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Sam Smith drops new music video with Calvin Harris and does donuts in… Wigan?

Outside the DW Stadium, to be specific.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 15th August 2023

Sam Smith and Calvin Harris have dropped a new single together called ‘Desire’, and it appears that the music video released alongside the track is filmed just down the road in Wigan of all places.

The Scottish DJ and London-born singer released their second tune together at the end of last month after having worked together on their first collaboration, ‘Promises‘, back in 2018, but the music video for the latest track went live on Friday, 11 August.

The concept for the video is pretty simple: a bunch of people gathering at a car meet; drifting, racing, doing donuts and other stunts, as well as various automobile shenanigans in a car park and other vaguely urban/industrial settings.

However, it is the location that caught the eyes of several online as Smith, Harris and the rest of the video’s cast can be seen doing all this just behind Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium.

It took locals all of five seconds to spot that Sam Smith was in fact doing all this outside Wigan’s home ground.

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Suppose it’s as good a spot as any.

While isn’t clear whereabouts the other shots in the video beyond those that show the Latics stadium looming in the backdrop are filmed and exactly how much of the remaining footage is actually filmed in Wigan, it’s just nice to see the home of the pie barm getting a rare bit of limelight.

The track itself is actually a bit of a banger too, giving off those late 90s/early 2000s electronic Clubland vibes.

You can watch the video for ‘Desire’ in full down below:

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

Featured Image — Calvin Harris (via YouTube)

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Honorary Manc Ariana Grande announces huge world tour – but skips Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Ariana Grande has announced The Eternal Sunshine Tour

Ariana Grande has announced details of a huge world tour, but the honorary Mancunian will be skipping Manchester again.

The 32-year-old, Grammy Award-winning star has instead booked five nights at The O2 in London for her only UK stop on the tour.

Ariana Grande was made an honorary Mancunian back in 2017, in recognition of her work following the Manchester Arena terror attack.

She is the first person to have ever received this honour.

Since the atrocity in the city, which took the lives of 22 people, Ariana has only performed here twice more – once at the One Love concert she organised as a fundraiser for the victims and their families, and once as a headliner of Manchester Pride.

It’s been six years since her last tour, but Ariana Grande is now back, sharing details of her hotly-anticipated The Eternal Sunshine Tour next summer.

As well as her five-night residency in London, she’ll play four nights in LA and Brooklyn, as well as cities right across North America.

Ariana Grande has announced The Eternal Sunshine Tour
Ariana Grande has announced The Eternal Sunshine Tour

Her London dates will be her only European shows on The Eternal Sunshine Tour.

Eternal Sunshine was released in 2024 and was her seventh studio album, spawning singles ‘Yes, And?’, ‘We Can’t Be Friends’, and ‘The Boy Is Mine’.

Ariana Grande is now also an Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated actress thanks to her starring role in Wicked as Glinda the Good Witch.

Tickets for her tour will go on sale from Tuesday 16 September with an artist presale as well as an O2 Priority Presale. Remaining tickets will be available during the general ons-ale beginning Thursday 18 September at 10am.

Ariana Grande – The Eternal Sunshine Tour Dates 2026

  • Sat Jun 06 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
  • Tue Jun 09 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
  • Sat Jun 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
  • Sun Jun 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
  • Wed Jun 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
  • Fri Jun 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
  • Wed Jun 24 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
  • Fri Jun 26 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
  • Tue Jun 30 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
  • Thu Jul 02 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
  • Mon Jul 06 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
  • Wed Jul 08 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
  • Sun Jul 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
  • Mon Jul 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
  • Thu Jul 16 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
  • Sat Jul 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
  • Wed Jul 22 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
  • Fri Jul 24 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
  • Tue Jul 28 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
  • Thu Jul 30 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
  • Mon Aug 03 – Chicago, IL – United Center
  • Wed Aug 05 – Chicago, IL – United Center
  • Sat Aug 15 – London, UK – The O2
  • Sun Aug 16 – London, UK – The O2
  • Wed Aug 19 – London, UK – The O2
  • Thu Aug 20 – London, UK – The O2
  • Sun Aug 23 – London, UK – The O2

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Featured image: Katie Temkin

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A rising Manc musician is supporting a global popstar on tour in America

Danny Jones Danny Jones Elliot James Reay Bury singer supporting Benson Boone in America

Up-and-coming Greater Manchester musician Elliot James Reay, from just down the road in Bury, has just joined fellow rising solo artist and already established US superstar Benson Boone on his upcoming American tour.

Yes, a lad from Bury is opening for the bloke who belts out that ‘Beautiful Things’ tune that’s been stuck near the top of the charts for what feels like the last year.

Fittingly joining Boone for the US leg of his American Heart tour supporting his sophomore album of the same name, 23-year-old Elliot James Reay has already played a trio of shows warming up the crowds ahead of the headliner and is quickly gaining new fans across the pond.

Especially since his music harkens back to some of their most famous music icons of all time.

The youngster is still having to pinch himself at the mere notion of being on the road with such a big name so early in his career, posting on social media this week, “How do I explain this one to my friends back in Bury?

“A dream come true to be opening for Benson Boone in St Paul last night, I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to sing to you all and thank you for all the love you gave me!”

Roy Orbison-obsessed Raey – who also takes plenty of look and feel from the likes of Elvis and Billy Fury, among other old school, soulful American singers – has gone from releasing covers on YouTube to dropping his first-ever EP back in June and now playing full Stateside stadiums.

What a whirlwind journey it’s been for the local lad already.

The Manc songwriter and guitarist featured as one of our artists of the month last December, and we’re glad to see he’s only gone from strength to strength.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | December 2024

It’s fair to say that he’s matured a lot in the time since then, let alone the last 12 months or so, and booking a slot as a support act for as big as Benson Boone is right now is nothing short of huge.

We said late last year, and we’ll say it again: we see a bright future ahead for this talented young Macunian, and we wish him all the best for the dozen or so remaining US tour dates.

If you haven’t listened to his stuff before, you can get a little taste with his latest single HERE.

Or, if you want to take our advice, why not watch a great music video filmed around some very familiar city centre sites down below?

He’s certainly got his own style, even if it his heavily inspired by some of the greats.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures

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