Pop royalty Girls Aloud are set to release a special edition of their 2004 song ‘I’ll Stand By You’, simply dubbed ‘Sarah’s Version’, for this year’s Children In Need broadcast.
The iconic British girl group returned earlier this year with a huge comeback nationwide tour which obviously sold out and they also won over crowds with their touching on-stage tributes to late singer Sarah Harding during their live performances.
Harding, 39, sadly passed away back in 2021 following a battle with breast cancer and was mourned across the country, especially here in the North, with a commemorative plaque and large mural of the Stockport-born songstress thrown up in her hometown back in May.
And now, as a way to help raise money for the annual BBC telethon and honour her once again, Girls Aloud will be re-releasing the well-known ballad.
‘I’ll Stand By You (Sarah’s Version)’ features Sarah on lead vocal throughout using vocals we discovered in the vault from the original recording sessions. The track played a key part in our ‘The Girls Aloud Show’ arena tour this summer & was an emotional moment for us all 🎙
Originally a cover of the 1997 track by The Pretenders and given that they were still so early into their career, the Noughties hitmakers naturally did multiple takes before landing on their final edit.
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That being said, a version that has been rediscovered in digging through the archived recording sessions features Sarah Harding on lead vocals and now the band are set to let her voice shine through.
Airing for the first time on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Wednesday, 6 November, ‘Sarah’s Version’ has already gone down an instant hit 20 years from its release, with the emotional punch of hearing Harding’s clearly hitting listeners hard.
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‘I’ll Stand By You’ went straight to the top of the UK Singles Chart when it was first released and was their second-ever number one. We have a very strong feeling that the importance of this re-release will see it do exactly the same – just in time for Christmas, no less.
Fans were left spellbound during what was casually referred to as ‘Sarah’s moment’ on the Girls Aloud reunion tour, where they truly did allow her singing to become the star of the show:
As if the charity single wasn’t a tear-jerking enough prospect already, ‘I’ll Stand By You – Sarah’s Version’ is also set to be released on 15 November, just two days before what would have been Harding’s 43rd birthday. We’re not crying, you are.
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In aid of The Christie and the Sarah Harding Legacy Project, more than £1 million has been raised in the Stopfordian’s memory and for breast cancer awareness through initiatives like the creation of the mural and members of the hospital doing charity runs, bike rides, swims and more.
Speaking on social media, the band added: “The track played a key part in our ‘The Girls Aloud Show’ arena tour this summer & was an emotional moment for us all.”
BBC Children in Need 2024 takes place next Friday (15 November) and highlights from their reunion tour, where ‘Sarah’s Version’ was first heard by the masses, will be shown on ITV at 8pm the following Sunday.
Featured Images — BBC Children In Need/The Christie
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Legendary rock band Pixies announce Manchester gig at leading arts venue for anniversary tour
Danny Jones
Legendary band Pixies have announced a brand new global tour to mark an incredible landmark anniversary, and will be coming to one of our favourite Manchester venues.
The Boston rock icons are celebrating 40 years as a band in 2026, and as part of the newly announced ‘P40’ world tour, they have revealed a run of European dates and a dedicated leg of live gigs right here in the UK.
In terms of dates here in England, the Manc show is also one of just three, so count yourselves lucky.
With a fandom as die-hard as the one they’ve maintained for going on 40 years, you can expect this one to sell out rather quickly.
P40 • Celebrating 40 Years of PIXIES
2026 marks the 40th year since the bands formation.
In celebration we're pleased to announce that we're heading back on the road. Announcing the first of many tour dates for next year.
The major live plans will see founding members Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering, as well as bassist Emma Richardson, visit Britain, Ireland and beyond – including their very first performance at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall.
Seems hard to believe given their legacy, right?
As for the Manchester date, Pixies will be playing at our leading city centre arts and cultural venue, Aviva Studios, located right next to the banks of the River Irwell.
Not only a thriving live music space, but the home of Factory International’s hub here in Greater Manchester, it’s fast become one of our favourite places to watch a gig.
You can find the rest of the P40 UK/EU live shows down below.
Pixies’ 40th anniversary tour UK and Europe dates
20 May – Barbican, York
21 May – Alhambra theatre, Dunfermline
25 May – Aviva Studios, Manchester
28 May – Royal Albert Hall, London
31 May – Live at the Castle, Limerick
2 June – Olympia, Dublin
30 June – Zitadelle Spandau, Berlin
1 July – Parkbühne Clara-Zetkin-Park
2 July – myticket Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt
14 July – Parco Della Musica, Milan
17 July – Maassilo, Rotterdam
18 July – Muziekcentrum, Enschede
19 July – PLT, Heerlen
This announcement comes amid their ongoing worldwide tour, which kicked off back in August and wraps up this November.
Not only is it approaching four whole decades since their formation as a band, but it’s also 35 years since their groundbreaking Platinum-certified third album, Doolittle, and the 20th anniversary of their reunion at Coachella.
Commenting underneath the post, Factory International‘s official account replied: “Cannot wait to welcome you to Manchester.”
Tickets go on sale this Friday, 26 September at 10 – get ready to grab yours HERE.
Another groundbreaking group of musicians are celebrating the exact same milestone this year and couldn’t resist booking a Manchester date either.
Villanelle announce Manchester date on special UK/IE university tour
Danny Jones
Emerging rock band Villanelle, fronted by Gene Gallagher, have just announced a new tour of university-backed UK and Ireland venues, including a gig right here in Manchester.
The still relatively rookie group led by the son of legendary Mancunian music icon, Liam Gallagher, is still in its very early days, but the four-piece has already flirted with everything from straightforward indie music to post-punk, grunge and alternative.
Yes, if you were expecting LG‘s youngest son to just be imitating his dad’s sound, you’d be wrong; the impressive fledgling outfit are already carving a creative little space for themselves.
More importantly, they’ve already hit the road plenty of times over the past 12 months or so, including on the Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour, and now Villanelle are coming back to Manchester once again for a show and one of our most beloved live music spaces: Night and Day.
Join us across the UK on the Punchbag University Tour.
Working with promoters Punchbag, who have created the brand-new ‘Punchbag University Tour’, Villanelle are one of multiple artists joining the inaugural event.
The dedicated uni-sponsored series sees multiple names heading to key grassroots entertainment spots, celebrating up-and-coming talent as well as student culture at large.
Other bands and solo acts taking part in the debut Punchbag uni tour include Florentenes, Bino Bames and Die Twice.
Places getting involved with the shows themselves include the likes of Sidney and Matilda in Sheffield, Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds, Zerox in Newcastle, among many more.
It looks like it’s already shaping up nicely if you ask us.
Once again, Villanelle will be playing iconic Manc music institution Night and Day on Friday, 17 October, which will precede another highly anticipated headline show in the city at The Castle Hotel.
As for the Night and Day gig, it’s actually a place they’ve played before, too.
The boys visited the venue back in November last year and brought a pretty strong die-hard following with them from the off, and have played plenty more support slots around the North since then.
If you’re interested, tickets for all musicians and their respective gigs are on sale now, and they’re being snapped up fast, so click HERE soon if you’re keen on catching any of them.
Whilst you’re here, you might as well stick around and find out what we made of Villanelle’s first full studio release down below.
Danny Jones -
7th November 2024 
