In a typically casual manner, rock legend Liam Gallagher has revealed that his son Gene’s band will be opening for him on the upcoming Definitely Maybe anniversary tour.
Celebrating 30 years since the seminal Britpop record was released, Liam’s sell-out tour is scheduled to kick off at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield in June and after simply replying to a comment on social media, he has now revealed it is the youngest Gallagher boy that will be taking one of the support act slots.
Gene, 22, is the frontman and guitar player for the recently formed band Villanelle, who are set to start playing across this UK’s festival circuit this year, releasing their first music as they go along.
Villanelle will join British indie veterans Cast and The View as supports for LG himself, who has promised to play the Definitely Maybe tracklist in full to mark the occasion.
As you can see, after being asked what he made of the still little-known rock outfit, Gallagher clearly thinks the young musician and his mates are good enough to join him and his band on the massive UK tour which runs until August.
ADVERTISEMENT
While we’ve only heard short clips of Villanelle, you can definitely hear some of that recognisable snarl that Liam became famous for in the vocals and the sound seems plenty reminiscent of what his dad and uncle made so popular back in the 90s and 2000s.
Not bad a bloke to pick up your music taste of, is he?
ADVERTISEMENT
Although it’s still unclear exactly how much of the tour Gene and his band will be joining the former Oasis frontman for, it’s a pretty cool thing for a father and fellow performer to be giving a fledgling artist a break like this.
Small glimpses of Liam Gallagher’s son’s band have been circulating online over the past few months (Credit: Gene Gallagher via IG)
It’s a truly massive year of music for Liam Gallagher in particular as not only is the DM 30th anniversary tour a big deal in its own right – playing three huge shows at the brand-new Co-op Live arena when it opens – but he’s got plenty of others shows in the pipeline.
Currently on tour with John Squire playing their first joint album, which went straight to number one, they played the Manchester Apollo just last month and the live reviews are just as strong as those for the album itself.
ADVERTISEMENT
Beyond that, the Burnage-born singer will also be playing his ‘Liam Gallagher and Friends Malta Weekender‘ shows in September, with the likes of Blossoms, Liam Fray, The Lathums and many other big Northern names joining him for the ride.
Oh yeah, and Live Forever has just retained the ‘best British song of all time’. It’s all coming up LG.
The White Hotel is a go-to haunt for Mancs seeking a late-night (or indeed, all-night) dance, with a packed programme of music running year-round.
The independent arts venue opened inside a former garage in Salford, just outside Manchester city centre and in the shadow of HMP Manchester.
Not only has The White Hotel defined Greater Manchester’s modern nightlife scene, but it’s become known globally as one of the best underground nightclubs on the planet.
Known for its raw DIY atmosphere and boundary-pushing line-ups, the Salford venue up there among the UK’s most respected club spaces.
But despite ‘continuing to draw full houses’, The White Hotel will close in January, according to The Guardian.
Ben Ward told the paper that the venue has found itself in a flood-risk zone, saying: “Basically, it’s a swamp.”
He added that it was better ‘to go out on our own terms, long before we became a museum’.
When The White Hotel opened in 2015, they planned to stick around for a year, then move to LA – but now a decade on, it’s cemented itself on Manchester’s club scene.
The area where The White Hotel stands will become a wetland park.
Neither artistic director Austin Collings nor Ward are ‘sentimental about losing the premises’, The Guardian wrote, quoting Ward as saying: “It’s come as a surprise that it’s lasted this long anyway.”
Festival-goers urged to stop taking wheelie bins full of booze
Daisy Jackson
Festival-goers have been warned not to take wheelie bins full of alcohol to festivals with them this summer.
The warning has come ahead of this year’s Download Festival, which takes place next month and kicks off the summer’s biggest run of festival dates.
But a major train operator has said there have been incidents in the past of passengers trying to travel to festivals with wheelie bins and luggage trolleys.
Passengers have had to be reminded that wheelie bins are not permitted on board, and they should instead only carry as much luggage as they can comfortably carry.
The warning comes from East Midlands Railway, one of the key services that will whisk people to Download Festival between 10 and 14 June.
Customers returning from the festival are also encouraged to use boot-cleaning brushes provided at stations to help remove mud before boarding trains.
Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We’re encouraging customers to travel light.
“Last year, some festive goers tried to board services with wheelie bins or festival trolleys full of beer. While it might seem like a great idea for getting your supplies to the festival, it just isn’t safe or possible to bring them onboard train services.”
Festival-goers urged to stop taking wheelie bins full of booze
EMR has also warned customers to plan journeys in advance, with engineering work taking place at various locations on the Midland Main Line, near where Download Festival takes place.
She continued: “We’re advising customers travelling to Download Festival to plan their journeys in advance and be aware that essential engineering work will affect services across the weekend.
“As a result, some services will be reduced or amended, and passengers should check before they travel and allow extra time.”
Danny Jones -
3rd April 2024 
