Liam Gallagher has announced a super-intimate gig in Blackburn this month.
The former Oasis frontman will take to the stage at King George’s Hall to promote a Spezial trainer partnership with Adidas.
The gig on April 27, supported by Blackburn band The Illicits, will also raise money for local homeless charity Nightsafe.
It’s taking place ahead of his stadium gigs this summer, which includes two nights at Knebworth and one at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Liam is set to release his third solo album, C’mon You Know on 27 May.
Liam Gallagher will perform a gig in partnership with Adidas in Blackburn. Credit: Supplied
This will be the first time the rocker has performed at Blackburn with Darwen, which is recognised as the birthplace of Spezial.
The venue itself has previously welcomed music legends like David Bowie, The Beatles, The Clash and The Stone Roses.
The gig will announce the launch of a new trainer collaboration with Adidas Spezial, called the LG2SPZL.
The Adidas Spezial range was founded and curated by lifelong three-stripes fan Gary Aspden, who is from Darwen, and who is good friends and long-time collaborator with Liam Gallagher.
Liam Gallagher will perform a gig in partnership with Adidas in Blackburn. Credit: Supplied
Liam said: “I’m glad to announce my new collaboration with Adidas Spezial. It’s our take on the one and only Barrington Smash and it’s absolutely incredible.
“And if that’s not enough to blow your wig off, I’m going to be playing The King George’s Hall in Blackburn, Lancashire. All proceeds from the gig will be in aid of Nightsafe, a local homeless charity.”
Gary was the driving force behind the hugely popular Adidas Blackburn SPZL shoes and the Blackburn Spezial exhibition – which drew in thousands of visitors from around the world to the town.
This was followed up with the C.P. Company 50th anniversary event in an underground car park in Darwen last year – attracting a string of famous faces from Dynamo the Magician to Goldie and Shaun Ryder.
Gary said: “I could not be happier that Adidas agreed to support this event in east Lancashire and am super made up that Liam has agreed to come and perform here.
“He has never performed in Blackburn before and given how the roots of Spezial are connected to the town it feels like an appropriate location to announce the forthcoming LG2SPZL trainer collaboration.
Liam Gallagher will perform a gig in partnership with Adidas in Blackburn. Credit: Supplied
“This should bring some great energy and positivity to Blackburn and will hopefully give Nightsafe a much needed boost after what have been a difficult few years for everyone.”
Denise Park, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We’re grateful to Gary and his team at Adidas for once again backing Blackburn with Darwen and working so hard to host such a high-profile event here – in King George’s Hall’s 100th year too.
“It’s an opportunity for us to again showcase what we have to offer in the borough as well as raise vital funds for Nightsafe – a fantastic charity.
“Gary is passionate about regenerating towns through culture and he is making a real difference to the place which he is proud to call home.
A new music showcase is taking place at a beautiful and historic Stockport venue
Danny Jones
A new live showcase is coming to Stockport town centre as part of a wider music, art and cultural celebration next month.
And by new, we mean the artists; if you went to the last edition, you’ll know it delivers some serious talent.
Teaming up with the likes of Manchester-based music magazine and promoters, The Rodeo, as well as ticketing platform Skiddle, Stockport is set to welcome the return of Mercury Climbing Festival.
This week-long celebration of music, art and culture around parts of the Greater Manchester borough’s historic old town, and there are some exciting names on board already.
As for Mercury Climbing 2025 itself, the multi-day festival spread across several locations boasts the best in native and Northern music, visual arts, and comedy.
Popping up across a total of eight different spaces, including the likes of the brand-new Stockroom, pubs, and headline music venue St Mary’s Church – quietly one of the coolest places we’ve ever seen a gig – you have plenty of reason to be excited about this one.
Speaking of St Mary’s, while artists such as local legends Badly Drawn Boy, Manc indie outfit The Covasettes and Riding The Low – fronted by actor Paddy Considine – are set to play the stunning ceremonial space, The Rodeo is also hosting its own dedicated stage at the church.
Highlighting emerging new talent on Saturday, 20 September, Manchester-based solo indie project Better Joy is set to headline, with Denver County Council (who featured on our Manc artists of the month round-up), Henry Webb-Jenkins, Katie & the Bad Sign, plus more to be announced in support.
The last time we saw a ‘Live at St Mary’s’ event, we can’t stress this enough: it was nothing short of an unforgettable experience.
You don’t get to enjoy a ‘religious’ gig experiences like this often…
Taking place from Friday, 19-26 September, the festival as a whole will transform Stockport’s historic Old Town into a vibrant cultural hub.
And it isn’t just music: there are local food and drink traders getting involved, artwork from the one and only Stanley Chow, as well as plenty of other entertainment.
Above all else, the event is not only steeped in SK and Greater Manchester’s rich heritage, but it’s a great way of supporting new art coming out of the region.
The Rodeo’s St Mary’s stage gets underway from 4pm and is scheduled to finish at 10:30pm, but the wider Mercury Climbing programme is an all-day festival that won’t end until late. You can grab your tickets right HERE.
Royel Otis add second Manchester date due to massive demand
Danny Jones
Australian indie pop group Royel Otis have announced a second Manchester date ahead of their upcoming UK tour due to a huge demand for tickets.
The Aussie duo, who have blown up in the past couple of years with tracks like ‘Oysters In My Pocket’ and two viral covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Cranberries, are due to play a massive Manchester gig later this year.
Set to make their O2 Victoria Warehouse debut this winter, the ‘Sofa King’ singers saw their ticket allocation sell out quicker than you can say ‘Going Kokomo’.
As a result, there was only one thing for it:
Due to demand, @RoyelOtis have just added an extra date at Manchester @O2VicWarehouse in November! 🔥
For anyone still unaware of the rising alt-pop outfit led by frontman Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell (hence the name), they began breaking onto the scene around 2022 after having released a couple of tracks the year prior.
Although they quickly gained support back in their home country, their presence over here and indeed around the world was helped no end after their tripleJ take on ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ and stripped-back version of ‘Linger’ for SiriusXM hit the internet.
They even managed to land a feature on EA FC 24 – formerly known as FIFA – and we all know how getting on that soundtrack can transform careers.
Since then, their following has grown exponentially, and the rising double act has booked major festival slots such over the past 12 months or so, playing the likes of Kendal Calling, Glastonbury, as well as Reading and Leeds, just to name a few.
Regardless, fervent fans haven’t seen their clamour disappear, and now the band have announced an extra date at Victoria Warehouse.
Now set to play the venue on Friday AND Saturday, 28-29 November 2025, they will be supported by an opening act with a cool UK connection: Still Blank.
The transatlantic outfit is made up of Jordy is from Hawaii, and Ben, from right here in Manchester; the two come together to make what Stereogum has described as “sullen folk-grunge” – yet more reason for locals to be interested in the gig.
Once again, while the first gig has sold out, you can grab your tickets for Royel Otis’ second Manchester show HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
19th April 2022 
