Local band The Lottery Winners have dropped a new music video for their latest single featuring Shaun Ryder, simply entitled, ‘Money’.
The Leigh-based four-piece are about to release their new album, A.R.T (Anxiety Replacement Therapy), their fifth record in what has been a whirlwind few years for the band who have shot to fame both on the Manchester music scene and the UK in general.
Having already teased some serious collaborations on this latest project as part of the announcement, not to mention their track with Frank Turner, ‘Start Again’, gaining the group a whole new audience, fans were understandably buzzing to see Shaun Ryder join the roster of feature artists.
Not only does the Happy Mondays and ‘Madchester’ icon offer up his vocals on the track — having apparently ad-libbed his parts and even chucking in the classic line from ‘Call The Cops’ for some added nostalgia — but, as you can see, he is very much the star of the show in the brilliantly shot music video.
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Playing the lord of the manor (the very same Peaky Blinders‘ Tommy Shelby lives in, no less) as the band take on the role of a removal firm, Ryder is treated like the music royalty that he is throughout, with plenty of humour and energy running throughout.
The song is about something we can all relate to at the minute: “being skint”. Story of my life. That’s frontman Thom Rylance’s words, by the way, though it definitely makes the track feel like one for the moment.
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Better still, the band are backing it up with their upcoming UK tour starting this April, having sold out several venues already with their affordable ticket prices. Well in, guys.
While the band are obviously excited to see what people think of the rest of the album when it drops, they are still very much trying to get over having Shaun Ryder involved. Again, Thom’s words, not ours.
“SHAUN RYDER is on our single. How mental is that? Being in the studio with him was a very strange and wonderful experience. He gave me a conker that he had in his pocket for some reason. I love him. He’s a true Manchester music legend and truly is a genius.” Just Shaun Ryder things.
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And if you haven’t watched how they chose to reveal their new album, with a hilariously nostalgic and impressively accurate recreation of 90s TV show, Art Attack, then look no further.
The Lottery Winners‘ new album, Anxiety Replacement Therapy, is due to release on April 28 and Ryder won’t be the only recognisable voice you’ll hear on the baker’s dozen of a tracklist.
From what we’ve heard so far, it’s going to be another belter. You can pre-order HERE.
For now, you watch the full video for ‘Money’ featuring Shaun Ryder down below:
Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC
Danny Jones
2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.
Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.
Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.
Boyzone are telling us about coming back together for one final run in their most unforgettable concerts yet 🎤
After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.
Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.
Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.
Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…
Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but
Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.
As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
A candlelit Queen tribute concert is returning to Manchester
Danny Jones
Yes, you read that right: a candlelit concert dedicated to the one and only Queen, with a spectacular West End Cast and a talented live rock band, is coming to Manchester city centre in January.
In fact, it’s coming home, as this wonderful event started right here in 0161 back in 2021.
Concerts by Candlelight themselves host concerts up and down the country at various points throughout the year, but their much-loved ‘Queen by Candlelight‘ special knows all about lighting up Manc venues.
Having since gone on to become an internationally acclaimed live concert experience, we’re glad we still get to see the ‘Princes of the Universe’ on our doorstep.
Credit: Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
With the likes of Bridgewater Hall and the magical Manchester Monastery all having played host to the promotion on many ocassions, this time Queen by Candlelight is coming to the legendary Manchester Opera House in the new year.
One of our most historic and legendary theatres, it’s only fitting, really, that they be chosen to welcome a night of equally iconic tunes.
But it’s worth reminding more casual fans that these aren’t just British rock and pop anthems; Queen‘s discography is one that still has global recognition to this day.
That’s why this specific show has been taken to virtually every corner of the world, with the incredibly talented cast of singers and musicians delighting audiences in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and New York, to domestic crowds here in town and down in London’s West End.
‘Queenies’ or ‘Darlings’, as Freddie Mercury used to call them, can expect all the big hits, from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’, to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and plenty more from the back catalogue.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this coming January:
With tickets already flying out fast, we really would recommend securing your seats early before they inevitably sell out.
To quote the promoters themselves, “this spectacular celebration of Queen’s biggest hits is guaranteed to rock you.”
Coming to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 6 January, you can book your tickets for Queen by Candlelight right HERE.
And if you’ve never been to one of their candlelit events before, you only need to see how much of a ball we had at their country event earlier this year to find out how much fun they are…
Danny Jones -
16th February 2023 
