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.
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.
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.
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:
Gorillaz announce huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK and Ireland tour
Daisy Jackson
Gorillaz are well and truly back, and they’ve announced a huge Manchester gig on the upcoming The Mountain Tour.
The legendary band, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, will be performing at the Co-op Live arena next spring.
Gorillaz is a virtual band made up of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle.
The huge tour announcement comes along with the announcement of their new album, The Mountain, which features a whole myriad of collaborations including Johnny Marr, IDLES’ Joe Talbot and Dennis Hopper.
It’s their ninth studio album and promises to be a ‘playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence’.
The Gorillaz The Mountain Tour will visit arenas across the UK and Ireland next Spring, with support from Trueno, and follows the sold-out 5-star House of Kong exhibition and four triumphant performances at Copper Box Arena.
Manchester will get the new Gorillaz tour first, with the band kicking things off at Co-op Live on 21 March before heading to cities including Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, and Liverpool.
The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world.
The album will officially release on 20 March 2026.
General on sale begins at 11am on Friday 19 September HERE.
Gorillaz’ ‘The Mountain Tour’ dates in full
MARCH 21 – Co-op Live, Manchester 22 – BP Pulse Live, Birmingham 24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (support from Trueno) 25 – First Direct Arena, Leeds 27 – Utilitia Arena, Cardiff (support from Trueno) 28 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (support from Trueno) 29 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (support from Trueno) 31 – SSE Arena, Belfast
APRIL 1 – 3Arena, Dublin (support from Trueno)
JUNE 20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (support from Sparks and Trueno)
Featured image: Press image
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The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year
Danny Jones
The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.
You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.
We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.
If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.
She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.
Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.
From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.
Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…
We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.
There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize
It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.
“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.
“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”
She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?