Motown legend Diana Ross will be performing at the AO Arena tonight, fresh off the back of her landmark performance at the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
The music icon is visiting Manchester on her UK Thank You Tour on 14 June before heading on to gigs in Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, and London.
She’ll also be taking the headline slot, known as the Legends slot, at Glastonbury Festival.
Diana Ross rose to fame in the 1960s as part of The Supremes, one of the world’s best-selling girl groups of all time.
They dominated the charts with songs such as Baby Love, Stop!, In the Name of Love, and You Keep Me Hangin’ On, before Diana launched her solo career and released 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.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of her concert at the AO Arena tonight.
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Tickets for Diana Ross
Diana Ross performing at the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Credit: BBC
There’s still quite good availability for the gig tonight at the AO Arena.
Tickets are priced from £85.75 and go all the way up to £436.35 if you want to sit front row, as close as possible to the action.
For hospitality packages at the AO Arena, you can email [email protected] or call 0161 9501069.
Stage times
The Supremes. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Doors for the AO Arena will open at 6pm.
The show is set to start at 7.30pm, though times are always subject to change.
Support act
As things stand, no support act has been announced for Diana Ross at the AO Arena.
That means we’ll have hours of pure Diamond Diana delights, with the star likely to take straight to the stage at around 7.30pm.
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The setlist
Manchester is the first night on the Thank You Tour, so we can’t be sure what songs Diana will play yet.
But the below is her setlist from her gig at Cardiff Castle, which gives you an idea.
I’m Coming Out
More Today Than Yesterday (Spiral Starecase cover)
Where Did Our Love Go (The Supremes song)
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Baby Love (The Supremes song)
Stop! In the Name of Love (The Supremes song)
You Can’t Hurry Love (The Supremes song)
Love Child (Diana Ross & The Supremes cover)
Chain Reaction
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I’m Still Waiting
Upside Down
Love Hangover / Take Me Higher / Ease on Down the Road
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)
If We Hold on Together
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If the World Just Danced
Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) / Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor cover)
Encore
Thank You
Featured image: Publicity Picture
Audio
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall Manchester – groovy, hazy and effortlessly cool
Clementine Hall
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall proved exactly why they’ve built such a cult following over the past decade.
Formed in 2010 by frontman Ruban Nielson, the band first broke through with their scrappy, lo-fi self-titled debut and since then, they’ve become known for their signature blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and warped pop.
I first saw the band back in 2023 at Glastonbury, and yes sorry I am one of those annoying people that bring it up all the time.
They’re the perfect band to close your eyes, sway your head and tap your foot to – and that’s exactly what the crowd were doing in unison last night at the Albert Hall.
Image: The Manc Group
From the second they stepped on stage, there was no rush – just that signature hazy groove met with enough stage lights to sink a ship.
You could barely see them on stage, but that made it even cooler. And you can only imagine how gorgeous the Albert Hall looked with hundreds of spotlights in different colours whizzing all over it.
Early tracks simmered and pulled us in before the band stretched out into crowd pleasers like ‘Multi-Love’ and ‘Hunnybee’. What an absolute tune by the way.
Image: The Manc Group
There wasn’t much crowd interaction but, again, there didn’t need to be. They let the music do the talking and by treating us to some of the most epic guitar solos we’ve ever heard (no, seriously), we’ll forgive them for not talking to us.
Each song melted into each other as the band oozed effortless charm and talent throughout the almost two hour set, which is no mean feat.
Of course, a sea of phones shot up for ‘So Good at Being in Trouble‘, their most popular track which prompted a harmonious audience singalong. Not very harmonious by me, admittedly.
It was a fantastic ending that left the audience feeling united by the laidback brilliance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and I hope they don’t leave it too long to come back this time.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Daisy Jackson -
14th June 2022 
