Manchester’s buzzing music and events scene has burst back to life, and the AO Arena is at the heart of it all.
The huge city centre venue has got some big shows still to come in February, and even more exciting events coming up later in the year.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, why not ‘Say It With Tickets‘ and buy your loved ones the gift of live entertainment.
The AO Arena also has a range of hospitality packages on hand if you want to push the boat out with the best seats and added extras.
You can enjoy a glass of fizz or three in one of its private suites, or watch the show from the best seats in the house with pre-show drinks in the View Bar.
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L.O.L. Surprise! Live
Credit: Publicity picture
For the first time ever, one of the world’s most popular toys will be putting on a live arena show.
The L.O.L. Surprise Live! tour will see characters and holograms dancing and singing on stage.
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The shows have been rescheduled from the original dates in December and January, and will now take place on Friday 11 February at 5.30pm, and Saturday 12 February at 12pm and 3.30pm.
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
If your loved one is more of a sporting fan than a music fan, you can still snap up tickets for this massive boxing match.
Bolton’s very own boxing legend Amir Khan will face off with Kell Brook as their decade-long rivalry comes to a conclusion.
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Thousands of fans will pack the AO Arena and watch from around the world on February 19.
Dave
Multi award-winning rapper Dave will be hitting the stage at the AO Arena in February.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2016, he has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Stormzy, and Burna Boy.
Hot off the back of the release of his chart-topping album We’re All Alone In This Together, Dave will perform on 24 February.
John Bishop is doing two nights at the AO Arena in February.
One of the world’s most successful comedians – and owner of the whitest teeth – will be performing material at the end of the month.
John Bishop will spend two nights entertaining the crowds at the AO Arena with his Right Here Right Now World Tour.
You can catch him on 25 and 26 February.
Further ahead
Appetite for events is well and truly back, so it pays to get tickets booked in advance.
If you’re after comedy, you can see Alan Partridge at the AO Arena on 14 May, Joe Lycett on 20 September or Jason Manford on 15 October.
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Superleague Netball will also return with Manchester Thunder vs Leeds Rhinos on 12 March, and then the Darts will follow on 14 May.
Music-wise, there are shows from Stormzy, Stereophonics, The Wanted, and Royal Blood still to come this spring too.
Head over to ao-arena.com to pick your perfect date, book online or get in touch with the hospitality team for more information on exclusive experiences, call: 07741 194 110 or email: [email protected].
Gigs & Nightlife
‘Manc the Biff’: the Co-op Live crowd made the Clyro boys welcome on debut
Danny Jones
It feels like we’ve been waiting a long time to welcome Biffy Clyro back to Manchester, and they really didn’t disappoint on their Co-op Live debut.
Here’s our review of what was a proper rock show.
After a strong lineup of support acts with The Armed and Soft Play (formerly Slaves) injecting plenty of early energy into the crowds, already knew two things: the Scots wouldn’t disappoint, and a Manc crowd NEVER lets you down.
We knew everyone was on top form from the moment the Kilmarnock icons stepped out on stage under a swathe of blankets to the opener from their latest album, Futique.
Once the curtain was eventually lifted during ‘A Little Love’, which has quickly become one of the most popular singles for some time, you could see the sea of fans below start bouncing.
Rolling into the likes of ‘Hunting Season’ and Only Revolutions classic, ‘The Captain’, those bounces quite quickly turned into a healthy-sized pit, and those up in the stands with us finally got on their feet.
That was maybe our only complaint: we love seeing a seated section pretending they’re in standing from their start, but we get it and each to their own, of course.
In fact, the same goes for the rest of the session players joining them on the road this year.
One thing we weren’t expecting was quite how cool the production levels were going to be. We’ve never been Biffy fans for their creativity when it comes to toying with stage design or lighting rigs, but they threw in some fun effects regardless.
Highlights from the night included ‘Tiny Indoor Fireworks’, ‘Bubbles’, and ‘Black Chandelier’, though we were sad not to hear ‘Victory Over The Sun’, and it was especially gutting that one of our favourite tracks from the new record, ‘True Believer’, didn’t end up on the setlist.
Again, you can’t have anything – we’re just glad we got to be there and see a truly great British rock band proving that they are well and truly an arena-level band.
Lastly, even after all the years and an X-Factor cover trying its hardest to take the credit away from them, ‘Many of Horror’ is still an unbelievable rock ballad, and d’ya know who is an unbelievable rock band? “Biffy. F***ing. Clyroooooo.”
Johnny Depp supergroup Hollywood Vampires have announced an arena gig in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hollywood Vampires are heading back out on tour, with a huge Manchester gig announced for this year.
The supergroup, which consists of one of the biggest names in Hollywood as well as one of rock’n’roll’s most iconic names, are set to perform at the AO Arena as part of a run of shows.
Hollywood Vampires is made up of A-lister Johnny Depp, as well as rock royalty including Alice Cooper, and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, plus Tommy Henriksen.
They last performed in Manchester with an arena gig back in 2023, making these their first gigs in almost three years.
Hollywood Vampires have now announced a return to the stage, with an AO Arena show on the cards for Tuesday 18 August 2026.
They’ll be supported in Manchester by The Jesus and Mary Chain, who marked their 40th anniversary in 2024 with a new album, Glasgow Eyes.
Johnny Depp supergroup Hollywood Vampires announce Manchester gig. Credit: Aaron Perry
Hollywood Vampires formed in 2012, named after Cooper’s celebrity drinking club of the same name where the aim was reportedly to ‘drink until no one could stand up’.
Over the years, the supergroup has worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, and Zak Starkey (formerly the drummer for Oasis).
They’ve now announced a massive UK tour , including a date at the AO Arena.
A Three Presale for tickets will take place from 10am on Wednesday 21 January, followed by a venue presale on Thursday 22 January, then general sale from 10am on Friday 23 January.
Daisy Jackson -
8th February 2022 
