A concert hall in the city centre has announced a series of ‘rush hour’ gigs – each one costing just £5.
The cheap gigs have been created so that Mancs have an alternative to sitting in traffic, or getting a bit too cosy on packed trams and trains around Greater Manchester.
And as they’re all taking place at The Stoller Hall, they’re handily right across the road from Manchester Victoria train station.
As well as giving us all a break from the commute, the gigs will support up-and-coming musicians, showcasing some of the brightest new talent in the country.
Every concert will cost just £5 (no, really) and last just one hour, with 6pm start times. You’ve got very little to lose.
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You can even pre-order a drink to collect and enjoy inside the concert hall.
The Stoller Hall hopes it will help us all avoid rush-hour and relax with an hour of live music instead.
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It’s been announced as part of The Stoller Hall’s Emerging Artists Scheme, supported by The Haworth Trust, which sees musicians in the early stages of their career given a platform at a world-class music venue.
Fran Healey, creative commercial director for The Stoller Hall, said: “We are passionate about nurturing new talent and giving a platform to musicians in the early stages of their career.
“Our new programme of ‘rush hour performances’ is a double whammy – you can support these exceptional young people and avoid busy travel times.
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“We’re very grateful for the generous support of The Haworth Trust who have made this new programme possible.”
The Stoller Hall’s rush hour gigs are taking place between September 2023 and March 2024, and tickets are available now.
The Stoller Hall’s cheap ‘rush hour’ gigs series in Manchester
13 September, 6pm – Phoebe Raynor
Mezzo-soprano Phoebe Rayner has a passion for contemporary vocal repertoire, premiering works by Professor Rachel Beckles Willson, Philip Grange, Cee Haines, and various student composers.
6 November, 6pm – Ensemble Raynard
Ensemble Renard are a wind quintet who are passionate about bringing a huge range of music to audiences of a variety of different backgrounds. Ensemble Renard is Ellie Blamiers (flute), Francesca Cox (oboe), Patrick Bolton (bassoon), George Strivens (horn) and Holly Isherwood (clarinet).
18 January, 6pm – Asaka Quartet
The Asaka Quartet is Ioan McDonald, Eriol Guo Yu, Susie Xin He and Jonathan Ho Man Fong. Through presenting creative and innovative programmes, they invite their audiences to discover new repertoire from a fresh and exciting perspective.
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6 Feburary, 6pm – Smorgaschord Collective
Smorgaschord Collective is a group of ambitious musicians aiming to cut away from ‘normal’ formalities of musical experiences, who come together to collaborate and create, with a strong emphasis on the new and the unusual.
13 March, 6pm – Helena Ricci
Forging her own path as a visionary classical musician, Helena Ricci is a trailblazing harpist praised for her expressive, dynamic playing and captivating stage presence. She is currently working on her debut album.
Featured image: The Stoller Hall
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Sam Fender teases enormous stadium gig in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Sam Fender has teased a return to the live stage – and they’re set to be his biggest shows yet.
The Newcastle-born singer-songwriter released a Lord of the Rings-inspired skit video last night, which showed him taking on the role of Frodo Baggins.
He then lit ‘beacons’ at several stadiums around the UK and Ireland, including in Manchester and his home city of Newcastle.
The Mercury Prize-winning star last performed in our city last summer, when he headlined a night at Live From Wythenshawe Park 2025.
But now he’s teasing a show at the Etihad Stadium, which will be significantly larger.
Alongside his Manchester gig, Sam Fender seems set to announce stadium concerts at St James’s Park in Newcastle (where he performed three headline shows in 2025) Malahide Castle in Ireland, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, and Wembley Stadium in London.
Posters have also popped up around Manchester city centre today ahead of the official announcement, which read ‘PROPER MASSIVE’.
Obviously, Sam Fender will be fitting his gig in around another rather large and already-announced tour at the Etihad Stadium, with Oasis already set to play a record-breaking 11 nights next June.
Clubland to celebrate 25 years with huge arena show in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Clubland is heading to Manchester for a special arena-sized anniversary celebration next year.
The Clubland Arena Tour promises a night of the biggest artists and biggest anthems, giving fans the chance to come together for a celebration of the dance music brand.
Celebrating 25 years of Clubland, the tour will stop off at arenas in Leeds, Glasgow, Newcastle, Aberdeen, and of course Manchester.
With the event set to take over one of Manchester’s biggest live entertainment venues, anticipation is already building for what promises to be a nostalgic night of club classics and dancefloor favourites – even before the lineup is announced.
The full line-up is expected to be announced very soon, with fans encouraged to keep an eye out for further details.
Previous headliners at Clubland Live have included Cascada, Basshunter, Scooter, Ultrabeat, and Vengaboys, always guaranteeing a night of non-stop anthems.
For many dance music fans, Clubland has become synonymous with the sounds that dominated clubs, radio playlists and party nights throughout the 2000s.
Credit: Supplied
Over the years, Clubland has continued to celebrate the artists and songs that helped define an era of dance music, giving fans the chance to experience their favourite tracks live alongside thousands of like-minded clubbers.
From infectious pop-dance hits to harder-hitting electronic anthems, its events tap into a sense of nostalgia while keeping the energy of a night out firmly at the centre of the experience.
The 25th anniversary tour looks set to build on that legacy, bringing a quarter-century of club classics to arenas across the UK.
The Clubland Arena Tour will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Friday 30 April 2027.
Tickets will go on sale on 30 October from 9.30am, but you can also register for the AO Arena presale to get early access to tickets on 29 October from 9.30am.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd September 2023 
