Jamiroquai has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of their huge UK and European tour – and yes, for the last time, it’s a band not just one bloke.
Yes, big hat man and his troupe are returning to Manchester for one night only and no we’re not talking about Santa: it’s big JQ – or Jay Kay to his friends – the 90s and noughties hit-maker with the best moves this side of the Mersey and irresistible funk that never fails to make you dance around the kitchen.
After six whole years away from full headline touring, the London-formed band with very Manc ties are set to play 14 dates across here at home and on the continent, with the music veterans landing none other than a Co-op Live debut for their Manchester date.
32 years on from playing pubs and clubs around the country and after being away for more than half a decade you might say that still having this kind of pulling power is ‘Virtual Insanity’. Had to be done…
Known for other much-loved hits like ‘Space Cowboy’, ‘Cosmic Girl’, ‘You Give Me Something’ and many more, Jamiroquai was formed by the Stretford-born frontman (real name Jason Luís Cheetham) back in 1992, with their breakout album Emergency on Planet Earth releasing a year later to great success.
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The acid jazz and funk experts need no introduction really but we’ll give them one anyway. 15 Brit Award nominations, two Guinness World Records, a Grammy, more than 1.7 billion Spotify streams and counting, not to mention the single greatest collection of headwear known to man.
Sending a message to their fans on social media, the band wrote: “One Man’s mission, for 30 years and counting, to put groove music into YOUR LIFE.
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“Will you join us in the fight to Let The Disco Stay The Same – to conquer all your inner fears and boogie like NEVER before? DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES to heal the world through MUSIC?
“DO YOU HAVE…. THE HEELS OF STEEL!” Ever a flare for the theatrical, eh?
‘The Heels of Steel’ tour kicks off this time next year, with a first night in Barcelona on 6 November kicking a two-month-long party into gear.
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Jamiroquai doesn’t make it to Manchester and the Co-op Live arena until 6 December 2025, but we’re already getting our dancing shoes at the ready.
Pre-sale can be accessed from 9am on Wednesday byregistering on the band’s website and general admission tickets go on sale this Friday, 22 November at the same time.
You can grab yours HERE and we’ll see you out on the dancefloor.
Featured Images — Midori Tsukagoshi (supplied)/The Manc Group
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Morrissey claims sole credit for The Smiths’ iconic Salford Lads’ Club photo shoot idea
Danny Jones
Morrissey is once again raising the issue of credit and disputes over The Smiths’ legacy, as the controversial former frontman has now claimed that their iconic photo shoot outside of Salford Lads’ Club was entirely his idea.
The 66-year-old lead singer turned solo star from Urmston is no stranger to sparking debates and attracting controversy, and it seems his latest is to do with one of the most iconic images in British music history, let alone just Greater Manchester.
The Davyhulme-born bard and divisive artist goes on to claim that the other co-founding members of the iconic Manc band initially viewed as more of his “lunacy” – the suggestion seemingly being (as it often is with Morrissey) that they simply didn’t understand the ‘genius’ at the time.
Many of his most die-hard fans still believe that most don’t and never will.
He even jokes that, in another life, it could very well have been something entirely different and random, such as the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford, basically suggesting that other members would have simply followed suit.
In his words, he argues that “now millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be.”
Once again, this is by no means the first time he’s called into question, ‘who did what’ and/or who owns what bit of intellectual property; in fact, there was apparently another one of these instances with Johnny Marr only recently.
‘Moz’ and Marr have been at loggerheads pretty much ever since the group disbanded back in 1987, and still look to be far away from seeing eye to eye on virtually anything.
The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Danny Jones -
18th November 2024 
