Manchester music heavyweights Noel Gallagher and Blossoms have been confirmed to play this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust gig series at the historic Royal Albert Hall.
Britpop and global rock and roll icon Noel Gallagher will be bringing his High Flying Birds and the local lads from Stockport along to the legendary London venue as two of the very first names to be confirmed for the annual fundraising concert series.
Scheduled as the third date in the upcoming run of gigs, the former Oasis frontman will be pleased to have his fellow Manchester City fans joining him as special guests this March.
Other names already confirmed for Teenage Cancer Trust at Royal Albert Hall 2024 include adopted Manc electronic group, The Chemical Brothers; The Who, Squeeze, Young Fathers and many more.
Noel and Blossoms follow veterans The Who and Squeeze as the first musical acts on the 2024 lineup.
The Teenage Cancer Trust’s long-running partnership with the Royal Albert Hall has entered a momentous year which will see fellow rock legend and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey, who created and founded the series back in 2000, bow out as the driving force of these very special concerts.
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Stepping down as the official curator after 22 years, this year’s series will celebrate his work as he looks to continue as a Teenage Cancer Trust Honorary Patron but step back from his tireless role and allow for the next generation to take over fundraising and advocating for the charity.
For over two decades, Roger has persuaded some of the world’s greatest artists on the planet to perform unique, one-night-only gigs to raise money for the cause, generating over £32 million in vital funds through ticket sales alone and spreading the word of the charity’s extraordinary work.
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Enough to pay for over a million hours of specialist care from Teenage Cancer Trust nurses, or 13 whole TCT hospital units — having been staffed by just five units with just a fraction of those nurses and youth support workers back when it started — the gig series has proved to be life-changing for so many.
Speaking on the significant anniversary, Daltreysaid, “The £32 million raised from these concerts has been the foundation for the 28 specialised units within the NHS, as well as specialist nurses and youth workers to be there for a young person when cancer has turned their world upside down.”
As for Noel, he said: “The Teenage Cancer Trust continue to make a real difference to teenagers in what undoubtedly must be the most challenging years of their lives. Having performed at the very first event back in 2000 it is a charity very close to my heart. 24 years and counting is a triumph in itself. NGHFB will be there en masse. Together we will make the night unique. I’d buy a ticket if I were you.”
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Following what was a massive year for the Blossoms, they’ll no doubt be buzzing to kick off 2024 with such a special performance.
You can see the lineup for Teenage Cancer Trust at Royal Albert Hall so far in full down below.
Set to play on Thursday, 21 March, 2024, tickets for the concertgo on sale at 9am on Friday, 12 January, with proceeds going straight to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
And for all other Manc music news this year, be sure to follow our dedicated The Manc Audio page over on Instagram. Happy gigging, you lot.
Featured Images — Press Image (via Spotify)/The Manc Group
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Little Simz announces biggest-ever Manchester gig ahead of new album
Danny Jones
The queen of British rap, the one and only Little Simz, is coming back to Manchester for what will be her biggest headline show in this city to date.
A whole three years on from her last album No Thank You, the rapper from Islington is heading back out on the road after wrapping up the recording of her sixth studio LP, Lotus.
The first single ‘FREE’ has already dropped, and despite the release date itself being pushed back, news of a new Little Simz tour later this year more than makes up for it, if you ask us.
Little Simz already has two NME Awards to her name for Best British Solo Act and Best British Album, not to mention a BRIT itself for Best New Artist in 2022; oh yeah, and she won the Mercury Prize as well as a BET Hip Hop Award over in the States for ‘Best International Flow’ – all before she turned 30.
With that in mind, you can understand why so many are frothing at the mouth to hear her new record when it does finally drop.
There doesn’t appear to be any problems with the album itself: Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, to use her full name, is simply busier than ever and has just booked a role in a film because, yes, she acts too.
Lotus will now drop on Friday, 6 June, just in time for fans to get learning the lyrics ahead of festival season, which we have no doubt she’ll play a big part in.
You can hear the first taste of the next chapter down below:
Little Simz returns to Manchester for a Co-op Live debut on 16 October with tour supports still yet to be announced.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 9 April from 10am for official Co-op members and general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (11 April).
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Danny Jones -
8th January 2024 
