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Mumford and Sons set for Manchester return and Co-op Live debut

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 12th March 2025

Mumford and Sons are back and heading to Manchester for a massive arena show at none other than Co-op Live.

Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit has announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.

Set to land back in Manchester for their first big headline show since 2019 – yes, it really has been that long – Mumford and Sons have always had a strong following around these parts.

With our city being one of just half a dozen in Britain, we can count ourselves lucky and it serves as yet another reminder of what a big attraction the Co-op is proving to be.

The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmere is the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.

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However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.

With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is also the beginning of a new phase.

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Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.

The album itself drops on Friday, 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.

Selecting the likes of London, Glasgow, Dublin, Cardiff, Birmingham, Sheffield and, of course, Manchester on their list of domestic tour dates, it feels like it’s even a minute since we’ve seen them. Because, well, it has.

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But even before the big Co-op Live date, the group will be heading to 0161 for the latest instalment of the Amazon Music ‘City Sessions’, playing an intimate show at Aviva Studios next month.

As for the arena show, official Co-op members can access pre-sale from 10am on Tuesday, 18 March before general admission goes live at the same time the following Thursday (20 March).

Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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Featured Images — Press Images/Audio North

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James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour

Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.

The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.

The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.

James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.

Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.

His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.

James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.

Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.

Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”

James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.

James Blunt UK and Ireland 2027 tour dates

  • 26 March – Leeds
  • 27 March – Birmingham 
  • 28 March – Newcastle
  • 30 March – Dublin
  • 31 March – Belfast
  • 2 April – Glasgow
  • 3 April – Manchester
  • 4 April – London
  • 6 April – Cardiff
  • 7 April – Bournemouth
  • 8 April – Brighton 

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Featured image: Supplied

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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.

Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.

Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.

On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.

Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.

After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.

The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.

This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.

Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.

After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.

Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.

It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.

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The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE

Featured Image: @samserved (via Instagram)

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