The Empty Page, a fiercely independent band in Manchester, have described the ‘insane’ moment they saw their band tee up on stage with The Cure.
The group have had a surreal run of attention from some of alternative music’s biggest names – but seeing The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels wearing their t-shirt in front of 25,000 people was something else entirely.
The Manchester band were among the thousands of people watching The Cure at Wythenshawe Park when the legendary group took to the stage – then frontwoman Kel Page noticed that something up there looked a bit familiar.
“You don’t notice at first, and then you start going ‘That looks like – hang on, that really looks like one of our t-shirts,” Kel said.
“Then you’re zooming in on your phone, and we just absolutely lost our heads.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The shirt was indeed theirs, being worn on stage by The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels – turning an already huge Manchester show into an unforgettable moment for a fiercely independent local band.
“Honestly, we’ve experienced cool stuff, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that,” she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I’m stood in a field with 25,000 people all looking at a screen, with a dude that I absolutely adore, wearing my band’s t-shirt. Endorsements don’t really come bigger than that. Literally bigger, because of the size of the screen.”
It’s a huge moment for The Empty Page, an alt-punk group formed in Manchester, who will play one of their biggest shows to date at Manchester Academy 3 next month.
The band is made up of Giz on guitar and Steve Kent on drums, with Kel Page as lead vocalist.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Empty Page’s t-shirt on stage with The Cure. Credit: The Empty Page
Kel said: “The Cure are probably one of the most influential, brilliant bands of all time, and one of my favourite bands of all time. It’s just wild. I keep thinking it’s not real and I’m gonna wake up, because it’s such a weird thing to happen.”
The moment is the latest in what has been an extraordinary run of attention for the Manchester band.
“For something like this to happen is really cool, and it kind of comes after a long line of really cool things.”
A reel from The Empty Page was shared by Courtney Love, while Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson subsequently began sharing and commenting on their posts, as well as sending them messages of support. Then came Juliette Lewis.
When the actor and singer started sharing The Empty page’s music, Kel said: “This is f**king batsh*t. I cannot believe that THE Juliette Lewis is saying my band is good, this is absolutely crazy.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“For Reeves from The Cure to wear our t-shirt on stage in Manchester is just insane,” she continued.
“That Manchester Cure gig is one of the hugest things to happen in Manchester for a while, especially for alternative gothy kind of punk/post-punk people.”
The Empty Page will play Manchester Academy 3 this September. Credit: The Empty Page
The Empty Page are a fiercely independent band, and have put on their own gigs, booked their own tours around the country and released their own albums on their own label. They don’t have the financial backing or industry infrastructure that many emerging artists rely on.
“We’re almost DIY to a fault,” Kel said. “We do everything ourselves. We don’t have big connections, we don’t have loads of money and rich famous parents, and we don’t have a record label or a manager or a social media company.”
Already, The Empty Page has noticed an uptick in sales on their t-shirts, with Kel saying it ‘feels like it’s becoming a bit of a cult merchandise item’.
ADVERTISEMENT
But ultimately, the hope is that the attention leads people beyond the t-shirt and towards the music itself.
“I just hope it means that people will check us out, because we’re a really good band, and if you like The Cure there’s a chance you’ll like us.”
The Empty Page will play Manchester Academy 3 on 24 September, following a run of sold-out shows – tickets are on sale now HERE.
Pop icons S Club announce new arena tour, with huge Manchester gig
Daisy Jackson
S Club will be heading back to Manchester on a newly-announced 13-date arena tour next year.
The pop icons have announced the Ain’t No Party Like A S Club Party tour, which will see Bradley, Jo, Jon, Rachel and Tina back on stage for the ultimate pop party.
The huge tour includes a night at the AO Arena in Manchester, as well as two gigs at the O2 in London.
S Club are one of Britain’s most successful pop groups, formerly known as S Club 7, who went on to become a cultural phenomenon with their own TV series – one of which, L.A. 7, remains the highest-rated programme of all time on CBBC.
Their smash hits include Reach, Don’t Stop Movin, Bring It All Back, Never Had A Dream Come True, and S Club Party.
In 2023, S Club celebrated their 25th anniversary with a sellout UK and US tour, shortly after the tragic death of former member Paul Cattermole.
Now, five of the original seven are ready to bring the party back to Manchester, as S Club return to the stage.
They’ll have very special guests supporting on the tour too, announcing Boyzlife, the supergroup made up of the former Boyzone and Westlife members Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden.
S Club say: “We can’t wait to get back out on tour, see you all and celebrate the songs, memories and moments we’ve shared together over the years.
“It’s going to be one BIG party, and we want you all to be part of it!”
S Club will play the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 9 October 2027.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 6 November HERE.
Manic Street Preachers and Suede at Co-op Live, Manchester – stage times, setlists, and more
Daisy Jackson
Beloved British bands Manic Street Preachers and Suede are back on the road with another co-headline UK tour, including a massive Manchester date.
The two seasoned UK rock artists have teamed up for a huge run of live shows, which will bring them to the Co-op Live this week.
Both will be playing tracks from their newest releases – as well as a fair few of the hits.
The Welsh rock icons and the long-standing 1990s favourites from the London scene have more than 75 years of experience between them, with both outfits forming in the mid to late 80s.
This co-headline arena tour marks the biggest collaboration to date for both legendary bands and offers a unique opportunity to experience their renowned live performances.
If you’re heading to see Manic Street Preachers and Suede in Manchester, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know.
Manic Street Preachers and Suede UK tour dates
Wednesday 28 October – Glasgow OVO Hydro
Friday 30 October – Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
Saturday 31 October – Manchester Co-op Live
Tuesday 3 November – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Wednesday 4 November – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Friday 6 November – London The O2
Saturday 7 November – Birmingham Utilita Arena
Wednesday 11 November – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Thursday 12 November – Bournemouth International Centre
Tickets for Manic Street Preachers and Suede in Manchester
If you’ve not yet snapped up tickets to see Manic Street Preachers and Suede, worry not – there are still some on sale even this close to the show.
Floor standing tickets are available for £70.90 each, or seat are priced at £70.90 or £87.95 each.
You can see the latest availability and grab tickets HERE.
Stage times for Manic Street Preachers and Suede
Suede and Manic Street Preachers are on a joint tour and coming to Manchester. Credit: Publicity picture
Co-op Live hasn’t yet confirmed stage times for the show, other than the general admission doors will open at 6pm.
The bands are actually taking it in turns as to who plays first and who closes out the show – but apparently for Manchester it will be Suede first, Manic Street Preachers second.
Setlist for Suede
Disintegrate
Dancing With the Europeans
Trash
Animal Nitrate
We Are the Pigs
Personality Disorder
The 2 of Us
My City
Filmstar
Antidepressants
June Rain
She Still Leads Me On
Trance State
The Wild Ones
So Young
Metal Mickey
Beautiful Ones
Setlist for Manic Street Preachers
Motorcycle Emptiness
Ocean Spray
Faster
Decline & Fall
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Everything Must Go
Walk Me to the Bridge
No Surface All Feeling
Autumnsong
A Design for Life
From Despair to Where
The Everlasting
Slash ‘n’ Burn
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Die in the Summertime
You Love Us
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on 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. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
ADVERTISEMENT
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Daisy Jackson -
26th August 2026 
