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Kaiser Chiefs continue debut album’s 20th anniversary celebrations with more tour dates

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Danny Jones Danny Jones - 15th August 2025

Northern music veterans Kaiser Chiefs are set to continue the celebrations of their debut album’s 20th anniversary with even more milestone tour dates next year.

It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since their very first LP, Employment, was first released, just before the onslaught of indie landfill took over the UK and beyond back in the 200s, but it really has been that long.

2025 has seen the beloved Yorkshire band rolling back the years and playing all the hits from the seminal debut record, and since the scenes at Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Latitude and more have been such good vibes, they’ve decided to keep the party going even longer.

Announcing further tour dates next February, the Leeds legends will be heading back on the road before you know it and playing all of the hits.

Confirming a dozen new live shows, the noughties hit-makers behind ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Oh My God’ and many more will be heading to Manchester for just the second stop on their upcoming tour.

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Heading to O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, 14 February, the ever-familiar British five-piece haven’t yet announced a hometown gig.

That being said, we have a feeling you can expect something extra special – perhaps a Temple Newsam 2.0 – to be revealed for them not too far down the line.

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Speaking on the tour extension, frontman Ricky Wilson said: “This summer, we played a load of shows to mark the release of our debut album, Employment. It went well. Probably better than our first summer 20 years ago.

“It was the year after that first year that things really took off, so we hope you will join us in February to help celebrate with us ‘the year it really took off’.

“If you were with us the first time, or unfortunately missed out due to other commitments, we hope you will join us for a joyous lap of honour. (Plus, I spent quite a bit on a new blazer and want to get my money’s worth)”.

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Our Audio North followers will be glad to hear that there a plenty of gigs taking place up at the top end of the country, and you can see the full list of ‘More Employment‘ shows down below.

Kaiser Chiefs’ 2026 UK tour dates:

  • 13 Fri – Bradford, Live
  • 14 Sat – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
  • 15 Sun – Stockton, Globe
  • 17 Tue – Dundee, Live House
  • 18 Wed – Glasgow, Barrowland
  • 20 Fri – London, Eventim Apollo
  • 21 Sat – Hull, Connexin Live
  • 23 Mon – Norwich, UEA
  • 24 Tue – Swansea, Building Society Arena
  • 26 Thu – Bournemouth, International Centre
  • 27 Fri – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
  • 28 Sat – Wolverhampton, The Halls

Tickets for the Kaiser Chiefs’ show here in Manchester, as well as all other nights live on Friday, 22 August from 9am; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.

We’ll see you there.

And until then, why not see what the lads had to say to our friends over at The Hoot when we interviewed them back in May?…

@thehootleeds Get ready – we predict a riot 🎸 #leedslife #leedsuni #fyp #leeds #foru #kaiserchiefs #leedsunited #templenewsam #westyorkshire #music #indie #leedsleedsleeds ♬ original sound – Thehootleeds

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Featured Images — Cal McIntyre (supplied)/press shots/The Manc Group

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Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC

Danny Jones Danny Jones Boyzone reunion Ronan Keating New Year's Eve live TV special BBC

2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.

Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.

Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.

However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.

After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.

Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.

Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.

The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.

Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…

Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but

Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.

As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.

Will you be tuning in?

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Featured Images — @vagueonthehow (via Flickr)/Virgin Radio UK (screenshot via X)

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A candlelit Queen tribute concert is returning to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Queen by Candlelight Manchester tickets

Yes, you read that right: a candlelit tribute concert to the one and only Queen is coming to Manchester city centre.

In fact, it’s coming home, as this wonderful event started right here in 0161 back in 2021.

Concerts by Candlelight themselves host concerts up and down the country at various points throughout the year, but their much-loved ‘Queen by Candlelight‘ special knows all about lighting up Manc venues.

Having since gone on to become an internationally acclaimed live concert experience, we’re glad we still get to see the ‘Princes of the Universe’ on our doorstep.

candlelit concerts manchester queen tribute show
concerts by candlelight queen night
queen by candlelight
Credit: Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)

With the likes of Bridgewater Hall and the magical Manchester Monastery all having played host to the promotion on many ocassions, this time Queen by Candlelight is coming to the legendary Manchester Opera House in the new year.

One of our most historic and legendary theatres, it’s only fitting, really, that they be chosen to welcome a night of equally iconic tunes.

But it’s worth reminding more casual fans that these aren’t just British rock and pop anthems; Queen‘s discography is one that still has global recognition to this day.

That’s why this specific show has been taken to virtually every corner of the world, with the incredibly talented cast of singers and musicians delighting audiences in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and New York, to domestic crowds here in town and down in London’s West End.

‘Queenies’ or ‘Darlings’, as Freddie Mercury used to call them, can expect all the big hits, from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’, to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and plenty more from the back catalogue.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this coming January:

With tickets already flying out fast, we really would recommend securing your seats early before they inevitably sell out.

To quote the promoters themselves, “this spectacular celebration of Queen’s biggest hits is guaranteed to rock you.”

Coming to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 6 January, you can book your tickets for Queen by Candlelight right HERE.

And if you’ve never been to one of their candlelit events before, you only need to see how much of a ball we had at their country event earlier this year to find out how much fun they are…

@the.manc

Looking for your next date night? Candlelight Concerts are back. 🕯️ It’s the perfect experience to get ready for the winter season.

♬ original sound – The Manc

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Featured Images — Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)

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