Illinois outfit have since released the tracklist for their eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust — including a surprise feature from actor Ethan Hawke — and the reveal came with another added surprise.
Despite regularly filling arenas, headlining numerous festivals down the years and packing out every show they put on, Fall Out Boy have decided to announce two seriously intimate shows in London and Manchester. We’re talking 500-cap rooms here, people.
Playing our beloved Band on the Wall on 15 March and London’s Heaven the following night, the two smaller-venue shows will act as a kind of album launch party before the album actually releases on 24 March.
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They will serve as somewhat of a warm-up for the massive arena shows they will be playing on the UK leg of their tour later this year, with the band due to play the AO Arena on 29 October.
These two Manchester dates will be very different vibes but both are sure to sell out within the blink of an eye. We fancy your chances of grabbing an arena spot but you’ll nearly all the luck you can get to grab a ticket for Fall Out Boy at Band on the Wall.
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If The 1975‘s intimate Gorilla gig is anything to go by, it’s going to be quite the mad scramble.
While general sale tickets don’t go live until 8 March at 10am, fans who pre-order the new album from the band’s UK site before 2pm GMT on Tuesday 7 March will get exclusive access to the two dates.
Once again, So Much (For) Stardust drops on March 24 and the European leg of their full tour kicks off on 27 October in Warsaw, Poland, before arriving in Britain for a run of shows in Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and finally Cardiff on 4 November.
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Get your jet-black fringes and fedoras at the ready, we’re gonna dance, dance like Uma Thurman (sorry)…
She wrote: “Today our hearts were broken forever! After a year long battle with cancer, it finally got the better of you, our amazingly strong and gorgeous boy.
“You were such a kind, loving and beautiful soul and I will never understand why you were taken from us? It was far too soon. You had so much more love to offer to this world.
“You never once got angry, complained or felt sad. You were a true warrior throughout and fought so hard until the very end.
Graeme Park’s son Oliver has died at the age of 18, the DJ has announced. Credit: Instagram, @graemepark
“We will love and miss you every single day for the rest of our lives, Ol.
“The power and love we feel from your guiding spirit is all around us and WILL provide us and Ben, your twin, with the strength to carry on. Especially when times get too tough.
“We love you Ol, so, so much and even though you’re not here in your physical body, the strength you provide us with and your loving strong Spirit will be with us always!!!!
“We love you so much, Oliver Park and thank you for sharing 18 years of your precious life with us.”
Graeme’s post drew in thousands of messages of love and support, including from Vernon Kay, Sacha Lord, and DJ Paulette.
He shared last night: “Thank you for all of your kind, supportive words regarding my son. Much appreciated.
“I won’t be DJing in Huddersfield, London or Manchester this weekend, there will be no radio shows and there may be a delay to recent merchandise orders too. Please bear with me. Back soon.”
Featured image: Instagram, @graemepark
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The View, Brooke Combe, Corella and more join the Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 lineup
Danny Jones
More acts have joined the Neighbourhood Weekender lineup for 2023 and as well as some big names, it looks like there’s going to be even more Manc music on show this year. You love to see it.
Neighbourhood 2023 is already shaping up to be an absolute belter with the likes of Pulp, The Kooks, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot, The Wombats, Anne Marie and countless other huge others already announced for this year.
But if there’s one thing we know about the Warrington weekender it’s that there are always more surprises down the line, right up until the last minute, and to whet your appetite for the festival favourite.
The latest from the organisers is that several new artists are now joining the NBHD lineup, such as Scottish stars and veritable indie veteran The View, fellow compatriot Brooke Combe (one of the most exciting new soloists we’ve heard in a long time), The Goa Express from Burnley and 14 other acts.
One of the names we’re most excited to see playing on the Sunday are local lads, Corella. Named after an indigenous Australian bird, the rock and indie quarter are former BIMM students who are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about groups in the city.
The Manc musicians went on to survive lockdown together, writing new tunes and even hosting virtual live gigs called ‘Club Corella’ every weekend throughout the pandemic. God, we don’t half love this kind of graft, especially in hard times. Well in, lads.
Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength and now, fresh from their sellout gig at Gorilla — which they hailed as “a dream come true” and a “moment we will never forget” — they’ll be following it up with a full Weekender slot in just a couple month’s time.
If their performance at Gorilla and at last year’s Neighbourhood Festival in the city is anything to go by, they’re going to absolutely smash it.
Neighbourhood Weekender 2023’s lineup is sounding more and more like it could go down as a year you don’t want to miss.
The weekend of gigs kicks at the beautiful Victoria Park in Warrington on 27 May and last until the following Sunday. However, to make things even better there’s also going to be a massive warm-up show featuring The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and more.
Danny Jones -
6th March 2023 
