Poet and Greater Mancunian legend Dr John Cooper Clarke is playing a landmark gig at Manchester’s newest entertainment venue next year.
Throughout his career, Clarke has played many venues including theatres and festivals. However, this Manchester city centre gig is set to be his first arena show and first of its kind as he will become the first poet ever to headline an arena.
The literary great has many achievements under his belt including performing alongside some of the UK’s biggest punk bands like Joy Division, New Order and The Buzzcocks just to name a few.
Now, in his 75th year on earth, Clarke is still breaking records and spreading his poetry to the world, this time performing to an audience of literary lovers at Co-op Live.Clarke has done gigs in a variety of places, last year, he even put on a show underground in Peak cavern.
He will be performing material from his latest body of work ‘WHAT’ with a special guest joining him at every venue he stops off at.
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Linkton Kewesi Johnson has been chosen to set the stage in Manchester. He’s also a notable figure in the written world being the only black poet to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series.
The tour announcement follows the release of John Cooper Clarke’s latest poem ‘Proper Sound’ a partnership between Co-op and the poet, with lines like ‘a town is not a proper town without the old Co-op around’.
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He is a homegrown talent being born and raised in Salford with his work really dominating the punk-air of the 70’s. In 2023 he was granted freedom of his own city after all his great writing efforts.
In 2013, Clarke saw his work elevated to further heights as Sheffield rock band Arctic Monkey’s turned his poem into song with the release of their cult classic single, ‘I Wanna Be Yours’.
Since its release 11 years ago, the song has racked up over one billion Spotify streams and has significantly boosted the profile of both Alex Turner’s band and the Salford poet.
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That same year, Dr John Cooper Clarke received an honorary doctorate from his hometown education institute as Salford University awarded the literary genius for his services to arts.
The poet has had many a profile and interview over the years, in recent chats, he has been persistent about his digital detox.
Clarke is set on not owning a mobile phone or various electronic devices, and why would he? After all, this Doctor is the epitome of rock ‘n’ roll.
Dr John Cooper Clarke and his special guest Linkton Kewesi Johnson are stopping off in our beautiful city on Saturday 29 March 2025.
Tickets for Dr John Cooper Clarke and his poetry guests go live to Co-op members on 16 October at 10am. General on-sale is happening on 18 October at 10am HERE.
A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Police appeal for witnesses after possible attempted kidnap of 11-year-old girl in Irlam
Emily Sergeant
An appeal for information and witnesses has been issued following the possible attempted kidnap of an 11-year-old girl in Irlam.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that at around 8:30am yesterday (14 January 2025), the young girl – who was walking to school at the time – reported being approached by a male and female on Silver Street in Irlam, close to the junction of Cutnook Lane.
It is believed the pair had been driving in the area in a car and a van, according to police.
The two then grabbed hold of the girl, before she was able to run away and later inform an adult of what had happened.
The male the police are hoping to gain information on is described as white, approximately 5ft 9 inches tall, with short dark hair and clean-shaven, and he was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie at the time, while the female is described as white, and was wearing leggings and a black hoodie.
The car is described as a black four-door vehicle, while the van was small, white, and new-looking and with a sliding door.
#APPEAL | Detectives are appealing for information after a girl was approached and grabbed in Salford.
At around 8.30am today, an 11-year-old girl walking to school reported being approached by a male and female on Silver Street, Irlam.
In the interest of public safety while police are currently investigating the incident, extra officers have been deployed to the local area for reassurance as their enquiries continue, GMP has confirmed.
Appealing to the public, officers are also asking anyone who lives in the area to check for any relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from around the time of the incident, and anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious is also asked to contact police.
“This is of course a concerning and distressing incident and I would like to reassure the community that we are doing all we can to investigate the circumstances,” explained Detective Inspector Justin Bryant, from GMP’s Salford district.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed something or has footage from around the time of the incident, and we would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch, as your assistance could be greatly beneficial to our work.
“We are ensuring that the girl and the family are being kept-up-to date and supported at this time.”
Information can be passed on to 101 or via the GMP Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1205 of 14/01/25, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Thomas Melia -
14th October 2024 
