Stockport icons Blossoms return to Manchester for a four-leg run at the O2 Apollo on Thursday and fans who have managed to grab a ticket are in for some seriously special surprise appearances.
The SK band are coming toward the end of their most recent UK and Ireland tour for their 2022 album, Ribbon Around the Bomb, and those present for their London show were treated to guest appearances from three different artists on Saturday, 3 December.
Fans watching on at the O2 Academy Brixton were blown away as Miles Kane, Rick Astley and former Spice Girl Mel C took to the stage for the standout set.
While the trio of special guests have all collaborated with Blossoms in the past, getting all three of them on the stage in the same night is quite the triumph and, as you can see, it went down a storm.
Blossoms brought out Mel C tonight and I haven’t felt that level of excitement at a concert since T Swift brought out Robbie Williams in Wembley! Something about your current idols bringing out your childhood idols that is unmatched! Video below for some spicing up of your life pic.twitter.com/3NJ0XXokzI
Both Mel C and Astley have appeared alongside Blossoms before. The former joined the group at Glastonbury earlier this year and Astley previously took to the stage with them in Manchester for a number of performances last year.
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The ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ singer seems to have drummed a close bond with the Stopfordians in recent years, especially in their home county.
Here he is playing the Morrissey role as they played a number of The Smiths covers in 2021. Chances are, those going along this week will be in for a similar experience.
Blossoms had to add a fourth Manchester date to meet the demand from locals, with the promise of special guests no doubt helping drive ticket sales.
Though we’re sure Manc crowds would be more than happy to see the likes of Kane, Astley and Mel C pop up for yet another guest spot, the local lads could have a raft of entirely new surprise appearances in store.
It’s going to be a belting few nights at the Apollo.
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Blossoms will be playing the legendary Manchester venue from Thursday, 8 December until Sunday, 11 December.
Featured Image — @agathe_boulous/@_Fonesk (via Twitter)
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Deep Purple announce huge Manchester show at the iconic AO Arena
Daisy Jackson
Rock royalty Deep Purple have just announced a huge Manchester gig at the AO Arena.
These pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock will be heading out on a tour next year that includes shows in Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
And Deep Purple will be performing on the most iconic stage in Manchester, with a gig at the AO Arena next winter.
Even five decades on, the group remain one of the world’s most revered live acts, with 50 years’ worth of chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Perhaps best known for their legendary hit Smoke On The Water, along with songs like Highway Star and Child In Time, the group are listed as one of the genre’s most influential bands of all time.
Child In Time was reworked to soundtrack Netflix’s smash-hit series Stranger Things, capturing Deep Purple’s timeless and lasting influence.
The British rockers show no sign of slowing down, releasing a critically-acclaimed album in 2024.
They’ll be supported by Mammoth, fronted by Grammy Award-winning ssongwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen.
Also joining Deep Purple for their AO Arena gig in Manchester will be Jayler, fast-rising UK rockers.
Deep Purple will play at the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday 22 November, 2026 – tickets go on sale from 10am on Friday 21 November and you can get yours HERE.
Deep Purple 2026 UK tour dates
Wednesday 18 November – Newcastle Utilita Arena
Thursday 19 November – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 21 November – BP Pulse Arena, Birmingham
Sunday 22 November – AO Arena, Manchester
Tuesday 24 November – Eventim Apollo, London
Featured image: Jim Rakete
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Kings of Leon announce Manchester arena show on short run of UK dates
Daisy Jackson
Kings of Leon have just announced a short run of UK shows for next year, which includes an arena gig here in Manchester.
The multi-Grammy Award-winning rock band will be performing at the Co-op Live arena, along with two other British dates in Leeds and Glasgow.
Kings of Leon are one of the biggest alternative rock bands in the world, and never fail to sell out arenas in Manchester when they perform here.
The group of brothers (plus one cousin) have headlined some of the world’s most iconic festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, as well as reclaiming an all-time attendance record with a fifth night at Hyde Park in London last year.
Kings of Leon have been dominating charts for more than 20 years, ever since the release of their debut album Youth & Young Manhood in 2003.
They now have nine studio albums, including last year’s Can We Please Have Fun, which (as with all their albums so far) comfortably reached the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
The band is made up of Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill, and just last week they dropped an EP with four new songs.
Now, it’s another brief run of live shows for the UK, with Kings of Leon performing at Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 4 July 2026.
Tickets for Kings of Leon in Manchester will go on sale from 9am on Friday 21 November, and you can get yours HERE.
Danny Jones -
5th December 2022 
