Manchester will get a new open-air nightclub this year, with a six-month programme of music and events.
Progress Centre has been created with dancing in mind, from its line-up ‘curated by the people of Manchester’ to its outdoor (but covered) dance floor.
Early artist impressions of the space show a canopy of glittering streamers suspended above the dance floor, plus colourful outside seating areas and food options.
The open-air nightclub, which wants to take a ‘European’ approach to clubbing, will have a Funktion One sound system and a custom lighting rig.
Its first season will bring local, national and international artists to the Progress Centre, which has found its home in Ardwick.
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Located just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly, the Projekts Skate Park, and Escape to Freight Island, the venue’s season is set to run between April and September.
Visuals of the Progress Centre outdoor nightclub in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedA previous event at the site in Ardwick. Credit: Supplied
The bill for the first run of April shows has been revealed today, and includes Traumer, Randal, Dyed Soundorom b2b Gene on Earth, Sasha, DBridge, Dusky, Fabio, Swoose, Mr. Sosa, Gemma Arnott, Liam Schooling, Liam Palmer and many more.
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Progress Centre comes from the team behind The Loft, Animal Crossing and Summer of Love festival, the full six-month summer programme will feature Locus, Slapfunk, Freak, Meat Free, The Ghost, Get-Traum, Hit & Run, Sahsa, 23 Degrees, You&me, Appetite and plenty more still to be announced.
Promoter Olli Ryder said, following a social campaign that gathered customer feedback: “For us to include the voices of the people in the space curation further amplifies that it will be fit for purpose.
“Options are scarce across the city and the UK, so when a new space is introduced, it’s key to ensure you deliver exactly what the people want.
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“It’s the community of dancers you do this for; it’s those who make this all possible; you’re asked if you’d like any dessert at the end of a meal, so why should it be any different when creating a club?”
The remainder of the programme will be revealed throughout the coming months.
Featured image: Supplied
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Manchester’s Barton Aerodrome announces huge line-up of outdoor gigs including McFly, JLS and UB40
Daisy Jackson
Three new shows have been announced for an open-air gig series at Barton Aerodrome this summer.
Barton LIVE has today confirmed that McFly, JLS and UB40 will be taking to the stage, where the backdrop will be the bustling runway of Barton Airport.
The summer series also includes performances from The Jacksons Live, 90s Baby Festival, and Boogietown North.
Barton LIVE’s summer series takes place at one of the country’s most unique and exhilarating settings at Barton Aerodrome, where the worlds of music and aviation come together.
The three new shows that have just been announced kick off with McFly on Thursday 12 September.
The pop-rockers, famed for their hits like Five Colours In Her Hair, All About You and Obviously, will take centre stage with a typically high-energy performance.
Then on Saturday 14 September, the stage will be given over to British boy band royalty JLS, whose chart-topping hits include Beat Again, Everybody in Love, and She Makes Me Wanna.
Their signature blend of R&B, pop, soul and silky-smooth vocals will be part of Barton LIVE’s star-studded end-of-summer line-up.
Finally, on Sunday 15 September, legendary reggae band UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will perform.
They’ll be whisking audiences away to the warm and vibrant Caribbean through their iconic reggae rhythms and songs like Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Kingston Town.
Tickets for McFly, JLS and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell at Barton LIVE will be available on Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up for tickets via www.bartonlive.co.uk
Over the course of the summer, the stage at Barton Aerodrome will welcome the likes of Ronan Keating, The Jacksons, Peter Andre, Blue, Eternal, Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Boney M and many more.
Barton LIVE line-up in full for outdoor gig series at Barton Aerodrome
Friday 19July – The Jacksons LIVE (The Jacksons, Kenny Thomas, Soul Boutique Collective) – tickets £39.50 plus booking fee via Skiddle here.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July – 90s Baby Festival (Ronan Keating, Eternal, Peter Andre, Blue, Five, A1, Scott Mills, 911, Sonique, Blazin Squad, Dave Pearce, Phats & Small, N-Trance, Happy Clappers Ft Sandra Edwards, Baby D, Alison Limerick, Ultrabeat, JX, Livin Joy Ft Luzahnn, Urban Cookie Collective, Nick Coulson + support) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Saturday 27 July – Boogietown North (Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Tunde Of Lighthouse Family, Boney M, Trevor Nelson, Craig Charles, Gina Breeze, Supernatire Disco, Nick Coulson) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Thursday 12 September – McFly – tickets £44.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Saturday 14 September – JLS – tickets £49.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Sunday 15 September – UB40 featuring Ali Cambell, tickets £39.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Featured image: Supplied
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Peter Kay’s gigs at Co-op Live have been postponed as the arena admits it’s not ready for opening act
Danny Jones
Just a day before the venue was set to welcome its very first act, Co-op Live has announced that arena opener Peter Kay’s gigs have unfortunately been cancelledand postponed until later this month.
Both of Peter Kay‘s highly-anticipated shows have ultimately had to be called off after Co-op Live revealed that the brand-new entertainment venue is simply not ready to welcome guests just yet, with work still to be completed on key areas of the building, namely power supply issues.
Issuing a regretful statement on social media, the arena has confirmed that the shows will now be rescheduled to Monday and Tuesday, 29-30 April.
An important update from Co-op Live. Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay. These dates will move from 23 April and 24 Wednesday to Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April. pic.twitter.com/SxW50Ph5hm
Co-op Live confirms Peter Kay’s pair of opening shows have been cancelled and rescheduled.
Addressing the situation online, Co-op Live said: “Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay…
“It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind. Rescheduling gives us the extra time we need to continue testing thoroughly.
“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size. Peter Kay has very graciously agreed to perform his record-breaking comedy at Co-op Live on 29 (rescheduled from 23) and 30 (rescheduled from 24) April 2024.
“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend. We are very sorry for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause for some.” Safe to say many of those looking forward to the show have been left frustrated.
Booked train ticket hotel and can’t make next week! Place is a joke !!
Please tell me why I am finding this out of flipping TWITTER and have not been emailed?!
— 🧜🏽♀️ Lauren Sparks – Book Siren 🧜🏽♀️ (@thickthighnolie) April 22, 2024
Speaking to The Manc, a Stockport gig-goer who had tickets said they had to find out via social media and that her group had still received no email notifying them about the cancellation, adding, “We just logged into the app to find the date on our tickets had been changed to next Monday”.
As for the beloved Bolton-born stand-up and British comedy legend himself, Kay added: “I’m truly gutted as I know how disappointing this will be for everyone with tickets, but obviously it’s a brand-new venue and it’s important that everything is finished and safe for full capacity audiences.
“Fortunately, we’ve been able to reschedule the shows to next week, (I’ll have to miss my Bums & Tums class) but hopefully I’ll see you then.”
The venue also went on to assure that they will still be hosting The Black Keys on 27 April in the lower bowl with 10k fans as planned and will continue to test the resilience of the venue and its operations for the time being.
They also reminded fans who previously missed out on tickets that due to dates being moved, tickets may now become available.
Daisy Jackson -
16th February 2023 
