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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
Audio
Kaiser Chiefs continue debut album’s 20th anniversary celebrations with more tour dates
Danny Jones
Northern music veterans Kaiser Chiefs are set to continue the celebrations of their debut album’s 20th anniversary with even more milestone tour dates next year.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since their very first LP, Employment, was first released, just before the onslaught of indie landfill took over the UK and beyond back in the 200s, but it really has been that long.
2025 has seen the beloved Yorkshire band rolling back the years and playing all the hits from the seminal debut record, and since the scenes at Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Latitude and more have been such good vibes, they’ve decided to keep the party going even longer.
Announcing further tour dates next February, the Leeds legends will be heading back on the road before you know it and playing all of the hits.
Confirming a dozen new live shows, the noughties hit-makers behind ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Oh My God’ and many more will be heading to Manchester for just the second stop on their upcoming tour.
Heading to O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, 14 February, the ever-familiar British five-piece haven’t yet announced a hometown gig.
That being said, we have a feeling you can expect something extra special – perhaps a Temple Newsam 2.0 – to be revealed for them not too far down the line.
Speaking on the tour extension, frontman Ricky Wilson said: “This summer, we played a load of shows to mark the release of our debut album, Employment. It went well. Probably better than our first summer 20 years ago.
“It was the year after that first year that things really took off, so we hope you will join us in February to help celebrate with us ‘the year it really took off’.
“If you were with us the first time, or unfortunately missed out due to other commitments, we hope you will join us for a joyous lap of honour. (Plus, I spent quite a bit on a new blazer and want to get my money’s worth)”.
Our Audio North followers will be glad to hear that there a plenty of gigs taking place up at the top end of the country, and you can see the full list of ‘More Employment‘ shows down below.
Kaiser Chiefs’ 2026 UK tour dates:
- 13 Fri – Bradford, Live
- 14 Sat – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
- 15 Sun – Stockton, Globe
- 17 Tue – Dundee, Live House
- 18 Wed – Glasgow, Barrowland
- 20 Fri – London, Eventim Apollo
- 21 Sat – Hull, Connexin Live
- 23 Mon – Norwich, UEA
- 24 Tue – Swansea, Building Society Arena
- 26 Thu – Bournemouth, International Centre
- 27 Fri – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
- 28 Sat – Wolverhampton, The Halls
Tickets for the Kaiser Chiefs’ show here in Manchester, as well as all other nights live on Friday, 22 August from 9am; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We’ll see you there.
And until then, why not see what the lads had to say to our friends over at The Hoot when we interviewed them back in May?…
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Featured Images — Cal McIntyre (supplied)/press shots/The Manc Group
Audio
Manchester Pride announces Nelly Furtado as surprise headliner
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Pride has just dropped another huge headliner for this year’s festival – and it’s only global pop superstar Nelly Furtado.
The huge LGBTQ+ festival, celebration and protest had kept its final headliner under wraps for months, but has today announced the Maneater star will be joining the line-up for 2025.
Nelly Furtado will co-headline Manchester Pride alongside Olly Alexander, with tickets for both the Gay Village Party and Mardi Gras already on sale.
Also announced on the line-up today are DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly.
Manchester Pride 2025 will take place from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August, with four days of live music, celebrations, the parade, parties, and the candlelit vigil.
Already-announced headliners include Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne, Billy Porter, and Tulisa, alongside loads more queer artists.
Nelly Furtado is known for her anthems like Maneater, Promiscuous and I’m Like A Bird, and will bring Mardi Gras to an uplifting, powerful end on Sunday 24 August.
Homegrown legend DJ Paulette will also join the Sunday Mardi Gras line-up, along with South African trailblazer Moonchild Sanelly on Friday at the Gay Village Party.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “Welcoming an Icon like Nelly Furtado alongside DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly further showcases the diversity of musical tastes that we’re catering for. They’re each sure to create some unforgettable moments.
“Manchester Pride 2025 will be bold, brilliant, and bursting with Pride energy, but it’s at a tipping point.
“Pride can only thrive if our community shows up: by attending events, joining the Parade, and buying supporter bands.
“We’ve seen what happens when we don’t rally together, and we cannot let that happen in our City. This is the moment to stand up, come together, party as a protest and ensure Pride continues to shine long into the future.”
For full-day line-ups and more information on Manchester Pride 2025, download the Manchester Pride app.
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Featured image: Supplied
