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Backstreet Boys are back – with a massive gig in Manchester this year

Daisy Jackson - 10th May 2022

Backstreet Boys have added a massive gig in Manchester to their world tour this year.

The legendary 90s boyband will be performing at the AO Arena on their DNA World Tour.

An extra UK show in Manchester, as well as more dates in Paris and Antwerp, have been added after their London gig sold out.

The five-piece said they ‘can’t wait to see even more of you’ when they arrive in Europe in October.

Backstreet Boys were behind iconic songs such as Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), I Want It That Way, and Quit Playing Games.

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Credit: Backstreet Boys

The band is made up of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, and cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, all of whom will be heading back to the live stage.

They’ve sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling boyband of all time.

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The group also undertook a two-year residency in Las Vegas between 2017 and 2019.

They’ll be performing at the AO Arena Manchester on 8 November.

Read more: BBC’s Deborah James shares devastating health update – and says ‘goodbye’ with enormous fundraiser

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Backstreet Boys said: “The Boys are excited to announce the addition of 3 EU/UK dates to their DNA World Tour!

“Tickets for the following shows will go on sale to the public starting this Friday, May 13th, but Backstreet Army fans will have exclusive access to pre-sale concert tickets TOMORROW!”

Backstreet Army pre-sale tickets go on sale at 10am on 11 May, with general sale starting at 10am on 13 May.

Featured image: Publicity photo

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AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month

London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.

It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.

In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.

Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.

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A post shared by AJ Tracey (@ajtracey)

The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.

Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.

More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.

The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.

Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.

Wait until you hear where he’s playing too…

AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intitmate gig in Manchester this month. — Credit: @AJTracey on Instagram

This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.

This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.

It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.

AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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Featured Images — John Lubbock (via Wikimedia Commons)/Audio North

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Manchester City’s Nathan Aké donates piano to grassroots music venue

Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.

To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.

Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.

The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.

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This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.

Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.

Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centre music institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.

So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.

This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.

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A post shared by Band on the Wall (@bandonthewall)

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Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented: “It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”

“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”

As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.

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A post shared by Nathan Ake (@nathanake)

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Featured Images — Publicity Picture (via Supplied)/pantkiewicz (via Flickr)