Diana Ross will be paying Manchester a visit next year as part of her UK tour.
The iconic singer is not just one of the most influential recording artists and performers of her generation, but arguably of all time, especially as she is famed for her part in shaping the sound of popular music as we know it today.
In the 1960s, Ross reigned as the ‘Queen of Motown’.
She lead trailblazing and best-selling girl group The Supremes to chart dominance with hits such as Baby Love, Stop!, In the Name of Love, and You Keep Me Hangin’ On, before launching her solo career and releasing well-known songs such as I’m Still Waiting, Touch Me in the Morning, Endless Love, and, of course, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, and the UK number one single Chain Reaction.
And now, she’s set to bring some of her legend status right here to Manchester city centre as she takes to the stage at the AO Arena next year.
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Diana Ross’ UK Thank You Tour will be in Manchester on Tuesday 14 June 2022.
Diana Ross’ UK Thank You Tour will be in Manchester at the AO Arena on Tuesday 14 June 2022 / Credit: AO Arena
The new tour dates come after her ‘Top of the World’ tour had to be rescheduled due to the ongoing pandemic, with a statement by promoters explaining at the time: “In light of the ongoing situation with COVID-19, the Diana Ross shows will now take place in the summer of 2022, with exact dates being announced in the coming weeks.
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“We appreciate your patience at this time, hang onto your tickets and look forward to seeing you in June and early July 2022.”
🎙️ The @DianaRoss Top of the World Tour is moving to 2022.
💬 Promoter Statement: "In light of the ongoing situation with COVID-19, the Diana Ross shows will now take place in the summer of 2022, with exact dates being announced in the coming weeks. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/2k9oiIHwhO
Ross will also be releasing a new album on 5 November this year.
The title track from her upcoming album – which Ross co-wrote and curated every song from – ‘Thank You’, was released this past summer and is said to be a voice of gratitude, gratefulness, and personal dedication to her audiences over the years.
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The tour will give Ross a chance to share with fans her music, memories, and career magic.
Oasis, Joy Division and New Order named as 2026 inductees into world-famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Emily Sergeant
It’s official – three of Manchester’s most iconic bands are joining history.
That’s because it’s been announced today that both Oasis, and Joy Division/New Order (as one act) are being inducted into the world-famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 cohort, which is not only a huge deal for the bands individually, but also for our city’s music legacy.
It would not be an understatement to say that these past few years have been some of the biggest in Oasis‘ career, given the fact that they played all across the world 2025 on what is one of the biggest reunion tours of all time – including five nostalgia-drenched gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park last summer.
But despite everything they’ve done over the past three decades, this could still be one of the iconic Manchester band’s greatest achievements.
Announcing Oasis’ induction this week, a statement on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website reads: “Oasis are one of the most successful and influential acts of all time. Exploding out of the 1990s UK music scene, they reclaimed big, brash, hook-filled rock & roll with their anthemic sound, cool swagger, expertly crafted lyrics, and electrifying live performances – eventually selling over a hundred million records.
“Their songs have become England’s go-to anthems, sung in unison by fans at sporting events and social gatherings and inspiring countless bands.”
The Gallagher brothers reunion last year was also noted by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as being one of the key reasons for their induction, proving that the band’s influence ‘remains as strong as ever’.
I wanna thank all the people who voted for us it’s a real honour ever since I was a little kid and singing in the shower I’d dream about 1 day being in the RnR hall of fame it’s true what they say anything is possible if you have a dream LG x
It’s not just celebration for Oasis, of course, as two of Manchester’s other most revered bands, Joy Division and New Order, have also been chosen as 2026 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
A statement on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website about Joy Division and New Order’s joint induction reads: “Joy Division and New Order were postpunk pioneers and electronic dance-floor innovators, inspiring thousands of bands and becoming a beacon for millions of listeners.
“Spearheading the late 1970s Manchester music scene, their story is a remarkable tale of revolution, metamorphosis, and influence.
“Their dark and droning transmissions ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Blue Monday’ were foundational to both dance music and alternative rock, and they still resonate deeply with outsiders and adventurous souls.
“They were innovative musicians who created something revolutionary and massively influential – not once, but twice.”
The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on 14 November at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Featured Image – Jill Furmanovsky (Publicity Picture)
Music
Morrissey claims sole credit for The Smiths’ iconic Salford Lads’ Club photo shoot idea
Danny Jones
Morrissey is once again raising the issue of credit and disputes over The Smiths’ legacy, as the controversial former frontman has now claimed that their iconic photo shoot outside of Salford Lads’ Club was entirely his idea.
The 66-year-old lead singer turned solo star from Urmston is no stranger to sparking debates and attracting controversy, and it seems his latest is to do with one of the most iconic images in British music history, let alone just Greater Manchester.
The Davyhulme-born bard and divisive artist goes on to claim that the other co-founding members of the iconic Manc band initially viewed as more of his “lunacy” – the suggestion seemingly being (as it often is with Morrissey) that they simply didn’t understand the ‘genius’ at the time.
Many of his most die-hard fans still believe that most don’t and never will.
He even jokes that, in another life, it could very well have been something entirely different and random, such as the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford, basically suggesting that other members would have simply followed suit.
In his words, he argues that “now millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be.”
Once again, this is by no means the first time he’s called into question, ‘who did what’ and/or who owns what bit of intellectual property; in fact, there was apparently another one of these instances with Johnny Marr only recently.
‘Moz’ and Marr have been at loggerheads pretty much ever since the group disbanded back in 1987, and still look to be far away from seeing eye to eye on virtually anything.
Emily Sergeant -
27th September 2021 
