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Richard Ashcroft announces massive Wigan homecoming show next summer

First one in 25 years! (This article contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th November 2023

Manc music royalty Richard Ashcroft will return to his hometown of Wigan next summer for a massive gig.

The gig at Robin Park will mark the first time Ashcroft has performed in Wigan for more than 25 years.

The star is perhaps best-known for his time spent with The Verve, with whom he released Urban Hymns, the UK’s 18th-biggest-selling album of all time.

The Verve’s hits included The Drugs Don’t Work, Bittersweet Symphony, Lucky Man, and Sonnet.

He’s gone on to earn himself two Ivor Novello Awards, for Songwriter of the Year in 1998 and Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 2019.

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Richard Ashcroft‘s most recent album, Acoustic Hymns, was released in 2022 and reached number two in the UK Albums Chart.

He’ll be performing at Robin Park next July, a multi-million pound venue that will be the home of Wigan Warriors, built in association with Wigan Council.

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Richard Ashcroft in the iconic Bittersweet Symphony music video - the singer just announced a Wigan gig next summer
Richard Ashcroft in the iconic Bittersweet Symphony music video. Credit: YouTube

Robin Park has been built next to the DW Stadium and is just a 20 minute walk from the town centre and Wigan North Western train station.

Richard Ashcroft said: “After 25 years, I’m back playing in my hometown. Looking forward to an amazing night in Wigan.”

The huge gig will take place on Saturday 20 July at Robin Park.

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Tickets will go on sale from 9am on Friday 1 December via See Tickets.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.

Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.

A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.

It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.

As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.

Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.

The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.

Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.  

Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.

The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.

Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.

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“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.

You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.

Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)

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