German supermarket giant Lidl has soaked itself in British humour, teasing Liam Gallagher with a very, very large billboard.
Last week, British clothing retailer Berghaus unveiled a huge designer collaboration with the Oasis frontman, calling upon the rock and roll star himself to model the relaunch of their ‘Trango Gore-Tex Waterproof Jacket’.
Fans were quick to point out that the primary colours in the jacket resemble those used in Lidl’s branding, blue, yellow and red, which the supermarket clearly didn’t let slip.
After the launch of the AW24 collaboration, a massive mural of Liam appeared in Manchester city centre, not too far from the Northern Quarter on Oldham Street.
Someone on Lidl’s marketing team has clearly been doing some digging, finding this mural and booking a spot on the huge illuminated billboard in front of it.
Lidl’s advert, which reads ‘Lidl jacket’ next to an image of a jacket potato priced at 24p, significantly contrasts the jacket off the Oasis brother’s back priced at the large sum of £400.
This contrast has taken social media by storm with commuters and fans alike noticing this joke and publishing it online with their own thoughts too.
The Lidl advert perfectly lines up with the Liam Gallagher Berghaus campaign. (Credit: The Manc Group )
The Oasis boys are set to play Heaton Park next year and the anticipation hasn’t slowed as over the past few weeks the opening acts touring with the 90’s Britpop band are being announced.
The iconic vocalist won’t be alone as the tour is also receiving another support set from Liverpudlian greats, Cast, who are performing domestic dates in the UK and Ireland.
Alongside the digital advert campaign displayed in Manchester city centre, Lidl took to social media to compliment Liam’s distinctive streetwear.
The Berghaus collection isn’t the only campaign fronted by Liam, he has also been spotted fronting a ‘Stoney’ campaign this year too.
As part of the partnership with Stone Island the Wonderwall singer was asked ‘What is your favourite city?’ to which he responded ‘Manchester City. And Manchester the city’.
Lucky fans can catch the Burnage boys in full swing as they play a packed-out Heaton Park next year, and those who didn’t get tickets can admire this very mural on Oldham Street.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Honorary Manc Ariana Grande announces huge world tour – but skips Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Ariana Grande has announced details of a huge world tour, but the honorary Mancunian will be skipping Manchester again.
The 32-year-old, Grammy Award-winning star has instead booked five nights at The O2 in London for her only UK stop on the tour.
Ariana Grande was made an honorary Mancunian back in 2017, in recognition of her work following the Manchester Arena terror attack.
She is the first person to have ever received this honour.
Since the atrocity in the city, which took the lives of 22 people, Ariana has only performed here twice more – once at the One Love concert she organised as a fundraiser for the victims and their families, and once as a headliner of Manchester Pride.
It’s been six years since her last tour, but Ariana Grande is now back, sharing details of her hotly-anticipated The Eternal Sunshine Tour next summer.
As well as her five-night residency in London, she’ll play four nights in LA and Brooklyn, as well as cities right across North America.
Ariana Grande has announced The Eternal Sunshine Tour
Her London dates will be her only European shows on The Eternal Sunshine Tour.
Eternal Sunshine was released in 2024 and was her seventh studio album, spawning singles ‘Yes, And?’, ‘We Can’t Be Friends’, and ‘The Boy Is Mine’.
Ariana Grande is now also an Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated actress thanks to her starring role in Wicked as Glinda the Good Witch.
Tickets for her tour will go on sale from Tuesday 16 September with an artist presale as well as an O2 Priority Presale. Remaining tickets will be available during the general ons-ale beginning Thursday 18 September at 10am.
Ariana Grande – The Eternal Sunshine Tour Dates 2026
A rising Manc musician is supporting a global popstar on tour in America
Danny Jones
Up-and-coming Greater Manchester musician Elliot James Reay, from just down the road in Bury, has just joined fellow rising solo artist and already established US superstar Benson Boone on his upcoming American tour.
Yes, a lad from Bury is opening for the bloke who belts out that ‘Beautiful Things’ tune that’s been stuck near the top of the charts for what feels like the last year.
Fittingly joining Boone for the US leg of his American Heart tour supporting his sophomore album of the same name, 23-year-old Elliot James Reay has already played a trio of shows warming up the crowds ahead of the headliner and is quickly gaining new fans across the pond.
Especially since his music harkens back to some of their most famous music icons of all time.
The youngster is still having to pinch himself at the mere notion of being on the road with such a big name so early in his career, posting on social media this week, “How do I explain this one to my friends back in Bury?
“A dream come true to be opening for Benson Boone in St Paul last night, I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to sing to you all and thank you for all the love you gave me!”
Roy Orbison-obsessed Raey – who also takes plenty of look and feel from the likes of Elvis and Billy Fury, among other old school, soulful American singers – has gone from releasing covers on YouTube to dropping his first-ever EP back in June and now playing full Stateside stadiums.
What a whirlwind journey it’s been for the local lad already.
The Manc songwriter and guitarist featured as one of our artists of the month last December, and we’re glad to see he’s only gone from strength to strength.
It’s fair to say that he’s matured a lot in the time since then, let alone the last 12 months or so, and booking a slot as a support act for as big as Benson Boone is right now is nothing short of huge.
We said late last year, and we’ll say it again: we see a bright future ahead for this talented young Macunian, and we wish him all the best for the dozen or so remaining US tour dates.
If you haven’t listened to his stuff before, you can get a little taste with his latest single HERE.
Or, if you want to take our advice, why not watch a great music video filmed around some very familiar city centre sites down below?
He’s certainly got his own style, even if it his heavily inspired by some of the greats.
Thomas Melia -
29th October 2024 
