Last night, American duo The Black Keys graced the fine people of Manchester with irresistible rockand bluesy ballads at the AO Arena and it was nothing short of phenomenal, showcasing the exceptional talent that’s made them one of the most prolific bands of the last two decades.
Their ‘Dropout Boogie Tour’ was supported by fellow rockers Spoon and found them in the UK for a limited run of just three shows, London, Glasgow and, of course, Manchester. This was all on the back of their latest album release in 2022, which gained modest reviews.
Whatever you made of their last record, there isn’t much you can question about their live performance. Straight from the go, the show was electrifying, with the opening song ‘I Got Mine’ leaving the crowd screaming for more — I was definitely one of them.
The Black Keys brought a slice of that quintessential southern American blues-rock to the AO on Thursday night, taking us on a real sonic journey, weaving through different styles and more rock and roll sounds to those deeper, swampy tones that we’ve explored throughout their decorated career.
Their retro-inspired sound harkened back to a golden era of American music as they even covered some proper classics like ‘Crawling King Snake’ by delta-blues singer, Big Joe Williams, as well as ‘Have Love, Will Travel’ — which may only rattle around in your head has an advert song, but was originally recorded all the way back in 1959 by R&B singer, Richard Berry.
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They really leaned into those unmistakable bluesy, rock and roll roots and it really paid off because the whole vibe and reaction from the crowd was absolutely infectious.
The guitar mastery and soulful vocals displayed by lead singer, Dan Auerbach, were nothing short of awe-inspiring, but towards the final few songs he had to cut one short to call out, as Dan called him, a “beefcake”, that was being aggressive, pushy and putting a general “negative energy”.
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Dan said he’s not about that and neither are we or any of the Mancs who went along to watch, and he was met with rapturous applause when he declared: “That’s not how we do it at a rock and roll show”. Big respect to him for that.
By the time the encore came around, there was a single person not up on their feet and partying. They began with their 2011 track, ‘Little Black Submarine’ — which seemed ominously fitting considering the latest news headlines — starting slow but ending heavy and leading perfectly into the final jam and iconic hit, ‘Lonely Boy’.
It was obviously always going to end like that, being their most popular song, and for good reason. The show had already reached a euphoric climax which meant everyone was dancing and singing their hearts out. By the time the song finished, I truly wished I could’ve done it all over again.
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What a gig and what a night. It was truly an unforgettable experience that will be etched in my mind forever. The night wasn’t over for everyone, though, as the band actually headed to YES for their popular record hang after-party, where they DJ’d on vinyl into the early hours of the morning.
Sadly, for us, it was bedtime — some of us have work in the morning and we’d already partied plenty all night long. We will most definitely be seeing The Black Keys again the next time they’re in Manchester.
Featured Image — The Manc Group/The Black Keys (via Instagram)
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The Warehouse Project named one of the best nightclubs in the world
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester can add another big blue ribbon to its already richly adorned totem of music heritage, as The Warehouse Project has been named one of the best clubs in the entire world.
Not that we’re the least bit shocked, to be honest.
That’s right, our very own Warehouse Project – or WHP to use the more commonly thrown around shorthand – isn’t just the great successor to the likes of The Haçienda, Jilly’s Rockworld and many more Manc live music institutions, it’s become a raver’s rite of passage in its own right.
So it’s no surprise that it landed itself in the International NightLife Association’s best 100 clubs on the planet – but where exactly on the list did it land?
As you can see from the full NightLife International rankings for 2025, Warehouse Project didn’t just make it into the 100 club or even the top half; WHP broke into the best 30 clubs in the whole world.
Finishing in 27th position, specifically, Mayfield Depot‘s major tourist attraction was sandwiched between Ibiza’s Amnesia nightclub and the equally iconic Ministry of Sound in London.
Not bad company to keep, eh?
Writing in the caption, the organisation said: “From Ibiza to Singapore, Miami to Marrakech, and every nightlife capital in between, this year’s ranking showcases the venues that continue to elevate global nightlife with innovation, quality, and unforgettable experiences.”
“Cheers to all the clubs that made it onto the list”, they continued, thanking sponsors, artists and collaborators alike before adding, “Your commitment drives the industry forward.”
With the likes of Worried About Henry, Homobloc, Barry Can’t Swim, and the first-ever winter edition of Repercussion having already passed this year, the 2025 programme really has been electric.
But they’re not done yet; you can see the rest of what is on this year’s lineup down below.
One of the biggest dates on the current WHP calendar is, of course, their massive New Year’s Eve Party, which returns for 2025.
The team behind Warehouse is yet to respond to the prestigious international recognition, as they’re clearly still too busy putting on some of the best nights not just in town or the UK, but anywhere around the club.
You can get a closer look at the in-depth list of NightLife International’s top 100 clubs HERE.
Speaking of Manc nightlife, it’ll be interesting to see where a returning cult favourite will place itself on the leaderboard when it makes its full comeback very soon…
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press shots (supplied via WHP)
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Kendal Calling reveals fantastic 2026 lineup, including Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, The Kooks and more
Danny Jones
The lineup for Kendal Calling 2026 has been officially revealed in full, and let’s just say the list of headliners alone is absolutely box office.
It feels like we say this every year, but this could be one of their best to date.
With the likes of Scottish rock legends Biffy Clyro (after years of courting them), Mercury Prize-winning Wolf Alice, as well as indie veterans The Kooks and Two Door Cinema Club topping the bill on the main stage, next year’s Kendal Calling is shaping up to be a tasty one.
Next summer will mark the 21st year of the annual music and arts festival, and after a wonderful 20th anniversary edition in 2025, we have every faith the KC crew are going to nail it yet again.
Announcing a total of 120 acts – yes, this lineup is already STACKED – the roster is packed with everything from timeless indie stalwarts, Northern favourites, some pop surprises and plenty more.
For instance, we were genuinely buzzing to see not only the one and only Scissor Sisters, but also Gabrielle, and even noughties throwback, Vanessa Carlton.
We’re now hoping and praying she doesn’t pull out and quite literally travels ‘A Thousand Miles’ over to the Lake District.
After making their own comebacks this year, the likes of The Libertines, Deaf Havana, Hard-Fi and several others have joined the lineup, which is spread across more than a dozen stages, including non-musical acts and other bits of live entertainment.
We were very much spoilt for choice for our favourite festivals this year, but you only have to read our review of ‘KC20’ to know how much it meant to be there.
You can see the Kendal Calling 2026 lineup poster down below.
‘26's Adventure Revealed! 🙌 Like & RT for your chance to win VIP upgrades, boutique camping & a £200 bar tab!
Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, Scissor Sisters, The Libertines & more head to the Lakes! pic.twitter.com/HoI0qpgrxQ
If you look closely, you can also see that there’s a special guest slot thrown in there, too, though we’re stumped as to even the slightest hint of who it could be.
We’re sure you’ll have your theories and guesses in the chamber already, but let’s just say that after seeing how well they’ve done with surprises in the past, we cannot wait.
Commenting on the drop, co-founder Ben Robinson said: “I’m so excited to reveal next year’s line-up! Our brilliant team has secured a line-up worthy of the jaw-dropping faith the Kendal Calling family puts in us each year.
“Selling 98% of the tickets before announcing a single artist is the biggest compliment we could ever receive, so here’s an early Christmas present to say thank you!”
Like the man said, most full weekend passes have already gone, but if this lineup tickles your interest, you can still register for the final release of Kendal Calling 2026 tickets right HERE.
Dean Hadcock -
23rd June 2023 
