Rock band Royal Blood have scrambled to reschedule a run of gigs they had to cancel after testing positive for Covid – but a lot of fans say they’re ‘disappointed’ and have blasted the ‘p*ss poor’ planning of the new dates.
The duo were supposed to perform at the AO Arena in Manchester last Saturday, 2 April.
But lead singer Mike Kerr announced that they had to postpone the show, writing: “This morning I’ve woken up to discover I have lost my voice. Unfortunately, this isn’t something I can ‘power through’, I currently cannot sing a single note. My voice has gone.”
He added: “I’m absolutely gutted. We were having the time of our lives up there, and your support and passion is not taken for granted for one second.”
The statement issued at the time stressed that the band and its management would ‘work as hard as we can to reschedule to shows for as soon as possible’.
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Royal Blood. Credit: Publicity picture
It’s a promise they stuck to, with new dates now announced in just a few days’ time.
Royal Blood are now going to be on the stage in Manchester on Monday 11 April, also announcing new dates for Glasgow and Leeds.
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Despite the speed at which the shows have been rearranged, some ticket-holders are unhappy, saying it’s ‘nowhere near enough notice’ and adding it’s ‘really poor’.
One person said to the band on Twitter: “Surely not, less than 1 weeks notice?! I’ve just spent over £200 to go to Manchester this weekend for the concert not to take place, cannot afford to do that’s again especially on a week day.”
Someone else said: “So you cancel and then give people a week’s notice to book time off work and make arrangements?! Yeah excellent.”
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Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Others were unhappy that the gig is now on a weeknight rather than a Saturday, with one ticket-holder saying: “You don’t wanna mention how to get refunds for these gigs you’ve moved from the weekend to weekday with one f***ing weeks notice then?”
One person Tweeted: “This is a shocking, what are you guys thinking ? Been excited about seeing you live for a long time but with such late notice I won’t be able to get it off work, place will be half empty with all the refunds.”
Another commented: ‘Not happy at all. It was a Saturday in Manchester, now a Monday. With a week to go? What about work, childcare, travel arrangements? And no refunds. Sorry, but that’s not great at all…my favourite band, but this leaves a sour taste.”
Lots of people are delighted they’ll get to see Royal Blood so soon though.
One person pointed out: “Shouldn’t we just be happy bands are back touring and take covid postponements with a pinch of salt? I had 36 shows rescheduled due to covid, some I could make and some I couldn’t. Surely we haven’t already forgot how much we took live music for granted?”
One Twitter user reasoned: “I’m gutted cos i won’t be able to make it to the rescheduled date, but looking at the touring schedule the guys have for the next few months in usa/Canada and the Europe until June I can see why it’s been done like this.”
And another said: “Well done lads for getting this on so quickly. I’m on leave next week so good times incoming. As for the naysayers, look at their tour schedule for next few months, chill your beans and am sure you’ll get a refund.”
Ticket-holders who can’t make the new dates are advised to contact their point of purchase for information.
Featured image: Publicity picture
News
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Daisy Jackson -
5th April 2022 
