The Jockey Club Live will be making a return to racecourses across the north this summer, with a jam-packed line-up of open air summer concerts.
In the north, we’ll be looking forward to gigs from Craig David, Sugababes, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, and Pete Tong, plus an epic Faithless DJ set from Sister Bliss across some of the UK’s finest racecourses.
The Jockey Club Live is an event series that combines live music and racing, drawing in more than one million people across 120 concerts since its launch in 2014.
Haydock Park, Aintree, and Carlisle Racecourses will be hosting these huge gigs, kicking off in May with the Sugababes.
Now back with the original line-up of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy, the girl band will be bringing their massive noughties hits to Aintree, from ‘Push the Button’ to ‘Freak Like Me’.
Dickon White, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses North West said: “Sugababes are one of the UK’s most iconic bands and we can’t wait to welcome them. Alongside Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, we have a stellar line-up of music nights ahead so I am firmly looking forward to the summer!”
Sugababes said: “We had such an amazing time playing festivals last year, we can’t wait to kick off the season with you all at Aintree Racecourse on 19th May!”
Up next will be Pete Tong in June, with a brand new show bringing together the worlds of classical and club music.
Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics will see the legendary DJ team up with the 65-piece Essential Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, alongside incredible visual effects.
Expect to be dancing in the fields of Aintree to hits like ‘Right Here, Right Now’, ‘Galvanise’, ‘Sing It Back’ and ‘Insomnia’.
Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics. Credit: Ash Youd
Dickon White said: “Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics is going to transform the Red Rum Garden into the White Isle for one night only! We can’t wait to welcome the show to Aintree Racecourse in June for what will truly be an unforgettable summer evening.”
Pete Tong said: “Dust off your raving shoes! Myself and Jules Buckley are so excited to be bringing the orchestra and Ibiza Classics to Aintree Racecourse in 2023. I guarantee the energy is going to blow the place apart!”
The legend that is Craig David is next on the bill, taking over Haydock Park 23 years after the release of his critically acclaimed album, Born to Do It.
His triumphant return will bring him into the north west in June for what promises to be an iconic night. \
Molly Dingwall, general manager at Haydock Park Racecourse said: “Craig is one of the icons of the UK music industry and a real voice of a generation–we’re so excited to have him at Haydock Park this summer for a show that’s sure to be a highlight!”
Craig David at Jockey Club Live. Credit: Angela Smith
Craig David said: “From my TS5 shows in Ibiza to sets at festivals like Glastonbury, there is nothing quite like an outdoor summer show! I can’t wait to bring the party to Haydock Park in June with my live band–bring it on!”
Moving into July and it’s another music heavyweight taking to The Jockey Club Live stage at Carlisle Racecourse.
A Faithless DJ set is set to take Cumbria back to the heyday of 90s and noughties electronic music, thanks to hits like ‘Insomnia’ and ‘God is a DJ’.
Sister Bliss, firmly considered a musical force in dance music, will be handling the decks.
Helen Willis, general manager at Carlisle Racecourse said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sister Bliss to Carlisle Racecourse for a Faithless DJ Set. Faithless are one of the most iconic giants of electronic music and we know fans will be dancing the night away to their biggest hits and more on Saturday 8 July.”
Sister Bliss said: “Summer outdoor shows are some of my absolute favourites and the crowd response is always remarkable. We have a spectacular show planned so can’t wait to see you all there!”
And finally, it’s the great Nile Rodgers & CHIC returning to Haydock Park in August, for a night filled with funk, pop and all things disco.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC at Haydock Park. Credit: Supplied
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has been a pioneer of the music industry and has helped to create some of the world’s most famous and respected songs.
Molly Dingwall said: “Nile Rodgers & CHIC put on the most incredible live show–their catalogue of unrivalled hits saw that Aintree Racecourse were all on their feet and dancing last summer. Due to phenomenal demand, we had to bring them back to Merseyside!”
Nile Rodgers said: “I’m so excited to come and see all our friends in the North West on Friday 11 August. Aintree last summer was a real highlight for us all so we can’t wait to continue the Good Times at Haydock Park!”
Tickets are available now through The Jockey Club Live here.
The full Jockey Club Live line-up across the North West
11 May – Sugababes at Aintree Racecourse
16 June – Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics at Aintree Racecourse
24 June – Craig David at Haydock Park Racecourse
8 July – Faithless DJ Set at Carlisle Racecourse
11 Aug – Nile Rodgers & CHIC at Haydock Park Racecourse
Featured image: Supplied
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Gorillaz announce huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK and Ireland tour
Daisy Jackson
Gorillaz are well and truly back, and they’ve announced a huge Manchester gig on the upcoming The Mountain Tour.
The legendary band, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, will be performing at the Co-op Live arena next spring.
Gorillaz is a virtual band made up of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle.
The huge tour announcement comes along with the announcement of their new album, The Mountain, which features a whole myriad of collaborations including Johnny Marr, IDLES’ Joe Talbot and Dennis Hopper.
It’s their ninth studio album and promises to be a ‘playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence’.
The Gorillaz The Mountain Tour will visit arenas across the UK and Ireland next Spring, with support from Trueno, and follows the sold-out 5-star House of Kong exhibition and four triumphant performances at Copper Box Arena.
Manchester will get the new Gorillaz tour first, with the band kicking things off at Co-op Live on 21 March before heading to cities including Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, and Liverpool.
The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world.
The album will officially release on 20 March 2026.
General on sale begins at 11am on Friday 19 September HERE.
Gorillaz’ ‘The Mountain Tour’ dates in full
MARCH 21 – Co-op Live, Manchester 22 – BP Pulse Live, Birmingham 24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (support from Trueno) 25 – First Direct Arena, Leeds 27 – Utilitia Arena, Cardiff (support from Trueno) 28 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (support from Trueno) 29 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (support from Trueno) 31 – SSE Arena, Belfast
APRIL 1 – 3Arena, Dublin (support from Trueno)
JUNE 20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (support from Sparks and Trueno)
Featured image: Press image
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The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year
Danny Jones
The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.
You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.
We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.
If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.
She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.
Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.
From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.
Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…
We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.
There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize
It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.
“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.
“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”
She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?
Daisy Jackson -
6th April 2023 
