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.
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“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.”
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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.
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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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Hilary Duff announces massive Manchester gig on first world tour in nearly 20 years
Danny Jones
Noughties throwback, Hilary Duff, is continuing her contemporary comeback trail by announcing a brand-new world tour, including a massive arena gig right here in Manchester.
That’s right, Lizzie McGuire herself is returning to the UK with new music.
In all seriousness, child star Hilary Duff has gone on to have quite the career, but it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve had fresh music from her, which is why her next album and huge run of tour dates around the globe feels like such a big deal.
Ahead of her sixth studio release, lucky… or something, dropping this month, the American popstar has now confirmed nearly 50 upcoming dates in support of the record; she also still managed to give us a very Disney Channel reveal video.
Yes, heading out on the road across North America, Europe, the UK and Ireland, as well as Australia and New Zealand, Hilary Duff has announced a total of 47 gigs so far.
With no other live shows confirmed in mainland Europe yet, Great British and Irish fans can be glad of the five shows locked in for the UK leg.
Having said that, with the 38-year-old enjoying a real renaissance of late, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more added to the newly confirmed ‘lucky me’ tour.
As mentioned, with her latest LP scheduled to launch on 20 February, we got her most recent track just a few short weeks ago.
Following the lead single from the project, ‘Mature’ – also released this past November 2 – you can see the music video for her ‘Roommates’ down below.
The song is also produced by her husband, Matthew Koma.
This newest outing is the first Hilary Duff album in over a decade, following 2015’s Breathe In. Breathe Out; it’ll also be nearly two of them since her last world tour, having last played Manchester all the way back in 2007.
As for her shows, following a number of performances in late 2025 and this year already, she’ll be playing throughout the calendar and well into early 2027.
You can see the rest of the European tour dates thus far down below.
Hilary Duff UK and IE tour dates – September ’26
6 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
8 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena Cardiff
10 – London, UK – The O2
Thursday, 12 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
13 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
For tickets to see her here in Manchester at the end of this summer, early access can be enjoyed by Three mobile members from 10am on Tuesday, 17 February, or via the venue’s own presale window from the same time next Thursday, 19 Feb.
As for general admission, tickets will then go live at 10 the following Friday (20 Feb), and you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
SING TO ME PAOLO! 🎤🛵💅
Superstar @HilaryDuff brings 'the lucky me tour' to Manchester!
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied via AO Arena)
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Gig Review | Mika shines at the AO Arena in Manchester on the first night of his world tour
Aimee Woodcock
Mika’s Manchester stop on his ‘Spinning Out’ global tour was a vibrant, high-energy celebration of all things pop.
Not happy with just walking on stage – this is Mika we’re talking about – he made his entrance on a spinning hamster wheel, bathing the AO Arena in kaleidoscopic lights.
Opening with ‘Modern Times’ and ‘Eleven’ from his latest discography before leaning into one of the classics, ‘Relax, Take it Easy’, the atmosphere inside the packed arena felt charged.
His stamina was something that stood out from the get-go, delivering every track with that signature Mika flair, accompanied by choreography and a live band that matched his energy – no mean feat.
The production leaned heavily into colour and movement, with swirling visuals and playful stage design that mirrored the tour’s theme of motion and momentum with nods to themes of LGBTQ+ rights.
Working through this current album, and after a quick outfit change, we were treated to an a cappella intro to another classic, ‘Lollipop’ with Mika dressed in a full pink suit (and shoes).
Between songs, Mika’s easy rapport with the crowd added warmth and intimacy to the arena-sized performance.
He shared anecdotes and playful banter, encouraging the crowd to sing along, uniting the fans.
Highlights included a rendition of ‘Grace Kelly’, which sparked one of the loudest reactions of the night, and a heartfelt performance of his more reflective ‘Happy Ending’ offered a welcome contrast to the glittering pop anthems.
Danny Jones -
13th July 2023 
