Pop phenomenon Melanie Martinez has just announced arena gig here in Manchester as part of her The Trilogy Tour.
The singer is currently performing as her alter-ego ‘Cry Baby’, which involves her wearing an other-worldly mask that transforms her into a cat-like creature with four eyes and gigantic ears.
The pink fantastical character will be visiting Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and London on the UK and Ireland leg of the tour.
Melanie Martinez will be performing at the huge new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester in September this year.
Fans can expect to hear hits from all three of her groundbreaking multi-platinum albums – Cry Baby, K-12, and Portals.
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The 28-year-old singer, who first found fame on The Voice, has amassed a whopping 14 billion streams across the globe, including her TikTok viral song Play Date.
She recently wrapped up the PORTALS Tour, named after her third studio album, which received widespread critical acclaim.
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It landed at the top of the albums charts in several countries, peaking at number two in the UK albums chart.
Melanie Martinez is coming to Manchester on her The Trilogy Tour. Credit: Justin GreenwoodMelanie Martinez is coming to Manchester on her The Trilogy Tour. Credit: Justin Greenwood
The hit singles from the album include Void and Death, the latter of which is joined by a cinematic companion video that was directed, conceived and costume-designed by Martinez herself.
Melanie Martinez has become an online sensation with her Cry Baby universe.
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Billboard said: “The avant-garde pop auteur creates bold, expansive worlds with each project…While the dramatic five-minute track can be connected to her artistic reawakening, the kinetic drums and electronic elements will also make listeners feel reborn, too.”
She’s even partnered with Flower Shop Perfumes Co. to launch a new four-fragrance collection, Portals Parfums, which arrive in a one-foot-tall bottle in the shape of her multi-eyed Cry Baby head.
Melanie Martinez will be performing at the Co-op Live in Manchester on 21 September.
General release tickets will go on sale on Thursday 28 March, with artist pre-sales from Monday 25 March.
Melanie Martinez The Trilogy Tour – European dates in full
SEPTEMBER 18 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena 20 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena 21 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live 23 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro 24 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena 26 – London, UK – The O2 29 – Brussels, BE – Forest National OCTOBER 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome 2 – Paris, FR – AccorArena 4 – Lyon, FR – LDLC Arena 5 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi** 7 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Centre** 10 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena 11 – Frankfurt, DE – Festhalle 12 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena 15 – Lodz, PL – Atlas Arena 16 – Prague, CZ – O2 Arena 18 – Bologna, IT – Unipol Arena 19 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
In a statement shared today, the Co-op Live said it has been ‘undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans’.
It said that the shows are being rescheduled to ensure they can ‘run safely’.
The 23,500-capacity arena said this will give them ‘the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly’.
The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May, and Peter Kay on 23 and 24 May.
As for the Bolton-born comedian, he sounds somewhat in disbelief himself:
My apologies once again but unfortunately the Co-op Live still isn’t ready and so, as yet, remains untested for a large-scale audience. Consequently, they are having to reschedule my two shows yet again (I know I can’t believe it either).
Co-op Live’s statement reads: “Since making the difficult decision to postpone the live shows at Co-op Live due to take place this week, we have been undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans.
“To ensure that we can run all shows safely, regretfully we have now had to take the decision to reschedule the planned The Black Keys and Peter Kay shows.
“Both The Black Keys and Peter Kay have graciously agreed to reschedule their shows. The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May 2024, and Peter Kay will now perform on 23 and 24 May 2024.
“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend.
“We deeply appreciate the impact this will have on excited fans, and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause.
“Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly.
“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”
Co-op Live boss resigns just days before venue’s official opening
Daisy Jackson
The boss of Co-op Live, Manchester’s enormous, ground-breaking new arena, has resigned from his position just days before the venue is set to open.
The enormous music-first arena has been taking shape beside the Etihad Stadium for several years, and was due to welcome its first official audiences this week, but has been hit with last-minute challenges.
And now Co-op Live‘s boss Gary Roden has quit the mammoth project, with the news of his resignation announced late Thursday evening.
Oak View Group, which Co-op Live is part of, said in a statement that they would like to ‘thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans’.
Stepping into his shoes as interim general manager will be Rebecca Kane Burton, who previously ran the U.K.’s highest-grossing venue, London’s The O2 arena.
Gary has previously come under fire for saying that some grassroots music venues ‘poorly run’ – a statement that OVG has now distanced itself from.
A separate statement said that ‘neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by former Co-op Live General Manager Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry’.
It continued: “As OVG Chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke has repeatedly stated, Co-op Live remains committed to grassroots music in Manchester and beyond, including teaming up with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on the Artist of the Month campaign, and as a founding partner of Beyond The Music.
“Co-op Live also donates over £1m a year to the Co-op Foundation to support communities and empower young people to take social action through its new Young Gamechangers fund.
“Oak View Group and Co-op Live remain happy to meet with grassroots organisations once the venue is fully operational.”
Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Co-op Live in Manchester
The news of the venue’s boss stepping down comes at a time when all eyes are on Co-op Live, the opening of which has been delayed.
The venue did host a test event with Rick Astley last weekend, but even that faced difficulties, with thousands of tickets cancelled to reduce capacity just hours before showtime.
It’s now set to officially open this Saturday 27 April with a performance by rock group The Black Keys.
The full statement from OVG about Gary’s resignation said: “Gary Roden has decided to resign. We’d like to thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans and wish him the best for the future.
“Rebecca Kane Burton has been named Interim GM, effective today. Rebecca is a seasoned veteran of venue management and live entertainment in the UK having served as VP/GM of The O2 from 2012-2016 and CEO of LW Theatres from 2016-2021.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd March 2024 
