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Legendary Manchester band Inspiral Carpets are reuniting for a 2023 tour
The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2015 shortly after the death of their friend and drummer
Manc legends Inspiral Carpets have announced details of a live tour next spring.
The group, who were an integral part of the Madchester movement, are heading out for their first live shows since 2015.
They say it will be a ‘celebration of the music we created, which has brought so much joy to people over the last 34 years’.
The tour will, of course, include a date in their home city here in Manchester, where they will perform at the Albert Hall.
Inspiral Carpets first formed in Oldham in 1980, and are loved for singles including This is How it Feels, Saturn 5, and She Comes in the Fall.
Their keyboard player Clint Boon is a familiar face on Manchester’s music and nightlife circuit, DJing at venues and festivals across the region.
The group last performed at the Leeds O2 Academy, but went on an indefinite hiatus after the death of their close friend and drummer Craig Gill.
A statement from the group said: “Craig’s death had a profound effect on many people.
“The outpouring of love from around the world at the time gave some comfort to his family and friends as we all tried to come to terms with what had happened.”
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The shows will both celebrate the band’s history and commemorate the life of Craig.
They continued: “We know this will be an emotional journey for a lot of people, not least Craig’s family.
“We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate some of the music we created, and which has brought so much joy to people over the last 34 years.”
Tickets for the tour will go on sale at 10am on Friday 21 October at gigsandtours.com/tour/inspiral-carpets.
Full Inspiral Carpets 2023 tour dates
March 2023
Thurs 23 – Northampton roadmenders
Fri 24 – Newcastle Boiler Shop
Sat 25 – Oxford Academy
Sun 26 – Brighton Concorde 2
Fri 31 – Cambridge Junction
April 2023
Sat 1 – Manchester Albert Hall
Sun 2 – Notts Rescue Rooms
Sat 8 – Leeds O2 Academy
Thurs 13 – Glasgow SWG3 Galvanisers
Fri 14 – Sheffield Leadmill
Sat 15 – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Fri 21 – Coventry HMV empire
Sat 22 – Frome Cheese & Grain
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Featured image: Publicity picture
Audio
James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
James Blunt UK and Ireland 2027 tour dates
- 26 March – Leeds
- 27 March – Birmingham
- 28 March – Newcastle
- 30 March – Dublin
- 31 March – Belfast
- 2 April – Glasgow
- 3 April – Manchester
- 4 April – London
- 6 April – Cardiff
- 7 April – Bournemouth
- 8 April – Brighton
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Featured image: Supplied
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
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The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
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Featured Image: @samserved (via Instagram)
Daisy Jackson -
18th October 2022 
