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Ska legends Madness announce huge UK arena tour, with date in Manchester
How to get tickets. (Contains affiliate links)
Madness have just announced details of a huge UK arena tour, which will include a show here in Manchester.
The ska legends, one of Britain’s best-loved bands, will kick off their C’est La Vie 2023 tour this winter and will hit major cities across the UK.
The 13-date tour promises to be packed with hits from the group’s decades-long music career, which includes 12 studio albums.
They’ll be performing at the AO Arena on Saturday 9 December.
Madness were one of the biggest bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s and were credited with being at the heart of the ska two-tone revival.
They’ve had 15 top-ten singles and have won masses of awards, including a prestigious Ivor Novello.
They even performed on top of Buckingham Palace as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
The group famously emerged from the backstreets of Camden Town in the late 70s and recently released a three-part original docu series with TV channel AMC about the beginnings of the band in the area.
Madness are responsible for some of the best-known tracks of all time, including Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, It Must Be Love, and Our House.
Their C’est La Vie 2023 tour will show off new songs from their forthcoming album as well as diving into their huge back catalogue.
The Lightning Seeds will be the special guests for the entirety of the tour.
Madness said: “WOT-a-tour this promises to be! We can’t wait to be back out on the road, doing what we love best. Roll on November.”
Tickets for all shows will go on general sale at 9:30am on Friday 28 April from See Tickets here.
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Full Madness 2023 tour dates
- 30 November – Aberdeen P&J Live
- 1 December – Glasgow OVO Hydro
- 2 December – Newcastle Utilita Arena
- Mon 4 December – Cardiff International Arena
- Tue 5 December – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
- Thu 7 December – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
- Fri 8 December – Leeds First Direct Arena
- Sat 9 December – Manchester AO Arena
- Mon 11 December – Brighton Centre
- Tue 12 December – Bournemouth International Centre
- Thu 14 December – Sheffield Utilita Arena
- Fri 15 December – London The O2
- Sat 16 December – Birmingham Utilita Arena
Featured image: Publicity picture
Audio
Robbie Williams announces intimate gig in Manchester for BRITs Week 26 for War Child
Daisy Jackson
Iconic popstar Robbie Williams has announced a surprise gig in Manchester – and it’s soon.
The British star will be performing as part of the upcoming BRITs Week 26 for War Child, a gig series which is seeing huge artists playing intimate venues all over the UK.
Robbie Williams will be taking to the stage at Aviva Studios in Manchester in just a few weeks’ time, ahead of the BRIT Awards’ northern debut at the Co-op Live.
The 18-times BRIT Award-winner be performing tracks from his debut album Life Thru A Lens and his recent number one album BRITPOP, with support from indie chart-toppers Lottery Winners.
The newly-announced gig for Robbie Williams is part of BRITs Week, which takes place around The BRIT Awards 2026, with other artists performing in Manchester including Olivia Dean, Josh Baker, and The K’s.
All proceeds from the shows will go to help War Child’s essential work providing aid, education, specialist mental health support to children whose lives are affected by war.
Robbie Williams will perform at Aviva Studios in Manchester on 27 February.
BRITs Week 26 for War Child full lineup
- 12 February – Fatboy Slim – Boiler Shop, Newcastle, supported by Max Jones
- 16 February – Lambrini Girls – The Garage, London, supported by Bimini
- 18 February – Spiritualized – EartH Theatre, London
- 20 February – The K’s – Gorilla, Manchester
- 24 February – Myles Smith – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, supported by Saint Raymond
- 25 February – Jack Savoretti and Katherine Jenkins OBE – Emerald Theatre, London, supported by Gabriella Cilmi
- 25 February – kwn – Patterns, Brighton, supported by CARI
- 25 February – Josh Baker – YES, Manchester, supported by Deliah and Alexandria
- 26 February – Rossi. – YES, Manchester, supported by Olive F
- 26 February – Olivia Dean – Albert Hall, Manchester
- 27 February – Jacob Alon – Music Hall at Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, supported by Lizzie Reid
- 27 February – Robbie Williams – Aviva Studios, Manchester, supported by Lottery Winners
Fans can enter the prize draw and win a pair of tickets to see the artist of their choice, for just a £10 per entry donation to War Child. Available HERE.
A limited number of tickets are also available on general sale HERE.
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Featured image: Publicity picture
Audio
A ‘Primary School Bangers’ gig is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A night of non-stop, nostalgic primary school bangers is heading up to Manchester this year.
The event comes from viral sensation and Glastonbury festival favourite James B Partridge, who’ll be taking his incredibly silly event on the road in 2026.
Expect to hear all those hits that shaped your childhood, whether you were sat cross-legged on a carpet or one of the lucky ones who got to sit on a PE bench in assembly.
His usual setlist includes classics like Sing Hosanna, One More Step Along The World I Go, and When I Needed A Neighbour.
Primary School Bangers will be heading to the beautiful Albert Hall in Manchester in March, along with a run of dates across the UK.
He’s promising ‘classic school-day singalongs, heart-on-sleeve nostalgia, and the infectious joy that has
made James a national favourite’.
Most recently, the teacher-turned-performer has been delighting audiences with his Big Christmas Assembly tour, playing to tens of thousands across the country.
James continues to teach primary school children during the week, then goes so far as to shut down the fields of Glastonbury with the crowds he pulls in.
He’s also had appearances on the likes of Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, BBC Radio 2, The One Show, and Songs of Praise: The Big School Assembly Singalong.
Tickets are on sale now HERE.
The Primary School Bangers UK 2026 tour
- 14 Mar – Gateshead Glasshouse
- 15 Mar – Scunthorpe Baths Hall
- 16 Mar – Manchester Albert Hall
- 3 Apr – Colchester Charter Hall
- 4 Apr – York Barbican
- 6 Apr – London Barbican
- 7 Apr – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange
- 8 Apr – Bury St Edmunds Apex Theatre
- 10 Apr – Watford Colosseum
- 12 Apr – Southampton O2 Guildhall
- 14 Apr – Northampton Derngate Theatre
- 15 Apr – Woking New Victoria
- 16 Apr – Swansea Grand Theatre
- 18 Apr – Bristol Beacon
- 19 Apr – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
- 20 Apr – Blackpool Winter Gardens (Arena)
- 21 Apr – Edinburgh Assembly Rooms
- 23 Apr – Peterborough New Theatre
- 24 Apr – Birmingham Symphony Hall
- 26 Apr – Reading Hexagon
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Featured image: Rebecca Johnson
