Madonna fans have been left disappointed by the price of gig tickets for her upcoming tour, with prices for general admission tickets topping £400.
The Queen of Pop announced this week that she was returning to the stage with her Celebration tour, a live show of her greatest hits.
Pre-sale tickets went on sale this morning and naturally, the online queues were massive.
Once fans made it through to the front of the queue, they were ‘in shock’ at how much the star is charging, saying it was enough to give them a ‘migraine’.
Tickets for Madonna’s only UK gig this year are priced up to £436.85, with the cheapest tickets currently in the O2 Priority pre-sale coming in at £143.85.
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Her show at the O2 in London is set to take place on 14 October, before she heads around 10 more European cities.
One person wrote: “Shame on @Madonna for her ridiculously expensive ticket prices. Another example of an artist who treats her lifelong fans like absolute garbage.”
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Uuuft I’m torn at Madonna tickets. I knew they’d be expensive and there’s always the possibility it’ll be her last big tour. But also this was the view the last time I saw her at The O2, it wasn’t a great experience, I felt quite disconnected. What’s a lifelong fan to do? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/RiiZJ7Ex3H
Another said: “I honestly thinks Madonna’s ticket prices are unjustified and downright disgusting. In these times too? Filler must of gone to her head.”
Similarly, someone wrote: “Looking at the price of Madonna tour tickets during a cost of living crisis and now I have a migraine.”
Someone else commented: “Madonna tickets. Level 4B – the cheapest option at £143.85, it’s up in the gods FYI.”
One person tweeted: “Madonna has lost the plot with these prices.”
Although a few people were celebrating after being able to bag one of the handful of £40 tickets, which are positioned right at the back of the huge venue.
Announcing the Celebration tour yesterday, Madonna said: “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for.”
The Celebration Tour will take audiences on a journey through the star’s phenomenal four-decade-long music career.
She’ll be joined on stage by Bob the Drag Queen a.k.a. Caldwell Tidicue across all dates.
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But despite all the public backlash, pre-sale tickets still sold out… so it doesn’t look like Madge will be bringing those prices down any time soon.
Featured image: Publicity picture
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James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Daisy Jackson -
18th January 2023 
