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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)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 4th March 2024

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.

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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. 

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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

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“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.

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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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Iconic Salford music venue The White Hotel to reopen under new ownership from 2027

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

After announcing plans to close at the end of the year, famed Manchester club The White Hotel is changing hands.

Just a couple of months ago back in May, it was announced that one of Greater Manchester’s most cutting-edge and best-loved nightlife venues would be closing its doors for good.

Despite ‘continuing to draw full houses’, co-founder Ben Ward told The Guardian that the venue had found itself in a flood-risk zone, saying: “Basically, it’s a swamp.”

He added that it was better ‘to go out on our own terms, long before we became a museum’.

But it seems the swamp may live on…and although it is the end for the cult favourite nightclub as we know it, the former garage in Salford will be reopening in new ownership from 2027.

From January onwards, the disused Dickinson Street space will be known as BASTION according to a social media post shared to Instagram yesterday.

It will be run by the team who operate neighbouring venue The Bag Factory and will be supported by the Strange Art Collective CIC.

Images: The Manc

The Bag Factory shared a black and white illustration of the iconic White Hotel’s exterior, along with coordinates to the venue, stating: “The underground has a new stronghold”.

Rather cryptic we must say, and although we hope The White Hotel that we know and love could stick around forever – we hope the new owners will keep some of its magic alive.

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Featured image – The Manc

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Violet Grohl addresses fans after cancelling Manchester gig just hours before doors opened

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Violet Grohl has addressed fans after cancelling her Manchester gig. Credit: Bella Newman

Rising rock star Violet Grohl has addressed fans after cancelling her sold-out Manchester gig just hours before fans entered the venue.

The singer (who, yes, is the daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl) had been set to perform to a packed-out crowd at Band On The Wall last night.

But just hours before doors opened, Violet announced that the show would be postponed, along with tonight’s show in Glasgow.

She said in a statement that she was ‘really f**king bummed’ to be cancelling the shows.

Violet told fans that the gigs had to be cancelled because she ‘doesn’t have a voice right now’.

She is due to perform on The Canopy stage at Leeds Festival this Friday, and its sister site Reading Festival on Sunday.

The star added ‘it pains me to make this decision’ as she officially postponed her Manchester show.

Those who had tickets will receive updated information soon, with the plan to reschedule them.

She wrote: “hey everyone. really f**king bummed to have to let yall know i’m canceling tonight and tomorrow’s shows in Manchester and Glasgow.

“i don’t have a voice right now and it pains me to make this decision, but i just can’t perform.

“we’re rescheduling these shows and everyone who bought a ticket will receive the updated info. looking forward to seeing you soon xx i’ll be back!!!”

Violet Grohl released her debut album, Be Sweet To Me, back in May, produced at the home of acclaimed producer Justin Raisen.

Her music takes influence from late 80s and early 90s rock, including Pixies, Soundgarden, Bjork, PJ Harvey, and more.

When she announced her UK tour dates, demand was so overwhelming her Manchester show was upgraded from The Deaf Institute to Band On The Wall.

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