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.
Police appeal after teenage girl reports being sexually assaulted in a Stretford park
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal for information has been issued after a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted in a park in Stretford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers attended Victoria Park, in the Stretford area, earlier this week on Tuesday night (21 July) following reports that a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted.
The incident is reported to have happened between 5:30pm and 5:44pm, and the offender is described to be an older white male of a large build who was wearing a black t-shirt.
No arrests have been made at this time, GMP confirmed, and enquiries are ongoing.
As police continue their investigation at pace, a public appeal for information has been issued in the hopes that someone can come forward and provide the details needed to track down the offender.
“Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and the victim is being fully supported by specially trained officers,” explained Detective Superintendent Suzanne Keenaghan, from GMP’s Trafford district.
“There will be an increased police presence in and around Victoria Park while officers continue their investigation and provide reassurance to the local community.”
Police say they are ‘particularly keen’ to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time, or who may have CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area.
Anyone with information can speak to police officers at the scene, call 101, or contact GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3029 of 21/07/26.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to be slashed by 20% next year
Emily Sergeant
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England are set to be slashed by 20% next year.
Continuing on with his week of, seemingly, introducing a new measure a day amid the cost of living crisis, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now announced that he has taken action to cut business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year.
It’s expected that these new business rate cuts will benefit nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year.
“For too long, the pubs, social clubs, and live music venues that form the backbone of local high streets have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs,” the Government said in a statement as the cuts were announced today.
Andy Burnham is slashing business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20% next year / Credit: John Arano (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
These changes are set to be fully funded by the Government – including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops for example.
The Government says it also plans to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but do not comply with their tax obligations, which therefore puts them at an unfair advantage over businesses that do play by the rules.
I’m giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates.
I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They’re the heart of our communities and it’s time we backed them.
“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK,” explained Chancellor John Healey. “They help make a place what we love. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep high streets, and town centres busy, which is why we will back them all the way.
“We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “For too long, Governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.
“This Government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Thomas Melia -
14th October 2024 
