Manchester’s existing arena, the AO Arena, has stepped in to host more concerts that have been postponed by Co-op Live, with yet another act being rescheduled too.
First it was announced earlier today that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would be moving to the AO Arena, and now Take That’s five-night run that was set for the Co-op Live this May has also had a venue change.
Their two June dates at the new arena are said to be unaffected.
The Co-op Live‘s official opening has been hit with several delays, with events like Peter Kay’s double bill, Olivia Rodrigo and The Black Keys all already postponed over the last week or so.
Issuing a statement after rescuing multiple Take That shows, AO Arena general manager Jen Mitchell, said: “It wouldn’t be a Take That tour without a stop-off in Manchester, so it’s great to welcome the band and their fans back to AO Arena for five nights, in the heart of this wonderful city.”
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The venue has naturally welcomed the sudden flood of extra names being added to its already strong lineup for 2024, doing its best to minimise inconvenience for gig-goers who have made travel arrangements, booked hotels etc.
As for the group themselves, they also responded to their tens of thousands of fans expecting to see them from this weekend onwards.
Confessing that they’ve had to make ‘the difficult decision’ to switch venues and although ‘it’s not one [they’ve taken lightly], they wanted to give fans as much notice as possible’, adding: “We thank you for your understanding and we’ll see you all soon”.
Meanwhile, Noughties favourites Keane have sadly had to shelve their Manchester show for the foreseeable following the venue’s continuing ‘technical issues’.
Announcing the news on their social pages on Thursday evening, they admitted that they were ‘absolutely gutted’ but that the decision was ‘entirely beyond our control’.
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We’re absolutely gutted not to be able to celebrate 20 Years of Hopes and Fears with you at the Co-Op Live on Sunday. This is due to ongoing technical issues at the venue and is entirely beyond our control.
Take That’s full statement reads: “Given the ongoing technical issues around the opening of Co-Op Live we have taken the difficult decision to move our May shows to the AO Arena where we have enjoyed many great nights over the years.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we wanted to give our fans as much notice as possible.
“We’re mindful many of you will already have travel and accommodation plans in place, so we have chosen this option to minimise inconvenience to as many people as possible. Our dates in June in Manchester remain unaffected.
“All bookings will be transferred to the new venue as below and, except for Wednesday 8th May, we are pleased to say that all the dates remain the same.”
Notably, the huge new venue by the Etihad Stadium had to turn away fans who were already queueing for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on Monday 1 May, after part of an air conditioning unit fell from the ceiling onto a (thankfully) empty arena floor.
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Question marks had already been hanging over whether some upcoming gigs would be able to go ahead and now it seems that they will be taking place – just not at the Co-op Live…
Manchester’s decades-old AO Arena, the largest indoor venue in the UK (until the Co-op Live opens), will be welcoming A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Take That instead.
It’s an interesting twist when so many people having been pitting the two venues against one another over the last weeks and months.
The Script announced as latest Co-op Live act as they head back to Manchester
Danny Jones
Irish rock pop band The Script have been confirmed as the latest artists set to play Co-op Live arena as they prepare to make their Manchester return later this year.
Announcing the Co-op Live gig as part of their upcoming Satellite world tour, in support of their new album which is set to drop in just a few months’ time, the noughties and 2010s hit-makers will be coming to Manchester’s newest venue this fall.
With the trio having not long lost their lead guitarist and best mate Mark Sheehan during their run of Greatest Hits shows, this will be the first full tour they are set to play without him in the lineup.
Having gone back and regrouped, made a new record and now dropped their latest single ‘Both Ways’ at the same time on Friday morning, it’s full speed ahead for the boys with a massive world tour now on the horizon, including 20 European dates.
After being reduced to just two of the original found members, frontman Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, the Dubliners have since doubled, inviting bassist Ben Sargeant and guitarist Ben Weaver to join the band earlier this month. They’re also still out on tour with pop legend Pink.
Their new album, Satellite, will mark their seventh studio LP and the first material released as a four-piece and is scheduled for release on 16 August, promising to deliver a whole new energy from the band.
Taking inspiration from the likes of The Black Eyed Peas and Bruno Mars, bassist Glen admitted that the sound “maybe not what people might expect from us but we’re The Script, and now we have something to prove: that there’s life and light after the darkness. It’s why we’re coming fast and strong with that one.”
Lead singer Danny added: “The album cover is silhouettes of me, Glen and Ben Sargeant, our bassist, who’s been with us from the beginning. Then we have a hooded silhouette, because the air of Mark is still there.
“He always will be, but it’s also giving a tip of the hat to the future. It’ll never be the same Script. We’re just trying to get on and do what it is that we all feel is the next right thing to do and that’s to keep making more great music.”
As for the show itself, The Script arrive at Co-op Live on 30 November – the final show of their UK leg and over two years since their last visit to Manchester at the AO Arena.
For those looking to grab tickets, fans who pre-order Satellites from the band’s official store before5pm on Tuesday, 21 May will receive access to an exclusive pre-sale for tickets for the UK and Irelandtour dates.
Pre-sale opens at9:30am on Wednesday, 22 May and general admission tickets go live at the same time on Friday, 24 May. You can grab yours HERE.
We’ve had the luxury of popping along to the brand-new arena a few times now and we have to say, it didn’t disappoint.
Black Keys at Co-op Live, Manchester – huge venue’s first taste of the blues
Charlie Watkinson
As a huge Black Keys fan, when I found out they were set to be the first band to grace the stage at Co-op Live, I just knew I had to be there.
Of course, it didn’t turn out that way.
After numerous cancellations and rescheduling, Elbow managed to nab the first spot, with the Black Keys taking to the stage the following night instead (several weeks later than their original show date).
Let me tell you though – they did not disappoint.
Having been one of the starry-eyed fans at Elbow the previous night, and been properly impressed by the sound quality inside the massive new Manchester venue, the thought of hearing Dan Auerbach’s epic bluesy riffs had me beyond excited.
Entering the stage playing the heavy-hitting I Got Mine, followed by one of their most well-known tracks, Gold on the Ceiling, it was evident we were in for a great show.
I have to admit, though, as a die-hard Black Keys fan, I couldn’t ignore how static the crowd was throughout the whole performance.
It almost seemed like the room was filled with people who didn’t know their songs, perhaps due to rescheduling and Co-op Live dishing out tickets to say ‘sorry for the inconvenience’?
The quiet stillness of the crowd did a great disservice to the electrifying talent on stage. Luckily, this didn’t matter too much.
Closing with their most popular song, Lonely Boy, I almost forgot how still the crowd had been as I watched the entire stadium howling, “DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH – DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH.”
Although I wanted more from the crowd, all in all, the Black Keys played a setlist fit for a super fan and gave Co-Op Live its first taste of the blues.
I just wished the audience had been Howlin’ for You all night, not so Tighten Up’… As you were.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd May 2024 
