Music

Eric Clapton announces first Manchester gig in 10 years, at brand-new Co-op Live arena

It's the second show to be announced at the huge venue. (Contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 1st September 2023

Eric Clapton will return to Manchester for his first show here in 10 years – and he’s chosen the brand-new Co-op Live arena to do it.

The legendary guitarist and multi-award-winning artist is the second show to be announced at the huge new arena (the first was Jonas Brothers), which will be the largest in the UK when it opens in April 2024.

The Co-op Live arena is promising 25 shows within its opening month, with fans waiting eagerly for the line-up.

Eric Clapton will be performing on 18 May 2024, his first gig in Manchester in more than a decade.

The 18-time Grammy Award-winner is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, selling more than 280 million records worldwide.

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His appearance at Co-op Live will be one of nine dates on his upcoming UK and Ireland tour.

The venue itself is a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group, and has been built as a music-first arena.

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An aerial impression of Co-op Live arena in Manchester
An aerial impression of Co-op Live arena in Manchester

That means world-leading acoustics, an innovative bowl design and a large standing floor to bring fans closer to the artists, and a concourse packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants.

Gary Roden, executive director and general manager at Co-op Live, says: “We are thrilled that Eric Clapton will return to Manchester for the first time in ten years as part of Co-op Live’s opening season from April 2024.

“With Co-op Live’s intimate design, there will be no better place to see him play his decades-long list of classic songs. We look forward to revealing some of the other artists performing during our opening season in the coming weeks.”

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Eric Clapton will perform at Co-op Live in Manchester on 18 May 2024.

Co-op members will gain early access to tickets through a designated pre-sale from 10am on 7 September 2023. General sale tickets are available through See Tickets from 10am on 11 September 2023.

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Featured image: Christie Goodwin

Music

StreamGM launch brand new livestreamed DJ series, ‘Room Two’, at The Yard

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson

Starting this Friday, 8 November, StreamGM and Audio North are bringing the next big names in dance music directly to fans through ‘Room Two‘ – a weekly DJ series broadcasting from StreamGM HQ, The Yard, over in Cheetham Hill.

This new initiative champions the freshest talents from Greater Manchester’s dynamic underground dance scene, giving viewers worldwide a chance to experience exclusive, high-energy sets across house, garage, jungle, techno, dubstep, bassline and more.

Every Friday at 7pm for the next six weeks, you can tune in for an hour-long, genre-defying mix featuring six standout artists and collectives — all handpicked for their unique takes on the UK dance scene.

Here’s their debut lineup:

StreamGM events lineup
StreamGM x Audio North + The Yard = ‘Room Two’, a.k.a. the Manc music scene’s best-kept new secret.

For fans of raw talent and boundary-pushing beats, Room Two promises a weekly showcase of Manchester’s most exciting rising stars — completely free to watch on StreamGM’s website and social channels.

Let’s get to know the talent.

Meet the artists taking over Room Two

Room Two StreamGM The Yard Manchester
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Shimrise

Kicking off the series, Shimrise is the female duo who’ve made waves in Manchester’s house music scene, known for their fearless high-energy performances and risk-taking setlists.

Recently featured at Parklife and supporting the likes of Tarsza (NTS, 6 Music), Vanessa Maria (Foundation FM), and Kennedy Taylor (Capital Xtra), Shimrise’s sets blend dance classics with unexpected twists, creating a nostalgic yet electrifying vibe.

Prepare for a captivating opener as they set the tone for Room Two. You can watch our interview with the impressive pair of DJs down below:

Oldboy

Renowned for his mastery of grime, garage, bassline and house, Oldboy merges authentic UK sounds with modern twists, capturing the gritty energy of pirate radio and evolving it for today’s club scene.

His sets, steeped in UK bass culture, showcase explosive productions on labels like Untitled Dist. and his own Front Toward Enemy, making him a perfect choice to bring the classic Manchester rave vibe to Room Two.

A top talent well worth keeping your eyes on.

Old Boy The Yard StreamGM Room Two
oldboy manchester DJ
One of the most exciting names coming to the new StreamGM event at The Yard. (Credit: Press Images/The Manc Group)

Lapalace

With dreamy synths and classic drum breaks, Lapalace’s ambient dance project combines nostalgia with cutting-edge soundscapes.

Since launching in 2020, this Manchester-based artist has built a loyal following, recently crafting a new EP that expands her sonic palette beyond breaks, ambient, and jungle, creating an introspective yet powerful listening experience.

Genre-bending and certainly one to watch.

lapalace music
Credit: Supplied

Ghoulish

Speaking of which, as one of UKF and Mixmag’s ‘Ones to Watch’, Ghoulish is also setting the UK club scene alight with genre-blurring productions and intense DJ sets.

From euphoric dance to core-rattling dubstep, he blends a broad spectrum of sounds, recently earning a release on Skream’s label I FEEL and a spot on Warehouse Project Records.

Expect a high-octane set that defies genres and pushes boundaries.

ghoulish DJ
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Me Gusta Collective

Taking fans on a global musical journey, Me Gusta Collective brings a rhythmic mix of Latin house, reggaeton, broken Beat, Gqom, afro-techno and house.

Known for uniting diverse sounds and creating an inclusive dance floor atmosphere, Me Gusta Collective’s sets resonate with anyone looking for beats that transcend borders.

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Also, goes without saying but… great f***ing name, isn’t it?

me gusta collective music
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Finn

Inspired by both Manchester’s electric dance scene and US West Coast influences, Finn has cultivated a reputation for soulful, high-energy tracks.

With hits like ‘Keep Calling’ and ‘Do What You Want Forever’, his releases have become dancefloor staples.

A regular on NTS and a curator at SOUP and A Party Called, Finn’s sets are a celebration of Manchester’s underground energy with global appeal.

finn DJ
Finn rounds out the first wave of Room 2 acts set to play for StreamGM at The Yard (Credit: Supplied)

Read more:

Join the launch this Friday, 8 November, at 7 pm with Shimrise, and catch all upcoming sets on StreamGM’s website and the Facebook pages of The Manc and StreamGM.

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With an exhilarating line-up set to redefine Manchester’s underground scene, Room Two is where the future of dance music begins.

Let’s see out a great year for music in style.

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

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group

Music

One of the world’s greatest music photographers to exhibit at Manchester Art Fair this month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the world’s greatest music photographers is set to make her debut appearance at this year’s Manchester Art Fair.

Having grown up in the music industry alongside her father, Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, legendary photographer Scarlet Page is definitely no stranger to life on the road, and has travelled across the US with bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, The Beastie Boys, and more throughout her illustrious career.

Her photography has also featured in album artwork for iconic Manchester band The Verve, and she’s also had the pleasure of shooting some of the biggest music names in recent times like The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Lady Gaga, and Foo Fighters.

Manchester Art Fair arrives in the city centre for 2024 next weekend / Credit: Supplied

But now, in a first for the North of England, Page’s work – which has featured in Kerrang!, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Mojo, The Times, and many more publications – will be available to see exclusively at Manchester Art Fair next weekend.

Set to be presented by The Art Hound Gallery, Page will unveil a number of exclusive fine art photographs for sale.  

Expect to see her iconic stills of people like Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, and Keith Richards, alongside a selection of carefully-curated and completely-unseen new releases, including Courtney Love, Public Enemy, and more.

If all of that wasn’t brilliant enough as it is, Page will also be leading an artist talk at the Fair on Saturday 16 November from 1pm.

“I am deeply honoured to showcase my work, hosted by The Art Hound Gallery, alongside such extraordinary artists at Manchester Art Fair,” Scarlet Page said ahead of this year’s event.

“Celebrating 30 years as a photographer, it’s a privilege to reflect on the intimate moments I’ve captured of some of the world’s greatest musicians.”

Legendary music photographer Scarlet Page will be exhibiting exclusive works / Credit: Supplied

Sophie Helm, who is the Director of Manchester Art Fair, added: “Scarlet is widely-recognised as one of the greatest music photographers of all time, and we are immensely proud to have her join us at this year’s Manchester Art Fair to provide art and music enthusiasts with the opportunity to hear from Scarlet on some of her most memorable photoshoots and collaborations of the last three decades.”

Manchester Art Fair 2024 will take over Manchester Central on Friday 15 November from 5pm until Sunday 17 November.

Read more:

You can get yourself some tickets online here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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