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StreamGM live music stream at The Yard with some of Manc’s best up-and-coming talents is happening tonight

Some of the region's very best will be on show.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th November 2023

StreamGM, Greater Manchester’s leading not-for-profit streaming service which showcases the biggest, best and newest talent, music and culture from across the region, is hosting a live gig night and housewarming party at their new second home inside The Yard tonight.

Better still, the celebration of the promising new partnership and all of the live performances will be broadcast directly into people’s homes or wherever they’re watching thanks to the multi-award-winning streaming platform.

So, whilst attendance at the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity partnered event is invite-only, thousands of Manc are being urged to join the live stream and enjoy a free virtual gig on the night from the comfort of their living rooms, whilst sat in bed or however they choose to tune in.

Starting from 7pm on tonight (Thursday, 7 December) at one of the city centre’s fastest-growing music and cultural events spaces, The Yard over in Cheetham Hill, some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists from in and around the area will be showcasing why this wonderful place we call Manchester does music better than anyone else.

Headlining the gig will be Hyde-born spoken word and indie hip-hop artist, Antony Szmierek, who released his debut album, Giving Up for Beginners, back in 2021 and has enjoyed not only a sold-out UK tour but plenty of plaudits for his appearances at Glastonbury, Leeds Fest, Bluedot and many other festivals.

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Compared to ‘Mike Skinner mixed with John Cooper-Clarke’ and dubbed by BBC Radio’s Lauren Laverne as “the best thing I’ve heard all year“, the former special education teacher has notched appearances on Jools Holland and spent several weeks on 6 Music’s coveted top picks as well as Radio 1’s playlists.

As if that wasn’t enough, Szmierek will also be supported at ‘Welcome to the Yard’ by January’s winners of Mayor Andy Burnham’s Artist of the Month, The KTNA, as well as budding new DJ Jade Li who recently smashed Freight Island, Baltic Weekender and Factory International.

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Joe Heys, StreamGM’s lead programmer for Welcome to The Yard, will also be DJing
on the night under the pseudonym ‘Fries With That’ and has hailed the night as a celebration of the music scene that “shaped and moulded [him] as a person” along with countless others.

StreamGM The Yard gig
Credit: StreamGM

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Speaking ahead of the live music live-stream, Heys went on to say, “It is such an honour to get the opportunity by StreamGM to showcase the next generation of Greater Manchester’s world-beating music scene.”

As for headliner Szmierek, he said: “I’m so happy to be rounding off a pretty mental year at home and for a cause close to my heart. manchester is a city of poets and dancers and we intend to bring both of those qualities to StreamGM’s event at The Yard and beyond this December”.

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‘Welcome To The Yard’ premieres on StreamGM at 7pm tonight and, as always, the broadcast will be completely free to watch HERE.

For more information or to enquire about potentially going along to watch the live performances in person, you can get in touch via [email protected]. See you there!

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

Featured Image — @nigelbig/StreamGM/The Yard (via Facebook)

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Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inside Co-op Live in Manchester

The opening night at Co-op Live was marred by ‘a venue-related technical issue’ (something fell from the ceiling), triggering further delays to the huge new Manchester arena and even more rescheduled shows.

The ground-breaking new arena, which will be the largest indoor venue in the UK when it actually opens, has once again had to postpone its official launch.

In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday 1 May, fans who were already queueing outside Co-op Live were told the A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie concert had been cancelled.

Then followed further postponed gigs, with the venue also pulling the plug on Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour which was meant to visit Manchester on Friday and Saturday.

The Co-op Live has already rescheduled Peter Kay twice, as well as The Black Keys – and now more future gigs are being pushed back.

And now the question on everyone’s lips is whether Take That, Keane, or other huge shows will go ahead as planned.

It all happened pretty quickly last night, so here’s an essential recap of all the drama.

Which Co-op Live shows have been postponed or cancelled so far?

Peter Kay poked fun at Co-op Live in his event poster. Credit: Peter Kay
Peter Kay poked fun at Co-op Live in his event poster. Credit: Peter Kay
The Black Keys. Credit: Larry Niehues
The Black Keys. Credit: Larry Niehues

So far, the 23,500-capacity venue has had to reschedule or indefinitely postpone eight different events.

These have included Peter Kay, who was lined up to perform two gigs, which have now been moved twice.

The only event that has gone ahead so far has been a test event with Rick Astley, and even that saw thousands of tickets cancelled at the last minute to safely reduce capacity inside (we were one of the lucky few to go, and it does look amazing inside).

Then there was obviously the last-minute drama when A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was cancelled while fans were already outside Co-op Live, and then pop star Olivia Rodrigo having TWO gigs rescheduled.

Here’s the full list:

  • Peter Kay – original dates 23 and 24 April. Rescheduled dates 29 and 30 April. NEW DATES 23 and 24 May.
  • The Black Keys – original date 27 April. New date 15 May 2024.
  • A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – original date 1 May. New date to be confirmed.
  • Olivia Rodrigo – original dates 3 and 4 May. New dates to be confirmed.

What’s on next at the Co-op Live arena?

Take That is still scheduled to go ahead at Co-op Live after some other shows were cancelled.
Take That is still scheduled to go ahead at Co-op Live after some other shows were cancelled.

Despite these high-profile cancellations, the Co-op Live still has plenty of incredible shows lined up in the coming weeks.

Notably, Take That have essentially planned a residency that will see them take over the huge venue for SEVEN nights.

At the time of writing, the following shows will still be going ahead this month. Fingers crossed everyone…

  • Keane – 5 May
  • Take That – 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 May, then 11 and 12 June.
  • Elbow – 14 May
  • The Black Keys – 15 May (rescheduled from 27 April)
  • Eric Clapton – 18 May
  • Barry Manilow – 19 May
  • Peter Kay – 23 and 24 May (rescheduled from 23 and 24 April)
  • Nicki Minaj – 25 and 30 May
  • Eagles – 31 May, then 1, 4, 7 and 8 June

Olivia Rodrigo statement and updates

Olivia Rodrigo has announced a Manchester gig at Co-op Live
Olivia Rodrigo has had her Co-op Live gigs rescheduled. Credit: Nick Walker

Olivia Rodrigo is arguably the most high-profile music event to be postponed at Co-op Live so far, with the pop sensation due to perform two sold-out shows.

It’s all part of her GUTS world tour and was meant to visit Manchester on 3 and 4 May.

Although her two shows this week have definitely been postponed, Co-op Live have yet to announce new dates.

In a statement, she sad: “I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m sooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to on-going venue-related technical issues.

“We’re doing our best to reschedule the show. you can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticket holders.

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“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”

Why has the Co-op Live opening been postponed again?

Co-op Live’s initial delay was caused by ‘power supply issues’ and they postponed several shows to test emergency services communications.

This most recent delay was caused by ‘a venue-related technical issue’ which emerged to be a piece of the air-conditioning system falling from the ductwork inside the arena bowl.

It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.

Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.

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“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”

What Co-op Live have said about the delays

As A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s gig was cancelled, Co-op Live said: “Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead. We kindly ask fans to leave the area. Tickets holders will receive further information in due course. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”

On Olivia Rodrigo, a statement released said: “Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”

And as for the future of the venue’s opening schedule, they said: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.

“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.

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“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”

Co-op Live should announced details of rescheduled dates in due course.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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‘Disappointed’ Olivia Rodrigo issues statement to Manchester fans after Co-op Live postpones gigs

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Olivia Rodrigo has announced a Manchester gig at Co-op Live

Olivia Rodrigo has issued a statement to her Manchester fans after her run of gigs at Co-op Live have been postponed.

The US singer-songwriter was due to perform two massive sold-out shows tomorrow and Saturday (3 and 4 May 2024) here in Manchester at the city’s newest venue, the now-troubled Co-op Live, as part of her GUTS world tour – but, due to what has been referred to as “ongoing venue-related technical issues”, these gigs are now the latest in a long line of postponements.

The huge 23,500-capacity arena confirmed yesterday evening, following the last-minute cancellation of A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – which was due to be first music show held at the venue, following the postponements of Peter Kay and The Black Keys – that both Rodrigo’s gigs will be postponed.

New dates will be announced as soon as they’re confirmed, Co-op Live assured ticket-holders.

Co-op Live said in a statement: “Due to an ongoing venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase.

“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”

The Drivers License singer also took a moment to assure her presumably-disappointed attending fans that she too was “disappointed” by the situation.

In a statement shared to her 37.2 million followers on Instagram yesterday, Olivia wrote on her Story: “Hello! I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m soooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to ongoing venue-related technical issues.”

The 21-year-old told Manchester fans that “we’re doing our best to reschedule” the shows.

Co-op Live WILL open this week, it has assured fans. Credit: The Manc Group
Olivia Rodrigo has issued a statement to Manchester fans after Co-op Live postpones her gigs / Credit: Olivia Rodrigo (via Instagram) | The Manc Group

Her statement continued: “You can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticketholders.

“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”

As previously mentioned, the massive arena was supposed to open for the first time to the public last night with a performance by US rapper, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, but it was called off at the eleventh hour and fans were turned away from the doors just minutes before they were meant to open.

Co-op Live has now confirmed that the reason for the cancellation was due to a piece of the HVAC (air conditioning) system having “separated from the ductwork”.

Because of this, rigorous testing on the rest of the system now needs to take place before fans can safely be welcomed inside.

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The next expected show on the Co-op Live schedule is Keane on Sunday 5 May, before beloved Manchester boyband, Take That, play a massive run of shows from 7-11 May and extra dates on 11 and 12 June.

Featured Image – Publicity Picture

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