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.
Richard Ashcroft teases long-awaited return with new music
Danny Jones
Local music legend Richard Ashcroft has teased his return to the studio after seemingly teasing new music on social media.
The Wigan icon remains one of the most revered Greater Manchester musicians around, from his years as The Verve frontman to his much-celebrated solo stuff.
However, it’s been a while since we’ve heard new music from Ashcroft, with his most recent release coming in the form of an acoustic collection of classics back in 2021; his last album, Natural Rebel, came out nearly seven whole years ago.
With that in mind, when we hopped on social media to see that the ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ and ‘Lucky Man’ singer had uploaded a number of posts along with a date, it’s fair to say we got rather giddy.
The lyricist with the most luscious lips in the game.New Richard Ashcroft music looks to be on the way. (Credit: Richard Ashcroft via X)
Beginning the tease campaign earlier this month, Ashcroft posted nothing but the date “22.05.2025” on his X account, leaving fans scrambling around to try and dig up more details.
Then, shared just two days later, a glowing image of his face was revealed along with an identical caption in what looks to be a snapshot from a new music video, perhaps?
Sure enough, we got the left-hand image of that instantly recognisable pout on Monday, 19 May, accompanied not only by that same date and the ‘Lover’.
Although it’s still unclear as to whether this is the name of/album artwork for a long-awaited seventh studio LP or merely the title of a new lead single from whatever his next project is, all we know is Britpop fans are buzzing – us included.
We were already stoked to hear him confirmed as one of the support acts for the upcoming Oasis reunion shows late last year, and now there’s the prospect of hearing him play new material, we literally cannot wait for the summer.
The 53-year-old’s discography is rich enough as it is, but it feels like we’ve waited forever for a new record; that being said, we really do hope we’re getting ‘RA7’.
Regardless, Ashcroft has never disappointed on the live stage, with his landmark homecoming shows at Robin Park being nothing short of a massive deal for the town.
Here’s hoping we get a full album and a UK tour with plenty of Northern dates to boot. We don’t think that’s too much to ask for. Guess we’ll find out Thursday, 22 May.
Where does he rank among your favourite Manc musicians?
Flash sale launches with two-for-one tickets to some of Manchester’s biggest gigs
Thomas Melia
Two upcoming Manchester gigs are having a flash sale where you can get your hands on some very limited 2 for 1 tickets.
The two biggest arenas in Manchester are hosting exclusive discounts on two of the biggest upcoming Manchester gigs.
If you’re after tickets to Co-op Live’s offering you’ll have to act fast as they have a legend in attendance, quite literally, as John Legend is set to take to the stage on Thursday 29 May.
It’s a very special gig for the singer-songwriter as he celebrates 20 years of ‘Get Lifted’ where Mr. Legend will be playing tracks from his debut album like ‘Ordinary People’, sprinkling in more hits too.
AO Arena are also running a limited 2 for 1 ticket discount and we’re certain it’s about to get ‘Hot In Herre’ as St. Louis MC Nelly brings his UK tour to this very stage along with a troupe of famous stars.
Anyone interested in finding ‘Where The Party At’ doesn’t have to look much further than Saturday 7 June when Nelly brings his tour to Manchester with Eve, St. Lunatics, Jermaine Dupri and Fabolous.
Co-op Live is running a limited 2 for 1 offer on John Legend tickets.AO Arena have a 2 for 1 flash sale on tickets to see Nelly and special guests.Credit:Publicity Picture (via Supplied) / Flickr
‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’ because these tickets are too good to pass on especially when you get the opportunity to see all these rap legends under the same roof for less than three figures at £90.
And we’re giving you the ‘Green Light’ about John Legend and his upcoming ‘Get Lifted – 20th Anniversary Tour’ when we say these 2 for 1 tickets total at £70, It’s ‘Written In The Stars’.
Anyone after 2 for 1 tickets for John Legend and his upcoming ‘Get Lifted – 20th Anniversary Tour’ can find this exclusive running until 28 May HERE.
And there’s no ‘Dilemma’ in sight as you can get 2 for 1 tickets to see Nelly and his music crew on their ‘Where The Party At’ tour HERE.
Thomas Melia -
1st May 2025 
