The full lineup of acts has been announced for the #SummerProm2020 festival which will be streamed live for students nationwide on the eve of exam results day.
British singer-songwriter James Bay is set to headline the special one-off celebration event which will look to unite thousands of young people across the UK ahead of A Level and GCSE results after an unprecedented and challenging school year.
This unique and free-to-access event will take place on Wednesday 12th August.
Hosted by Hits Radio presenter, Jordan Lee, the Summer Prom will also feature music from Australian musician Sam Fischer, pop sensation Becky Hill and DJ & producer, Joel Corry, who is currently #1 in the UK singles chart. The event – which will be broadcast from The Met live music and theatre venue in Bury – will also feature comedy from Bec Hill, Aurie Styla and Lauren Pattison, plus a number of surprise guest appearances.
The virtual prom has been created to raise awareness of mental health support available via One Space – a new partnership between Shout 85258, The Mix and Young Minds – for young people struggling with the legacy impact of lockdown.
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#SummerProm2020 – in partnership with Manchester’s Hits Radio – has also been brought together by acclaimed Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) broadcasting platform United We Stream GM, and music & mental wellbeing festival, Headstock.
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Taking into account the recently introduced Greater Manchester restriction of no mixing of households, Summer Prom 2020 can be enjoyed by young people in their own homes through live stream via United We Stream GM across multiple social media channels.
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Music performances and artist interviews will also be broadcast simultaneously across the Hits Radio network.
With the focus of providing mental health support to young people post-lockdown, earlier in the same day, GP and broadcaster, Dr Radha, will host a special mental health-themed Instagram Live ‘surgery’ on the @onespaceto Instagram page to help those who may be struggling, answer questions and offer tips and advice to anyone experiencing worry or anxiety.
Waiting for exam results is always a stressful time for young people, but this year many have also been dealing with anxiety and crisis in isolation.
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Half (56%) of young people who mentioned coronavirus when contacting One Space partners for help listed anxiety as their main concern, a further 80% of young people surveyed said that coronavirus had made their mental health worse, with 87% reporting feeling lonely and isolated.
Victoria Hornby, Chief Executive of Shout 85258 – on behalf of One Space – said: “We are excited to be working with United We Stream GM and Headstock on the Summer Prom. The build up to exam results is always an incredibly stressful time for young people and this year especially so. The uncertainty is overwhelming for a lot of young people, and the summer ahead will see more challenges with exam results, a tough jobs market, and decisions to be made about university.”
“We know that a lot of young people are coping in isolation without access to their usual peer and professional support networks and that is why Shout 85258, The Mix and Young Minds are working together to deliver One Space – a space where under 25s can easily find the information they need and get the support they deserve.”
Headstock Founder, Atheer Al-Salim, added: “At a time when a lot of young people are struggling with the impact of the global pandemic on both their academic and social lives, we have the opportunity through music and shared experience to create an event that will help lift people’s moods.”
“We want people to celebrate their achievements of the past year, but also use the power of music to positively impact young people’s mental and emotional wellbeing.”
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“The Summer Prom will bring young people together – albeit online – and we’re delighted that Headstock is able to play its part in this extremely special event. We’re very much looking forward to creating a summer celebration that young people from Greater Manchester and across the UK will remember for many years to come.”
United We Stream GM
United We Stream GM founder and Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord, said: “Getting exam results and entering university is already a stressful time, but the pandemic has added to the uncertainty and worry that young people across the UK are facing this year as they make big decisions about career choices, university places, moving out of the family home or getting a job.”
“The most important thing about results day is not to panic.”
“I struggled at school and left with two Us and an E at A Level, but I’ve worked hard to build a career I love. If you feel you haven’t done well in your exams, there are many alternative routes you can go down, so please remember it’s not the end of the world.”
He continued: “United We Stream brought people together throughout the lockdown, and I received countless messages from the public who said that it helped ease anxiety and bring a sense of community to the region. Because of this and acknowledging this stressful time, we wanted to do something for students who are about to get their A level results to give them something fun to look forward to and to take their minds off their looming results – a great party to enjoy safely with their own household.”
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“This Class of 2020 Summer Prom event has been tailor made for them and I’m grateful to the artists who have given up their time to be involved.”
“It’s going to be an absolutely fantastic show.”
United We Stream GM / Headstock Festival
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, added: “The United We Stream Summer Prom will be a positive and celebratory broadcast for all young people to enjoy safely in their homes, and is another example of the caring spirit of people in Greater Manchester.”
“This is a fantastic idea, to give our young people in the city-region and beyond who are about to get their exam results, something really special to look forward to. This can be a pivotal point in a young person’s life, and this particular age group, have missed out on so much because the pandemic forced thousands of children and young people to remain isolated at home, with their schools and colleges staying closed for months.”
“Thanks to the innovative team of public sector and private business who are behind the Summer Prom concept, the Class of 2020 will have a unique celebration to remember.”
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#SummerProm2020 will be streamed live on United We Stream GM via website, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch, and will be simultaneously broadcast on Hits Radio.
Tune it at 8pm on Wednesday 12th August.
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Phoebe Bridgers announces long-awaited return with HUGE phones-free arena gig in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
It’s official, Phoebe Bridgers is back on earth.
More than six years since her last studio album, Punisher, was released to the world, cementing her status as one of indie folk’s leading figureheads, Phoebe Bridgers has given fans the news they have been waiting so patiently for.
A new tour North America and EU tour is on the horizon, and she’ll be stopping off here in Manchesterlater this year for a huge arena gig.
Following a sold-out acoustic show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden last night (4 June), Phoebe has now revealed details of ‘The Lost Tour’ for 2026.
Other than the series of surprise pop-up acoustic shows that have wrapped around the country over the last few weeks – beginning in Roswell in New Mexico on 8 May, and continuing on to smaller venues in other US cities before culminating in last night’s dazzling MSG show – this upcoming full band tour marks the first Phoebe Bridgers shows since early 2023.
Phoebe will be taking to the stage at Co-op Live here in Manchester for one night only on 26 November 2026 – with tickets going on sale next week.
And just like the pop-up shows, the use of mobile phones, cameras, and other recording devices will be strictly prohibited on this tour, encouraging fans to be more present in the moment.
This means the Co-op Live event will utilise secure pouches to store all devices during the performance.
Phoebe Bridgers is playing a huge arena gig in Manchester on her UK tour later this year / Credit: Supplied | Raph PH (Wikimedia Commons)
Upon arrival, all phones, smartwatches, and related accessories will be secured in these pouches, the pouches will be unlocked at the conclusion of the show, and any guest observed using a non-permitted device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue.
If the news of Phoebe’s return wasn’t exciting enough for fans as it is, she won’t be the only one making a highly-anticipated return to the stage, as support on the UK & EU leg of the tour is to be provided by former Black Country, New Road frontman, Isaac Wood.
Wood stepped away from the ensemble band – and the limelight as a whole – right before the release of BCNR’s critically acclaimed debut album, Ants From Up There, in 2022, citing mental health reasons.
Phoebe has also partnered with PLUS1 so that €1/£1 from every ticket sold on the European tour leg goes to local organisations throughout the EU/UK working to support those impacted by sexual assault and violence.
Phoebe Bridgers will be playing Co-op Live as part of ‘The Lost Tour’ on Thursday 26 November 2026.
Tickets officially go on sale first through the Phoebe Bridgers Pass Presale via Fan3, and Co-op Member Presale starting at 10am on Wednesday 10 June, before general sale then begins on Friday 12 June, again at 10am.
UB40 at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
British-based reggae band UB40 are coming to Manchester for a celebration of all their greatest hits live at AO Arena.
Formed in Birmingham in the late 70’s, this predominantly dub and reggae band has gone on to achieve much success, including 50 UK charting singles.
UB40 have also sold over 100 million records, as well as keeping a consistent line-up for almost 30 years, before lead vocalist Ali Campbell decided to leave the band.
Now, the band’s lead vocalist is former Kioko lead singer Matt Doyle, who’s taken on this role since mid-2021 and is ready to soundtrack your night while you enjoy some ‘Red Red Wine’.
There’s no official setlist confirmed for their latest tour, however, this 11-piece band have played an array of European dates with a pretty consistent roster of tracks:
Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
Maybe Tomorrow
Homely Girl
Sing Our Own Song
One in Ten
Home
Please Don’t Make Me Cry
Many Rivers to Cross
Higher Ground
The Way You Do the Things You Do
I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
Cherry Oh Baby
Johnny Too Bad
Red Red Wine
Food For Thought
Forever True
Kingston Town
Can’t Help Falling in Love
What are the stage times for UB40 in Manchester?
Anyone up for seeing UB40 play out at Manchester’s impressive 19,000-seater AO Arena will have to get there a tad early.
Doors will open at 6pm with a gig start time of 6:45pm due to the special guests who will be taking to the stage before them.
Make sure you get down early, as you really won’t want to miss the phenomenal duo Aswad, as well as standout vocalist Maxi Priest – It really is a reggae revolution.
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena andVictoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through 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.
The Manc -
5th August 2020 
