KISS will perform in Manchester this week as part of their final-ever tour.
The metal rock band announced details of their End of the Road World Tour last year – some 23 years after announcing that the band were retiring.
But 2023 will officially mark the final shows of this legendary’s group’s career, which started way back in 1973.
Made up of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, they’re famed for their black and white face paint and huge hair as much as their massive hits.
KISS were meant to perform in Manchester in 2021, but had to reschedule to Friday 7 July due to – well, you know what.
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KISS said of their farewell tour: “All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years.
“This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t. KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable.”
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Here’s everything you need to know if you’re seeing KISS at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Are there tickets left for KISS at AO Arena, Manchester?
Ticketmaster still has some availability for tickets for tonight’s show, though there aren’t loads left.
The cheapest tickets start at £75.95, with the majority of seated tickets priced at £87.50.
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Things get pricier after that – floor standing tickets are £98.50, while the better seats are £109.95.
Standard seats go all the way up to £171.50, and then you’re into Platinum seats and VIP packages.
Who’s supporting KISS in Manchester?
KISS will be supported by Welsh heavy metal band Skindred at their show in Manchester.
Skindred are known for fusing metal with reggae sounds, and for their blistering live shows.
The Wild Things, who will also be performing at Night & Day in October, are also taking to the stage at the AO Arena to open the show.
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Expected setlist
This is the setlist KISS used at their London O2 Arena gig this week.
Detroit Rock City Shout It Out Loud Deuce War Machine Heaven’s on Fire I Love It Loud Say Yeah Cold Gin Lick It Up Makin’ Love Calling Dr. Love Psycho Circus 100,000 Years God of Thunder Love Gun Black Diamond Encore: Beth I Was Made for Lovin’ You Rock and Roll All Nite
Stage times for KISS
The AO Arena hasn’t, at the time of writing, confirmed the stage times for KISS, and it doesn’t look like they’ve made a habit of announcing stage times at previous shows either.
Doors to the venue will open at 6pm, with the AO Arena saying the show won’t start until 7.30pm.
Based on that, you can expect The Wild Things on stage around 7.30pm, Skindred around 8.15pm, and KISS on stage somewhere around 9pm, ahead of the venue’s curfew.
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The venue
The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirementscarefully before you travel.
For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.
All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.
Featured image: Publicity picture
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The smash-hit daytime rave where you can still be in bed early is returning to Manchester
Clementine Hall
That’s right: Day Fever, the daytime rave designed to still get you tucked in at a reasonable hour, is coming back to Manchester city centre this year.
Following their biggest raft of shows across the UK and Ireland in 2025, the smash-hit night out that is very much aimed at those of us 30 and over – but fellow sleepy heads are obviously more than welcome – Day Fever are targeting big things in 2026.
Launched in early 2024 by actress Vicky McClure and Reverend & The Makers frontman, Jon McClure, Day Fever has become a cultural sensation.
From its debut in Sheffield to a tour that sees thousands of ravers hitting the dance floor each month, the message is clear: people want to dance and let loose, but still be in bed before 9pm – and let’s be honest, who can blame them?
The founders (L-R): Jon McClure, James O’Hara, Jonny Owen, Vicky and Chris McClure. (supplied)
Running from 3-8pm, Day Fever provides a proper night out that doesn’t completely write you off for the entire weekend.
“It started as a WhatsApp idea”, says Jon McClure. “Jonny just said, ‘A daytime disco, how good would that be?’ We’re all a bit nuts, so we just said, ‘Come on then!’”
“It feels like a massive house party at your nan’s,” laughs Vicky. “No drama, no egos, just people acting daft, getting dressed up, and having the best time.”
From here in 0161 and our mates over in Leeds, to Newcastle, Glasgow and many more, each Day Fever event has its own unique flavour.
There’ll be local DJs who know their crowds keep the energy high with a nostalgic mix of Northern Soul, disco, indie, and 90s classics. “Manchester goes mad for Oasis,” says Jon, “and if Vicky’s there, we have to play Whitney, it’s non-negotiable!”
For starters, just look at the turnout they got over Christmas:
They last popped up their second home of New Century Hall over the festive period, so it’s no surprise they’re coming back from.
Day Fever will be turning up the speakers at New Century once again on Saturday, 31 January, and we will absolutely see you there. Better still, the organisers have just announced additional shows due to phenomenal demand, including 7 March and 11 April here in Manchester.
Find the rest of their previously announced shows, as well as the extra dates for 2026, in full down below:
24 Jan, 28 February and 25 April – Glasgow, BAaD
24 Jan, 14 Feb and 21 March – Nottingham, Palais
24 Jan, 7 March and 4 April – Sheffield, City Hall
31 Jan, 7 March and 11 April – Manchester, New Century Hall
Parklife 2026 line-up announced, with headliners including Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Skepta, and Zara Larsson
Daisy Jackson
The line-up for Parklife 2026 has finally dropped, ahead of Manchester’s biggest festival – and this year will include headline performances from the likes of Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, and Skepta.
The huge music event will be back in the fields of Heaton Park next June, ready for two nights of live music from some of the biggest names in the world of dance music and beyond.
Joining those headliners on the line-up will be popstar of the moment Zara Larsson, who’ll be making her Parklife debut in 2026, plus returning Parklife heavyweights like Josh Baker, Chris Stussy, Kettama and Nia Archives, and dancefloor favourites Rudimental.
Along with the line-up, the festival has also announced a brand-new stage for this year, which will be called Panorama.
The stage will be building the festival’s Hangar Stage into a bold state-of-the-art experience, with cutting-edge production, on-stage/behind the booth access, a curved LED screen spanning the entire stage and multi-tiered dance platform.
Last year’s acclaimed new VIP area, with hillside views of the main stage, will return for 2026.
Parklife is also proudly the best-value major festival in the UK, with full weekend tickets from just £138.50 and day tickets just £85.
Leading the stacked line-up for Parklife 2026 is Calvin Harris, who’s back 13 years on from his last Manchester tour date to play his iconic dance bangers including One Kiss, We Found Love, This Is What You Came For. He’s collaborated with huge names over the years, so we’re holding out hope for some surprise guests during his set.
One of the biggest breakthrough names of the last 12 months is Sammy Virji, and he’ll be heading to Heaton Park in June.
Rap and grime pioneer Skepta is also poised to set Parklife alight this summer.
Manc DJ Josh Baker first played at Parklife in 2022, when he opened the G Stage – but now he’s got his sights set on the main stage just four years later, and is headlining an intimate show for War Child’s BRITs Week before then too.
There’s loads more names to enjoy this year too – performances from rising stars will include Marlon Hoffstadt, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, Rossi., Bou, Silva Bumpa, AZYR, Prospa, Morgan Seatree, Clementine Douglas, Chloé Caillet, K Motionz and Mozey.
And that’s alongside trailblazers such as Rudim3ntal, Ewan McVicar, Armand Van Helden, Andy C, Shy FX, Dimension and more.
Stage takeovers will come from XXL, Worried About Henry, Modern Funktion and Ghosts Of Garage.
Tickets for Pepsi MAX presents Parklife 2026 begin to go on sale on Tuesday 27 January with an exclusive presale for Paypal customers (for 48 hours or until the Paypal presale allocation sells out).
A second presale will be live from 10am on Thursday 29 January for those signed up to the Parklife mailing list, before full general sale tickets are released at 10am on Friday 30 January.
Daisy Jackson -
6th July 2023 
