A Manchester city centre nightclub is set to host a fundraising memorial gig in honour of local DJ, Noxxic, who sadly died in a traffic collision late last year.
The aspiring drum and bass artist was cycling along Albion Way near the roundabout linking the M602 and A57 Regent Road when he collided with the HGV. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and emergency at the scene, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mourned not only by his family and countless friends but also by the Manchester music scene and local clubbing community at large, Kable Club on New Wakefield Street is now set to host a memorial night for charity as a tribute to the talent “gone far too soon”.
Set up with the help of friend, collaborator and DnB peer, Max Clarke, the fundraising memorial night is taking place this month and will aim to not only honour Lewis and the Simpson family but also remember and celebrate his life the way he would have wanted: with music and a good time.
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The Warrington-based artist and producer, who goes by ‘Clarkey‘, regularly played b2b sets with the 25-year-old over the years, including charity livestream performances to raise money for the homeless during the festive period. Noxxic was also a proud and well-known mental health advocate.
As well as the likes of Hedex, Sota and J Bookey paying tribute online following the tragedy, Clarkey and Noxxic’s ‘Blckhry – Bite’ remix was played on BBC Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show with Charlie T, as well as ‘Tribute Get Lit Mix’ including all of his tunes featuring n 1Xtra’s Rave Show.
Manchester-based promoters, music label and all-round D’n’B brand, Hit & Run, said: “Really is such a shock to hear about the tragic and untimely passing of Lew Simpson aka Noxxic.”
The post continues: “He was a near-permanent fixture at the night and across the scene in the city – he lived and breathed D&B and his passion and dedication not just for production and DJing but also the community of this city is something [we] truly admired about the man.”
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“He’d made such great strides in his career these last few years so seems so very unfair that he’s been taken from us at such a young age – he had so much more to give.
So many people we know and care about will be hurting too too much right now – I know you will all make him proud and honour his legacy and friendship. Such very sad news.”
Clarkey himself shared a touching video of the pair playing together to rapturous applause:
Writing a lengthy statement underneath the charity event page on Skiddle, Clarkey wrote: “On 17 January, we come together to celebrate the life, passion, and legacy of Lew Simpson, known to many as Noxxic, a true champion of the jump-up drum and bass community.
“With a heart that beat for the wicked sounds of the genre he loved so deeply, Lew was more than just a fan; he was an advocate, a believer and an inspiration to everyone who shared his love for the music. This historic night in Manchester promises to be an unforgettable tribute to Noxxic, featuring a lineup of monumental talent.
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“From the legends who have defined jump-up over the past few years to the rising stars pushing it to even new boundaries, each artist on the bill represents everything Lew cherished about this incredibly unifying genre.
“Together, we’ll create a night that embodies the energy, spirit and passion he brought to the scene. This night is about more than music, it’s about making a difference to people’s lives like Lew strived to do. All proceeds from this event will go to Mind, a charity dedicated to mental health support, advocacy, and awareness.
“As a serious champion for mental health, Lew’s commitment to the well-being of others continues through this deeply meaningful cause. Come witness jump-up drum and bass in its purest form, as we honour Noxxic with the kind of night he could only have dreamed about: one filled with love, community and some of the finest music.”
Kable aren’t the only ones who have helped pay tribute with a club night in his name either, with London outfit North Base also dedicated their ‘& Friends’ show to the much-loved artist this past December.
Noxxic was a real up-and-comer on the scene.Manc DJs Kormz and Clarkey with Noxxic (right).Credit: Noxxic/Clarkey (via Facebook)
As mentioned, the proceeds from the show will go towards Mind (a charity close to Lewis’ heart) and are priced at just £11.25 including the booking fee. Alternatively, fans who can’t make the date can still make a total Noxxic donation of £6 to help do their bit.
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With the lineup for the memorial gig night now out – not to mention two special guests still yet to be announced – Clarkey, Kormz, North Base and many more will be giving fans a lively albeit emotional night to remember.
Clarkey signed off by simply adding, “Let’s come together to celebrate his life and legacy in the most fitting way possible!”
You can grab your tickets HERE. Rest in peace, Noxxic.
Niall Horan at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Former One Direction member now-soloist Niall Horan is making his return to Co-op Live as part of his UK shows: ‘Dinner Party Live On Tour’.
Known for his work alongside One Direction bandmates Harry, Louis, Liam and Zayn, Horan has since started a solo career and continued to have a large fanbase.
His singles include ‘Nice To Meet Ya’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Drive Safe’ and ‘This Town’ with the latter amassing over 1 billion streams since its release in 2017.
Collaborating with the likes of pop artist Anne-Marie, Myles Smith, Maren Morris, the Irish-born musician’s style fuses both acoustic and country sounds.
Niall’s most recent LP Dinner Party dropped earlier this summer with the album title inspired by his initial encounter with his long-time girlfriend.
Gig guide – Niall Horan at Co-op Live, Manchester
Niall Horan UK tour dates
Tue 22 September – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Wed 23 September – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 25 September – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 28 September – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Tue 29 September – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 2 October – London, UK – The O2
Sat 3 October – London, UK – The O2
Are there any tickets left for Niall Horan at Co-op Live in Manchester?
If you’ve got ‘Slow Hands’ then you better get booking tickets to Niall Horan’s upcoming concert at Co-op Live in Manchester now as they’re selling pretty quickly.
You can find tickets for both seated and standing options starting from £50.75 HERE.
Although the official setlist for Niall Horan’s upcoming Dinner Party Live On Tour is yet to be revealed, here’s the tracklist for his most recent LP of the same name:
Tastes So Good
Dinner Party
Monochromatic
She Gets It From Her Mother
Better Man
Little More Time
Flowers
Boys Are Fun
Fighting Over Nothing
Pretty
Die If I Don’t
End of an Era
What are the stage times for Niall Horan in Manchester?
Doors for Niall Horan open from 6.30pm and expect to fall in love with singer-songwriter flowerovlove who will take to the stage just before.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you have a ‘Little More Time’ to lie in before the clock hits twelve.
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.
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.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Featured Images – Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
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‘Queen of Christmas’ Mariah Carey announces huge Manchester arena gig this December
Emily Sergeant
Mariah Carey has officially defrosted and she’s heading out on a UK arena tour this festive season.
That’s right, the rumours were true… the best-selling female artist of all time, and the undisputed ‘Queen of Christmas’ herself, will be bringing the magic of the most wonderful time of the year to UK this winter, taking to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live in early December, as well as several other major UK cities along the way.
The US pop powerhouse last performed in our city nearly a decade ago now when she brought her famous All I Want For Christmasshow to the UK for the first time ever.
But this upcoming tour will mark Mariah’s first consecutive run of dates on British soil since 2019.
The shows will see Mariah celebrate the festive season by bringing together her timeless festive catalogue, global hits, and fan favourites – including the song that has become synonymous with Christmas around the world, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You.’
Originally released in 1994 as part of her landmark Merry Christmas album, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ reached number 1 on the UK charts for the first time in 2020, and has been in the top five every year since.
Mariah Carey will take to the stage in Manchester at Co-op Live on Wednesday 2 December, and tickets officially go on sale this week.
Mariah Carey UK Tour Dates 2026
Friday 27 November – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Monday 30 November – The O2, London
Wednesday 2 December – Co-op Live, Manchester
Pre-sales start at 10am on Wednesday (23 September), with the general sale then following later in the week on Friday 25 September, also at 10am.
Danny Jones -
7th January 2025 
