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A huge Mad Friday party with £2.50 drinks and FREE entry is happening in Manchester

Who's ready for the BIG night out? (Contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 15th December 2022

The liveliest night of the year is almost upon us, with thousands set to take to the streets for one giant night out for so-called ‘Mad Friday’.

Traditionally celebrated on the last Friday before Christmas (but a bit early this year), it’s one last chance for a massive knees-up and a big session with your mates before retreating into more wholesome festive activities.

And this year, Manchester will have an almighty Mad Friday party to look forward to at a huge new venue.

Love Factory, which has taken over an old warehouse near Victoria station, will be offering free entry and a belting happy hour deal as it hosts ‘a Christmas session to end all Christmas sessions’.

There will be the option to buy a £5 ticket, which will include a glass of prosecco or beer and will also provide a quality meal for someone experiencing homelessness this Christmas, thanks to Eat Well MCR – a no-brainer of a deal.

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Love Factory Manchester. Credit: Jody Hartley

As well as a £2.50 happy hour on pints and prosecco (and shots for a quid) there’ll be karaoke suites and live festive funk from Ceeow, with familiar winter anthems reworked. They’re promising ‘Christmas songs without cheese’.

There’ll also be DJs spinning tunes all night, and those who want ‘a little silliness with their seasonal soirees’ can retreat into karaoke booths that can be booked for groups between 10 and 30 people.

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The venue’s food traders will be on hand, including the renowned Ate Days A Week with a pulled turkey, sausage stuffing and pig-in-blanket pie.

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Love Factory’s Mad Friday Xmas Party will be in two sessions, between 5pm and 8pm and then again between 8pm and 11pm, hosted by Mrs Claus.

Tickets are free, but you can also choose the Eat Well MCR £5 ticket and provide a quality meal for someone experiencing homelessness.

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Tickets for Love Factory’s Mad Friday Xmas Party are available from Skiddle here.

Featured image: Supplied

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IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena

Danny Jones Danny Jones Joe Talbot 10 Songs That Made Me podcast interview Manchester AO Arena tickets

Cult favourite frontman Joe Talbot of IDLES fame is set to for an eye-opening sit-down interview as part of AO Arena’s ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series.

The lead singer of the politically-charged post-punk band will be joining the in-conversation event opposite BBC 6 Music host and popular radio host, full stop, Chris Hawkins.

Having often drifted into hardcore, art rock and even spoken word at times, Joe Talbot and co. have become known for the cutting lyricism and insightful songwriting in general, so we can only assume that diving into his own musical influences will be just as riveting.

Joining his fellow audophile on stage at the city’s legendary live music and entertainment venue this November, Talbot and Hawkins will be running through the tracks that quite literally helped create the musician we know today.

According to the AO, the arena will host an in-depth chat with the provocative 41-year-old artist as he walks Chris Hawkins through “the most important musical chapters of his life, his stunning musical journey from resident DJ at one of Bristol’s hottest clubs, through to headlining Glastonbury festival.”

It is quite the career he’s had when you break it down.

They go on to promise “raw honesty and trademark wit” as Joe reflects on the record, acts and cultural moments that shaped him as a young performer before breaking onto the scene with IDLES.

As for the ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series itself, it may be what it says on the tin, but most interestingly, being in the crowd and hearing it from each different group/individual changes the experience entirely.

“More than a story of success—it’s a journey of resilience, passion, and community”, they go on to add. “Expect an evening of candid conversation, unexpected anecdotes, and deep dives into the music that has not only defined Joe’s career but also resonated with millions around the world.

If you’re fans of the band or Talbot, in particular, you’ll already know they’re great orators; plus, if you caught even a small clip from his own fledgling Oh Gatekeeper podcast, you’ll know he loves nothing more than diving deep into tunes that shape not just the audio landscape but people at their core.

Just casually getting the lead singer of The Strokes on for in the first season, as you do…

On a personal note, we’ve watched the IDLES x Grammy Museum interview on multiple ocassions at this point, and know how much artistry there is behind everything they do.

The same goes for Talbot, specifically – there’s no doubt about that.

If you’re interested in being part of the audience for Joe Talbot’s in conversation event with Chris Hawkins as part of ’10 Songs That Made Me’, tickets for the date at AO Arena on Tuesday, 25 November are live now, and you can grab yours via Skiddle right HERE.

Last but not least, special mention goes to the interviewing expert himself, whose recent chat with Tim Burgess about The Charlatans getting back into the studio is also well worth a listen.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)

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Miles Kane announces massive European tour, with multiple big Northern gigs

Danny Jones Danny Jones Miles Kane Manchester gig Albert Hall tickets 2026

Miles Kane has just announced a massive UK and European tour and has listed a healthy number of Northern dates for us to enjoy.

TOP la’.

The Merseyside musician recently released his latest album, Sunlight In The Shadows, and it’s gone down a treat with fans a critics alike; you can consider our Audio North firmly in the camp, too.

His sixth studio LP to date, the record was produced by the prolific Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, and sees psychedelia rolled into classic rock and more, with plenty of the usual Miles Kane swagger that we’re looking forward to hearing live.

At 39 years old – and looking incredible for it, by the way – we constantly have to remind ourselves that the Birkenhead hero is no longer the unsung underdog that we first fell in love with, but is now arguably one of the coolest and iconic artists to come out of the North West in the past decades or so.

Confirming a dozen domestic dates, including one supporting Kasabian at Finnsbury Park in London next summer, Kane is due to play a total of 37 gigs across Britain and mainland Europe in 2026.

That being said, with a pair of sensational shows scheduled for Sheffield‘s Crookes Social Club alone (a cult favourite 500-cap venue), we’re hoping even more gigs will be added as we expect the demand for this tour to be just a huge as the run itself.

Note there is currently no Liverpool on the list…

More cause for excitement is the fact that, as well as East Yorkshire singer-songwriter Fiona-Lee joining as the tour opener, the other main support act is Villanelle, fronted by Liam Gallagher’s son Gene.

Other chosen cities up in the best end of the country include Newcastle, Leeds, Glasgow and, of course, us lot here in Manchester.

Mancs will be treated to what we guarantee will be a sell-out show at the beloved Albert Hall on Saturday, 31st January.

There’s nothing like a tour announcement for next year when most of the gigs are slated for the first few months, don’t you think? Suddenly, the early but dark days of 2026 don’t sound so bad.

Speaking on the new material, he said: “All roads, over 20 years, have led here. Dan and I love mixing T. Rex, Motown and The Easybeats, and the result is this record.”

“When we were chatting and sharing references, we were so similar in taste it was frightening and you can hear that shared passion through the music. I can’t wait to take it out on the road. It’s an album that needs to be played live.”

We actually had the pleasure of chatting to Miles ahead of the upcoming UK and EU tour ourselves recently, and if you already thought the Kane clothing style was the peak of chic, you’re absolutely right – keep your eyes out for when the full interview drops soon.

As for tickets to see Miles Kane on the road, fans can sign up to his mailing list by 11pm GMT this Tuesday, 28 October, for exclusive pre-sale access, which will open from 10am the following day, and you can get ready to grab general admission when they go live at the same time on Friday, 31 Oct HERE.

Happy Halloween!

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Press shots (supplied)/The Manc Group

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