It’s been a long time coming – but this Saturday, Manchester’s AO Arena will open its doors once again to a sell-out crowd of Blossoms fans as the Stockport indie band perform their first headline show at the iconic venue.
This means it’s been 78 weeks and a whopping 553 days since live music last rocked the arena.
Blossoms will take to the stage at their hometown arena to conclude their most recent UK tour, before they’re set to support fellow Manchester indie rockers Courteeners at Emirates Old Trafford later this month, and even join forces with Northern 80s pop icon Rick Astley for two intimate gigs playing only the songs of Manchester band The Smiths.
Blossoms’ most recent studio album, 2020’s Foolish Loving Spaces, went all the way to number one in the UK album chart.
The band have now sold 604,747 albums in their career to date worldwide, including more than 340,000 in the UK, and have amassed over 484 million global streams – 319 million of those streams in the UK.
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Blossoms sell-out gig at the arena – which celebrated its 25th anniversary back in July 2020 – is also the first time the venue opens under new sponsorship, as back in September, 2020, it welcomed online electricals retailer AO as the new headline sponsor and rebranded as the AO Arena with a fresh new look.
The partnership is said to highlight AO’s commitment to bringing live music and entertainment back to the heart of Manchester.
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As well as the Bolton-born brand’s famous green smile, visitors to the arena will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences, as well as on the spot ‘surprise and delight’ activations on the arena’s concourse, courtesy of the retailer.
In preparation to make the event as inclusive as possible once doors reopen for the big welcome back, the venue has been working hard behind the scenes over the past few months, and back in June 2020, it was even awarded GOLD status by Attitude is Everything – the disability-led charity with over 20 years’ experience improving Deaf and disabled people’s access to live entertainment.
AO Arena has said that its number one priority for the Blossoms gig is making sure that everyone’s visit is as safe and enjoyable as possible, and so has activated its ‘VenueShield’ programme – a comprehensive and best-in-class hygiene protocol that’s in practise at more than 325 ASM Global facilities around the world.
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And through the arena’s partnership with Unilever brand, Lifebuoy, there are plenty of hand sanitiser dispensers around the venue to make it easy for everyone to sanitise their hands as they move around the arena – which will “inspire confidence” in the return to live events.
As restrictions have been lifted, the venue is asking music fans to enjoy themselves on Saturday with consideration to others by wearing a mask if possible and being prepared to show, if requested by a member of staff, proof that they do not currently have COVID-19, or that they have had both doses of the vaccine, or that they have previously had COVID-19 within the last six months.
Also in the name of safety, specialist detection dogs will be helping the venue to deliver a safe and secure environment for all visitors and employees.
It’s going to be a heck of a return to live music on the biggest stage in Manchester.
Featured Image – AO Arena
News
FA issues statement after reports of ‘tragedy chanting’ during Man United’s FA Cup win over Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
The FA has issued a statement following reports of “tragedy chanting” during the Manchester United and Liverpool’s match yesterday.
In what football fans, pundits, and neutrals alike are calling one of the most “thrilling” games to have happened in recent memory, Manchester United clinched a last-minute 4-3 win over fierce local rivals Liverpool in the quarter finals of the FA Cup yesterday afternoon (17 March) – with surprise match-winner Amad Diallo scoring a late goal in the 120th minute.
The Reds’ defender Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the 10th minute, with Liverpool goals then following from Alexis Mac Allister and superstar striker Mo Salah just before half-time.
In the second half, another goal came for United after Antony found the back of the net in the 87th minute to take the match to extra time, and then the next 30-minutes saw Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott and Manchester‘s-own Marcus Rashford get themselves on the score sheet in pretty quick succession to take the tie to 3-3.
With the time on the clock ticking down, and a place in the semi FA Cup semi finals within touching distance for both clubs, Reds’ winger Diallo fired the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to claim not only a win for his team, but also what was only his second goal in a United shirt.
United fans were, understandably, elated with the win over the team that has historically, and arguably continues to be, their biggest rivals.
But sadly, it appears that some fans took this excitement a little too far.
It has been widely-reported on by numerous media outlets that, during the second half of United’s extra time win, a significant number of fans in the Stretford End of Old Trafford were heard chanting ‘murderers’, quickly followed by ‘always the victims’, both in reference to the Hillsborough Disaster – with the singing said to be “audible” to the live television audience.
Other chants of ‘The Sun were right’ were also reported, and this has subsequently led to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launching an investigation, making an arrest in connection with “tragedy chanting”, and issuing a statement condemning the incident.
The FA has also since released a statement following the reports, and has pledged to support GMP with ongoing investigations in whichever ways they can.
GMP’s statement provided by a spokesperson reads: “Incidents of tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.
“We are all familiar with fans taunting their opponents at football matches, but this is generally done in good humour and without offence. The incidents today crossed the line of what is acceptable, and we will work closely with both clubs to identify anyone responsible for committing offences during the event.”
The FA’s statement, which was shared to social media yesterday evening, also reads in full: “We are aware of the reported tragedy chanting during today’s FA Cup fixture between Manchester United and Liverpool, and we will be liaising with and supporting Greater Manchester Police.
“We strongly condemn any offensive, abusive and discriminatory chants in football stadiums, and we are determined to stamp this behaviour out.
“It is entirely unacceptable and can have a lasting and damaging impact on people and communities within our game.
Two arrested after man is murdered in broad daylight in ‘quiet’ East Manchester residential area
Emily Sergeant
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was killed in the middle of a “quiet residential area” of East Manchester over the weekend.
The arrested suspects, two males, are currently being questioned by police detectives.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was called out to reports of an unresponsive male on Olympic Street, in the Beswick area of East Manchester, shortly before 11am this past Saturday (16 March) – and, despite the best efforts of emergency services and “selfless members of public” at the scene, he was sadly pronounced dead.
A team of specialist detectives have “worked throughout the night” to apprehend those believed to be involved in this murder, GMP has revealed, and with a police investigation having now been opened, “extensive work” is ongoing to understand the circumstances around the distressing incident.
According to GMP, initial enquiries have indicated that the victim was killed whilst he was trying to stop his car from being stolen.
Two people have been arrested after a man was murdered in broad daylight in a ‘quiet’ East Manchester residential area / Credit: GMP
Following the incident, GMP has confirmed that a 35-year-old man has now been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a 43-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
They both remain in police custody at this time.
With the two arrests made, and enquiries currently ongoing and “moving at pace”, GMP has issued an appeal to the public for information, witnesses, and footage – with Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Smith, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, explaining: “At the centre of this investigation is a grieving family, who we will do all we can to get answers for.
“Our investigation is moving at pace, and I have a team of detectives who continue to work relentlessly to capture a picture of what happened in the events leading up to this incident.
#ARREST | Two men arrested in connection with Beswick murder.
Two men, aged 35 & 43, are in custody. They will be questioned by detectives tonight.
“Additional officers remain in the area to offer reassurance to the local community, so if you have any questions, or want to share any information, please speak to them.
“They are there for you and any detail, no matter how small it may seem, could help us.”
Anyone with any details that could assist police with their investigation is asked to report them via the LiveChat function on gmp.police.uk, or by calling 101 quoting incident number 1172 of 16/3/24.