Audio

The Chemical Brothers at Manchester’s AO Arena — tickets, support acts, stage times and more

The best in the game are back in Manchester this weekend. (this article contains affiliate links)

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 26th October 2023

Electronic giants The Chemical Brothers make their long-awaited return to Manchester — their musical and spiritual home — this weekend, where they are set to play a massive gig at the AO Arena.

Forming amidst their days at the University of Manchester back in 1989, DJing duo Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons made their way up through the underground music scene of 0161, picking up records at the likes of Eastern Bloc in NQ and went on to become one of the biggest names on the planet.

Considered absolute titans of the dance and big beat genre, you’d struggle to find anyone who doesn’t know The Chemical Brothers and at least half a dozen of their classic tunes whether they realise it’s one of theirs or not.

Boasting a huge influence and nothing short of legendary status, their Manc homecoming has remained one of the biggest dates on the city’s music calendar and since thousands of locals will be going along to their AO Arena gig, we thought we’d provide you with everything you need to know as per.

Tickets for Chemical Brothers at the AO Arena

If you’re looking to be part of what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest and best nights of live music in Manchester this year, let alone this month, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are still some tickets left to see The Chemical Brothers on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

With the cheapest tickets available from £38.80 for seated including venue fees and service charges, as well as the last few standing spots from £57.50, you pretty much have you pick of the bunch when it comes to where you want to be in the Arena.

You can grab your Manchester Chemical Brothers tickets HERE.

ADVERTISEMENT
chemical brothers stage times manchester
Credit: The Chemical Brothers via Instagram

Support act

The Chemical Brothers have such a massive discography and legendary status that they don’t really need a support act to get people warmed up for their high-energy sets, but it’s always nice to throw someone into the mix as a bonus.

So, with that in mind, the electronic icons have brought along indsutry fellow veteran James Holroyd, a.k.a. ‘Boggy’, along with them on this UK tour as they have on many down the years, safe in the knowledge that he’s another DJ whose career was forged here in Manchester.

With an influence reputation almost as storied as their own, Holroyd — one of the original residents at the long-standing ‘Bugged Out’ club nights which have often been hosted at The Warehouse Project — will getting the party started in 0161 as he’s done many times before.

ADVERTISEMENT
DJ Boggy real name
James Holroyd Manchester DJ
Boggy playing Escape to Freight Island in 2022
Credit: Skiddle/Escape to Freight Island

The Chemical Brothers’ Manchester stage times

Doors to the AO Arena open at 6pm and you can expect standalone support act James Holroyd to take stage around 7:15pm and play a fairly lengthy set.

Like at most venues, the headline act at the Arena is expected to start playing around 9pm, so you’ve got plenty of time to stock up on food and drink, grab some merch or nip to the toilet before the main event.

As always, the curfew is around 11pm, so you can expect a long old night of lights, dancing and nostalgia. As for what happens after, who knows? These guys are absolute local heroes around here when it comes to the Manc music so don’t be surprised if you hear of an after-party — just make sure you let us know!

Setlist

Now, it goes without saying that The Chemical Brothers full collection of songs is absolutely massive, with 10 studio albums to their name following the release of their latest record, For That Beautiful Feeling, their first in four years.

With that in mind, Tom and Ed could very easily decide to play absolutely everything or switch up their running order with a few more tracks from the new album but, according Setlist.fm and their most recent gigs, here’s what you can expect to hear on the night:

ADVERTISEMENT
  1. Come With Us
  2. Go
  3. Do It Again / Get Yourself High
  4. MAH
  5. No Reason
  6. Hey Boy Hey Girl
  7. Eve of Destruction
  8. Feels Like I Am Dreaming
  9. Swoon
  10. Temptation / Star Guitar
  11. Live Again
  12. Got to Keep On
  13. Wide Open
  14. Escape Velocity
  15. Get Up on It Like This / Free Yourself
  16. Saturate / Believe
  17. Goodbye
  18. Elektrobank / Setting Sun
  19. C-H-E-M-I-C-A-L
  20. Chemical Beats
  21. Galvanize / Leave Home
  22. Block Rockin’ Beats
chemical brothers setlist uk tour 2023

Read more:

Everyone we know that has ever had the good fortune of seeing The Chemical Brothers live can vouch for how good a live show they put on and we expect Friday, 27 October to be no different.

We also had the immense pleasure of chatting to one half of the group earlier this year, discussing everything from how they got their start, the reaction to the new album and some of their favourite Manc music venues and memories.

You can read our full interview with Ed Simons down below:

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

Featured Images — The Chemical Brothers/@jbajsel (via Instagram)

Audio

Keo play Projekts: garage and grunge revivalists crush Manchester skatepark for new music video

Danny Jones Danny Jones Keo pop up gig at Projekts MCR skatepark music video Manchester

This past Thursday evening, fast-rising rock band Keo took over Projekts MCR skatepark for a special pop-up gig and to film a brand-new music video for their latest single, ‘Pistol’, starring some of their biggest fans here in Manchester.

In fact, it didn’t take long for us to suss out that plenty of them had flocked from far and wide to be there, and let’s say we’re sure they’ll say it was worth the journey.

We caught Keo’s well-attended festival set inside the Woodlands at Kendal Calling 2025, not to mention their completely sold-out show at the O2 Ritz back in March – their biggest headline date up to that point – and we’re more certain than ever that they’re going to be absolutely massive.

And if they keep up doing more memorable stuff like this, it’s just a matter of how soon…

Packing out Projekts to the point that people were literally hanging off fences and standing on electrical boxes at the side of the street to try and get a peek at the post-punk, grunge and garage rockers, some of their most enthusiastic young fans had been waiting outside the location as early as noon.

For context, doors opened six hours later, and the boys didn’t come on until 7:30pm.

Those who signed up to Keo‘s mailing list were sent information regarding securing a spot at the one-off performance earlier this month.

While you would have seen the place fill up even if they were just standard concert tickets, the fact that the band were taping the whole thing to use as the visuals for their newest single, as mentioned, meant that Keo’s avid followers were literally clamouring AND clambering to get the best view position possible.

keo surprise gig manchester
gigs at projetks mcr
Credit: Audio North

Turning the popular skaters’ hub’s central bowl into a makeshift stage, with lights, camera, booms and various crew surrounding the entire venue, it was a surreal experience to say the least.

And, of course, they were absolutely brilliant – just as they were at the Ritz at the start of the year and Kendal before that, playing a short but sweet set that left everyone wanting more and choruses of punters chanting Keo long after the final song.

We can’t wait to see how the video itself turns out, especially seeing how much the people who wrapped around them and the skatepark were lost in the moment, and we’re also looking forward to them headlining Neighbourhood Fest in Manchester city centre this October.

You can grab a ticket to see them and the rest of the NBHD lineup right HERE, but until then, give the full studio version of ‘Pistol’ a play and get ready for their debut album.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Audio

Oasis’ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? named biggest UK studio album EVER by Official Charts

Danny Jones Danny Jones Whats the Story Morning glory biggest UK album ever

You’re damn right: Oasis continue to be MASSIVE as new figures from the Official Charts Company have confirmed that (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? has clocked in as the biggest UK studio album of all time.

The Britpop icons and history go hand in hand.

Yes, according to the latest numbers by our domestic chart-crunchers, only two other albums surpassed Oasis‘ second LP – and they’re both greatest hits collections.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, 22 July, just over a whole year on from those reunion world tour shows at Heaton Park. How fitting.

Starting off by channelling Liam Gallagher energy and quipping that “Oasis vibes are in the area”, they go on to explain the colossal cumulative record.

“Oasis claim one of the biggest honours in British music history, they write, “as (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is named the UK’s Official biggest studio album of all time, according to new Official Charts Company data.”

Combining UK sales of the record – both physical and digital over the years – along with modern streaming statistics, the sophomore outing from the Britpop giants has amassed approximately 6.2 million UK chart units. Staggering stuff.

Last year’s Live ’25 shows have no doubt helped give an added boost to their metrics, but it’s still gargantuan stuff from the local band.

Yet another incredible stat not just for the Burnage boys but the Manchester music scene as a whole.

Besides picking up the bronze medal overall, it’s also worth noting that ‘Wonderwall’ is also enjoying a resurgence in the singles rankings, thanks to being embraced by the England team and fans alike for the 2026 World Cup.

Oasis’ Wonderwall on the brink of becoming UK number one for first time ever 30 years after initial release
2026 looks to be just as big a comeback, by the looks of things.

In case you were wondering who beat them out in the race for the top spot, they were pipped to the post by Queen’s Greatest Hits and the same again from ABBA, two worthy opponents to take third place after.

You can see the rest of the list in full right HERE.

Oh, and Definitely Maybe also made the list, too, coming in at number 39 – making that two in the top 50 even amongst all the compilations.

It feels like last July all over again, doesn’t it? And if now isn’t the perfect time to stick on the title track, we don’t know what is.

Actually, sod it – we’re sticking the full thing on…

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Creation Records/Audio North

More Audio

Beat herder festival review 2026

Art & Culture

Beat-Herder Festival 2026 – the wonderfully weird festival we can’t stop coming back to

Aitch climbs Mount Kilimanjaro Netflix documentary

Audio

Aitch wells up in trailer for inspiring Netflix documentary about Kilimanjaro charity climb

Art & Culture

Oasis’ Wonderwall on the brink of becoming UK number one for first time ever 30 years after initial release

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches