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Queen + Adam Lambert play the AO Arena next month – here’s how you can watch the gig in style

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th April 2022

Rock legends Queen + Adam Lambert are set to perform a massive gig at the AO Arena in Manchester next month.

The much-anticipated Rhapsody World Tour will touch down in the city on 30 and 31 May – and there are a limited number of VIP tickets up for grabs.

It means that you still have the chance to watch the world-famous rockers from the best seats in the house at the AO Arena.

Prime View Tickets include fast track entry, access to the VIP lounge before the show with a welcome glass of champagne, and prime seats in the lower tier of the auditorium (block 103 or 114).

Queen + Adam Lambert will perform at the AO Arena Manchester. Credit: AO Arena

Priced at £230 per person, the Prime View package is a first class experience with incredible views for hits such as We Will Rock You, Don’t Stop Me Now, and We Are the Champions.

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The tour was first announced following the runaway success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody, a biographical musical that charted Queen’s rise to success.

Read more: The beautiful Peak District cave that’s being turned into a cinema this spring

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American vocalist Adam Lambert first joined members of Queen in 2011 and they have toured the world ever since.

The band first rocketed to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with the late Freddie Mercury at the helm.

To book Prime View Tickets for Queen and Adam Lambert at the AO Arena, email [email protected] or call 0161 950 1069.

Featured image: Publicity picture

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More artists added and stage splits confirmed for Neighbourhood Weekender 2026 lineup

Danny Jones Danny Jones NBHD Weekender festival lineup 2026

Two waves for NBHD Weekender’s 2026 lineup have now been officially confirmed, and Greater Manchester leads the way in terms of headliners, with local music legend Richard Ashcroft and Stockport’s finest, Blossoms, both already confirmed for the big slot on the main stage.

Now THAT is how you follow up a comeback.

Yes, Neighbourhood Weekender always promises a healthy dose of Northern acts on the lineup, including plenty of Mancs, scousers and others from Cheshire and the region at large, but to get two much-loved music artists from our boroughs topping the 2026 bill is an absolute treat.

With other noteworthy appearances in the Kaiser Chiefs, DMA’s, Jamie Webster, Example and many more on there already, it feels like next year’s festival is shaping up to be a potential all-timer, with a second wave of acts being added and the stage splits now set.

As you can see, the first pair of waves of the NBHD 2026 lineup includes returning crowd-pleasers like Shed Seven, Razorlight and The K’s, as well as other additions like rising stars Basht., Better Joy and North West favourites, The Kairos, as well as fellow Manc lads, M60.

Other acts that also caught our eye include our own natives like Arkayla, The Guest List, Luvcat and The Covasettes, just to name a few, as well as rising ‘Britainicana outfit’, Westside Cowboy, who just so happen to star on our most recent round-up of what we’ve been listening to.

In fact, there are a few past Manc bands of the month features on this lineup, not to mention more nearby names in Lucvat, The Royston Club, Keyside, Nxdia and so on, who are all well worth earmarking ahead of the stage splits being announced.

One name we’re also very excited to see play another big festival crowd is post-grunge four-piece Keo, who recently announced their most “ambitious” tour to date, including what is set to be a massive gig right here in 0161.

As for the headliners, indie heroes Blossoms need no introduction; nor does Wigan’s most famous musical son, with Ashcroft riding a real resurgence at the moment – he’s also one of our artists of the month, naturally.

In fact, confirmation of both Ashcroft and his Oasis Live ’25 support act partners, Cast, being booked for Warrington’s Victoria Park and the next NBHD Fest comes after the 54-year-old confirmed a fellow hometown band for some very big shows of his own.

This coming May Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 23-Sun 24 May 2026) is shaping up nicely, and we can’t wait to see what else is new to the festival site this year.

General admission tickets are already available, and new for this year, there will also be different payment plans via their website.

You can grab your tickets HERE. See you in the fields!

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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/Audio North

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Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family

Danny Jones Danny Jones

The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.

Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.

Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.

Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.

Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.

It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.

Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.

All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.

These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.

Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.

“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.

“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.

“With love and thanks – The Family”

It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.

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Featured Images — livepict.com (via Wikimedia Commons)/Publicity pictures (supplied)

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