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Watch the moment Blossoms surprise fans with intimate Night & Day gig

What a moment this was...

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 8th December 2022

Blossoms stunned fans last night with a surprise set at the legendary Night & Day Cafe.

The lads from Stockport appeared on stage at a party created to mark one year to go for the new Co-op Live Arena.

The enormous 23,500-capacity venue, which counts Harry Styles as an investor, is taking shape beside the Etihad Stadium and is set to open next winter.

To celebrate the official one-year countdown, Co-op Live hosted a party at Night & Day – then pulled out all the stops with a set from Blossoms.

The group are set to play four huge gigs at the O2 Apollo in Manchester this weekend, in support of their latest album Ribbon Around the Bomb.

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But the Stockport five-piece chose a much more intimate setting for a very chilly night in Manchester, squeezing themselves onto the tiny (but iconic) stage at Night & Day.

You can watch a video of the group on stage below:

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@blossoms performing live at @nightanddaycafe for the Co-op live countdown party! #manchester #nightandday #fyp #viral #blossoms

♬ original sound – The Manc

Taking to the stage with a poster proudly declaring ‘#SaveNightAndDay‘ strapped to the keyboard, Blossoms leapt into action despite the notable lack of elbow room compared to the arenas they’ve become accustomed to.

The group churned through acoustic versions of their hit songs including Charlemagne, Your Girlfriend and Honey Sweet.

They added that they played their first ever show at Night & Day, some nine years ago – what a stratospheric rise to fame.

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The evening was bookended by local legend Clint Boon, who championed the new Co-op Live arena in a heartfelt speech.

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He described it as ‘one of the most important venues in the UK’ and labelled it a ‘unique venue’ that will be ‘very special’ to Manchester.

The groundbreaking Co-op Live Arena will be the first in the UK to be built with music events as a priority.

When the build completes, it will have the largest floor space of any indoor venue, a lower ceiling than other arenas, and tiered seating that will take fans closer to the action.

You can get the last few tickets for Blossoms at the O2 Academy Manchester here.

Featured image: The Manc Group

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Transport for Greater Manchester issues travel advice ahead of Man City and Co-op Live gig clash

Danny Jones Danny Jones TfGM issues travel advice ahead of Manchester City Co-op Live gig clash

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has issued a travel warning ahead of Tuesday night ahead of a huge night of sport and music over at the Etihad Campus.

As well as tomorrow night’s football action, with Manchester City‘s next Champions League match kicking off at 8pm, a big gig is taking place at Co-op Live just next door.

While Man City are taking on Dutch side Feyenoord in what is now an even more important fixture following Pep Guardiola having now lost five in a row for the first time in his career, over the road one of the hottest bands in the rock world right now.

Set to headline Manchester’s state-of-the-art music venue for the first time, alternative metal group Sleep Token‘s landmark Northern show will be going on simultaneously, with doors to the venue due to open from 7pm. With that in mind, TfGM has urged those attending both to plan ahead.

With both events overlapping and fans of both the band and the Blues descending upon the Etihad Stadium and the arena, respectively, the local transport authority has shared details of how to best plan journeys, be they on the tram, by car or otherwise, as well as how to avoid the crowds before and after.

It’s estimated that around 2,000 Feyenoord fans will do the usual walk up to the Etihad from Shambles Square, which will obviously cause significant disruption in the city centre, not to mention congestion when it comes to roads, buses and the Metrolink.

As per an official update from TfGM, they stated: “Those making their way home or elsewhere should re-route their journeys away from the area, consider leaving earlier to avoid the traffic or work from home on the day if it is an option for them.  

“The transport network will be busiest between 4pm and 5:30pm on Saturday and between 5:30pm and 8pm on Tuesday.  Tram travel will be the best option for most City fans and concertgoers”

Double the amount of services are set to run throughout the day along the Eccles and Ashton-under-Lyne lines and the Altrincham and Piccadilly routes will also be extended operations to serve the added footfall heading towards the Etihad Campus.  

You can expect a tram approximately every six minutes from the city centre but they will obviously be very busy, so they have also suggested people consider the recently redeveloped walking route to the Etihad Campus, which is well-lit, stewarded and takes around 25 minutes from Piccadilly.  

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Manchester City matchday bus service will also be operating as usual, with 15 different routes operating across Greater Manchester and beyond, covering a total of 64 stops, not to mention other bus companies and the wider Bee Network.

Driving is being warned against due to the increased traffic flow but for those who must, park and ride is recommended, though Ashton Moss and Ashton West Park and Ride are expected to be the busiest, so gig-goers may want to try Hollinwood, Radcliffe or Whitefield.  

So, whether you’re heading to the concert or the game and however you choose to get there, be safe, look after each other and, most of all, have a great time.

You can read the full update for more details HERE.

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

Featured Images — G-13114 (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group

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Gary Barlow announces TWO huge gigs in Manchester next year

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Gary Barlow has announced the dates for his 2025 UK tour this morning, and it includes two Manchester shows.

If you’ve missed this boyband heartthrob in all his live show glory, then you can catch him not once but twice in this city centre local music venue.

On top of being a household name and massive eye candy for mums, the Cheshire-born singer has had impressive musical career – with 15 UK number ones, 12 of those as part of boyband Take That – as well as his first two solo singles both reaching the top spot in 1996 and 1997.

Three of his solo studio albums have also achieved pole position too, most recently in 2020.

His face may be very recognisable, but his songwriting credits are even more so.

The 53-year-old has writing titles on ‘Candy’ by fellow boyband member Robbie Williams, and even for current I’m A Celebrity campmate Tulisa and her group N-Dubz, as well as also featuring on our screens over the years, most-notably as a judge on The X Factor.

The songwriting titan has aged like a fine wine, and ironically, even has his own self-titled vino brand ‘Gary Barlow Wines’, so fans can hope there’s lots of drinks flowing at his upcoming tour dates.

His legacy has continued, although not the musical way he intended, but through his son, Daniel, whose staggering height quickly became a viral moment online.

So, whether you want to watch Barlow ‘Sing’ his hits in Manchester, or treat yourself to a nice staycation next year, then ere’s 41 UK tour dates to choose from – including some of the next closest to Manchester being Blackpool, Halifax, and Liverpool.

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Gary Barlow is bringing his ‘Songbook Tour 2025’ to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 8 and 9 May next year, with tickets going on sale this Friday (29 November) at 9:30am here.

Featured Image – Publicity Picture

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