Audio

The biggest rock band on Earth is coming to Manchester, with hundreds of musicians on stage

And you can apply to be one of the 300 performers. This article contains affiliate links.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 3rd December 2025

Rockin’1000 will be heading to Manchester next spring, with the biggest rock band on Earth performing timeless anthems. 

And when we say it’s the biggest rock band on Earth, we’re not being sensationalist – there’ll be 300 musicians performing together. 

Guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists, singers, and even an orchestral section will all play together for a rock concert on a scale the UK has never seen before.

The AO Arena is set to host Rockin’1000 in March next year – and musicians of all skill levels are being invited to apply to perform. 

There are more than 100,000 musicians as part of the band worldwide, and if you’d like to be one of them before the show arrives in Manchester you can register HERE. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Rockin’1000 began in 2015 with a viral performance of 1,000 musicians playing a Foo Fighters song in Cesena in Italy. 

Since then, it’s grown into a worldwide community of musicians and has sold more than 300,00 tickets to large-scale and ambitious rock concerts in 20 different countries. 

ADVERTISEMENT
Rockin'1000 will come to the AO Arena in Manchester
Rockin’1000 will come to the AO Arena in Manchester

Despite being one of Europe’s largest venues, the indoor nature of the AO Arena means that the number of performers will be reduced to 300, who will fill the floor of the arena. 

Fabio Zaffagnini, Founder of Rockin’1000 said “The UK’s music culture is unrivalled, and Manchester is one of the world’s great music cities. 

“Bringing 1,000 musicians together under one roof creates a powerful emotional connection for everyone involved, on stage and in the crowd. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“We cannot wait to share this experience with UK fans.”

Rockin’1000 will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 7 March, with 300 musicians performing together at once. 

Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday 5 December HERE. 

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

Audio

Peter Hook announces special career-spanning city centre show, with a veteran Manc band supporting

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Local music legend Peter Hook and his live touring partners, ‘The Light’, have announced a special career-spanning anniversary gig right here in Manchester, chronicling his incredible music career.

The former Joy Division member and subsequent New Order co-founder is celebrating 50 years in the business next year, and is marking the occasion with a comprehensive and retrospective live show come the summer.

Arguably one of the most influential musicians to have ever come out of the region, the Salford-born bassist and now lead singer of his own solo outfit (still playing countless hits from his extremely lengthy discography, of course) is now 69 years old and still going strong.

In fact, that’s exactly what they’ll be doing for the landmark live show: playing some of the biggest and best tunes from his various projects over the decades he’s spent in the studio and on the stage.

Suitably shared in Haçienda/Sex Pistol-coloured announcement poster, not only will Hook be revisiting Joy Division’s seminal debut album, Unknown Pleasures, but he’ll be going back through everything from Power Corruption & Lies by New Order to his lesser-known works.

Be it his 1995 side project, Monaco, or the recently unearthed Freebass collab with the likes of Andy Rourke, Tim Burgess, and the late, great ‘Mani’ from the Stone Roses, fans of the avid audiophile and prolific live performer are in for a real treat.

Having toured this storied material extensively, Peter Hook and the Light have now amassed over 800 concerts as a band. For the Greater Manchester native himself, it’s an incredible feat to make in the music industry, full stop, let alone reach half a century in it.

As for the Pistols connection, ‘Hooky‘ just happened to be one of several future Manc icons like half of The Smiths and The Fall, Factory Records’ own Tony Wilson, John Cooper Clarke, and even his then-soon-to-be Joy Division bandmate turned New Order lead singer, Bernard Sumner.

It’s a fairly safe bet you’ll find the post-punk veteran and plenty more of his peers in the crowd for another major music milestone in 2026.

Sex Pistols and Frank Carter to toast important Manc music anniversary with massive outdoor gig
It’s this particular date the group are toasting that motivated Hook to go out and buy a guitar.

Even more fittingly, this 50th anniversary gig will also see the group joined by another veteran rock band from the region, as fellow local punk sons, The Buzzocks from Bolton, who also formed after THAT very same gig at Lesser Free Trade Hall in ’76.

Early access tickets for the exclusive show at Manchester Academy next June go on pre-sale this Wednesday, 3 December; general admission will be available from Friday, 5 December.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

We had the honour of chatting with the man, the myth, the legend, once again back in February 2024, when our Audio North arm was still known as ‘The Manc Audio’.

You can watch the interview down below.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Hi Fi Way (supplied)/Paul Hudson/Brian Marks (via Flickr)

Audio

Rising Manchester band M60 announce biggest UK headline tour to date

Danny Jones Danny Jones M60 Manchester live gig date tickets

Local lads M60 have announced their biggest UK headline tour yet, and are now only set to play their lengthiest run of live dates, but the largest Manchester gig they’ve played so far.

There’s nothing quite like a hometown crowd, is there?

For those who may not have yet come across them before, the Manc indie band have had a good couple of years, releasing some of their best-produced music to date and growing an even bigger following up and down the country.

If you’ve been to see M60 live here in Manchester, you’ll know they already bring a die-hard crowd of deeply loyal and passionate fans. They’re also the band that famously and successfully pestered Gary Neville every day to give them a shout-out for the best part of a year…

Revealing the latest series of shows to start off December, M60 have confirmed nearly a dozen gig dates in the new year.

Scheduled to get underway next spring, they’ll be playing throughout the month of April and into May 2026; official support act(s) are yet to be signed up, but you can expect more native talent to share in the spotlight.

You can see the full list of gigs announced down below.

M60 live tour dates – 2026

Oh, and we’ve also kindly highlighted the other Northern dates for you, just in case you can’t make it to the Manc one.

  • Thursday, 9 April – Liverpool District
  • Friday, 10 April – Sheffield Foundry
  • Saturday, 11 April – Leeds Key Club
  • Thursday, 16 April – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
  • Friday, 17 April – London Oslo
  • Saturday, 18 April – Bristol Thekla
  • Thursday, 23 April – Birmingham Mama Roux’s
  • Friday, 24 April – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
  • Saturday, 25 April – Manchester O2 Ritz
  • Friday, 1 May – Glasgow Nice N Sleazy
  • Saturday, 2 May – Newcastle The Grove
Music video budget be damned, it’s still a good tune.

Having released their latest single ‘Lemonade’, along with a rather fitting new brand logo, the group are looking to kick on in 2026.

With new lead guitarist, Owen Baldwin, joining the quartet earlier this year, not to mention having played big festival slots at the likes of Kendal Calling, Neighbourhood and more this past summer, we have every faith they will.

Tickets for their huge homecoming performance at O2 Ritz in Manchester on Saturday, 25 April 2026, go on general sale this Friday, 5 December at 10am.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Audio North/Press shot (supplied)

More Audio

Art & Culture

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to | November 2025

Evanescence Co-op Live Manchester gig tickets 2026

Art & Culture

Evanescence announce biggest-ever Manchester gig

John Cooper Clarke Manchester live show gig tickets 2026

Art & Culture

John Cooper Clarke announces latest UK headline tour along with new book

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches