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Popstars icons Hear’Say and Liberty X announce huge reunion arena tour
What a throwback
Iconic 00s pop groups Hear’Say and Liberty X have announced a joint reunion tour, visiting arenas right across the UK including here in Manchester.
The stars of the groundbreaking reality talent show Popstars are heading out on a 13-date arena tour, performing together for the first time ever.
As part of the tour, Hear’Say and Liberty X will be performing at the AO Arena in Manchester, along with venues in cities like Leeds, Newcastle, London, and Liverpool.
Both bands burst onto the music scene 25 years ago as the winners and runners-up of Popstars, a show which paved the way for reality TV-formed bands like One Direction, Little Mix, Girls Aloud, and JLS.
Now for the first time, Hear’Say and Liberty X are heading out on a joint tour, ‘Popstars: The Originals’.
They’ll be performing all their hits to a combined audience of more than 150,000 fans.
Reuniting on stage will be four original Hear’Say members – Danny Foster, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan.
The band went straight to number one after winning Popstars, with their smash hit Pure and Simple, while their debut album Popstars reached triple-Platinum status.
Meanwhile Liberty X will have their entire original line-up of Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm and Kelli Young.
They finished as runners-up but had a glittering pop music career, with hits like Just A Little, Got To Have Your Love, and Being Nobody.
Hear’Say comment: “Coming back together after 25 years is something that’s incredibly special to all of us. It’s a chance to celebrate an unforgettable chapter in our lives, reconnect with each other and relive so many amazing memories.
“To be sharing the stage with Liberty X makes this celebration even more special, and it feels like the perfect way to mark such an incredible milestone.
“We are so excited to be celebrating with everyone and honestly can’t wait to reconnect with the Hear’say fans. To relive those amazing memories together and create some new ones along the way is going to be very special.
“We are counting down the days and can’t wait to see you there.”
Liberty X add, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Popstars changed all of our lives. We are thrilled to be heading out on tour with Hear’Say to celebrate where it all began.
“It feels like the perfect way to mark such an incredible milestone, bringing the music, the memories and all the energy back to the stage.
“Most of all, we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or you’re discovering these songs all over again, we can’t wait to sing, dance and make some brand new memories together. See you on tour!”
Popstars: The Originals tour with Hear’Say and Liberty X will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on 8 May 2027.
Tickets will go on sale via pre-sale from 9am on Wednesday 14 October, before remaining tickets go on general sale from 9am on Friday 16 October HERE.
Popstars: The Originals tour with Hear’Say and Liberty X – 2027 tour dates in full
- 17 April – Dublin, 3arena
- 18 April – Belfast, SSE Arena
- 20 April – Bournemouth, BIC
- 21 April – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
- 25 April – Brighton, Centre
- 28 April – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
- 1 May – Birmingham, BP Pulse Arena
- 2 May – Leeds, First Direct Arena
- 4 May – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
- 5 May – Glasgow, Hydro Arena
- 7 May – London, The O2
- 8 May – Manchester, AO Arena
- 9 May – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
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Featured image: Supplied
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The Strokes at Co-op Live, Manchester – actually very hard to explain
Daisy Jackson
Manchester has waited a long, long time for this – The Strokes back on stage in our city.
I’ve been a fan of the band for as long as I can remember, but have never managed to catch them live, partly because they’ve left it TWENTY YEARS between shows here.
But back they are, with an enormous gig at the Co-op Live on their Reality Awaits tour.
The Strokes are known as one of the most solid indie bands of the 2000s, going triple platinum with their debut album Is This It and releasing massive anthems like Last Nite, Reptilia, and Someday.
They’re also known as a bit of an unpredictable live act – some will say they’re one of the best on the circuit, others will say they’re disappointing, and it really can depend on the night.
What they’re not known for is their audience interaction, so when frontman Julian Casablancas tries to have a bit of a chat with the audience, we all sort of stare blankly back at him. He’s speaking to us? What do we do?
“Wow, tough crowd,” he says, which is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone describe a Manchester audience as tough.
Then he turns back to drummer Fabrizio Moretti and says: “This is f*cking hideous, let’s play some songs.”
The setlist seems to get a shake-up every couple of shows, which is a nice surprise for us – and apparently also Julian, who regularly pops over to ask his bandmates what’s up next.
It doesn’t really matter that he’s not done his homework, because the second that drum kicks in, along with the impeccable guitar work of Schiltz, Fraiture and Hammond Jr., he snaps into action.
It’s impressive that their songs still have such singalong quality when Casablancas enunciates like a man with a dislocated jaw. For certain songs he’s so incoherent that if you weren’t a fan you’d walk in this room and wonder what the f*ck was going on.
But then, that’s sort of why us The Strokes fans love them so much. There’s a calamitous beauty to the work they put out and it’s so fun to belt out some words, even if they’re not the right ones.
I was hoping that seeing it live would sell that divisive new album, Reality Awaits, to me, but it didn’t. It’s too autotuney, too languid, and too often the victim of everyone’s toilet breaks.
Their earlier tracks still land best in a live setting, especially Reptilia, an absolute juggernaut in their back catalogue.
Rollercoaster set and tricky crowd interactions aside, we all had a great time – I’m just not sure I could say the same about Julian Casablancas.
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Featured image: The Manc Group
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Sam Fender describes his own ticket prices as ‘b*llocks’ and demands change for fans
Daisy Jackson
Sam Fender has kicked off about ticket prices for his own tour, ahead of his huge stadium summer next year.
The Geordie star announced his Proper Massive stadium tour last week, which will visit some of the UK’s biggest venues including The O2 in London, Etihad Stadium in Manchester, and St James’ Park in his home city of Newcastle.
But after ticket prices for the tour were announced, Sam Fender surprised us all by joining in with a moan about how expensive they were.
He described the ticketing strategy for his tour as ‘b*llocks’ and said he was ‘not happy’ with ticket prices.
And proving just how much sway an artist can have on ticket prices, Sam Fender then demanded that things be redone.
Sam first appeared in the comments on Gavin Davis’ Instagram account, which frequently shares tour leaks and ticket prices.
There, he wrote: “I’m not happy with these prices, they’re getting changed. It got inflated well more than I’d had in mind, it should only be inflated in relation to the cost of putting the show on.
“The standing will not be split as well, I had no idea about it. I have no idea how this was normalised in gigs.
“It’s bollocks and it won’t be happening on this tour.”
Then later, on his own Instagram stories, Sam Fender posted: “I’ve managed to get Front Standing tickets removed from the UK stadium tour. Whoever buys a standing ticket gets as much chance as anyone to be at the front.
“No more £120 standing tickets either.
“Costs are astronomical compared to two years ago, I can’t control the venue and ticketing fees, that’s a sad reality of today’s industry.
“This is gonna be the biggest and best show we’ve ever put on. Can’t wait to see everyone on the road next summer!”
The ticket prices for the Proper Massive tour are now confirmed by Sam Fender himself as being £85 for GA standing, and £55/£75/£95 for seats.
You can get tickets when they go on sale HERE.
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Featured image: Publicity picture
Daisy Jackson -
8th October 2026 
