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Old-school American rock legends Toto return to Manchester for the first time in over half a decade

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Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th September 2024

Yes, whether you only know ‘Africa’ or not, we refuse to let the news that American rock legends Toto are coming back to Manchester for the first time in half a decade pass you by.

The 1970s and 80s pop-rock icons are still one of the most commercially successful and beloved band groups to ever come out of the US, and that’s saying something, so it’s safe to say their return is a pretty big deal in our opinion.

Known for hits like ‘Hold The Line’, ‘Rosanna’, ‘I’ll Be Over You’, oh, and of course ‘Africa’, they’ve always firmly been in that category of bands that you know way more of their songs than you think.

Set to land at the equally legendary AO Arena early next year, the venue is kicking off its 2025 calendar of shows in style.

Now active for nearly half a century (albeit across a total of three spells and numerous different lineups when it comes to live performances) their longevity is up there with some of the very biggest and best names in music.

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With a whopping total of 14 studio albums to their name, well over 40 million albums sold worldwide since 1977 and an estimated 1,253,376 daily streams of ‘Africa’ on Spotify alone, they’ve done it all.

Beyond that, they’re littered all over movie soundtracks, influenced countless acts across the globe that came after them and were probably at least one of your relatives’ favourite bands at one point or another.

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Polishing off their ‘Dogs of Oz’ tour for the remainder of 2024, the LA-formed outfit will be taking a short break before gearing up for a world tour consisting of 20 tour dates and just four here in the UK.

Fortunately, one of them just so happens to be in Manchester on Tuesday, 4 February. Phew.

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It may only be guitarist and singer Steve Lukather left when it comes to original members, but it’s still great to see them going strong.

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It’s also been five whole since they last played Manchester at Bridgewater Hall, so to experience the veterans back on an arena stage will be special, to say the least.

Better yet, with fellow contemporary Christopher Cross – best known for ‘Sailing’, ‘Ride Like The Wind’ and ‘Never Be the Same’ – joining them as a special guest, this is set to be a real throwback show that fans are sure to lap right up.

Tickets for Toto at the AO Arena go on sale this Friday, 13 September at 10am. Be ready to ‘Hold The Line’ and grab yours HERE. See what we did there?…

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images/Wikimedia Commons

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The Prodigy announce HUGE gigs at The Warehouse Project this year

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

EDM band The Prodigy are bringing their electronic punk and big beats to the crowds of Manchester this December.

As The Warehouse Project kicks off a great series of gigs with its 2024 opening season, what a way to make it even better than with not one, but two The Prodigy headline dates.

The Disrupta Tour 2024 sees the Essex-formed band stopping off in Bridlington first before taking on the mighty 10,000-capacity crowd at The Warehouse Project in Manchester for two nights.

They are no stranger to the clubbers’ paradise as The Prodigy have performed at the prestigious event in 2019 and are now returning to the immense venue in December.

Known for their singles like ‘Firestarter’ and ‘Breathe’ the crowd is in for an electric night of high-energy raving and rocking as they perform tracks taken from their many hit-packed albums.

Taking to The Warehouse Project stage on Saturday 14 December and Sunday 15 December, crowds are treated to a weekend of live music from The Prodigy that is guaranteed to be unforgettable. 

They sure know how to control a crowd, after all Manchester has been a staple tour stop for the iconic act since they first debuted in the 90’s, and they have played a collection of live music venues across the city. 

What’s even more special, besides the fact they’re returning to Manchester, is the Sunday 15 December show at The Warehouse Project is a late curfew. The band are continuing the party til 1am for lucky guests who just can’t get enough of the EDM tracks.

For the last shows of the year, this musical act is ready to bring the heat. The band are merging their signature sounds of electric rock and rave anthems to create a show that will blow your mind.

Liam Howlett, the group’s co-founder and leader, is stoked too, saying: “We will be there armed with a sonically fresh attack. Let it disrupt ya…”. 

Tickets to The Prodigy’s The Disrupta Tour 2024, including their shows at The Warehouse Project, go on fan presale, 19 September at 10am and general sale on 20 September at 10am – get your tickets here.

The Prodigy 2024 tour dates

  • Friday 13 Dec – Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
  • Saturday 14 Dec – The Warehouse Project, Manchester*
  • Sunday 15 Dec – The Warehouse Project, Manchester
  • Tuesday 17 Dec – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
  • Thursday 19 Dec – O2 Academy Brixton
  • Friday 20 Dec – O2 Academy Brixton
  • Saturday 21 Dec – O2 Academy Brixton*

(*late show, 1am Curfew)

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Featured Image: Rahul Singh

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Morrissey: Johnny Marr now has ‘100%’ of The Smiths rights to tour without him – and one potential replacement is trending

Danny Jones Danny Jones Morrissey says Johnny Marr now has 100% of the rights to The Smiths trademark and can tour without him

Morrissey has come out to claim that former bandmate Johnny Marr now holds all the rights to The Smiths and their music, even stating that he can now go on and tour without him – and there’s already a very big name being floating around for his replacement.

Yes, as per Mr ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ himself, the co-songwriter and lead guitarist recently acquired “100% trademark rights/intellectual property” despite Morrisey himself having coined the “musical unit name ‘The Smiths’ in May 1982.”

It is said that this application was secured without any consultation from the former frontman or any chance to object on the 65-year-old’s part.

Although the fellow Manc music legend himself is yet to come out and comment on the reports made on the official Morrissey Central website, fans are already speculating whether Marr is gearing up to head out on tour, the internet was quick to drum up what many are calling the ideal stand-in for a singer.

Though it might have seemed a slightly mad suggestion a few years ago, there are literally tonnes of accounts and music fans from all over calling for Rick Astley to be called in as a replacement frontman should Marr actually end up taking The Smiths back out on tour.

The ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ singer and Lancashire-born 80s pop star has been enjoying what we’ve affectionately referred to as the ‘Rick-naissance’ over the past few years, playing main stage slots at the likes of Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Bestival and continuing to release new music.

However, the reason the suggestion of him replacing Morrissey as the lead singer on a would-be tour is actually quite plausible is because he’s already played a number of shows where he performed The Smiths song with Stockport indie band, Blossoms.

Going on to not only become friends with the group but reiterate what an incredible singer he is – covering classics such as ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’, ‘This Charming Man’ and even the likes of ACDC to tens of thousands on the Pyramid Stage – he’s quietly become one the UK’s favourite all-round performers once again.

That being said, it’s safe to say some people have other thoughts on the suggestion; many believe Marr wouldn’t be interested in doing it, others were aghast at the suggestion or some offered a much easier alternative that’s already proven to be a more than viable option…

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Nevertheless, there seem to be many more people in the pro-Astley camp than there are in the anti, with one user writing, “Johnny Marr, Rick Astley is waiting by the phone!”, and another in America adding: “If Marr tours Smiths songs with Rick Astley in the US, I’m going to every date in the south.”

As explained in the full post entitled, ‘The Plot Thickens’, Morrissey and his representation said that not only can Marr “now tour as The Smiths using the vocalist of his choice” but doing so will also “also prohibit Morrissey from using the name whilst also denying [him] considerable financial livelihood.”

In fact, according to a previous statement shared at the end of last month, he and Marr were presented with a “lucrative offer” to tour together in June by AEG Entertainment Group throughout 2025 and while he said yes, his counterpart “ignored the offer.”

The plot thickens indeed but, for now, there’s nothing concrete to any of this talk beyond what Morrissey has claimed regarding trademark rights and what a lot of fans would clearly love to see: some kind of The Smiths’ comeback tour featuring Marr and the mighty Rick Astley.

Hey, who knows? We’ve finally got an Oasis reunion and much stranger things have happened – and we’re talking just this week alone…

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Man Alive!/Julio Enriquez/Raph_PH (via Flickr)

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