The MTV EMAs will touch down in Manchester tomorrow, bringing a mass of famous faces and celebrities to our city for a night celebrating the music industry.
The star-studded event will be taking place at the Co-op Live on Sunday 10 November, and also streamed and broadcast live.
Ahead of the event we had a chat with the host of the evening, Rita Ora, who filled us in on what we could expect for the big night.
Image: The Manc Group
Tomorrow is the big day, the MTV EMAs live right here in Manchester, how are you feeling about it?
I’m very excited, a bit nervous but that’s normal you know. It’s really nice as this is my third time now, with the same crew so you know, I trust everyone now. It’s always just a bit mental, because you don’t really know what’s going to happen, but it’s just the best part of it for me.
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This is your third time hosting the EMAs so you’re clearly a favourite among the MTV crowd – what is it about this event that makes it so special?
I think for me, what I love is that it’s so global, you know, internationally, the artists are coming from Korea, Mexico. It’s just kind of one of the only award shows that really do make a point of the international global musician aspect of things.
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I love seeing everybody flying in, and, you know, it’s in Manchester so it’s kind of like coming back home so it feels just like a reunion as I love seeing all the artists and especially the ones I know.
There are some big names nominated tomorrow and a fair few I’m sure you know very well, is there anyone you’re particularly rooting for tonight?
There’s so many, I think it’s it’s great to see Shawn Mendes again I love what he’s doing. Teddy Swims is also one of my favourite vocalists in the world.
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I think for me, though, it’ll be great to have a reunion with Raye, all the females have been killing it this year.
We know you love a night out in Manchester – where are some of your favourite spots?
When I was last here I performed at Pride so I would just walk up and down Canal Street and it was great. It was just me and the queens and that’s all I need.
Canal Street is always a class night out – what is it about the Manchester party scene that sets it apart do you think?
Well, first, the history is just incredible, musically and everything like that. You know, you’ve got the amazing attitude of Manchester which is very rock and roll, you know, the Gallaghers and everything. I think it really sets the tone of the, I would say how to be a rock star.
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And I feel like that kind of trickled into the culture of Manchester into the bars. And, you know, you walk in and you just get a feeling of like, you’re welcome.
And could you give us one artist that’s really excited you this year and that everyone needs to look out for?
You know I never want to singular them out because I do feel like everyone deserves to be here but I did see the rehearsals of the new Korean girl group, Le Sserafim, and they’re really, really cool.
Let’s finish off with a few quick fire questions. Who is your favourite Manc in the world?
You know, I think I’ve got to say the lads from The Happy Mondays. I love them, they’re icons.
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Who’s your favourite artist from the north?
It’s got to be The Beatles.
And finally, can you sum up Manchester in three words?
Oh, gosh, that’s a big one. Vibrant, brave and talented.
You can see the full list of nominees for the MTV EMAs – and thus the potential celebrities you could spot – HERE.
Blossoms at O2 Ritz Manchester – five-night hometown residency is already a triumph
Daisy Jackson
Blossoms are a band who were born and forged here in Greater Manchester, and now they’re back retracing their steps with a five-night residency across the venues that launched them into the big leagues.
Their star has risen all the way to arena level and headline shows at Wythenshawe Park at this point, especially here in their hometown, so the chance to see them back in these cosy-ish little venues is special, and a little bizarre.
For night two of their landmark sold-out gig series, it was the turn of the O2 Ritz, that sweaty spot off Oxford Road where the floor bounces downstairs and you stick to the carpets upstairs.
Poetically, the first time I ever saw Blossoms was in this very room in 2016, when they had the mid-afternoon slot at Neighbourhood festival and the queue to get in went all the way back to St Peter’s Square.
Since those days, Blossoms have come a long, long way, and their live show has evolved and matured from five lads thrashing on their instruments to this well-oiled, hip-swaying, flares-wearing, chart-topping machine.
There’s even choreography now – how fancy!
A stand-out moment from the show is actually a song from their new, fifth studio album Gary, which is still barely eight weeks old.
A spoof recording of legendary Manchester indie club 42s rings out, then all five band members abandon their stations, slinging keytars and marching drums around their necks so that they can dance together in front of neon signs.
Blossoms have just done their second of five shows in Manchester, this time at the O2 Ritz. Credit: The Manc GroupBlossoms on stage at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Blossoms promised more disco with this album and they bloody meant it. It’s not just the flares and the blow-dries and the moustaches (though those do help) – it’s in the funk and groove that’s gradually crept into their music exponentially with each album release.
This is still indie rock but it’s the most danceable of its genre. Good luck keeping your shoulders from wiggling and jiggling in here. Good luck keeping that grin off your face.
And Gary is one of the most unexpectedly fun albums to be released in the last year – the fact they called it Gary, named after a giant fibreglass garden centre Gorilla, should’ve been our clue. It could border on silly were it not such a masterpiece.
It seems like the only thing Blossoms are trying to prove is that you can be wildly successful without taking yourself too seriously. They just seem like a group who want to have a good time and it’s totally infectious.
Case in point – when each band member is introduced, keyboardist Myles Kellock plays the riff of Satisfaction by Benny Benassi and The Biz. Unexpected.
Blossoms also clearly give a sh*t about their live shows and graft at it – I’ve seen these guys an awful lot and it’s because their tour dates are plentiful and consistently worth the ticket price.
This is definitely the biggest era of their career so far, but have they peaked? Not even close.
The Warehouse Project reveals return to Rotterdam for second-ever overseas event
Danny Jones
The Warehouse Project has confirmed it will be returning to Rotterdam in 2025 for just its second-ever overseas event.
After debuting abroad in 2023 with an action-packed few days in the city of Rotterdam – whose art scene, music culture and even canal network bears lots of similarities to Manchester – Warehouse Project is coming back for more.
There’s just over a month left of the 2024 WHP calendar; you’d think they’d be getting ready to wind down and enjoy the Christmas breather, but not so: the organisers are already planning what is set to be one of their biggest and best long weekends to date.
Set to take place over the early May bank holiday, the Dutch port city will once again play host to one of Manchester’s legendary club nights.
The second biggest city in the Netherlands behind Amsterdam, the next edition of Warehouse’s international series is set to return to Rotterdam RDM – a warehouse space very reminiscent of both Depot Mayfield and their original home at Victoria Warehouse.
WHP x RDM II is already being billed as an “unforgettable weekend” and if any of this year’s mainline events here in Manchester are anything to go by, they’re bound to live up to that promise.
There’s also a full FAQ page for anyone looking to find out more information regarding Rotterdam, the venue itself, travel and more.
As well as revealing the dates (2-4 May 2025), the organisers have already teased a good chunk of the lineup, with the likes of Chris Stussy, Peach, Four Tet b2b with Sammy Virji, salute and many more already confirmed.
With a slew of incredible acts, multiple afterparties on boats and other local venues, as well as plenty of opportunity to see the rest of Holland’s ‘Manhattan on the Maas’, this is going to be SO good.
We were lucky enough to have been sent to sample their inaugural Rotterdam date back in April of 2023 and, we have to say, it was an absolute blast.
Take it from us, if you’re considering being a part of this next event you won’t regret and we’ll be putting together an extensive guide to help you feel prepared for raving overseas. Registration for early access is already live, so sign up fast if you want to give yourself the best chance of being there.
Limited presale and accommodation packages will be available to those who have applied at 9am on Monday, 2 December (UK customers only). General admission tickets will go live from 9am n Tuesday, 3 December sale for UK and Dutch customers starts Tuesday 3rd December at 9am GMT/10am CET.
Rotterdam 2025 will be here before you know it, so take a boots-on-the-ground at what an international Warehouse Project date looks like down below:
Clementine Hall -
9th November 2024 
