Noel Gallagher is facing criticism from fans after announcing Tom Meighan, former Kasabian frontman, as the support act on the Noel Gallagher‘s High Flying Birds arena tour.
While music fans are delighted to have UK shows on the horizon in December, the choice of support act has already been called into question.
Meighan stepped down from Kasabian back in 2020 shortly before it came to light that he’d been arrested for assaulting his then-fiancée and now wife, Vikki Ager.
Fans were shocked to hear that he was leaving the band, which he’d been frontman of since they formed way back in 1997.
He was replaced by fellow bandmate Sergio Pizzorno, who took on the role of lead singer.
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Meighan has since gone on to launch a solo career, releasing his debut solo album The Reckoning in May.
And now he’s been announced as the support act for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ December tour.
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The news comes after he played at one of Noel’s shows over the weekend.
Former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan is to support Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on their UK arena tour later this year. pic.twitter.com/4zxSKgWFn0
Fans have been disappointed to see the news that Meighan would be joining Noel on tour.
One person wrote: “What on earth is he doing having Tom Meighan as his support? The guy tw*tted his miss ffs and got kicked out of Kasabian for it.”
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Another person said: “Put my ticket up for sale! Tom Meighan is absolutely despicable & disappointed Noel would have someone like him as his support.”
But many others were pleased to see the musician heading back on to a large stage.
Facing a similar backlash earlier this year, organisers of Sheffield festival Be Reyt said that ‘people deserve a second chance’.
Their statement added: “We do not accept that Tom should be cast out from the music community after working hard to better himself.”
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
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Major headliner pulls out of Manchester Village Pride
Daisy Jackson
One of the Manchester Village Pride headliners has had to pull out of their scheduled appearance, just one day before the celebrations begin.
Nadine Coyle was supposed to be headlining the LGBTQ+ event on Friday 27 August.
But in a statement shared by Manchester Village Pride today, they announced that the former Girls Aloud star is ‘under the weather’.
Nadine will be pulling out of her headline slot to ‘rest and recuperate’, but added that she hopes to see Manchester for Pride again soon.
Thankfully, Manchester Village Pride has already found a suitably fabulous replacement for the main stage on Friday – B*Witched.
The iconic Irish girl group will be encouraging ticket-holders to dig out their double denim and dance to hits like C’est La Vie and Rollercoaster.
In the statement shared by Manchester Village Pride, Nadine’s team said: “Nadine is so sorry to have to step out of Manchester Village Pride this year. It was her very first Pride many years ago and she loves getting to spend time with you all.
“Nadine’s voice has been under the weather and she only wants to give absolute best to you all which sadly won’t be possible this weekend as she needs time to rest and recuperate.
“We hate to do it so near the day. Nadine was really hoping she was going to be well enough and hopes she can see you in Manchester for Pride again soon.
“Thank you for being so kind and understanding and we hope you have a wonderful weekend.”
Manchester Village Pride added: “We know how excited many of you were for a massive hit of 2000s pop nostalgia, and we promised you a party. We’ve been working around the clock, and we are beyond thrilled to announce that pop royalty B*WITCHED are stepping in at the eleventh hour!”
Independent Manchester band describes ‘absolutely massive’ moment The Cure wore their band tee on stage
Daisy Jackson
The Empty Page, a fiercely independent band in Manchester, have described the ‘insane’ moment they saw their band tee up on stage with The Cure.
The group have had a surreal run of attention from some of alternative music’s biggest names – but seeing The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels wearing their t-shirt in front of 25,000 people was something else entirely.
The Manchester band were among the thousands of people watching The Cure at Wythenshawe Park when the legendary group took to the stage – then frontwoman Kel Page noticed that something up there looked a bit familiar.
“You don’t notice at first, and then you start going ‘That looks like – hang on, that really looks like one of our t-shirts,” Kel said.
“Then you’re zooming in on your phone, and we just absolutely lost our heads.”
The shirt was indeed theirs, being worn on stage by The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels – turning an already huge Manchester show into an unforgettable moment for a fiercely independent local band.
“Honestly, we’ve experienced cool stuff, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that,” she said.
“I’m stood in a field with 25,000 people all looking at a screen, with a dude that I absolutely adore, wearing my band’s t-shirt. Endorsements don’t really come bigger than that. Literally bigger, because of the size of the screen.”
It’s a huge moment for The Empty Page, an alt-punk group formed in Manchester, who will play one of their biggest shows to date at Manchester Academy 3 next month.
The band is made up of Giz on guitar and Steve Kent on drums, with Kel Page as lead vocalist.
The Empty Page’s t-shirt on stage with The Cure. Credit: The Empty Page
Kel said: “The Cure are probably one of the most influential, brilliant bands of all time, and one of my favourite bands of all time. It’s just wild. I keep thinking it’s not real and I’m gonna wake up, because it’s such a weird thing to happen.”
The moment is the latest in what has been an extraordinary run of attention for the Manchester band.
“For something like this to happen is really cool, and it kind of comes after a long line of really cool things.”
A reel from The Empty Page was shared by Courtney Love, while Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson subsequently began sharing and commenting on their posts, as well as sending them messages of support. Then came Juliette Lewis.
When the actor and singer started sharing The Empty page’s music, Kel said: “This is f**king batsh*t. I cannot believe that THE Juliette Lewis is saying my band is good, this is absolutely crazy.”
“For Reeves from The Cure to wear our t-shirt on stage in Manchester is just insane,” she continued.
“That Manchester Cure gig is one of the hugest things to happen in Manchester for a while, especially for alternative gothy kind of punk/post-punk people.”
The Empty Page will play Manchester Academy 3 this September. Credit: The Empty Page
The Empty Page are a fiercely independent band, and have put on their own gigs, booked their own tours around the country and released their own albums on their own label. They don’t have the financial backing or industry infrastructure that many emerging artists rely on.
“We’re almost DIY to a fault,” Kel said. “We do everything ourselves. We don’t have big connections, we don’t have loads of money and rich famous parents, and we don’t have a record label or a manager or a social media company.”
Already, The Empty Page has noticed an uptick in sales on their t-shirts, with Kel saying it ‘feels like it’s becoming a bit of a cult merchandise item’.
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But ultimately, the hope is that the attention leads people beyond the t-shirt and towards the music itself.
“I just hope it means that people will check us out, because we’re a really good band, and if you like The Cure there’s a chance you’ll like us.”
The Empty Page will play Manchester Academy 3 on 24 September, following a run of sold-out shows – tickets are on sale now HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
8th August 2023 
