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Richard Ashcroft announces six support acts for homecoming gigs at Wigan’s Robin Park

Cannot wait to be belting out 'Lucky Man' and 'They Don't Own Me' at the top of our lungs. (this article contains affiliate links)

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 27th March 2024

Manc music legend Richard Ashcroft has revealed a slate of very exciting support acts for his upcoming homecoming gigs at Robin Park in Wigan.

With an extra date being added on 21 July due to overwhelming demand after the Saturday show sold out in a flash back in December 2023, Ashcroft has now revealed a total of six different supports, promising three different artists per gig.

And we’re not just talking any old warm-up acts; the former Verve frontman has hand-picked an all Northern lineup as well as two local Wigan acts to show support for his hometown’s own music scene.

Joining him on the first night at Robin Park will be British indie rock veterans Cast, rising Liverpool stars Red Rum Club and fellow Wiganer Maxwell Varey.

Richard Ashcroft confirm Cast, Red Rum Club and Maxwell Varey as first wave of supports for Wigan homecoming gigs.

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with the Red Rum lads and have been listening to them since day one, so we’ll always sincerely reccommend them.

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As for Cast, they’ve been going since 1992 and have put out so many chill tunes down the years – ‘Walkaway’, ‘Alright’ and ‘Live The Dream’ just to name a few – so you can always rely on them to put in a solid set.

It’s also great to see the 52-year-old Britpop icon backing up and coming artists from his neck of the woods too and, we can’t lie, everything we’ve heard from Varey so far is sounding pretty good.

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Strolling into Sunday Bittersweet Symphony-style, Ashcroft‘s supports are just as good the following night as well, with The Zutons providing a real throwback vibe, The Royston Club being one of our favourite new acts (that debut album last year slaps) and Stanleys taking care of repping Wigan.

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The significance of Richard Ashcroft’s homecoming for the area cannot be overstated as not only will it be one of the biggest weekends of live music the borough has seen in years but it’s also the first time he’ll have played in Wigan since 1998.

Yep, it’s a big deal.

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While the Saturday might be well and truly sold out, there are still some general admission tickets left for Sunday, 21 July. You can grab yours HERE.

And for all the other big music news happening around Greater Manchester, make sure to keep your eyes peeled on The Manc Audio.

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

Featured Images — Modern Sky Records/Supplied/The Royston Club (via Instagram)

Audio

Blossoms at O2 Ritz Manchester – five-night hometown residency is already a triumph

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Blossoms at O2 Ritz Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

Blossoms are a band who were born and forged here in Greater Manchester, and now they’re back retracing their steps with a five-night residency across the venues that launched them into the big leagues.

Their star has risen all the way to arena level and headline shows at Wythenshawe Park at this point, especially here in their hometown, so the chance to see them back in these cosy-ish little venues is special, and a little bizarre.

For night two of their landmark sold-out gig series, it was the turn of the O2 Ritz, that sweaty spot off Oxford Road where the floor bounces downstairs and you stick to the carpets upstairs.

Poetically, the first time I ever saw Blossoms was in this very room in 2016, when they had the mid-afternoon slot at Neighbourhood festival and the queue to get in went all the way back to St Peter’s Square.

Since those days, Blossoms have come a long, long way, and their live show has evolved and matured from five lads thrashing on their instruments to this well-oiled, hip-swaying, flares-wearing, chart-topping machine.

There’s even choreography now – how fancy!

A stand-out moment from the show is actually a song from their new, fifth studio album Gary, which is still barely eight weeks old.

A spoof recording of legendary Manchester indie club 42s rings out, then all five band members abandon their stations, slinging keytars and marching drums around their necks so that they can dance together in front of neon signs.

Blossoms have just done their second of five shows in Manchester, this time at the O2 Ritz. Credit: The Manc Group
Blossoms have just done their second of five shows in Manchester, this time at the O2 Ritz. Credit: The Manc Group
Blossoms on stage at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Blossoms on stage at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

Blossoms promised more disco with this album and they bloody meant it. It’s not just the flares and the blow-dries and the moustaches (though those do help) – it’s in the funk and groove that’s gradually crept into their music exponentially with each album release.

This is still indie rock but it’s the most danceable of its genre. Good luck keeping your shoulders from wiggling and jiggling in here. Good luck keeping that grin off your face.

And Gary is one of the most unexpectedly fun albums to be released in the last year – the fact they called it Gary, named after a giant fibreglass garden centre Gorilla, should’ve been our clue. It could border on silly were it not such a masterpiece.

It seems like the only thing Blossoms are trying to prove is that you can be wildly successful without taking yourself too seriously. They just seem like a group who want to have a good time and it’s totally infectious.

Case in point – when each band member is introduced, keyboardist Myles Kellock plays the riff of Satisfaction by Benny Benassi and The Biz. Unexpected.

Blossoms also clearly give a sh*t about their live shows and graft at it – I’ve seen these guys an awful lot and it’s because their tour dates are plentiful and consistently worth the ticket price.

This is definitely the biggest era of their career so far, but have they peaked? Not even close.

There are still three nights left of the Blossoms residency. You can read all about it HERE.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Audio

The Warehouse Project reveals return to Rotterdam for second-ever overseas event

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Warehouse Project Rotterdam lineup 2025 tickets

The Warehouse Project has confirmed it will be returning to Rotterdam in 2025 for just its second-ever overseas event.

After debuting abroad in 2023 with an action-packed few days in the city of Rotterdam – whose art scene, music culture and even canal network bears lots of similarities to Manchester – Warehouse Project is coming back for more.

There’s just over a month left of the 2024 WHP calendar; you’d think they’d be getting ready to wind down and enjoy the Christmas breather, but not so: the organisers are already planning what is set to be one of their biggest and best long weekends to date.

Set to take place over the early May bank holiday, the Dutch port city will once again play host to one of Manchester’s legendary club nights.

The second biggest city in the Netherlands behind Amsterdam, the next edition of Warehouse’s international series is set to return to Rotterdam RDM – a warehouse space very reminiscent of both Depot Mayfield and their original home at Victoria Warehouse.

WHP x RDM II is already being billed as an “unforgettable weekend” and if any of this year’s mainline events here in Manchester are anything to go by, they’re bound to live up to that promise.

There’s also a full FAQ page for anyone looking to find out more information regarding Rotterdam, the venue itself, travel and more.

As well as revealing the dates (2-4 May 2025), the organisers have already teased a good chunk of the lineup, with the likes of Chris Stussy, Peach, Four Tet b2b with Sammy Virji, salute and many more already confirmed.

With a slew of incredible acts, multiple afterparties on boats and other local venues, as well as plenty of opportunity to see the rest of Holland’s ‘Manhattan on the Maas’, this is going to be SO good.

rotterdam boat party warehouse project
whp rotterdam lineup 2025
rdm rotterdam hosting the warehouse project second international event
Credit: The Manc Group/Press Images (supplied)

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We were lucky enough to have been sent to sample their inaugural Rotterdam date back in April of 2023 and, we have to say, it was an absolute blast.

Take it from us, if you’re considering being a part of this next event you won’t regret and we’ll be putting together an extensive guide to help you feel prepared for raving overseas. Registration for early access is already live, so sign up fast if you want to give yourself the best chance of being there.

Limited presale and accommodation packages will be available to those who have applied at 9am on Monday, 2 December (UK customers only). General admission tickets will go live from 9am n Tuesday, 3 December sale for UK and Dutch customers starts Tuesday 3rd December at 9am GMT/10am CET.

Rotterdam 2025 will be here before you know it, so take a boots-on-the-ground at what an international Warehouse Project date looks like down below:

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

Featured Images — Supplied/The Manc Group

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