Wigan’s very own Lottery Winners have just announced their first solo headline stadium show right here in Greater Manchester, in yet another huge milestone for the Manc favourites.
Doing big arena gigs is one thing, but booking a full-on stadium date on your own patch is something else entirely.
Announced on Monday, 22 September, the ever-rising indie-pop four-piece are now set to play their biggest ever live concert at none other than Leigh Sports Village Stadium, where they’ll be welcomed back as hometown heroes helping put Wigan‘s music scene back on the map.
Better still, they even got a close personal friend to help them with the reveal…
Imagine a shock appearance from Robbie – that would go OFF.
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To be honest, we’re not ruling it out; as you can see in yet another amusing teaser video by the local band, they’re promising a number of special guests.
Already confirmed for the milestone live date are friends and long-standing collaborators Jon McClure with Reverend and the Makers, Frank Turner, plus fellow pop indie cult favourite Scouting For Girls, as well as another rising Wigan band in the shape of The Lilacs and a DJ set from Katie Owen.
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Frontman Thom Rylance goes on to joke that he’ll “even ask Boy George”, and while they might have duped us last time, we’re not entirely betting against him pulling it off this time.
Judging by the reaction ‘the Rev’ got here in Manchester back in January, you can bet on the atmosphere being nothing short of incredible.
You had to be there.
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Such a tune.
Speaking on the momentous occassion, lead singer and songwriter Thom said: “Leigh Sports Village (LSV) isn’t just another show for us, it’s a marker of everything we’ve worked for. From loading gear into pubs to travelling the world, every step has led here.
“To headline a stadium at home is rare, and we don’t take that lightly. This night will stand as proof of what’s possible when you keep on keeping on.
“Headlining LSV is special in itself, but doing it here in our hometown—surrounded by the people who’ve supported us from the very start—makes it truly unforgettable.
“The fact that we get to welcome legends and friends like Frank Turner, Reverend and the Makers and Scouting for Girls to our town feels incredible. It’s Leigh opening its doors to the world, and we’re proud to be the ones hosting.”
As for the former Take That star, he showed no hesitation in getting invovled with this little skit as the whole bunch of them are curently on the road as part of Robbie’s world tour, which visited Manchester just this past June.
Commenting on the announcement, the 51-year-old said: “I’ve completely fallen in love with The Lottery Winners, and even when the tour was just two weeks in, I had a pang of sadness that their tenure with me can’t last forever.”
We can’t wait to see what other surprises they have up their sleeves come next summer, with the gig scheduled for Saturday, 30 May 2026.
Presale tickets for the show go live this Wednesday, 24 September from 10am, and general admission will be available on Friday (26 Sep) at the same time, also from 10am.
Featured Images — Tom Oxley(press shot)/The Lottery Winners (supplied)
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Villanelle announce Manchester date on special UK/IE university tour
Danny Jones
Emerging rock band Villanelle, fronted by Gene Gallagher, have just announced a new tour of university-backed UK and Ireland venues, including a gig right here in Manchester.
The still relatively rookie group led by the son of legendary Mancunian music icon, Liam Gallagher, is still in its very early days, but the four-piece has already flirted with everything from straightforward indie music to post-punk, grunge and alternative.
Yes, if you were expecting LG‘s youngest son to just be imitating his dad’s sound, you’d be wrong; the impressive fledgling outfit are already carving a creative little space for themselves.
More importantly, they’ve already hit the road plenty of times over the past 12 months or so, including on the Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour, and now Villanelle are coming back to Manchester once again for a show and one of our most beloved live music spaces: Night and Day.
Join us across the UK on the Punchbag University Tour.
Working with promoters Punchbag, who have created the brand-new ‘Punchbag University Tour’, Villanelle are one of multiple artists joining the inaugural event.
The dedicated uni-sponsored series sees multiple names heading to key grassroots entertainment spots, celebrating up-and-coming talent as well as student culture at large.
Other bands and solo acts taking part in the debut Punchbag uni tour include Florentenes, Bino Bames and Die Twice.
Places getting involved with the shows themselves include the likes of Sidney and Matilda in Sheffield, Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds, Zerox in Newcastle, among many more.
It looks like it’s already shaping up nicely if you ask us.
Once again, Villanelle will be playing iconic Manc music institution Night and Day on Friday, 17 October, which will precede another highly anticipated headline show in the city at The Castle Hotel.
As for the Night and Day gig, it’s actually a place they’ve played before, too.
The boys visited the venue back in November last year and brought a pretty strong die-hard following with them from the off, and have played plenty more support slots around the North since then.
If you’re interested, tickets for all musicians and their respective gigs are on sale now, and they’re being snapped up fast, so click HERE soon if you’re keen on catching any of them.
Whilst you’re here, you might as well stick around and find out what we made of Villanelle’s first full studio release down below.
Featured Images — Seb Barros (press shot)/Audio North
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Take That announce Etihad Stadium gig as they bring back legendary The Circus tour
Daisy Jackson
Take That are back – and they’re rolling back the years to reignite their record-breaking ‘The Circus Live’ tour from 2009.
The much-loved trio will be performing at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester as part of a run of 11 stadium gigs across the UK.
‘The Circus Live’ is one of their most iconic live shows, originally staged in 2009 and breaking records as the fastest-selling tour in history, attracting one million fans.
And now the remaining members of Take That – Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald – are hitting the road once again, more than 17 years after that iconic tour.
Take That will be back with The Circus Live for summer 2026, with two gigs at Etihad Stadium in Manchester
It’ll give fans who were there the first time around a chance to relive the magic, while new fans can see one of the most groundbreaking live productions in pop history for the first time – this time even bigger than before.
In 2009, the tour featured fire-breathers, stilt-walkers, clowns, acrobats, tap dancers, and a huge 30-foot-tall mechanical elephant, which carried the band through the audience.
They’ll be performing the original 2009 setlist, with a few surprises thrown in.
Take That said upon announcing their Etihad Stadium shows: “The Circus tour was one of our favourite experiences as a band and, in the years since, we’ve talked many times about how much we’d love to do it again one day. Well, that time has come!
“We’re so excited to welcome audiences old and new across the UK and Ireland to the spectacle of The Circus Live next summer. See you out there!”
Take That have so far announced two nights at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester (though we’re willing to bet they’ll add more), on 19 and 20 June 2026.
Take That will be supported by The Script (who supported on the original Circus Live Tour) and Belinda Carlisle.
Tickets for Take That at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester will go on sale from 9:30am on Friday, 26 September, or you can pre-order their upcoming tenth studio album for first access.
Tickets go on sale on Friday 26th September at 9.30am from www.ticketmaster.co.uk / www.gigsandtours.com / www.takethat.com
Take That – The Circus Live – Summer 2026 Full Tour Dates
Friday 29 May – Southampton St Mary’s Stadium
Friday 05 June – Coventry Building Society Arena
Saturday 06 June – Coventry Building Society Arena
Danny Jones -
22nd September 2025 
