The beloved Lottery Winners of Leigh have announced their new album, featuring some seriously exciting collaborators, along with a trio of massive Manchester shows.
Flying the flag for the local hamlet and borough of Wigan as a whole since 2008, The Lottery Winners’ rise over the past few years has been a joy to watch, earning their first number-one record with A.R.T back in May 2023, headlining multiple festivals and supporting some seriously big names on tour.
Now, following on from that theme, the announcement of the fourth studio album is also accompanied by a fair few famous faces lending their musical talents to the project as well, already declaring this next chapter “without doubt our best ever work.”
Big words you can’t help but get excited about – especially given that they’re doing not one, not two but three Manc gigs. Roll on 2025.
The Greater Manchester band have just released the first single, ‘You Again’, featuring Sheffield favourite and Day Fever festival co-creator Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers – it’s a really uplifting and reminiscent indie banger, by the way – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Teasing some of the other collaborators who have worked on the new album, simply entitled KOKO (i.e. Keep On Keeping On), fans can expect the return of Frank Turner for a third time on a Lottery Winners record, fellow Northern icons Shed Seven and, get this: Chad Kroeger of Nickelback…
Unreal, we know.
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The four-piece supported the Canadian rockstars on their European tour and even joined them on stage for an epic Oasis cover when they landed here at the AO Arena this past May, so we already knew they were good friends – we just didn’t expect to hear Chad confirmed as a featured artist.
Sadly, the song he features on isn’t called ‘KOKO-graph’. A missed opportunity, we know.
It’s unclear as to whether they have any other surprise up their sleeves before the album drops early next year but we’ll settle for this being plenty, to be honest. As mentioned, not unlike the now sold-out Blossoms gigs, they all announced a mini-Manchester residency and none other than Academy 1.
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Dubbing the run of shows the ‘Burning House Party’ in honour of their much-loved single from last year, they’ll be playing what is Manc live music rite of passage, they’ll be closing out what has been an incredible 2024 for them with three special sets on December 27, 28 and 29.
KOKO is set to release on 21 February 2025 via the ever-growing Modern Sky record label and general admission for The Lottery Winners’ Burning House Party shows go live this Friday, 27 September at 10am, but you can access pre-sale by pre-ordering the new album now.
Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics is returning to Manchester next year
Clementine Hall
IconicDJ and radio presenter Pete Tong MBE is making his way back to Manchester with a whole host of guests ready to help you dance the night away.
Known for his live radio shows such as the ‘Essential Mix’ on BBC Radio 1, Tong is bringing back his widely successful Ibiza Classics club night to Manchester with an equally impressive roster of guests.
The ‘Ibiza Classics’ concept originated and debuted back in 2015 with Tong and co. taking on Royal Albert Hall as part of BBC Radio 1’s Proms schedule, paying homage to the island’s infectious anthems.
Since then, the English DJ has built a music event bigger than he could have ever imagined, and after a milestone year marking the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed Ibiza Classics show, Pete Tong has announced a brand-new run of UK arena dates for 2026.
Some of Tong’s notable releases include ‘Where’s The Music Gone’ and ‘Apocolypse’, alongside some very respectable dance music artists.
Other tracks to his name include ‘You Got The Love’ and ‘Time’, both collaborations with Jules Buckley, one of the famous faces you’ll get to see on this special Ibiza Classics tour.
The seven-date arena tour kicks off in Glasgow’s before heading to Manchester’s AO Arena on Friday 4 December 2026.
He will also be playing in Leeds, Birmingham, and Nottingham, culminating the tour with two huge nights at The O2 London.
Ibiza Classics Live 2026
Thursday 3 December – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Friday 4 December – Manchester, AO Arena
Saturday 5 December – Leeds, First Direct Bank Arena
Wednesday 9 December – Birmingham, Utilita Arena
Thursday 10 December – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December – London, The O2
He will be joined by long-standing collaborators Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra.
This night is expected to be filled with pure dance hits, and based on recent shows, there might even be appearances from even more musical talents and special guests.
Pete Tong, Jules Buckley, and The Essential Orchestra are bringing Ibiza Classics to AO Arena on Friday 4 December 2026.
Tickets go on sale next Monday 15 December, and you can get them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Indiana Jones, live in concert, is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
An all-time Hollywood favourite is being brought to Manchester audiences like never before, as a special showing of the first Indiana Jones film is coming to the city centrein concert.
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’ action-adventure series is one we all know and love – and if you haven’t seen it before, what are you playing at?
Having said that, the original beloved blockbuster still stands up as the most fondly remembered of the series to this day; put simply, the ‘best’ film in the ‘Indy’ franchise is Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Whether you agree with us or not, you can’t deny that the idea of hearing a live concert version of that iconic Indiana Jones score being played in the flesh by a proper orchestra sounds mega. Case in point:
The legendary John Williams score has been played in some of the most prestigious rooms in the world.
Now, how about hearing those incredible trumpets and French horns over the audio of the film itself, soundtracking each scene as it plays on the big screen in front of you?
Yes, we are nerding out, and so should you be.
After a globe-trotting trek that Indy himself would be proud of, the Disney Concerts production is now gearing up for its UK tour, with just a handful of lucky cities selected for the privilege.
You can see the full list of tour dates down below (we’ve highlighted other Northern shows for you, too):
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark: Live In Concert – UK tour dates | 2026
Sunday 31 May – Manchester Bridgewater Hall Monday 1 June – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Tuesday 2 June – Edinburgh Usher Hall Wednesday 3 June – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Thursday 4 June – Birmingham Symphony Hall Friday 5 June – Sheffield City Hall Sunday 7 June – London Eventim Apollo
As you can see, not only will the run of live shows be kicking off on home turf, but they have selected the one and only Bridgewater Hall for the movie concert experience – a more than fitting venue.
Released back in 1981, it’s unbelievable how timeless and instantly recognisable the iconic Indy theme and film score still is to this day.
Disney’s early access window and the presale via the venue both open from 10am this Thursday, 11 December, with general admission going live at the same time the following Friday (12 Dec).
You can get ready to grab your tickets to the Manchester screening and live orchestral performance next May right HERE.
Be it movies, TV or even games, we’re loving how many of these kinds of shows are coming to our city now, from all-time classics like Indiana Jones to cult favourite bits of British kids’ telly…
Danny Jones -
23rd September 2024 
