Watching the Jonas Brothers at the Co-op Live Arena was like stepping into a time machine that none of us ever wanted to get out of.
Although the tour was literally called ‘Five Albums, One Night’, we still somehow had our doubts as we walked up to the ever-impressive Co-op Live that we’d actually get the full spectrum of hits we were hoping for (mainly due to my disbelief that they’d actually play Camp Rock songs…)
But sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say ‘fair play’, because the Jonas Brothers delivered nothing non-stop hits, from nostalgic classics to the modern-day stuff.
Jonas Brothers at Co-op Live, Manchester – Review
Special mentions from the off
Before I really get into the bulk of the review though, I’d just like to shout out Mimi Webb, who opened the show brilliantly at the Co-op Live. From the moment she walked on stage you could have genuinely been fooled into thinking she was the one headlining.
Delivering many of her hits such as ‘Erase You’, ‘House on Fire’, ‘Good Without’ and more, she was the perfect support act for a crowd that was ready to party the night away.
Special mention also goes out to the actual venue: last night was admittedly my first time stepping foot into the Co-op Live and I was absolutely blown away, not only by the sheer size of the place but by how smoothly everything ran.
I know it may sound like a moot point but the best venues are the ones where you barely even notice all the effort that goes into the operation of ensuring customers have the best experience possible.
There’s nothing worse than paying good money for a ticket only to be held up in queues for the bar, toilet, or even just to get in; Co-op Live certainly ensures those problems don’t occur. It genuinely filled me with a little bit of Manc pride knowing that we have a music venue that good, right on our doorstep.
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Let’s go, Jo’ Bros
Anyway, onto the actual concert and can I first of all just start by saying, or rather screaming, AHHHHH!…
I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and admit Camp Rock was a seminal part of my early teenage years and that I’ve had a burning love for the Jonas Brothers ever since.
One thing that I really respected about their show is how they didn’t try to hide from their roots. There’s many a ‘child actor turned superstar’ out there who would love nothing more than to eradicate the memory of them ever being a plucky Disney channel regular.
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Not these lads, however. The Jo’ Bros seem to fully own their pre-teen and small screen past, wearing that reputation not with any adolescent cringe but instead like a badge of honour.
The show truly did span their entire discography, from ‘Gotta Find You’ (Camp Rock), all the way through to their latest record – fittingly called, The Album. It was two and a half hours of banger after banger… after banger, after BANGER, (I could go on—actually, I might…); after banger, after banger.
Okay, I’m done. Seriously though, the crowd were absolutely loving every moment of it. Every time one song ended and another began, within the first three notes being played, all you could hear was 23,000 simultaneous screams from adoring fans, ourselves firmly included.
In summary, the vibes were immaculate, the songs were stunning, the audience had the times of their lives and for one very special evening with inhibition left at the front door, a trio of siblings from across the pond made it felt like all might be well in the world once again.
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Hyperbole? Maybe, but that’s what pop music’s all about.
For future reference, we’ll fight anyone who dares to mock the Jonas Brothers as just some guilty pleasure.
That anyone should show shame for enjoying because last night they completely rocked (‘Camp Rock!’) the show, in an arena already heralded by many music legends.
You just have to be grateful for moments like these. Thank you, Jonas Brothers.
Blossoms at O2 Ritz Manchester – five-night hometown residency is already a triumph
Daisy Jackson
Blossoms are a band who were born and forged here in Greater Manchester, and now they’re back retracing their steps with a five-night residency across the venues that launched them into the big leagues.
Their star has risen all the way to arena level and headline shows at Wythenshawe Park at this point, especially here in their hometown, so the chance to see them back in these cosy-ish little venues is special, and a little bizarre.
For night two of their landmark sold-out gig series, it was the turn of the O2 Ritz, that sweaty spot off Oxford Road where the floor bounces downstairs and you stick to the carpets upstairs.
Poetically, the first time I ever saw Blossoms was in this very room in 2016, when they had the mid-afternoon slot at Neighbourhood festival and the queue to get in went all the way back to St Peter’s Square.
Since those days, Blossoms have come a long, long way, and their live show has evolved and matured from five lads thrashing on their instruments to this well-oiled, hip-swaying, flares-wearing, chart-topping machine.
There’s even choreography now – how fancy!
A stand-out moment from the show is actually a song from their new, fifth studio album Gary, which is still barely eight weeks old.
A spoof recording of legendary Manchester indie club 42s rings out, then all five band members abandon their stations, slinging keytars and marching drums around their necks so that they can dance together in front of neon signs.
Blossoms promised more disco with this album and they bloody meant it. It’s not just the flares and the blow-dries and the moustaches (though those do help) – it’s in the funk and groove that’s gradually crept into their music exponentially with each album release.
This is still indie rock but it’s the most danceable of its genre. Good luck keeping your shoulders from wiggling and jiggling in here. Good luck keeping that grin off your face.
And Gary is one of the most unexpectedly fun albums to be released in the last year – the fact they called it Gary, named after a giant fibreglass garden centre Gorilla, should’ve been our clue. It could border on silly were it not such a masterpiece.
It seems like the only thing Blossoms are trying to prove is that you can be wildly successful without taking yourself too seriously. They just seem like a group who want to have a good time and it’s totally infectious.
Case in point – when each band member is introduced, keyboardist Myles Kellock plays the riff of Satisfaction by Benny Benassi and The Biz. Unexpected.
Blossoms also clearly give a sh*t about their live shows and graft at it – I’ve seen these guys an awful lot and it’s because their tour dates are plentiful and consistently worth the ticket price.
This is definitely the biggest era of their career so far, but have they peaked? Not even close.
The Warehouse Project reveals return to Rotterdam for massive overseas event
Danny Jones
The Warehouse Project has confirmed it will be returning to Rotterdam in 2025 for a second time, its fourth overseas event.
After debuting abroad in 2023 with an action-packed few days in the city of Rotterdam – whose art scene, music culture and even canal network bears lots of similarities to Manchester – Warehouse Project is coming back for more.
There’s just over a month left of the 2024 WHP calendar; you’d think they’d be getting ready to wind down and enjoy the Christmas breather, but not so: the organisers are already planning what is set to be one of their biggest and best long weekends to date.
Set to take place over the early May bank holiday, the Dutch port city will once again play host to one of Manchester’s legendary club nights.
The second biggest city in the Netherlands behind Amsterdam, the next edition of Warehouse’s international series is set to return to Rotterdam RDM – a warehouse space very reminiscent of both Depot Mayfield and their original home at Victoria Warehouse.
WHP x RDM II is already being billed as an “unforgettable weekend” and if any of this year’s mainline events here in Manchester are anything to go by, they’re bound to live up to that promise.
There’s also a full FAQ page for anyone looking to find out more information regarding Rotterdam, the venue itself, travel and more.
As well as revealing the dates (2-4 May 2025), the organisers have already teased a good chunk of the lineup, with the likes of Chris Stussy, Peach, Four Tet b2b with Sammy Virji, salute and many more already confirmed.
With a slew of incredible acts, multiple afterparties on boats and other local venues, as well as plenty of opportunity to see the rest of Holland’s ‘Manhattan on the Maas’, this is going to be SO good.
We were lucky enough to have been sent to sample their inaugural Rotterdam date back in April of 2023 and, we have to say, it was an absolute blast.
Take it from us, if you’re considering being a part of this next event you won’t regret and we’ll be putting together an extensive guide to help you feel prepared for raving overseas. Registration for early access is already live, so sign up fast if you want to give yourself the best chance of being there.
Limited presale and accommodation packages will be available to those who have applied at 9am on Monday, 2 December (UK customers only). General admission tickets will go live from 9am n Tuesday, 3 December sale for UK and Dutch customers starts Tuesday 3rd December at 9am GMT/10am CET.
Rotterdam 2025 will be here before you know it, so take a boots-on-the-ground at what an international Warehouse Project date looks like down below: