At long last, Manchester’s huge new arena, the Co-op Live, is up and running.
The venue has been under construction near the Etihad Stadium for several years, and now the gargantuan space has hosted its first event.
Although the Co-op Live doesn’t officially launch until Tuesday, a test event last night saw Everything Everything and Rick Astley performing to a smaller crowd.
The £365m music venue is the largest indoor venue in the UK, with an overall capacity of 23,500 fans.
Not only has Harry Styles invested in the arena, he’s also consulted on several elements of the build.
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It’s hoped that it will provide the best possible gig-going experience both for artists and fans.
And Harry popped up to say hello at the test event… via screen.
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Other famous faces offering video endorsements included Phil Foden and David Beckham.
At last night’s test event, the first fans through the door were treated to a vast space bathed in blue (that might have something to do with its links to the City Football Group…) and got to see inside the huge arena space itself, which has the largest floor space of any indoor arena.
The Co-op Live isn’t actually quite finished yet – still to come will be 32 bars, restaurants and lounges around and inside the site.
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And last night’s event didn’t go without its hiccups, with many fans finding that their tickets for Rick Astley had been cancelled with just hours to go.
Co-op Live’s launch eventInside Co-op Live in ManchesterInvestor Harry Styles joined the Co-op Live launch by videoInside Co-op Live
Co-op Live said in a statement yesterday: “We’re busy putting the finishing touches on Co-op Live, and we are looking forward to Co-op Live becoming the pre-eminent arena in the UK upon opening.
“As a part of the opening process, we are in the midst of an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures. To enable us to test the spaces effectively, we have made the difficult decision to reduce overall capacity for today’s test event.
“We apologise to affected guests and look forward to welcoming them to The Black Keys.”
After the official launch on Tuesday 23 April, acts lined up in the coming weeks will include Take That, Olivia Rodrigo, The Black Keys and Nicki Minaj.
You can see a full tour of inside the new Co-op Live arena below:
Deep Purple announce huge Manchester show at the iconic AO Arena
Daisy Jackson
Rock royalty Deep Purple have just announced a huge Manchester gig at the AO Arena.
These pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock will be heading out on a tour next year that includes shows in Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
And Deep Purple will be performing on the most iconic stage in Manchester, with a gig at the AO Arena next winter.
Even five decades on, the group remain one of the world’s most revered live acts, with 50 years’ worth of chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Perhaps best known for their legendary hit Smoke On The Water, along with songs like Highway Star and Child In Time, the group are listed as one of the genre’s most influential bands of all time.
Child In Time was reworked to soundtrack Netflix’s smash-hit series Stranger Things, capturing Deep Purple’s timeless and lasting influence.
The British rockers show no sign of slowing down, releasing a critically-acclaimed album in 2024.
They’ll be supported by Mammoth, fronted by Grammy Award-winning ssongwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen.
Also joining Deep Purple for their AO Arena gig in Manchester will be Jayler, fast-rising UK rockers.
Deep Purple will play at the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday 22 November, 2026 – tickets go on sale from 10am on Friday 21 November and you can get yours HERE.
Deep Purple 2026 UK tour dates
Wednesday 18 November – Newcastle Utilita Arena
Thursday 19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 21 November – BP Pulse Arena, Birmingham
Sunday 22 November – AO Arena, Manchester
Tuesday 24 November – Eventim Apollo, London
Featured image: Jim Rakete
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Kings of Leon announce Manchester arena show on short run of UK dates
Daisy Jackson
Kings of Leon have just announced a short run of UK shows for next year, which includes an arena gig here in Manchester.
The multi-Grammy Award-winning rock band will be performing at the Co-op Live arena, along with two other British dates in Leeds and Glasgow.
Kings of Leon are one of the biggest alternative rock bands in the world, and never fail to sell out arenas in Manchester when they perform here.
The group of brothers (plus one cousin) have headlined some of the world’s most iconic festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, as well as reclaiming an all-time attendance record with a fifth night at Hyde Park in London last year.
Kings of Leon have been dominating charts for more than 20 years, ever since the release of their debut album Youth & Young Manhood in 2003.
They now have nine studio albums, including last year’s Can We Please Have Fun, which (as with all their albums so far) comfortably reached the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
The band is made up of Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill, and just last week they dropped an EP with four new songs.
Now, it’s another brief run of live shows for the UK, with Kings of Leon performing at Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 4 July 2026.
Tickets for Kings of Leon in Manchester will go on sale from 9am on Friday 21 November, and you can get yours HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
21st April 2024 
