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What’s on at the AO Arena Manchester this May – and how you can still get tickets

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 29th April 2022

There’s a busy month of live music, comedy and entertainment ahead at the AO Arena Manchester. 

The city’s leading venue will be welcoming some big names this May, with a packed schedule of events. 

Expect pop perfection from Little Mix, who will perform three shows at the AO Arena this month, as well as comedy appearances from the likes of Alan Partridge and Chris Rock. 

Music royalty like Blondie, Pet Shop Boys and Alice Cooper will take to the stage over the next month too. 

Read more: Manchester’s AO Arena reveals big £50 transformation plans

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The AO Arena has a range of hospitality packages on hand if you want to watch the show in style, from booking the best seats in the house to having a champagne reception and a waiter service. 

Full details on Prime View and Prime Suites are below. 

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Here’s what’s coming up at the AO Arena Manchester in May, and all you need to know about booking your hospitality packages. 

Blondie – Sunday 1 May

Fronted by the iconic Debbie Harry, Blondie will be joined on this rescheduled tour date by Manchester legend Johnny Marr. 

Tool – Monday 2 May

This strictly no-phones-allowed gig from art metallers Tool will be part of their arena tour of the UK, which is also taking them to London and Birmingham.

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Little Mix – Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May

Pop sensations Little Mix – aka Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirwell and Leigh-Anne Pinnock – will be doing three gigs in two days at the AO Arena on their Confetti tour, with a matinee performance on Saturday afternoon.

Gregory Porter – Sunday 8 May

Grammy Award-winning jazz soul singing sensation Gregory Porter will be in Manchester in just a few weeks, performing hits from his six studio albums. 

Alan Partridge – Friday 13 and Saturday 14 May

Stratagem, a brand new live show from Alan Partridge (aka Steve Coogan) will touch down for two nights that promises to ‘inform, educate and entertain in approximately equal measure’.

Chris Rock – Sunday 15 May

Fresh from his hosting gig at the Oscars, comedic heavyweight and multi-award-winner Chris Rock is bringing his Ego Death World Tour to Manchester. 

Bryan Adams – Tuesday 17 May

One of the world’s most iconic rock musicians is heading to the AO Arena – Bryan Adams’ So Happy It Hurts tour is in support of his 15th studio album – that’s quite the discography. 

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Whitesnake – Wednesday 18 May 

Hard rock stalwarts Whitesnake will be stopping off in Manchester on their eagerly-awaited Farewell tour, alongside Foreigner and Europe. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race – Thursday 19 May

RuPaul’s massive Werq the World tour is sashaying its way to the AO Arena – the all-new production will see Michelle Visage, Asia O’Hara, Plastique Tiara and more travel back in time through several iconic eras. 

Pet Shop Boys – Friday 20 May

Electronic pioneers Pet Shop Boys are back together in front of crowds on the Greatest Hits tour, working through a back catalogue that includes massive hits like West End Girls, Always On My Mind, and Go West.

The Script – Saturday 21 May

With five number one albums, six billion streams and two million ticket sales, The Script will be joined by Ella Henderson on their Greatest Hits Tour. 

Alice Cooper and The Cult – Friday 27 May

Larger-than-life rock legend Alice Cooper and The Cult will come together for a very special co-headline show at the end of May. 

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Years & Years – Saturday 28 May

Olly Alexander, recent star of hit series It’s A Sin and collaborator with Kylie Minogue, will be back at Years & Years in May with The Night Call tour. 

AO Arena Hospitality package information

Prime View packages, designed for couples and smaller groups of friends and family, include fast-track pre-show entry to the Lounge, with a glass of champagne on arrival. 

You also get a seat in the lower tier of the main auditorium (Block 103 or 114) to see the action on stage up close. 

There are Prime View tickets available for all of the below shows. 

There’s still some Prime Suites availability too, for Blondie, Tool and RuPaul’s Drag Race. The Prime Suites package is a full experience for up to 16 guests that includes a private suite, dedicated fast track entry, a buffet, champagne reception, private bar and waiter service, en suite toilets and cloakroom facilities.

To book either Prime View packages or Prime Suites at the AO Arena, you can email [email protected] or call 0161 9501069.

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Loyle Carner announces THREE massive Manchester gigs to follow Glastonbury headline slot

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Loyle Carner has announced three Manchester gigs

Loyle Carner will perform three huge gigs in Manchester as part of a newly-announced UK tour, chasing his headline Glastonbury slot.

The groundbreaking British artist will be heading to the O2 Victoria Warehouse later this year alongside shows in cities including London, Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham.

Loyle Carner has also confirmed today that a brand new album is on the way – hopefully! is set for release on 20 June.

It’ll give fans a week to listen and love his new music before he headlines The Other Stage at Glastonbury festival on 27 June.

He’s already released two surprise new songs – ‘all i need / in my mind’, as his new chapter sees him explore fatherhood, childhood and alternative music.

Loyle Carner has sung, produced and ‘accidentally’ formed a band for this latest release, which includes audio clips of his son.

Loyle Carner first emerged in 2013 with his A Little Late EP, followed by his debut album Yesterday’s Gone in 2017, with plenty more releases in the years since.

He’s been shortlisted TWICE for the Mercury Prize and has scored BRIT and NME Award nominations too, as well as 1.1 BILLION streams.

You’ll recognise his face from campaigns with global brands like YSL, New Balance, and Nike, not to mention his sold-out shows including Alexandra Palace, Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall in his beloved London hometown alone.

Loyle Carner will perform at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on 23, 24, and 24 November 2025.

Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday 2 May – you can get tickets HERE.

Loyle Carner UK tour dates in full

  • 02.11.25 || London || O2 Academy Brixton
  • 03.11.25 || London || O2 Academy Brixton
  • 04.11.25 || London || O2 Academy Brixton
  • 05.11.25 || London || O2 Academy Brixton
  • 07.11.25 || Cardiff || Utilita Arena
  • 12.11.25 || Glasgow || O2 Academy
  • 13.11.25 || Glasgow || O2 Academy
  • 14.11.25 || Glasgow || O2 Academy
  • 18.11.25 || Newcastle || O2 City Hall
  • 19.11.25 || Newcastle || O2 City Hall
  • 20.11.25 || Birmingham || O2 Academy
  • 21.11.25 || Birmingham || O2 Academy
  • 23.11.25 || Manchester || O2 Victoria Warehouse
  • 24.11.25 || Manchester || O2 Victoria Warehouse
  • 25.11.25 || Manchester || O2 Victoria Warehouse

You can get tickets HERE.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.

If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.

Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.

This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.

It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.

Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.

This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.

Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.

Belter.

The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.

If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”

Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.

Read more:

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Featured Images — Wikimedia Commons/Press shot (supplied)

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