Pop icons S Club will kick off their 25th anniversary reunion tour right here in Manchester this week.
The group, better known to many as S Club 7, will be heading out as a five-piece after the tragic death of bandmate Paul Cattermole.
But Jo O’Meara, Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee, Tina Barrett and Bradley McIntosh have promised that the show will be a fitting tribute to Paul, renaming it The Good Times tour in his honour.
They’ll play two nights here in Manchester, at the AO Arena – the first is Thursday 12 October, the second Saturday 21 October.
S Club are best-known for chart-topping pop songs like Reach, Bring It All Back, Never Had a Dream Come True, Don’t Stop Movin’ and Have You Ever.
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Their very first show back together on The Good Times tour will be in Manchester this week. Here’s what you need to know.
Tickets for S Club’s 25th anniversary tour
S Club 7 in their heyday. Credit: Publicity picture
At the time of writing, there’s still some very limited tickets on sale for S Club’s Manchester dates.
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On Thursday 12 October, you can still get seated tickets for £72.50 including booking fees, but everything else is sold out.
Meanwhile tickets for Saturday 21 October are a similar story – there are just £72.50 seated tickets left at this point.
Remaining S Club tickets are available through See Tickets.
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Support act for S Club at Manchester’s AO Arena
S Club have chosen a band with an ‘amazing vibe’ to support them on their The Good Times Tour.
Now United are an international pop group formed by S Club creator Simon Fuller.
The group initially consisted of 14 members from 14 different countries but is now running as a seven-piece.
In a clip posted on Instagram, Bradley said: “We have got some news for you. For quite some time a lot of you out there have been asking who will be the supporting artist on the tour.
“We’ve found a band that have got such an amazing vibe and we think you guys are gonna love them. We love their music, we love their style… we just think these guys are so much fun.
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“And we want you to check them out. So, here they are… Now United.”
Setlist for S Club at Manchester’s AO Arena
S Club will kick off their reunion tour in Manchester. Credit: Publicity picture
As Manchester will be the first city to welcome S Club on their The Good Times tour, we’re a bit in the dark about what they’re planning.
Their setlist is more than likely to include their hits from the nineties and noughties, as well as new music, like their latest single These Are The Days.
We’ll update this article as soon as we get a whiff of what their setlist might be.
Stage times for S Club
The AO Arena hasn’t yet confirmed stage times for either of S Club’s shows.
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But we do know that doors will open at 6pm, and curfew is likely to be around 10.30pm.
Again, we’ll update this article as soon as stage times are announced.
It’s another big win for dance and electronic fans in Manchester as the beloved Barry Can’t Swim has been announced as part of the WHP25 programme, revealing a massive headline show.
The Edinburgh-born beat-maker, producer and solo artist has played Manchester before, he’s even played The Warehouse Project before, but nothing quite like this.
Confirming not just his own twin performance, with a full live show and an accompanying DJ set, but nothing short of an incredible lineup of support acts, this event could very well be the best night of the 2025 WHP calendar already.
Not only is ‘Everything Is Going To Be Alright’, it’s going to be bloody brilliant.
21.11 /// BARRY CAN’T SWIM – LINE UP REVEALED TOMORROW 10AM
The full line up for Barry Can't Swim's return to The Warehouse Project will be revealed tomorrow 10AM. Registration for presale access is available – https://t.co/z6yGfAvXSN
Undoubtedly one of Scotland’s biggest music exports in recent years, Barry Can’t Swim – real name, Joshua Spence Mainnie – was one of several acts who absolutely smashed Warehouse Project last year.
Having been shortlisted for the recent Mercury Prize, earned a nomination for Best Dance Act at the 2024 BRITs, being named DJ Mag’s ‘Breakthrough Producer’ award and winning ‘Best Dance Album’ for his most recent record, When Will We Land?, it’s been a great 18 months or so for him.
As it happens, his debut LP was one of our most played on Spotify and favourite albums of the year, full stop, so we were delighted when we got to see his curated show at Depot Mayfield back in November.
Now he’s set to come back to one of Manchester city centre’s leading nightlife venues for one of his biggest and most ambitious sets.
To be honest, with the other names already confirmed as joining him, this is essentially shaping up to be an ultimate club event for us.
That’s right, as well as Barry Can’t Swim‘s own impressive credentials, there is plenty more pedigree on show as part of the second curated evening, with the likes of Chloé Caillet, Prospa, firm favourites Jayda G and DJ Seinfeld, as well as Ross From Friends presents Bubble Love.
Better still, there’ll also be a special ‘b3b’ set (how many times have you seen that?) featuring Etiénne de Crécy, Cassius and DJ Falcon.
Set to land at WHP Manchester on 21 November, Barry Can’t Swim general admission goes live at 10am this Friday, however, pre-sale is available via the venue and for anyone who pre-orders his sophomore studio album, Loner, set to release on 11 July.
Manchester Day is making a grand return for 2025 this summer, and you can expect a day filled with loads of music-themed fun.
Oh, and it’s free fun at that… doesn’t get much better.
With a whopping 1.3 million music tourists expected in Manchester this summer – apparently a little band called Oasis is performing or something? First we’ve heard of it – and a massive lineup of live music legends set to take over venues and parks across the city these next couple of months, this year’s Manchester Day is aiming to get everyone ‘in the groove’.
Manchester City Council is working with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank on a programme that promises something for music fans of all ages and all musical abilities.
From the English National Opera teaming up with Manchester’s football fans, to community choirs, West End show tunes, juggling drummers, hip-hop wrestling, and loads more, this year’s Manchester Day has got all musical tastes covered.
Manchester Day is back on Saturday 26 July. 🎉
Inspired by music, expect pop-up performances, spontaneous sing-a-longs and have-a-go activities. 🎶
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 2, 2025
As always, activities will be taking place right across the city centre – from St Ann’s Square to Cathedral Gardens, and everywhere in between.
Organisers say there will be plenty of chances throughout the day for visitors, both young and old, to get stuck in, try their hand at making music and maybe even uncover a hidden musical talent they didn’t know they had.
You can expect strum-along ukulele sessions, spontaneous sing-alongs, dancing to a steel pan band or some surprising Ska, and the stand-out music parade event travelling from St Peter’s Square to the Cathedral, with families invited to take a ‘musical meander’ through the city streets.
Manchester Day is back with a ‘mammoth day’ of music-themed free fun next month / Credit: Manchester City Council
“We’ve got a mammoth summer of live music coming up in the city this year, which means it’s only right that we max out on the music for Manchester Day,” commented Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Chair of Manchester Day, as this year’s theme was announced.
“Everyone in Manchester loves music, Mancs have music in their bones, there’s so much talent here – we’re either making it or playing it, and that’s why everyone’s on the guest list for this year’s Manchester Day to help us celebrate the music that Mancunians make best.
“We’ve got a fantastic day lined up, so loosen up those vocal chords, grab a guitar, grab your granny, all the family, and don’t miss it.”
Daisy Jackson -
9th October 2023 
