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The Black Keys announce huge Manchester arena gig during Co-op Live’s opening week
This is going to be massive. (Contains affiliate links)
The Black Keys have just announced a huge arena show here in Manchester, which will form part of the new Co-op Live arena’s opening week.
The multi-Grammy Award-winning rock band will be performing at the venue very soon, with the show taking place on 27 April 2024.
The acclaimed duo have been behind hit songs like Lonely Boy, Gold On The Ceiling, and Howlin’ For You.
They already have 11 studio album behind them, with a 12th – Ohio Players – set for release early next month.
The Black Keys’ latest album will feature collaborations with names including Noel Gallagher, Beck, Greg Kurstin, Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and more.
The band are going to be one of the very first artists to perform at Co-op Live, which will be the UK’s largest live entertainment arena when it’s officially opened by Peter Kay on 23 and 24 April.
The rest of the venue’s opening season will be packed with more than 30 artists across 50 shows, including a seven-night Take That residency, a five-night UK exclusive residency as part of The Eagles’ final ever tour, Barry Manilow’s only UK arena show and Eric Clapton’s first Manchester performance in 10 years.
The venue was also recently announced as the host venue for the 2024 MTV EMAs, which will see the biggest names in music flock to the city for the first time.
Gary Roden, executive director and general manager at Co-op Live, said: “We are thrilled that a band of The Black Keys’ calibre will be taking to the stage.
“The show will be part of an amazing week of performances that kicks off a jam-packed opening season.Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is coming to Manchester on first-ever UK tour
“At Co-op Live our aim is to bring world-class talent to a city that lives and breathes music, and this line up epitomises that ambition. With our doors opening in a matter of weeks, we can’t wait to welcome the world to Co-op Live.”
When it launches next month, the state-of-the-art arena will have capacity for 23,500 gig-goers, with an innovative music-first design and 32 bars, restaurants and lounges around the site.
The huge venue stands beside the Etihad Stadium and is a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group.
It also has a ‘smart bowl’ design that will bring gig-goers closer to the artist, and there’ll be no corporate branding to detract from the spectacle on stage.
Co-op members will gain first-in-line access to The Black Keys tickets through a designated presale from 10am on Wednesday 6 March 2024.
General sale tickets for The Black Keys show in Manchester will be available through See Tickets from 10am on Friday 8 March 2024.
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Featured image: Larry Niehues
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Oasis finally confirm ‘private ballot’ ticket information for reunion tour
Daisy Jackson
Oasis have just announced more information about how tickets will be sold through a ‘private ballot’ for their extra reunion tour dates.
The group added two additional shows at Wembley Stadium after their initial 17 gigs across London, Manchester, Dublin, Edinburgh and Cardiff generated huge demand and sold out in a day.
Oasis and Ticketmaster came under fire though for the use of dynamic pricing, which saw ticket prices shoot up by hundreds of pounds by the time people made it through the online queues.
For these additional reunion tour dates at Wembley, ticket sales will look a little different.
They’ll be using a ‘private ballot’, which will give first dibs to those who missed out on the first ticket sale.
You’ll only be invited to register for the sale if you signed into your Ticketmaster account on Saturday 31 August, and joined a queue for a specific show.
And you’ll only receive an invitation if you DIDN’T manage to bag tickets the first time round.
THEN you’ll be able to register for the actual ballot, which still doesn’t guarantee you a ticket but does at least get you into a (hopefully less lengthy) queue.
This is the full statement shared by Oasis:
“Invitations to enter the private ballot will be sent overnight tonight (Saturday) to eligible fans we have been able to identify.
“If you signed into your Ticketmaster UK account on Saturday, 31st August, and were able to join a queue for a specific show, but didn’t get a ticket-then you may be eligible to take part and will receive an email on how to register for the ballot.
“Keep an eye on the inbox associated with your Ticketmaster account, and don’t forget to check your junkmail.
“Once successfully registered, you will be entered into the ballot for a code for access to the final Wembley on sale.
“Due to the demand for the shows and to avoid last week’s long queues, codes will be strictly limited. Entry to the ballot does not guarantee you will receive a code.
“The ballot is only open to invited fans. You must register with the email to which your invitation was sent and which is registered with your Ticketmaster account.
“All other entries will be discounted. If you do not receive an email then unfortunately you will not be eligible for the ballot.
“You will be automatically discounted from the ballot, even if you go through the registration process.”
Featured image: Simon Emmett
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Olly Murs announces Manchester show on huge arena tour – with Blue as support
Daisy Jackson
Olly Murs has just announced details of a huge arena tour, including a stop here in Manchester.
He’ll be playing the city’s biggest arena, the Co-op Live, as part of his 2025 tour.
The news comes fresh off the back of his nationwide tour supporting Take That on their massive This Life on Tour tour.
He’s announced a massive support act for himself too, bringing along British boyband favourites Blue.
Olly Murs first rose to stardom when he placed as runner-up in 2009’s The X Factor competition (though his career has soared past winner Joe McElderry’s).
Since then, he’s released seven solo studio albums, including last year’s Marry Me.
His massive hits include Heart Skips a Beat, Dance With Me Tonight, and Troublemaker, and he’s worked with the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Snoop Dogg, Demi Lovato and Flo Rida.
Olly Murs is now heading back out on the road for an all-singing, all-dancing arena tour.
It will include dates in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and loads more.
Olly said: “Celebrating 15 unbelievable years doing what I love best will be truly special. But to top it off I’m taking a band with me who I was obsessed with in my college years, BLUE!
“No doubt the pranks and banter will be free-flowing but most importantly it’s going to be a great night for the fans to enjoy, I can’t wait.”
Blue said: “We were really delighted when Olly asked us to join him on his Arena tour next year and can’t wait to get on the road with him in the Spring!
“We are going to have a whole lot of fun and look forward to making him an honorary Blue boy! We’ll be singing the biggest hits and maybe the odd joke here and there – watch out Olly!”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 13 September at 10am – you can get yours here.
Olly Murs 2025 tour dates in full
- 24 April – Plymouth, Pavilions
- 26 April – Brighton, Centre
- 27 April – Hull, Connexin Live
- 29 April – Dublin, 3Arena
- 30 April – Belfast, SSE Arena
- 2 May – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
- 3 May – Aberdeen, P&J Live
- 4 May – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
- 6 May – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
- 8 May – Manchester, Co-op Live
- 9 May – Leeds, First Direct Arena
- 10 May – Sheffield, Utilita Arena
- 12 May – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
- 15 May – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
- 16 May – Birmingham, bp pulse LIVE
- 17 May – London, The O2
Featured image: Mark Hayman