In case you somehow missed the countless videos on TikTok and people’s Instagram stories, Paramore are well and truly back and have been delighting fans with their world tour since October.
Arriving for the UK and Ireland leg of their ‘This Is Why Tour’ earlier this month, pop-punk turned alt-rock outfit are playing top tracks from their latest album of the same name — as well all the hits, of course — and judging by what we’ve seen online, they’ve been absolutely smashing it.
Now stripped to just three of the original four founding members, it looks like they really are back to doing what they do best: making music, playing massive shows and having fun.
With that in mind, Paramore arrive at Manchester’s AO Arena this Tuesday, 18 April, and for those of you going along to relive your noughties emo days or simply watch Hayley Williams be Hayley Williams, here’s all you need to know.
First things first, if you were still hoping to grab yourself some tickets, we’re sorry to be the bearer of bad news but pretty much every one of these puppies sold out in the blink of an eye — even we couldn’t even bag ourselves any, try as we might.
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That’s at least in terms of standing anyway; it looks like are a few seated tickets floating about on sites like Twickets and TicketSwap but they’re pretty pricey and, as always, we’d urge you to be super cautious when it comes to buying from resellers.
However, plans always change and someone always drops out, so we sincerely hope you get a miracle and bag yourself some standings in time for the gig.
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Support acts — what a billing!
As if getting to see the band back on stage with new music wasn’t enough, Mancs will be treated to some serious talent when it comes to Paramore’s support acts for the AO Arena gig.
In addition to bringing rising Winchester-born and London-based artist Rozi Plain (‘Help’, ‘Friend City’, ‘Inner Circle’) along for the UK and Ireland leg, those who grabbed tickets have also somehow managed to land themselves the legendary Bloc Party as ‘warm-ups’. You jammy so-and-sos…
The indie and alt-rock veterans, known for the likes of ‘Helicopter’, ‘Flux’ and ‘This Modern Love’, have been around since 1999 if you can believe it, but are still one of this country’s best exports and it seems the Tennessee trio know it.
There are special guests and then there’s having literal headliners as your ‘warm-ups’, come on, guys.
Paramore stage times for Manchester AO Arena gig
According to the Arena, doors will open to the event at 6pm. The gig itself should start shortly after with Rozi Plain due to play around 6:30pm before lead supports and special guests Bloc Party starting around 7:30pm.
If you even have any energy left after watching Kele Okereke and co. do their thing, Paramore are likely to take the stage at around 9pm for what we can only assume will be two hours of bangers, Riot! era headbanging and pure partying.
Last but not least, judging by what’s been played at the shows on the tour so far — with Dublin kicking off the first date on this current leg — the core ‘This Is Why‘ Tour setlist hasn’t been switched up too much from night to night.
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That being said, there has been some flexible around the middle section of these and coming to such a massive music city like Manchester, they’re sure to pull something big out of the bag.
With help from setlist.fm, here’s what we think it’s going to look like:
Note To Self (spoken word intro)
You First
The News
Playing God
That’s What You Get
Running Out of Time
Caught in the Middle
Ain’t It Fun
Liar
Crystal Clear (Hayley Williams song)
Still Into You
Rose-Colored Boy
Cover 1 (they’ve done everything from The Cranberries to Fleetwood Mac in the past)
Cover 2 (we’re going to assume some Manc anthem — just please not ‘Wonderwall’, guys)
This is the first time Paramore have been back to Manchester’s AO Arena since 2018 when the band were touring the After Laughter album and the lineup was different, so this feels like somewhat of a homecoming for the band as we first knew them.
Now six albums and nearly two whole decades into their career, we think it’s fair to call Paramore veritable rock and pop royalty — I mean, you don’t get the honour of playing the Arena if you aren’t worth the entry fee.
So, if you were wondering exactly why people are so buzzing for this gig, well, this is why:
The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for New Year’s Eve
Thomas Melia
One of the UK’s most popular new club events and pioneering ‘day rave’ is returning to Manchester this New Year’s, featuring founders Jon and Vicky McClure, as well as some very special guests.
The Line of Duty star and Reverend and the Makers frontman started the parent-friendly event back in January of this year as an alternative day out for those looking to have a party and still manage an early bedtime. Since then it’s gone on to become a real phenomenon and is only getting bigger.
With Vicky swapping UK dramas and crime thrillers for the discotheque and ‘Big Jon’ switching lanes from his usual rock, indie and alternative roots to favour timeless dance tracks to still get people up on their feet, Day Fever has gone down a storm all over the country.
With their first year coming towards a close, they now look set for arguably their biggest day rave to date as Day Fever will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve for their final hurrah of 2024 right here in Manchester city centre – and no, you don’t need to be able to stay up until midnight.
The two McClures – unrelated, by the way, they just share a name and a fantastic taste in music – and the rest of their crew will be partying between 3-8pm for a much more tame and friendlier night (day) out, commanding the decks alongside some other special guests.
Not only does this alternative way to party promise a more responsible curfew, meaning clubbers don’t have to worry about missing the last train home but it’s also geared towards over 30s whilst still being super inclusive.
This day-time clubbing event is designed to reminisce on the old days and all those dance-filled memories of evenings spent out on the tiles, just minus the late-night finish – and hopefully the hangover but that’s down to you really, isn’t it?
In their words: ‘There’s no dress code, no egos—just pure positivity’; there’s nothing we love to hear more than the sweet relief of not having to get dolled up for a big night when we just can’t be bothered.
With New Century Hall hosting the Day Fever once again for their first-ever NYE party here in Manchester, along with two other events being held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Birmingham, you can get all your partying done way with plenty of time to get cosy in bed before the calendar turns over.
Just in time to watch Jools Holland’s famous Annual Hootenanny, as they put it.
Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin CompstonVicky McClure leading the dance routines
This is guaranteed to be an evening to remember for everyone in attendance, especially when you’re joined by stars of stage and screen who will be powering you through with some proper dance bangers as they have done all year long.
The New Year’s Eve party isn’t just the last dance of the year either, it’s also effectively the prequel to next year’s raft of shows as Day Fever has already announced more than a dozen big dates in January and February.
This batch of 2025 dates sees the gang taking on lots of other cities, including North West neighbours Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull over in Yorkshire, two Newcastle shows and plenty more.
So, if you’re feeling those clubbing blues, that pesky seasonal affective disorder or just still not booked up for NYE 2024, why not make the most of this day-time opportunity?
Tickets for both the New Year’s Eve and the rest of their 2025 events are available on the official Day Fever website HERE.
Oh yeah, and help get Rev to Christmas number one – it’s for a good cause and they deserve it!
Sean Paul and Ashanti are hosting a massive Manchester show in 2025
Danny Jones
The one and only Sean Paul is coming to Manchester next year and we’re about to be smashing that buy ticket button it’ll be left sticking like glue.
A terrible pun, we know, we’re just very excited.
Better yet, he’s bringing a fantastic co-headliner along with him as fellow noughties and R’n’B throwback Ashanti will be sharing the stage too.
Landing at the AO Arena in spring 2025, they’ll be upping the ‘Temperature’ ahead of the summer and just in time for the festival season to start getting underway.
Having both enjoyed the scene for many years back in its 2000s heyday and each still boasting their own long-serving fan bases no matter how long it’s been, we wouldn’t think of this as a Sean Paul headline gig with a support act but two very special guests doing what they do best.
The Jamaican-born rap, reggae and dancehall artist as well as all-round popstar needs no introduction really but we’ll give him one anyway: you have to pronounce his name funny and he’s best known for countless club classics like ‘Got 2 Luv U’, ‘Get Busy’ and ‘Gimme The Light’, just to name a few.
Coming back to Manchester for basically a celebration of what many still revere as one of the golden eras for the genre will no doubt be an unbelievable night and playing the AO Arena after all this time is no mean feat.
General admission goes live from 10am, Friday 20 December but presale will be available for Three mobile users who want exclusive early access from Wednesday onwards from the same time.
The ‘Bring It’ Tour comes our way on 13 April 2025, with other dates including Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and a massive London show with Fat Joe joining too.
You can get ready to grab your tickets for Sean Paul and Ashanti’s AO Arena date HERE.
Danny Jones -
17th April 2023 
