Glastonbury has drawn to a close for another year.
As thousands of festivalgoers woke up bleary-eyed today after three days of eclectic shows, and with the usual massive clean-up operation now underway down at Worthy Farm, viewers and critics have been reflecting back on what was another successful year for the UK’s – and probably the world’s – biggest music event.
And by the looks of things, it seems one local star has stolen the show.
We are, of course, talking about none other than Rick Astley – who is now no longer a self-professed “Glastonbury virgin” after taking to the world famous Pyramid Stage on Saturday for one of the festival’s most talked-about sets.
It may have been 36 years since the iconic singer-songwriter from Newton-le-Willows first shot to fame with his massively-popular 1987 hit song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, but Rick Astley is arguably a more prominent force in popular culture now than he ever has been before.
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Over the past couple of years, the 57-year-old has been amassing new fans left, right, and centre, and has even claimed the strongest run of album chart positions of his entire career.
Fans will know that Astley had already teamed up with Blossoms to perform a selection of their favourite The Smiths songs back in 2021, and it went down so well the first time, that the Stockport indie rockers decided to bring Astley up on stage with them again for a surprise set to entertain the Glastonbury masses with some of the iconic Manchester band’s most well-known songs.
Taking over from Morrissey on vocals, Rick belted out some of the classics from The Smiths’ back catalogue – including ‘This Charming Man’, ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’, and ‘Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want’ – with the Stockport lads doing a brilliant job of providing the instrumentation.
But still, that’s arguably not what Astley’s Glastonbury debut year will be remembered for the most.
As it was his unexpected drums cover of AC/DC’s iconic 1979 classic ‘Highway to Hell’ that’s got viewers branding it one of the festival’s best moments.
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As Astley took to the Pyramid Stage for his highly-anticipated Saturday slot, the enthusiastic showman had the expansive crowd in the palm of his hands and appeared to win everyone over with his impressive vocals – but it was when he took a seat behind the drum kit for the penultimate song on his setlist that he won over even his harshest critics.
And they weren’t the only one to take to Twitter to sing Astley’s praises, as social media was flooded with viewers complementing his unexpectedly good drumming talents, and his set as a whole.
“I didn’t know how much I needed to see Rick Astley crushing AC/DC’s Highway to Hell on the drums at Glastonbury,” another fan wrote on Twitter.
Someone else even called Astley “the human equivalent of flare jeans” as both are “making a comeback in 2023”, while another person called the cover a “legendary performance”, and more fans called to “Protect Rick Astley at all costs.”
One fan wrote on Twitter in praise: “Watching him play every instrument in every genre while covering vocals without mimicking the original singer like a single trick cover band singer is really quite something.
“Rick has been one of the pleasant surprises of Glastonbury,” another fan summed it up best, adding that he’s “a proper ray of sunshine.”
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World-renowned rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd announce HUGE Manchester anniversary gig
Thomas Melia
Legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd are returning to Manchester for a limited UK tour at one city’s foremost venues.
Six years since their last visit, we’re sure they’ve missed ‘That Smell’ of a Manchester crowd and it’s safe to say safe we’ve missed them too.
Known for our love of live music and gigs, there’s no better place to stop off at other than Manchester when you’re playing a world tour, especially celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band’s formation.
Their name needs no introduction, however, if you need a reminder of this band’s remarkable career then ‘Don’t Ask Me No Questions’.
Just kidding, the well-seasoned country and blues veterans from Jacksonville, Flordia are one of the most acclaimed acts to ever come out of the US; in 2006 they received one of the biggest honours any artist could wish for, getting inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
With 14 official studio albums, several EPs and numerous live recordings, there are definitely more than enough songs to pack into one unforgettable night.
As one of just four dates here in England, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Manchester tour show is taking place at none other than the AO Arena, which has also reached a milestone in 2025 as they celebrate 30 years of unbelievable gigs. What better way to party than with a good ol’ fashioned rock show?
They won’t be travelling solo either, they’re also bringing Georgia-based rockers Blackberry Smoke as a support act, notable for their 2012 single ‘One Horse Town’ along with many others.
Rockin’ it out like they always do, bring on Manchester. That iconic Lynyrd logo will look immense in AO Arena this year.Credit: Supplied
They’ve chosen the right venue to belt the hits too and, ironically, they’ve chosen a Tuesday for their Manchester date, meaning you’ll be able to walk out of the concert singing ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ with more conviction than ever.
One thing is for sure, with a legacy as big as this, the rockers are guaranteed to have a great time. There might not be any founding members left following the passing of guitarist and songwriter Gary Rossington in 2023, but you can bet the current lineup will do the originals justice and then some.
Lynyrd Skynyrd visit the AO Arena in Manchester on Tuesday 15 July 2025 with tickets going on sale from Friday 24 January at 10am. You can grab yours HERE.
Busted and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man added to huge music series line-up in Delamere Forest
Thomas Melia
Pop-punk band Busted and pop/soul singer Rag ‘N’ Bone Man are the latest acts announced to headline a music-filled forest a short drive from Greater Manchester.
The new names have been added to the huge Forest Live 2025 gig series, which takes place at Delamere Forest as well as four other unique outdoor locations across the country.
In a setting that’s mostly greenery and acres of trees, one voice is guaranteed to travel through the dense landscape of the forest, and that’s Rag ‘N’ Bone Man.
Joining the bill with the impressive soloist is boyband and still-to-this-day heartthrobs Busted who are visiting AO Arena this year as well, for those who aren’t such big fans of the festival scene.
Busted have had worldwide and national acclaim soundtracking the early noughties by transporting people a thousand years into the future with ‘Year 3000’ and educating us on ‘What I Go To School For’.
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man has his fair share of chart topping too with notable songs like the hard-hitting drum-heavy ‘Human’ to the Calvin Harris link-up ‘Giant’ which is a flurry of flamboyant horns and EDM beats.
You could be like these lucky gig-goers, front row in Delamere Forest.Raise a glass to your favourite band at Forest Live 2025.Bringing music and green spaces together, Delamere Forest, Cheshire.Credit: Supplied
Stockport five-piece Blossoms will also be headlining and they might be bringing their latest member Gary, the infamous eight foot gorilla, on stage with them too.
There’s another Gary on the bill too, with Gary Barlow set to play in June.
Dundee legends Snow Patrol are another of the acts who are set to play at Forest Live this summer.
Situated in Cheshire, Delamere Forest has been hosting events and shows as part of ‘Forest Live’ in partnership with lots of other unique green spaces like Sherwood Forest and Cannock Chase Forest too.
This initiative is set to drive more people into these natural environments that they maybe wouldn’t visit if it wasn’t for the music and make them realise how brilliant these grounds truly are.
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man is headlining on Sunday 15 June while Busted are set to headline on Thursday 19 June, both events are taking place at Delamere Forest as part of Forest Live 2025, with tickets HERE.
Forest Live 2025 at Delamere Forest line-up
13 June – Snow Patrol
14 June – Gary Barlow
15 June – Rag n Bone Man
19 June – Busted (with Twin Atlantic and SOAP)
21 June – Blossoms (with Seb Lowe and The Guest List)
Emily Sergeant -
26th June 2023 
