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SZA announces huge Manchester AO Arena gig on new UK and European tour
And it's SOON.
SZA has announced a huge Manchester gig this summer as part of a new European tour.
The S.O.S. Tour will see the star performing at the AO Arena, as well as two nights at the O2 Arena in London.
The tour was announced this week in support of SZA’s latest album of the same name, and includes massive dates right across Europe.
She released S.O.S. last December, where it shot to the top of the albums chart in the USA and reached number two here in the UK.
It came five years after the release of her debut Ctrl.
SZA has also scooped up masses of awards, including a Grammy, two MTV VMAs, and two Billboard Music Awards, as well as an Oscar nomination for All The Stars with Kendrick Lamar.
The 33-year-old star has collaborated with some other massive names over the years, including Doja Cat, Lizzo, and Maroon 5.
SZA will be supported by British star Raye on her upcoming European tour, including her Manchester gig on 13 June.
O2 and Three pre-sales will start from 10am on Wednesday 12 April, with a Live Nation pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 13 April.
General sale tickets will be available from midday on Friday 14 April.
Full 2023 UK and European tour dates for SZA
1 June – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, Netherlands
5 June – Accor Arena, Paris, France
7 June – Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
9 June – Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin, Germany
11 June – Lanxess Arena, Koln, Germany
13 June – AO Arena, Manchester
15 June – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
17 and 18 June – The O2, London
21 June – 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
Featured image: Publicity picture
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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.
Read more:
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 -
11th April 2023 
