Audio
Oldham’s biggest and best new music export Seb Lowe announces more UK tour dates
If you haven't listened to him already, you're seriously missing out. (this article contains affiliate links)
Seb Lowe, one of Manchester’s most exciting and fastest-rising new artists, has just announced a series of new tour dates in 2024 following a stellar year for the abstract singer-songwriter.
Backed up by four equally talented bandmates, the up-and-coming alternative artist from Oldham is undoubtedly one of the best new acts we’ve come across in a while.
After releasing his debut album Half-decent back in 2021, the 19-year-old who hails from the village of Delph, Seb Lowe has found himself on the radar of BBC Introducing, Rolling Stone, XS Manchester and many others, including fellow Greater Manchester stars, Blossoms, who recently asked him and his band to join them for their massive Wythenshawe Park show next summer.
Following on from his first-ever UK headline tour, Lowe is now set to bring his unique blend of indie, folk, punk and acoustic to even more cities across Britain in 2024 — including a glorious homecoming show here in Manchester, of course.
If you’ve never come across Seb Lowe before, you can expect everything from 60s and 70s vibes to the fully graduated contemporary indie from the local youngster but with each track, you’re almost always guaranteed the instantly recognisable style of his protest song lyrics and socio-political subject matter.
With a lead violinist adding even more signature sound to his deeply individual and yet somehow retrospective approach, we’ve seen the Roughyed live on a number of occasions now and his energy on stage never disappoints either.
Revealing just eight dates in 2024 so far, on top of the massive Blossoms gig and other support and festival slots that are sure to come, Lowe is set to play the O2 Ritz in Manchester city centre on Friday, 12 April, with warm-up acts and special guests for each show still yet to be confirmed.
All we know is that as one of the most genuinely interesting artists to come out of Oldham, specifically in a long while, as well as one of the most different you’ll find anywhere in the region, we’ll be putting this on our gig list for next year. This short clip alone should be all the convincing you need:
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General sale for Seb Lowe at the O2 Ritz in Manchester and all other UK tour dates goes live at 9am on Friday, 17 November.
You can grab your tickets HERE and, as always, you best take heed of those ‘Terms and Conditions’.
See you there.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — @wez.dale/@byfbarber (via IG)
Audio
Lola Young shares first public statement since cancellations and stepping away from the spotlight
Danny Jones
UK pop star Lola Young has shared her first public statement since cancelling the remainder of her tour and stepping away from the spotlight.
Lola Young, 24, took a break from her still-burgeoning career after numerous concerning incidents on stage, including throwing up and even passing out in the middle of a performance.
The BRIT School graduate announced the unfortunate cancellation of her upcoming shows “for the foreseeable future”, including a gig here in Manchester, at the end of September.
Breaking her silence after the best part of three months, the London-born singer-songwriter took to social media in a fairly brief but heartwarming statement.
As you can see, the time away from the public eye certainly seems to have been beneficial, telling her followers that “it has helped more than you will ever know”.
In addition to embracing ADHD – even labelling her hit song ‘Messy’ as an “ADHD anthem” in multiple anthems – she was also diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at just 17.
The latter can include symptoms such as psychosis, hallucinations, intense mood swings, bipolar mania, depression and more.
Prior to calling off the rest of her headline shows, Young also had to pull out of her then-biggest festival slot to date, Parklife, though this was reportedly due to a scheduling conflict.
All that being said, we’re glad to hear that she’s on the mend; we saw her back in March, and you could tell from the crowd that she’s already got a very passionate cult following.
Both conditions and their associated obstacles have obviously affected her, but have equally helped influence her music and lyrical material, certainly, too.
Responding in the comments, fellow artist SZA wrote: “Love you, starfire angel. Your music is FULL of longevity and substance! We’re so grateful for you”.
Joining in support, ‘dark pop’ musician Carter James added, “Your wellbeing comes before anything. So excited for your next chapter whenever it arrives!”
We hope she’ll be doing better enough soon to get back on stage when she’s ready.
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Featured Images — Audio North/Jamsterdodger (via Wikimedia Commons)
Audio
Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service
Danny Jones
Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.
As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.
Mani was sadly confirmed dead on 20 November, aged just 63, just over a month on from attending fellow local legend and friend Ricky Hatton’s memorial and public procession.
While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.
It has now been confirmed that Mani – born in Crumpsall but raised in Moston and Failsworth – unfortunately passed away from long-term respiratory issues.
He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.
As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.
Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.
One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.
Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.
Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.
So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”
Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — @gachayatta (via X)/@aktivioslo (via Flickr)
