A nationwide music charity has issued a statement after discovering the news of another impending Manchester venue loss, as student-favourite Retro Bar looks to be closing.
Reputable UK non-profit, Music Venue Trust, has come out to express their shock at the plans to shut the long-standing and well-established nightlife and music venue.
Adjacent to the University of Manchester campus, Retro Bar has catered to students and locals alike for more than 35 years. The nightclub, bar and live performance space is set to be displaced in a new venture between Bruntwood SciTech and the university.
In a statement posted on social media, Music Venue Trust wrote: “It’s just not good enough to dismiss the extraordinary value these organisations bring to their communities, the cultural ecosystem and the night time economy.”
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) was formed just over a decade ago to protect and improve independent and grassroots music venues across the UK, so they were quick to step in upon learning that Manchester’s beloved Retro Bar faces closing.
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The organisation works closely with larger venues and grassroots music venues to help support the infrastructure of the music industry and live music as a whole.
They even partnered with Katy Perry, who is heading out on tour and visiting AO Arena later this year, with £1 from every ticket sold going to this charity to be distributed to independent music venues.
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MVT went on to explain that “Retro has not factored into the Sister masterplan in any meaningful way and faces the very real prospect of permanent closure this July”.
The impending closure of Retro makes way for a £1.7 billion joint development, which is being labelled as the ‘Sister Masterplan‘, between the uni and the Greater Manchester property development group.
Retro hosts in excess of 200 live gigs per year and welcomes upwards of 20,000 customers annually, having served as a staple venue in Mancunian nightlife culture.
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In response to the plans, the MVT is currently leading a crowdfunding attempt to save the space and has even received the backing of a very familiar face.
On the fundraising site, anyone thinking of donating will find a video from the one and only Frank Turner – a passionate grassroots advocate – who is fully behind the campaign.
Halestorm announce HUGE Manchester gig and new album this year
Thomas Melia
Award-winning American rock band Halestorm have just announced their latest album as well as a slate of UK tour dates, and they’re stopping off in Manchester later this year.
The four-piece consists of siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale alongside guitarist Joe Hottinger and bass player Josh Smith.
This post-grunge and heavy metal-influenced collective is no stranger to regular slots on big stages, known for playing up to 250 shows a year as headliners and as support acts – impressive stuff from a prolific band who are approaching their fifth studio LP.
Lead vocalist Lzzy Hale from the band Halestorm coming to Manchester this year.Credit: Sitro47 (via GoodFon)
They also became the first female-fronted band to win a Grammy in the ‘Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance’ category back in 2013 with ‘Love Bites (So Do I)’. There’s just no stopping them.
With that in mind, Halestorm are bringing their ‘balls to the wall’ and in-your-face live performances across the Atlantic once again, stopping off in various cities including London, Birmingham and, of course, the de facto music capital of the North, Manchester.
These rockers have chosen none other than AO Arena to play ‘The nEVEREST Tour’, which is set to be nothing less than a fiery spectacle.
The group last touched down in our city back in 2022 on their ‘Back from the Dead’ tour in this very same arena to a roaring crowd of fans, which they’re nailed on to attract once again this year.
Halestorm always do things big, that’s why this tour coincides with the announcement of their new album ‘Everest’, which drops this August, giving fans plenty of time to learn all the words and get in all the head-banging practice they need.
Just look at how many tour dates they’ve got coming up in Europe and the UK alone.
We are SO excited to announce The nEVEREST WorldWide Tour coming this fall!!!
On-Sales begins Friday, May 2nd but varies by territory. Check local listings and subscribe to our newsletter for more pre-sale and on-sale information at https://t.co/9Qhzd42L52. pic.twitter.com/LW8Bhc7DTQ
Halestorm have caught plenty of attention over the years too, sharing the stage with fellow heavyweights like Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, as well as Heaven & Hell, just to name a few.
Expectations will be high as this lot are known for having the ability to dominate any sold-out stage with their serious stage presence; they will definitely deliver on the night.
Halestorm are coming to AO Arena in Manchester on 24 November 2025 with Three+ pre-sale starting from 6 May, AO Arena pre-sale from 7 May, and tickets going on general sale from Thursday 8 May – 10am across the board.
Featured Images — Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
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Eurovision 2025 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester next month.
Following the success of the previous two years, initially starting back when the internationally renowned televised event was held on British soil in Liverpool in 2023, cinemas up and down the UK are, once again, set to come together to celebrate 2025’s edition of the major night in the music calendar by hosting the ultimate viewing events.
The epic Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on Saturday 17 May will be broadcast live on BBC One, and streamed into more than 100 cinemas nationwide – including several in Greater Manchester.
Distributed by CinemaLive, the live stream events will allow Eurovision fans to gather under one roof and share in the unbeatable experience of celebrating the brightest and boldest music party of the year on the big screen.
The Eurovision 2025 final will be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester / Credit: CinemaLive | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
You may remember that Switzerland is hosting Eurovision this year, following the nation’s well-deserved victory at the 2024 contest with the song ‘The Code’ performed by Nemo.
But thanks to these live stream events, you won’t need to make the trip to Basel to get in on the action, as you’ll just need to nip down to your nearest participating cinema instead.
Not only will the long-awaited final of the show be streamed live onto the big screen in 5.1 surround sound, but fans are invited to bring their Eurovision parties from the front room to the cinema instead, as organisers say fancy dress is ‘heavily encouraged’, as are enthusiastic sing-alongs too.
Speaking ahead of the event next month, John Travers from distributors CinemaLive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the third year in a row.
“There’s simply no better way to enjoy the biggest night in music than in a cinema.”
Tickets are now live and available to book at your local cinema here.
Some of the participating Greater Manchester cinemas include Vue Manchester Printworks, Everymans in Manchester city centre and Altrincham, The Light in Stockport, and Cineworld in Didsbury, among others.
Thomas Melia -
1st May 2025 
