Manchester

Michael Bublé at the AO Arena Manchester – stage times, setlist and tickets

Michael Buble is back in town this weekend. Here's everything you need to know.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th April 2023

Legendary singer Michael Bublé is heading to Manchester this weekend, for two massive gigs at the AO Arena.

The Canadian crooner is bringing his Higher Tour across the UK in spring, with massive arena shows booked in over the coming weeks.

With 11 studio albums to his name, Michael Bublé has been named by Billboard as the third top Canadian artist of all time, beaten only by Celine Dion and Shania Twain.

He’s pretty well-known for his Christmas albums, which routinely get wheeled out every December, and released his latest record Higher in March last year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Michael Buble’s AO Arena gig this weekend.

Are there still Michael Buble tickets?

Yes! There’s still quite good availability for both nights at the AO Arena.

The cheapest tickets are £64.95 each, which will see you popped up in the upper tier of the seating in the huge arena.

Then there are other tickets priced at £87.50, and at £109.95.

You can see the latest availability and book your tickets at Ticketmaster here.

When is Michael Bublé playing at the AO Arena Manchester?

Michael has added two Manchester dates to his UK tour, which also includes stops in Leeds, Newcastle and London.

He’ll be in Manchester at the AO Arena on both Friday 21 and Saturday 22 April.

Then he’s off on the road again, with a night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, two shows at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, one at P&J Live in Aberdeen, two nights at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, one gig in Cardiff, and two shows in Birmingham.

Michael Buble
Michael Bublé. Credit: Publicity picture / Evaan Kheraj

Who is supporting?

No one. He’s riding solo.

Okay, moving on…

What are the stage times?

The doors to the AO Arena will open at 6pm for both shows, on Friday and Saturday.

The show is expected to start at 7.30pm, but as always, this is subject to change.

Make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get in, clear security and find your seat.

Michael Bublé’s expected setlist

It’s hard to know exactly what songs Michael will play, although he will, of course, wheel out his big hit ‘Haven’t Met You Yet’.

It’ll be a night of gorgeous covers and big-band hits.

The below is the setlist he used when he opened the UK leg of his tour in London last month.

  • Feeling Good (Anthony Newley cover)
  • Haven’t Met You Yet
  • L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole cover)
  • Such a Night (Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters cover)
  • Sway (Dean Martin cover)
  • When You’re Smiling (Seger Ellis cover)
  • Home
  • Everything
  • Higher
  • Hold On
  • Smile (Charlie Chaplin cover)
  • I’ll Never Not Love You
  • Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley cover)
  • You’re the First, the Last, My Everything (Barry White cover)
  • It’s a Beautiful Day
  • Cry Me a River (Julie London cover)
  • Smile (Charlie Chaplin cover)
  • How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (Marvin Gaye cover)
  • Save the Last Dance for Me (The Drifters cover)
  • You Were Always on My Mind (Gwen McCrae cover)

About the AO Arena

The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.

For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.

All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.

Featured image: Publicity picture

Manchester

Sugababes announced as headliner for this year’s Homobloc queer block party

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Homobloc is returning for 2025 - full line-up announced

Homobloc has unveiled its line-up for this year’s massive queer block party, and they’ve roped in Sugababes as a headliner for 2025.

The phenomenal LGBTQ+ party, which takes over Depot Mayfield every year as part of the Warehouse Project season, will also see performances from Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, and Beth Ditto.

The huge line-up also includes Patrick Mason, Slayyyter, Peaches (DJ) b2b Erol Alkan, Hercules And Love Affair – Live, Todd Edwards and many more.

As well as music, there’ll be performance art from queer collectives like Pxssy Palace, Butch Revival, T4T, Feel It, Ghetto Fabulous, House of Spice x Zindagi, and Red Rodeo Club.

Taking place in December, Homobloc will be returning for its sixth edition, with its most diverse line-up yet.

Once again, it’ll be an all-evening-and-into-the-night party that’s all-inclusive to all artists, performers, spectators and clubbers.

Homobloc is one of the biggest dates in the calendar for Manchester, with a diverse line-up of live acts, DJs and performers, showcasing rising talent and queer icons alike.

It’s a party with purpose, too, raising £137,399 for vital LGBTQ+ charities since its inaugural event in 2021.

This year, the team have hosted a series of one-off events, including events with Romy, Princess Superstar, and closing Manchester International Festival, as well as making its Ibiza debut at Amnesia.

This winter, Homobloc will be lead by pop royalty Sugababes, fresh from their European tour.

Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025
Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025. Credit: Jody Hartley
Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025
Credit: Jody Hartley

Homobloc favourites Honey Dijon and The Blessed Madonna will be back once again, plus Berlin-based techno powerhouse and creative director Patrick Mason, the iconic Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters fame, and a rare DJ set from Gossip’s magnetic frontwoman, Beth Ditto.

The line-up also includes American singer Slayyyter, a special b2b DJ sets from electroclash icon Peaches and Erol Alkan, live performance from dance music project Hercules & Love Affair, and a set from Grammy Award-winning house legend Todd Edwards.

There will be DJ sets from Sally C b2b I.Jordan, Roi Perez, Eliza Rose, Joshua James, Fat Tony, Grace Sands, and Manchester’s Aiden Francis, Gina Breeze and Kim Lana.

It’s all taking places across all three main stages at Depot Mayfield, as well as The Plant Room, the Star & Garter pub next door, and the Loft up on the rooftop.

Rod Connolly, Promoter from Homobloc, commented: “We can’t wait for people to dive into our 2025 lineup of queer excellence, proudly merging global and local artists, returning friends, and scratching the underbelly of the scene to showcase the rawest talent from the queer underground.

Homobloc 2025 line-up annouced
Homobloc 2025 line-up announced. Credit: Jody Hartley

“In a time of rising division, events like Homobloc matter more than ever. We deserve a space for our community and allies to come together and hold each other up on a dancefloor full of love and resistance.

“We are the beings the bastards can’t grind down and we invite everyone to join us to shake off the bullshit, recharge, realign and carry our queer power back out onto the streets of Manchester.”

Sophie Bee, Homobloc Creative Director, added: “The team are super excited to be back. We’ve got some unreal collaborations booked in for this year, from Jodie Harsh and Clayton Wright’s London community strong, weekly club night Feel It to local hot talent Rojak.

“Loads of favourites are back like the Fvck Pigs, Sue Veneers, Ghetto Fabulous, Cute Cartel and Jay Jay Revlon, and there’s some really exciting b2b’s. We’re working with mind blowing producers such as Runway X Banksie and the nations favourite, Lill, producing a fabulous line up of queens.

“We’re also cooking away at some special happenings with Sam Buttery and Beau Azra. As always, we just want to blow your socks off and have the best time with all our pals.”

House Of Spice commented: “Homobloc is more than a festival to us – it’s a celebration of queerness, music, and chosen family.

“As a South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African queer brown collective, House of Spice is proud to bring our flavour to 2025, featuring Club Zindagi, Armana Khan, Shanika Sunrise, DJ Chafik, and our performers Lucky Roy Singh (Mother), Mixed Spice, Chilli Spice, Saffy Saffron Spice, and Rachel Pro-Filing.

“Together we’re excited to create a space that is unapologetically free, joyful, and rooted in community. Homobloc represents unity and visibility, and we can’t wait to dance, perform, and celebrate with everyone under one roof.”

This year’s Homobloc is set to take place on Saturday 6 December – grab your tickets HERE.

Pre-sale will be live on Thursday 11 September at 10am ahead of general sale from 10am on Friday 12 September.

Read more

Featured image: Supplied, Jody Hartley

Manchester

Manchester is getting a £2m highways maintenance ‘blitz’ to fix the roads ready for winter

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester is getting itself a £2m highways maintenance ‘blitz’ to fix up the roads across the region ready for winter.

Manchester City Council has confirmed that the maintenance work is due to take place throughout this month to ensure Manchester roads are ‘future-proofed’ for the next decade and more – and this will, crucially, include things like resurfacing.

It comes after the Council spoke to Mancs earlier this year, and residents declared that they wanted roads and pavements ‘up to standard’ and for them to stay that way, so as part of the Council’s commitment to this, a large-scale £2m resurfacing programme is set to run throughout September, with 53 roads due to be improved. 

Ahead of winter, and the inevitable wet and cold weather it brings – which is the cause of a large number of issues to the road network – these upcoming works are to put a protective barrier in place ahead of time to nip potential future issues in the bud.

The work being carried out will take place in two stages – first will be the surface dressing stage, before the sealing stage, also known as the ‘Kiely Lock’ process, finishes it off.

Manchester is getting a £2m highways maintenance ‘blitz’ to fix the roads ready for winter / Credit: MJ Richardson (via Geograph)

“We know that the cold and wet of winter puts additional stress on our roads, add in freezing temperatures and we have a recipe that can make short work of the road surface,” commented Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment, and Transport at Manchester City Council.

“This is why we’re mobilising now to ensure that we can protect as many roads as possible, which not only saves the taxpayer money in the long term, but also makes our journeys quicker and safer.

“Over the past year we have invested heavily in improvements to our highways network as we know from our residents’ feedback it’s one of the issues most important to them.

“We are confident that this programme of works will be a net positive for our residents and I’d like to thank them ahead of time for their patience as we futureproof our roads for the coming decade.”

Read more:

The planned improvements will start on Tuesday 16 September, and will continue though until Saturday 27 September, and some disruption is to be expected, so do plan ahead.

You can find the full list of roads being resurfaced here.

Featured Image – Manchester City Council

More Manchester

Man City and Premier League reach settlement over APT

Business

Manchester City issue statement as they reach agreement over ‘APT’ controversy

Art & Culture

Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more

Red Bank CGI plans redevelopment

Boroughs

The Manchester public are being invited to consult on ‘landmark’ development plans for Red Bank

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches