Ne-Yo has just announced details of a huge UK tour, including two night in Manchester.
Setting millennial hearts aflutter, the R&B star will perform at the AO Arena with support from Mario.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning Ne-Yo is bringing his Champagne and Roses tour to the city in 2024, as well as venues in Leeds, Cardiff, London, Birmingham and Newcastle.
The news comes as the star wraps up a sold-out tour of the US and in support of his eighth album Self Explanatory.
Since releasing his debut album in 2006, Ne-Yo has sold 20+ million albums worldwide and racked up hits including Sexy Love, Closer, Because of You, Miss Independent, So Sick and Push Back.
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The Las Vegas-born star has also written songs for stars like Rihanna, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, and Celine Dion, among others.
His award-winning lyrics include: “Just one touch and I erupt like a volcano and cover her with my love.” The noughties were a weird time…
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Ne-Yo will be joined on his tour, including his Manchester gigs, by R&B legend Mario, the man behind iconic hit Let Me Love You as well as his recent collaboration with Chris Brown on Get Back.
Ne-Yo has announced a huge UK tour including a Manchester date. Credit: Publicity picture
Mario also starred in films including Step Up, and on the small screen in Empire.
Tickets for Ne-yo’s Manchester show will go on sale at 9am on Friday 24 November from See Tickets here.
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Tickets for his second date go on sale from 9.30am on Friday 1 December through See Tickets.
Ne-Yo’s UK Champagne and Roses tour dates in full
Thu 7 March 2024 – Manchester AO Arena
Fri 8 March 2024 – Leeds First Direct Arena
Sat 9 March 2024 – Cardiff Utilita Area
Mon 11 March 2024 – Newcastle Utilita Arena
Wed 13 March 2024 – London The O2
Thu 14 March 2024 – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
Tuesday 19 March 2024 – Manchester AO Arena
Featured image: YouTube
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Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night
Daisy Jackson
The opening night at Co-op Livewas marred by ‘a venue-related technical issue’ (something fell from the ceiling), triggering further delays to the huge new Manchester arena and even more rescheduled shows.
The ground-breaking new arena, which will be the largest indoor venue in the UK when it actually opens, has once again had to postpone its official launch.
In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday 1 May, fans who were already queueing outside Co-op Live were told the A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie concert had been cancelled.
Then followed further postponed gigs, with the venue also pulling the plug on Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour which was meant to visit Manchester on Friday and Saturday.
The Co-op Live has already rescheduled Peter Kay twice, as well as The Black Keys – and now more future gigs are being pushed back.
And now the question on everyone’s lips is whether Take That, Keane, or other huge shows will go ahead as planned.
It all happened pretty quickly last night, so here’s an essential recap of all the drama.
Which Co-op Live shows have been postponed or cancelled so far?
Peter Kay poked fun at Co-op Live in his event poster. Credit: Peter KayThe Black Keys. Credit: Larry Niehues
So far, the 23,500-capacity venue has had to reschedule or indefinitely postpone eight different events.
These have included Peter Kay, who was lined up to perform two gigs, which have now been moved twice.
The only event that has gone ahead so far has been a test event with Rick Astley, and even that saw thousands of tickets cancelled at the last minute to safely reduce capacity inside (we were one of the lucky few to go, and it does look amazing inside).
Then there was obviously the last-minute drama when A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was cancelled while fans were already outside Co-op Live, and then pop star Olivia Rodrigo having TWO gigs rescheduled.
Here’s the full list:
Peter Kay – original dates 23 and 24 April. Rescheduled dates 29 and 30 April. NEW DATES 23 and 24 May.
The Black Keys – original date 27 April. New date 15 May 2024.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – original date 1 May. New date to be confirmed.
Olivia Rodrigo – original dates 3 and 4 May. New dates to be confirmed.
What’s on next at the Co-op Live arena?
Take That is still scheduled to go ahead at Co-op Live after some other shows were cancelled.
Despite these high-profile cancellations, the Co-op Live still has plenty of incredible shows lined up in the coming weeks.
Notably, Take That have essentially planned a residency that will see them take over the huge venue for SEVEN nights.
At the time of writing, the following shows will still be going ahead this month. Fingers crossed everyone…
Keane – 5 May
Take That – 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 May, then 11 and 12 June.
Elbow – 14 May
The Black Keys – 15 May (rescheduled from 27 April)
Eric Clapton – 18 May
Barry Manilow – 19 May
Peter Kay – 23 and 24 May (rescheduled from 23 and 24 April)
Nicki Minaj – 25 and 30 May
Eagles – 31 May, then 1, 4, 7 and 8 June
Olivia Rodrigo statement and updates
Olivia Rodrigo has had her Co-op Live gigs rescheduled. Credit: Nick Walker
Olivia Rodrigo is arguably the most high-profile music event to be postponed at Co-op Live so far, with the pop sensation due to perform two sold-out shows.
It’s all part of her GUTS world tour and was meant to visit Manchester on 3 and 4 May.
Although her two shows this week have definitely been postponed, Co-op Live have yet to announce new dates.
In a statement, she sad: “I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m sooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to on-going venue-related technical issues.
“We’re doing our best to reschedule the show. you can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticket holders.
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“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”
Why has the Co-op Live opening been postponed again?
Co-op Live’s initial delay was caused by ‘power supply issues’ and they postponed several shows to test emergency services communications.
It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.
Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.
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“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”
What Co-op Live have said about the delays
As A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s gig was cancelled, Co-op Live said: “Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead. We kindly ask fans to leave the area. Tickets holders will receive further information in due course. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
On Olivia Rodrigo, a statement released said: “Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
And as for the future of the venue’s opening schedule, they said: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.
“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.
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“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”
Co-op Live should announced details of rescheduled dates in due course.
‘Disappointed’ Olivia Rodrigo issues statement to Manchester fans after Co-op Live postpones gigs
Emily Sergeant
Olivia Rodrigo has issued a statement to her Manchester fans after her run of gigs at Co-op Live have been postponed.
The US singer-songwriter was due to perform two massive sold-out shows tomorrow and Saturday (3 and 4 May 2024) here in Manchester at the city’s newest venue, the now-troubled Co-op Live, as part of her GUTS world tour – but, due to what has been referred to as “ongoing venue-related technical issues”, these gigs are now the latest in a long line of postponements.
New dates will be announced as soon as they’re confirmed, Co-op Live assured ticket-holders.
Co-op Live said in a statement: “Due to an ongoing venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase.
“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.
The Drivers License singer also took a moment to assure her presumably-disappointed attending fans that she too was “disappointed” by the situation.
In a statement shared to her 37.2 million followers on Instagram yesterday, Olivia wrote on her Story: “Hello! I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m soooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to ongoing venue-related technical issues.”
The 21-year-old told Manchester fans that “we’re doing our best to reschedule” the shows.
Olivia Rodrigo has issued a statement to Manchester fans after Co-op Live postpones her gigs / Credit: Olivia Rodrigo (via Instagram) | The Manc Group
Her statement continued: “You can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticketholders.
“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”
As previously mentioned, the massive arena was supposed to open for the first time to the public last night with a performance by US rapper, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, but it was called off at the eleventh hour and fans were turned away from the doors just minutes before they were meant to open.
Co-op Live has now confirmed that the reason for the cancellation was due to a piece of the HVAC (air conditioning) system having “separated from the ductwork”.
Because of this, rigorous testing on the rest of the system now needs to take place before fans can safely be welcomed inside.
The next expected show on the Co-op Live schedule is Keane on Sunday 5 May, before beloved Manchester boyband, Take That, play a massive run of shows from 7-11 May and extra dates on 11 and 12 June.
Daisy Jackson -
17th November 2023 
