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You can book East 17 to sing their iconic Christmas song on your doorstep (for some reason)

They're promoting a new Christmas song, called 'Merry Quitmas'...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 15th December 2023

Can someone please check on East 17, because their current promotional tour is so bizarre I feel like someone must have spiked my eggnog.

Not only are the 90s boyband legends currently promoting a new Christmas single they’ve made in collaboration with a vape brand (I KNOW), but they’re also doing a completely free tour of people’s doorsteps too.

The public will have the chance to book a free doorstep concert with East 17, who’ll rock up to sing Stay Another Day live and in person.

The trio are behind one of the country’s most popular festive tunes, which even beat Mariah Carey to the top of the charts the year of its release.

This year, they’re back in their giant white puffer jackets and hitting the streets around Greater Manchester, to serenade Mancs in their own homes.

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The stunt has been created in partnership with Ring, and anyone who manages to book East 17 for a performance will also win a Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus and a lifetime subscription to Ring Protect.

More tickets are being released each day, so you’ll need to have your wits about you to grab one.

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East 17 are doing free doorstep concerts this Christmas.
East 17 are doing free doorstep concerts this Christmas.

The band, which currently consists of Terry Coldwell, Robbie Craig and Joe Livermore, are also promoting this year’s festive single… which is about quitting smoking (?!?!).

Merry Quitmas tells the tale of a Santa Claus whose lungs are too knackered to do his present deliveries – much to the annoyance of Mrs Claus and the reindeer.

At one point, Father Christmas is chastised by Dancer.

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Lyrics of ‘Merry Quitmas’ include gems like this: “I thought smoking was amazing and I would always be tokin’. The cigarette it would be blazing, like Rudolph’s nose would be glowing.”

East 17 comforting an ill Santa Claus in their video for ‘Merry Quitmas’

The chaotic music video also features a host of celebrity lookalikes including Elton John, George Michael, Cliff Richard, Noddy Holder and Ed Sheeran.

East 17 have released the song with Riot E-Liquid, a vape brand, and will donate proceeds to cancer charities.

Speaking of their doorstep concerts, East 17 said: “It never gets old performing a song that means so much to us, especially around Christmas time, where Stay Another Day really took off.

“We’re so excited to hit the road with Ring to perform to several of our fans, right on their doorstep!”

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So I guess the only question left is for East 17’s management. And it’s this… ARE YOU OKAY?!

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Featured image: Publicity picture

Audio

DMA’s add extra Manchester gig to highly anticipated Hills End 10th anniversary tour

Danny Jones Danny Jones DMA's Manchester gig date 2026 Victoria Warehouse tickets

Indie favourites DMA’s have finally confirmed their highly anticipated Hills End anniversary tour, celebrating 10 years since their breakout debut album with several UK dates, including not one but now TWO here in Manchester.

The Aussie band beloved by Brits and music fans all over have been teasing a reveal of some sort over the past weeks, but now the news is official.

Up there with the Sydney music scene’s finest exports right now, DMA‘s have always had a strong following over here, but especially so up North and Manchester in particular, with their youthful, uplifting and moving style often striking up similarities to our own indie rock roots.

Revealing details of the Hills End 10th anniversary shows on social media earlier this week, the talented trio confirmed a number of Northern gigs – and then quickly had to add a bunch more…

Besides us Mancs being the first stop on the run of live shows (honoured, of course), we’re one of three UK cities getting an additional live show after fans lapped up the pre-sale.

Perhaps the most exciting part about this announcement is that this will be the very first time that DMA’s will be performing their much-loved maiden LP live in full.

At this time, we’re not sure whether or not they’ll be playing from start to finish in order, but either way, fans are understandably very excited; you can consider us here at Audio North firmly included in that group, by the way.

We’re sure we don’t need to remind you lot reading this per se, but cherished tracks from the record obviously include ‘Delete’, ‘Lay Down’, ‘In The Moment’.

They’ll also be playing working-class outposts like Newcastle and Glasgow (make that twice), as well as paying a visit to our friends over at The Hoot in Yorkshire. You can see the full list of shows down below.

DMA’s Hills End 10th anniversary tour 2026 – UK dates

*Italicised dates are extra shows added.

February

  • Friday 06 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
  • Saturday 07 – NX, Newcastle
  • Sunday 08 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
  • Tuesday 10 – O2 Academy, Bristol
  • Wednesday 11 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
  • Thursday 12 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
  • Saturday 14 – O2 Academy, Leeds
  • Sunday 15 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
  • Monday 16 – O2 Academy, Glasgow
  • Tuesday 17 – O2 Academy, Glasgow

May

  • Wednesday 20 – Rock City, Nottingham
  • Thursday 21 – Rock City, Nottingham
  • Friday 22 – UEA, Norwich
WHAT an album this is.

Speaking on the initial announcement, the band said: “The UK has always felt like a second home for us. Hills End was where our story really began overseas, so it feels right to come back and celebrate it with the fans who’ve supported us from day one.”

Literally almost a full decade on from its release, the DMA’s anniversary tour kicks off at O2 Victoria Warehouse next February and, as of yet, no support act has been confirmed.

Johnny Took, Matt Mason and lead singer Tommy O’Dell will then be coming back to Manchester for round two on Sunday, 15 February.

Tickets go on sale at 9am this Friday, 17 October; you can get ready to grab your tickets HERE.

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

Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)

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Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Halloween is on its way, and Silence of the Baths is being ‘resurrected’ for another year.

Returning for a ‘fright night of thrills’ after a sell-out debut in 2023, and then for a smash-hit revival of three of Manchester’s most iconic fallen nightclubs in 2024, Victoria Baths has announced that Silence of the Baths will be returning for its third year, transforming the stunning Grade II-listed building into one of the spookiest settings this Halloween.

For the popular one-off event, Victoria Baths is set to ‘show its darker side’, as the pool halls, Turkish Baths, and labyrinth of spaces undergo an epic Halloween makeover.

Victoria Baths is teaming up with Girls on Film for one of the best nights in the city this Halloween, as the historic space becomes a ‘haunted haven’ of glamour and ghosts.

Partygoers are encouraged to dress the part and wander through the empty pools and haunted corridors as each space is transformed into spooky playground filled with ghouls, spiders, bats, and coffins – but most importantly, good times.

From the balcony above the former pool, the Girls on Film crew will take over the silent disco with a trio of DJs on three different channels.

Hattie Pearson will be on Channel 1, Meme Gold on Channel 2, and the Channel 3 will have DJ MXw0rld.

Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween / Credit: Chris Payne (via Supplied)

As mentioned, ticketholders are being encouraged to ‘dress to distress’ on the night, not only because it’s Halloween, but also because the person with the most haunting look has the chance to win a Halloween Swag Bag.

There’ll be plenty of elixirs and spirits to sip on all night long, and don’t forget to strike a pose against the Baths’ iconic backdrop. 

The Silence of the Baths III: The Return will take over Victoria Baths on Saturday 25 October, with doors creaking open from 7:30pm, and tickets are now on sale here and setting you back £20 each (plus a booking fee).

The event sold out last year, so early ticket purchase is recommended

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All ticket purchases support the work of The Victoria Baths Trust to preserve Victoria Baths, so that communities can continue to enjoy this inspiring building.

Featured Image – Chris Payne (via Supplied)

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