Audio

Nicki Minaj announces huge Manchester gig on world tour

She's heading to the Co-op Live.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th December 2023

The ‘Queen of Rap’ Nicki Minaj is heading to Manchester next spring on her worldwide tour.

The star had already teased details of the Pink Friday 2 World Tour to fans who had signed up to pre-sale access.

This will be Nicki Minaj’s largest tour to date, visiting cities including Manchester, London, Birmingham and Paris.

Her fans, collectively nicknamed The Barbz, have been eagerly anticipating her return to touring.

Nicki has become a megastar since releasing her debut album in 2010, earning herself the accolade of being the first woman to score 100 Billboard Hot 100 Hits.

ADVERTISEMENT

She’s hit the top 10 in the UK with songs including Starships, Anaconda, Bang Band and Super Bass, and collaborated with the likes of Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Drake and Lil Wayne.

Super Bass and Anaconda (among others) have now surpassed a massive one billion views on YouTube – she has the most videos with over one billion views for any female artist.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nicki Minaj has also appeared on TV as a judge on American Idol, in films including The Other Woman, and as a voice on Ice Age: Continental Drift.

She’s been the face of MAC, released a nail polish collection with OPI, and landed deals with brands like Fendi, Adidas, H&M and Pepsi.

Now the star is heading out on a new world tour, in celebration of her fifth studio album Pink Friday 2, which was released last week.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nicki Minaj will play at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on Saturday 25 May 2023, her first stop on the European leg of the tour.

Tickets are on sale now with artist presale access, with the general sale beginning on Friday 15 December at 9am.

Nicki Minaj Pink Friday 2 World Tour – European tour dates in full

  • Sat May 25 – Manchester, UK – Co-Op Live
  • Sun May 26 – Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
  • Tue May 28 – London, UK – The O2
  • Sat Jun 01 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
  • Sun Jun 02 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
  • Wed Jun 05 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
  • Fri Jun 07 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes Benz Arena

Read more

Featured image: Publicity picture

Audio

Manchester’s AO Arena scoop up Take That as Keane’s Co-op Live gig is cancelled in ongoing venue saga

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Take That gigs moved to AO Arena as Keane's Co-op Live are cancelled

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 cancelled too.

First it was A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, announced earlier today and now, in perhaps the most damning twist of fate for the brand-new venue, Take That’s five-night run that was set for the Co-op Live this May has now been moved to the AO Arena.

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.”

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 out of the control”.

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.

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 Keane to its stage instead.

With so many people having been pitting the two venues against one another over the last weeks and months, let’s just say it’s quite clear who’s come out looking better at the minute…

Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night

Read more:

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Images

Audio

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig to AO Arena following Co-op Live cancellation

Danny Jones Danny Jones A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig from Co-op Live to AO Arena after cancellation

Rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has confirmed that his cancelled Co-op Live gig has now been moved to Manchester’s AO Arena this weekend.

After suddenly being lined up as the venue’s first official gig after the postponement of both Peter Kay and The Black Keys, the American hip-hop artists’ show ended up going the same as the others previously scheduled for the new arena and being pulled at the last minute.

With guests being turned away from the still-yet-to-open Co-op Live Arena just hours before the show was set to start, and Olivia Rodrigo fans being given the same unfortunate news ahead of her gig this Saturday, ABWDH has taken matters into his own hands.

Announcing the rescheduling of his concert on X, the 28-year-old artist confirmed that Wednesday night’s gig has now been relocated to Co-op’s main rival, the AO Arena.

The switch to the AO comes after A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie issued a statement admitting he was ‘heated’ about the situation.

Set to take place on Saturday, the artist – which just so happens to be his first name (yes, seriously) – had a simple message for his fans: “We won’t give up that easy, let’s go!”.

Co-op Live’s CEO was forced to resign late last month following the chaos of what was supposed to be their opening week.

Nevertheless, it hasn’t stopped the venue – which is set to become the UK’s biggest indoor entertainment venue and one of the largest in Europe when it finally does open – from announcing more events over the coming months and well into 2025.

Confirming the show on their social pages, the AO simply promised, “It’s going to be a brilliant night and we can’t wait to see you all here.”

Safety has been raised as the biggest concern after an air conditioning unit fell from the ceiling before ABWDH’s concert.

The AO Arena has hosted some of the biggest names in the entire world in the course of its existence and recently underwent a £50m refurbishment that included the launch of The Mezz.

Safe to say this presents an interesting twist in events when so many people have been pitting the two venues against one another.

Question marks have been hanging over whether more upcoming gigs, like Keane on Sunday 5 May, and then a five-night run of gigs from Take That will still be able to go ahead.

It remains to be seen whether other artists will follow suit in moving their shows should more cancellations/postponements be announced.

You can recap everything that’s happened so far down below:

Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night

Read more:

Featured Images — Press Images/The Manc Audio

More Audio

Inside Co-op Live in Manchester

Audio

Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night

Olivia Rodrigo has announced a Manchester gig at Co-op Live

Audio

‘Disappointed’ Olivia Rodrigo issues statement to Manchester fans after Co-op Live postpones gigs

Everton manager Sean Dyche in new Blossoms music video

Audio

Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches