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Noel Gallagher is joining Jamie Carragher for a massive fundraising gig at Old Trafford cricket ground

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th August 2022

Noel Gallagher will perform a headline set at a huge fundraising gala at Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground next month.

The former Oasis star will be joining Jamie Carragher, Vernon Kay, Melanie C and more at the Football for Change event.

The inaugural fundraising gala took place last year in Liverpool and raised nearly £250,000, boosted by a lunch event with Sir Rod Stewart and Tom Grennan that raised a further £100,000.

It’s hoped that the huge cricket ground gig will raise even more money for the charitable initiative Football for Change, to help people affected by poverty.

Credit: Football for Change

The initiative has already sent more than 40 disadvantaged children to the USA on sporting and educational retreats, as well as distributing grants to organisations in the most deprived areas of the country.

Taking place on 22 September, the Football for Change gala will bring together performances from Spice Girl Mel C, Emeli Sande, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Vernon Kay will host, while Sky Sports presenter Jamie Carragher holds a high-profile Q&A with a sporting superstar.

A major auction will also be held, with prizes donated by Robbie Williams, Sir Rod Stewart, Manchester United, Manchester City and Formula 1.

Credit: Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Jamie Carragher said: “It is amazing to have Noel and his band supporting Football For Change by playing at our annual fundraising gala next month. He is a music icon and we’re all looking forward to it. 

“This event follows our launch in 2021 which was attended by our patron Sir Rod Stewart. It is going to be a great night.” 

Dan Hughes, founder of the leading PR firm ThisGeneration, who launched the Football For Change initiative said: “Securing Noel Gallagher is a massive coup. This is a major homecoming for one of the world’s biggest music stars and his support will help improve the life chances of disadvantaged young people in the North West.”

Football for Change was launched by Jamie Carragher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Conor Coady last year with leading PR firm ThisGeneration Communications. Sir Rod Stewart is the official patron. 

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A number of football stars including Jude Bellingham, Lionesses hero Beth Mead, Jack Harrison and Gary Neville are also involved.

Gary Lineker is an ambassador too, alongside Steven Gerrard and Brazilian international Lucas Moura. 

Football for Change aims to lift young people from disadvantaged backgrounds out of poverty with life-changing opportunities in education and employment. 

The fundraising gala is being backed by Swinton Insurance, DAM Health, Together Money and Watches of Switzerland. 

You can find out more about how to get involved at https://footballforchange.org.uk.

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Gorillaz announce huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK and Ireland tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Gorillaz announce huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK and Ireland tour

Gorillaz are well and truly back, and they’ve announced a huge Manchester gig on the upcoming The Mountain Tour.

The legendary band, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, will be performing at the Co-op Live arena next spring.

Gorillaz is a virtual band made up of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle.

The huge tour announcement comes along with the announcement of their new album, The Mountain, which features a whole myriad of collaborations including Johnny Marr, IDLES’ Joe Talbot and Dennis Hopper.

It’s their ninth studio album and promises to be a ‘playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence’.

The Gorillaz The Mountain Tour will visit arenas across the UK and Ireland next Spring, with support from Trueno, and follows the sold-out 5-star House of Kong exhibition and four triumphant performances at Copper Box Arena.

Manchester will get the new Gorillaz tour first, with the band kicking things off at Co-op Live on 21 March before heading to cities including Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, and Liverpool.

The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world.

The album will officially release on 20 March 2026.

General on sale begins at 11am on Friday 19 September HERE.

Gorillaz’ ‘The Mountain Tour’ dates in full

MARCH
21 – Co-op Live, Manchester
22 – BP Pulse Live, Birmingham
24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (support from Trueno)
25 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
27 – Utilitia Arena, Cardiff (support from Trueno)
28 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (support from Trueno)
29 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (support from Trueno)
31 – SSE Arena, Belfast

APRIL 
1 – 3Arena, Dublin (support from Trueno)

JUNE
20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (support from Sparks and Trueno)

Featured image: Press image

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The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year

Danny Jones Danny Jones CMAT Mercury Prize shortlist 2025 favourites

The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.

You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.

We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.

If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.

What is CMAT’s connection to Manchester?

She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.

Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.

From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.

Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…

We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.

There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize

It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.

Further reflecting on the second shortlisting, Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (ergo, ‘CMAT’) went on to explain: “I had a weird thing happen at the Mercury Prize 2024 when Annie Mac was announcing who the winner was.

“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.

“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”

She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | August 2025
You say CMAT was our headliner last month, and rightly so, Euro-Country is an absolute triumph.

Thompson joins the likes of resurgent Sheffield Britpop icons, Pulp, as well as Wolf Alice, FKA twigs and lots more talented acts on the list.

Not only are there plenty of Northerners on the list, but our friends over in Yorkshire have had another big year too.

Leeds jazz musician Emma-Jean Thackray has also been nominated, and with the story behind her most recent heartbreaking but brilliant material, it’s no surprise.

Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?

You can see the full list of nominees down below:

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Raph_PH (via Flickr)/Publicity picture

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