Alt-rock legends Shed Seven have announced a brand new album for the first time in over six years along with a limited-run UK tour this October, with local lads The Slow Readers Club joining them on the road.
The music veterans from York have been going since 1990 and despite breaking up in 2003, they got back together just four years later and have been back playing ever since.
Set to release early next year, the new album entitled A Matter of Time will be the band’s first in over half a decade and will celebrate their 30th anniversary with just a handful of shows, including one right in Manchester.
As if that wasn’t good enough, the Northern group will be joined by one of Manchester’s very own in The Slow Readers Club — who recently opened for Manc music legend Morrissey — and the Manchester crowd will be the only ones that get to see Liverpool outfit, Keyside, as the second lot of special guests.
Guitarist Paul Banks, one of Shed Seven’s longest-serving members says, “For this album, we took a nostalgic journey back to our roots, immersing ourselves in the records and sounds that ignited our passion for songwriting at the tender age of 12.
“The influences of bands like The Smiths, R.E.M., U2, Simple Minds, The Cure, and Duran Duran permeate every note, making it a heartfelt homage to those cherished times. It embodies the essence of rebirth, empowering individuals to embrace their true selves without inhibition. With utmost conviction, we declare this as the pinnacle of our musical endeavours – the record we’ve always yearned to create.”
Speaking of their lead single, ‘Kissing California’, vocalist Rick Witter described it as “Shed Seven’s summer anthem”, adding: “It’s essentially a celebration of being alive, grabbing the opportunity to paint the town red with someone special and have the best of times. It’s the medicine we all need sometimes.”
As for The Slow Readers Club, they said they’re “buzzin'” to be joining the boys on tour, with frontman Aaron Starkie revealing that “this was the first band I ever saw live and I was absolutely hooked on Maximum High, bought the t-shirt went to signings and all that — they’re as big a fans as we are.
Kicking off the UK dates on October 19, Shed Seven will be playing right through to the end of the month, with the final show set for Manchester’s Albert Hall on 28 October — we couldn’t think of a better way to close out a tour.
It’ll be a fitting place to end the tour and start this next chapter, as the new album not only features fellow rock, alternative and indie icons like Peter Doherty and Laura McClure of Reverend & The Makers but Happy Mondays vocalist and Manc legend Rowetta as well.
Shed Seven’s sixth studio album, A Matter of Time, releases on January 12, 2024, but fans who pre-order now will be able to access presale tickets from 9:30am on Wednesday, 19 July and right up until general sale goes live the same time on Friday (21 July).
You can grab your tickets HERE and hopefully see you there!
Featured Image — Shed Seven/The Slow Readers Club (via Instagram)
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There’s a VR K-pop experience coming to a cinema in Manchester
Thomas Melia
A VR experience dedicated to a much-loved K-pop group, ENHYPEN, is making its way to a cinema screen in Manchester this Autumn.
After a stellar performance at AO Arena in Manchester earlier this week, a VR experience dedicated to K-pop group ENHYPEN is coming to a cinema screen in the city centre.
This upcoming experience with the fitting name ‘IMMERSION’, will mark the K-pop group’s first ever VR concert and is premiering across the globe, including right here in Manchester.
Featuring all-new performances, this pre-recorded concert experience allows you the chance to immerse yourself in never-before-seen content that has been specifically produced for VR.
This cinematic concert concept allows fans the chance to watch their favourite live bands and acts up close and personal without having to break the bank.
Made in partnership with Amaze, one of the world’s leading immersive concert creators, previous performers include fellow K-pop acts Aespa, Tomorrow X Together and KAI, as well as rap megastar Megan Thee Stallion.
Get ready to sing your heart out or ‘Scream’ as loud as you can when ENHYPEN take to the screen as they’re expected to perform all their usual classics, including ‘XO (Only If You Say Yes)’ and ‘Bad Desire (With or Without You)’.
If you’re worried about missing your chance to get ‘Loose’, don’t worry, because these seven K-pop stars will be on cinema screens for nine consecutive dates throughout September.
K-pop boy band ENHYPEN took to the AO Arena in Manchester earlier this week (Credit: BELIFT LAB)
This exclusive ENHYPEN VR concert experience is coming to none other than international cinema chain Odeon, which will be screening this event at one of its prime Manc locations: The Trafford Centre.
ENHYPEN are bringing ‘IMMERSION’, their first-ever VR concert experience, to Odeon Trafford Centre in Manchester from 19 September until 28 September.
You’ll catch us there ‘No Doubt’ – more information HERE.
In the meantime, why not read our review of ENHYPEN’s recent Manchester show, which served as yet more proof that we need to get properly into K-pop.
Featured Images – BELIFT LAB (supplied)/Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
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Honorary Manc Ariana Grande announces huge world tour – but skips Manchester
Daisy Jackson
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
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
Danny Jones -
13th July 2023 
