Pitbull has finally announced that he’s bringing his party to Manchester, days after he set London alight with a concert that has taken the internet by storm.
If you’re as chronically online as I am, you’ll have spent the last few days completely immersing yourself in Pitbull’s show at The O2, which looked, if I’m being completely honest, life-changing.
From the hordes of fans dressed like Pitbull (bald caps and goatees) to the backing dancers to the pyrotechnics to the inspirational speeches, this is a man who knows how to bring a party.
And now he’s bringing it to Manchester at last, with Pitbull announcing a massive gig at Co-op Live as well as a second London gig.
Tickets will be in demand, despite the price – it’ll cost £104.50 to go general admission standing.
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The global superstar, who’s behind hits like Fireball, Hotel Room Service and Give Me Everything, will be heading to town with his Party After Dark Tour.
The last time Pitbull graced the Manchester crowds was all the way back in 2018, so we’re well overdue the chance to yell TIMBERRRRR!! in the same room as him.
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As if his Latin charm wasn’t enough to have us weak in the knees, he’s bringing a special guest to select shows too, including Manchester.
And he’ll be joined by the equally legendary Shaggy, a multi-Grammy-award-winning dancehall and reggae icon.
Pitbull has announced a massive Manchester gig. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Eva Rinaldi
Mr Worldwide himself is promising a high-energy show (again, the London one saw the entire arena boogying all the way into the nosebleeds) with pure party energy.
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Expect stunning visuals (and we don’t just mean Pitbull himself), explosive pyrotechnics, and an amazing performance from his band, The Agents, and dancers, The Most Bad Ones.
The expanded 14-city tour will kick off on 5 June in Dublin before heading to cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, and Berlin.
Pitbull will perform at the Co-op Live Manchester on Sunday 8 June.
Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 26 February at 9am with artist presale, before general sale begins on Friday 28 February at 9am – you can get your tickets HERE.
So go on, whack on your best bald cap, grab a pair of sunnies and get memorising all the states mentioned in ‘International Love’.
James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Thomas Melia -
25th February 2025 
