There was a time, I’m fairly certain, that Justin Timberlake was the coolest man in pop music.
The Tennessee-born star is a triple threat who can sing, dance and act (…alright, last one is up for debate. We all saw In Time).
There might be a few more memes about him than he’d like these days (‘What tour? ‘The world tour’), but stick him back on a big stage and you quickly remember why Justin is often referred to as the Prince of pop.
He’s got more than 30 years of stardom to back him up, during which time he’s never stopped churning out pop bangers and arena tours, plus all those years he spent as part of boyband royalty N SYNC.
In the early days of Justin Timberlake’s solo career, I was a misty-eyed teenager with his poster on my wall. I was even gifted a mug for my 16th birthday that said ‘Born to be Mrs Justin Timberlake’, and still drink a brew out of it now.
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So the chance to see my first celebrity crush live on stage for the first time, and at the staggering Co-op Live arena, triggered the sort of giddy frisson I thought I’d left behind about the same time I stopped writing ‘DJ luvz JT’ into my school planner.
We’ve got a cracking view of the full thing from the venue’s new Hangout area, tucked up in the heights of the venue where you’re basically sat at the bar to watch the concert.
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Justin Timberlake with his dancers at Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Justin Timberlake is, obviously, not quite the same pop star I fell in love with all those years ago.
During the UK leg of his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour, there are definitely moments where he veers wildly close to cringe, like when he insists on cueing the drum solos with a point and a call of ‘DRUMS!’. It’s so aggressively American I feel like we’re all supposed to have recited the Pledge of Allegiance to be allowed in. I keep switching between having the ick and wanting to throw my bra on stage.
But once you embrace all the cheese and corn of Justin Timberlake’s live show, you’re in for a wild ride.
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His older hits like Cry Me A River, Senorita, and Summer Love blend seamlessly with material from his most recent album Everything I Thought It Was, with a sprinkling of family-friendly chart-toppers from the likes of Can’t Stop the Feeling! from Trolls.
Throughout the show, Justin spends almost as much time dancing as he does singing, as per the boyband bible of the 1990s, with at least one perfectly-executed dance break in every single song.
The floating stage at Justin Timberlake’s Manchester show. Credit: The Manc GroupJustin Timberlake on the smaller b-stage at Co-op Live Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He covers some ground too, choosing not to sneak his way over to his smaller b-stage but instead taking his time to dance and sing his way through the audience, taking a heartwarming amount of time to give a front-row performance to those seated in the accessible section.
His audience participation mostly involves being sweet to children and wooing women with birthday songs. His natural charisma does the trick. At one point he asks who’s single in the room and I let out an enthusiastic ‘WOOO’ despite the husband waiting for me at home.
The staging is full of surprises (unless you’re on Tiktok), with an entire chunk of the big screen breaking away and soaring away from the stage, spinning and tilting as it goes.
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For the encore of Mirrors, Justin rides the big screen like a comically large, glowing surfboard, then it folds away like a Murphy bed taking him with it. Does he have to abseil back down the other side? Who knows.
There really aren’t many artists in the industry who’ve been doing it this well for this long.
And that is why, even in 2024, I will proudly drink from my born to be Mrs. Justin Timberlake mug.
Featured image: The Manc Group
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Elbow get behind campaign to save Jodrell Bank from closure
Danny Jones
Manc band Elbow are among the latest to get behind the campaign to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from closing permanently.
The Greater Manchester natives famously played a sold-out gig at the important scientific and cultural landmark for a very special live album recording well over a decade ago, and know all too well the site’s national and, indeed, global heritage.
Choosing the Observatory and the rare chance to perform a show in the shadow of the world-renowned James Lovell Telescope, it probably remains one of their most significant standalone UK date ever.
With that in mind, the local lads have been left just as worried by the news of its impending closure as everyone else, and have therefore issued a fresh appeal to help keep it open.
Posting a timely statement on social media, the group wrote: “Jodrell Bank has long been close to elbow’s heart. In 2012, the band played beneath the Lovell Telescope for one of the most memorable shows in our history.
“The recent news that funding for the e-MERLIN radio telescope network is set to end in 2028 puts the future of the scientific work at Jodrell Bank under serious threat. It is a remarkable place, with an extraordinary history, and one that continues to play an important role in science, culture and education.”
In addition to reliving clips and images from the historic live set all the years later, they also pointed people towards their ‘elbow – Live at Jodrell Bank‘ album documentary, which has now been made available online for the very first time as part of wider efforts to raise awareness around the cause.
Directing people to key online resources shared by the institution and astrophysics centre itself following their unfortunate update late last month, the push to not only find the funding but sustain support for the facility continues to ramp up throughout the world of science, arts and industry.
For anyone who somehow missed the news – 2028 being the current deadline handed down as per budget cuts across the sector – concerned parties here in the North West and all over the country have since started petitioning to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from shutting down for good.
In addition to being described as a “huge blow” to the field by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), some have even gone so far as to describe the decision as a form of “vandalism” when it comes to research and British culture as a whole.
Having also served as the host venue for the annual bluedot Festival since 2016, the multi-genre science and arts celebration could soon be forced to find a new home.
The battle is far from over yet, and the community has time to rescue Jodrell Bank Observatory from its fate, but it will take lots of money and more notable public figures to make it happen.
Once again, you can do your bit by signing the petition mentioned above right HERE.
Featured Images — Emma Farrer (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group
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Manichester organisers confirm tribute festival will return in 2027
Danny Jones
For anyone who didn’t manage to make it to the inaugural ‘Manichester’ festival held earlier this year in memory of British music legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, you’ll be glad to hear that the tribute festival will be returning in 2027.
Set up in the name of the late, great Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, the event sold out in the blink of an eye, as hordes of Mancs and more turned up to honour the local icon through live music.
Following paying their respects in the immediate aftermath, his surviving family members, peers and other figures from within the industry then held that wonderful evening, where several big names turned up to remember with live performances – and it’s official: they’re not done yet.
Writing in a lengthy caption, the brand said, “The family of Stone Roses legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield have thanked everyone who made Manichester at Diecast such a special day — performers, organisers, and the thousands who turned up to celebrate a true Manchester icon.”
The evidently emotional and grateful statement goes on to read: “On behalf of Gene, George & the Family — thank you to everyone who performed, contributed and attended Manichester on 30 May 2026, and for all your kind words of support.
“The response was massive — fans travelled from everywhere, demand through the roof, love for Mani louder than ever. [Local fashion label] GioGoi even said they could’ve filled Old Trafford.”
Revealing that the team of organisers have now green-lit the follow-up edition next year, they promise to deliver the same kind of magic, only “bigger, better, built properly” and with more music and people involved this time around.
They also thanked Manc-Mexican musician and creative, Alejandro Reyes Knight, for filming and editing the content on the night, adding that since he “grew up in Madchester”, there was no better person to be tasked with the job.
For anyone who was there at Diecast on the special memorial evening itself, we don’t need to tell you how special the energy was in the room.
We spent a good week or so looking back at footage following the maiden Manichester festival, as we’re sure plenty of you did, too; safe to say we’re glad we’ll have another opportunity to celebrate his life and career in the best way we know how: with plenty of tunes and singing our hearts out.
It remains to be seen whether Diecast will remain the host venue for the sophomore tribute fest, and the next date is also still yet to be fully set.
All we do know is that with such a good lineup and turnout the first time around, you can expect an excellent and equally heartfelt sequel in 2027.
You can register your interest right HERE. Wherever and whenever it is, we’ll see you there.
@the.manc Yesterday, Manchester laid one of the city's greatest music legends, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, to rest at Manchester Cathedral. 🍋 Fellow band member and life-long friend Ian Brown read out a speech as hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist. Mani will be missed by many, and we send love to all his family and friends. ❤️ #manchester#mani#ianbrown#thestoneroses#stoneroses♬ original sound – The Manc
Daisy Jackson -
9th August 2024 
