The emotional moment The Lottery Winners found out they’d landed number one on the UK albums chart has been captured on video.
The Leigh indie pop band released their fifth studio album, Anxiety Replacement Therapy, to critical acclaim at the end of April, and found themselves up against heavyweights like Jessie Ware, US band The National, and British rapper Nines, as well as several other anticipated new releases, as they battled for the top spot on the UK album charts.
As the days went on last week, the four-piece were comfortably leading the charge to the top and it looked sure that they clinch number one, but nothing was set in stone, and all would be revealed when Friday rolled around.
After eagerly awaiting confirmation, the Official Charts Company revealed last Friday that the group’s album had, in fact, debuted at number one.
It’s the band’s first number one album of their career.
♥ JACKPOT! ♥
The Lottery Winners' (@LotteryWinners) Anxiety Replacement Therapy is your brand-new Number 1 album 🏆
According to the Official Charts Company, Anxiety Replacement Therapy was the biggest release of the week on both physical formats and digital downloads, and not only that, but it also topped the Official Record Store Chart as the best-selling album of the past seven days in independent UK record shops too.
“Anxiety Replacement Therapy is the official UK number 1 album,” the band said in a statement on social media last Friday.
“This feels like a dream.
“We want to wholeheartedly thank every single one of you for your love and support. Together we have achieved something truly monumental and we are now in the musical history books indefinitely. Thank you from the bottom of our ART.”
The band has also shared a video of the exact moment they were told they had secured the number one spot on the album charts.
The emotional video shared to Instagram yesterday shows the band receive confirmation of their monumental achievement, and then proceed to burst into happy tears – with cheers, heartfelt group hugs, and general celebrations all following.
There’s also heartwarming footage of leader singer Thom Rylance and bass player Katie Lloyd calling their mums to tell the news.
Right at the end of the video, Thom is seen knocking on the door of his home and hugging his mum.
The Lottery Winners hail from the Greater Manchester town of Leigh, and formed back in 2008.
Comprising of members Thom Rylance, Robert Lally, Katie Lloyd, and Joe Singleton, the band released their debut album in 2011, before signing to Manchester-based record label, Modern Sky, and making a name for themselves with a series of singles throughout the 2010s.
They then put out three other studio albums, the self-titled The Lottery Winners, Sounds of Isolation, and Something to Leave the House For, in quick succession during lockdown in 2020 and 2021.
The Lottery Winners land first UK number one album with Anxiety Replacement Therapy / Credit: The Lottery Winners (via Instagram)
Prior to the release of Anxiety Replacement Therapy on 28 April 2023, the group’s highest placement on the UK album chart was number 11 with their fourth offering.
Courteeners’ frontman Liam Fray, Bolton-born TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay, and fellow bands and musicians The Reytons, You Me at Six, Frank Turner, Jamie Cullum, and Lucy Spraggan also sent messages of congratulations to the band on social media.
Featured Image – The Lottery Winners
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Popular noodle bar Chopstix to host ALL-NEW live music event in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Much-loved noodle box eatery Chopstix are hosting an all-new series of live music events, with the first kicking off at one of Manchester’s most popular venues.
Chopstix has become a foodie’s favourite in the city centre with its combo boxes and now they’re about to win over the musiclovers thanks to these brand-new live-performances.
The Asian restaurant chain is launching ‘Red Box Live’,a first-of-its-kind music event series taking place in some of the UK’s best independent music venues,, and it kicks off at one of the city’s most beloved music venues,YES.
These events will see a rising star headline slot, DJ’s, free drinks and of course, food, because it couldn’t be a Chopstix party without some of its iconic flavour-packed boxes.
Chopstix is known for serving up flavoursome feasts in their combo boxes.The Asian restaurant chain has chosen YES as the first spot for their ‘Red Box Live’ event.Credit: Supplied
Indie-pop artist Liang Lawrence is claiming the first headline spot and she’s definitely no stranger at frequenting some of the most famed stages in the country, having recently performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sefton Park on the BBC Introducing stage, following in the footsteps of Manc rap-talent Aitch.
The ‘Red Box Live’ music events build from the eatery’s previous music-focused series ‘Red Box Sessions’ which saw acts like Flames Collective and Grace Davies (X-Factor) in intimate studio sessions.
Rob Burns, Marketing Director for Chopstix, said: The launch of our brand new Red Box Live event series is incredibly exciting.”We’re bringing big, bold flavour and raw music talent together – serving up an unbeatable combo for our flavour craving crowd right here in Manchester.”
“We’re bringing BIG, BOLD flavour and raw music talent together – serving up an unbeatable combo for our Flavour Craving crowd right here in Manchester.”
Liang Lawrence will be performing at ‘Red Box Live’ organised by Chopstix.There will be free food and live music at this exclusive event.Credit: Supplied
The first ‘Red Box Live’ is taking place on 16 July with a headline performance from Liang Lawrence at YES in Manchester. Doors open from 7pm with a DJ set, and tickets are available to win for free on Chopstix’s website.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
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New FREE Oasis exhibition showing never-before-seen photos opens in Manchester next week
Emily Sergeant
A new free photography exhibition showing never-before-seen pictures of Oasis fans from the 90s opens in Manchester next week.
With a sensational summer of sound now firmly in our sights, and right as Manchester gears up to welcome Oasis back home once again, the city’s iconic Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has announced a new free exhibition that’s set to take music fans a trip down memory lane.
Opening next Wednesday, Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 will showcase a series of exclusive photographs by renowned photographer, Jon Shard, to the public for the first time ever, opening the door to a world before online sales, dynamic ticket pricing, and frantically refreshing a website to get the hottest ticket in town.
Renowned for his visually distinctive work across a number of fields, this was Shard’s first assignment for iconic music magazine NME.
The collection of photographs – which has been co-curated by the British Culture Archive – shows scenes of fans excitedly queuing up in the cold winter of 1996, hoping to get their hands on tickets for the band’s sold-out shows at Manchester City’s Maine Road stadium.
“Queuing in person had its charm,” admitted Jon Shard.
“I felt privileged to capture the dedication of fans willing to stay out all night and brave the cold. Getting the ticket was an event itself, almost a rite of passage for fans.”
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 opens in Manchester for free next week / Credit: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel (Supplied)
Giving visitors a deeper insight into the world of sold-out shows, as well as the magic of Oasis and their music over the years, the new exhibition will also feature a ‘Fan Wonderwall’ with archive images from 1994-97 of fans attending gigs, spanning from pre-smart phone gig-videos, through to their latest performances.
“It’s a privilege to play a part in the city welcoming the Gallagher brothers home,” commented David Lockhart, who is the General Manager of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, ahead of the exhibition opening next week.
“The photographs by Jon Shard offer a glimpse into a defining moment in Manchester’s music history, and we’re proud to share this with our guests and the city.”
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 is open to the public from 7pm on Wednesday 2 July on the walls of Refuge at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.
At to make it even more worth the trip, the first 50 visitors to the exhibition will also receive a free limited edition zine, so they can take a piece of Oasis history home with them.
Featured Image – Jon Shard (Supplied via Kimpton Clocktower Hotel & British Culture Archive)
Emily Sergeant -
9th May 2023 
