Sam Smith’s Gloria tour will finally arrive in Manchester this week, as the singer wraps up the UK leg of their huge tour.
Sam had to pull out of several other UK tour dates after being struck down by a virus.
But after a run of gigs across Europe, they’re back in British soil and ready for their AO Arena gig.
The ‘Unholy’ singer will be hitting the huge stage on Wednesday 24 May – bringing along the giant golden nude statue that they and their dancers perform on.
The Gloria tour is in support of Sam Smith‘s album of the same name, which was released earlier this year.
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Here’s everything you need to know ahead of their AO Arena Manchester gig.
Tickets for Sam Smith in Manchester
Tickets have been selling fast for Sam Smith’s Gloria tour, with just a handful left on sale.
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Seated tickets range between £35 and £80, with standing tickets priced at £60 – plus booking fees.
Sam will be supported by Cat Burns throughout the Gloria tour.
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This British, Brit Award-nominated singer-songwriter shot to fame with her 2020 single ‘Go’, which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart after trending on TikTok.
Sony Music has described Cat Burns as a mixture of ‘gospel and pop influences combined with guitar-led indie music’.
Stage times for Sam Smith at AO Arena
Based on recent shows, you can expect to see Cat Burns take to the stage at 8pm.
Then Sam should start performing from 9pm, with a venue curfew of 11pm.
As always, stage times are subject to change.
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Expected setlist
Stay With Me I’m Not the Only One Like I Can Too Good at Goodbyes To Die For Perfect Diamonds How Do You Sleep? Dancing With a Stranger (Sam Smith & Normani cover) I’m Kissing You (Des’ree cover) Lay Me Down Love Goes Gimme Lose You Promises (Calvin Harris & Sam Smith cover) I’m Not Here to Make Friends Latch (Disclosure cover) I Feel Love (Donna Summer cover) Gloria Human Nature (Madonna cover) Unholy
The venue
The AO Arena seating plan.
The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe. 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
Audio
HAIM announce huge UK arena tour with Manchester date
Daisy Jackson
Everyone’s favourite musical siblings are heading back on tour – and for once, I am not referring to Oasis.
HAIM have just dropped details of a huge UK arena tour later this year, which includes a gig right here in Manchester.
The rock trio of siblings will be playing six dates in support of their upcoming album I Quit.
HAIM will be performing at the biggest venue in Manchester, the Co-op Live arena, this October, alongside shows in Nottingham, London, Glasgow and more.
The Los Angeles sisters, Alana, Danielle and Este, haven’t performed here since 2022, when they played the much smaller O2 Victoria Warehouse.
HAIM are best known for hits like The Wire, If I Could Change Your Mind, and Falling, with three already-released chart-topping albums.
They announced their fourth studio album on stage last week at a set of surprise shows in LA, promising classic rock inspiration that’s been crafted for live performance.
It follows their 2020 release, Women in Music Pt. III, which earned them a Brit Award for International Group as well as two Grammy Award nominations.
Fans who pre-order the album will be able to access a pre-sale from 10am on Wednesday 30 April, ahead of general sale on 10am on Friday 2 May.
Featured image: Publicity picture, Terrence O’Connor
Audio
Sterephonics frontman Kelly Jones reveals that Noel Gallagher is back in the studio
Danny Jones
Stereophonics lead singer Kelly Jones has graciously revealed to music fans that new Gallagher tunes could be on the way, as he confirmed that Noel has been back in the studio and working on new material.
The big question is, has Liam been in there with him?…
Broken rather nonchalantly in an interview with NME, Jones didn’t so much let the news slip as much as he seemingly just casually dropped it into conversation, mentioning that he bumped into the older Gallagher brother recently.
As he puts it – frustratingly briefly, might we add (sorry, fanaticism will do that to you) – the Oasis icon and High Flying Birds frontman has been doing some songwriting, but the details were scarce.
The 50-year-old ‘Phonics frontman, who was discussing the release of their 13th studio album as well as his own solo project last year, was asked his thoughts on the legendary Britpop band’s upcoming reunion shows and the impact they had on his own career.
“Funnily enough, I found some old pictures of me and Noel rehearsing when he used to have a studio down in Windsor recently, just before we toured America”, said Jones. “We were having a laugh about them and I asked him what he’d been up to and he said he’d been doing some writing in the studio.
The unmistakable Welsh vocalist went on to add: “I’m assuming he’s doing some writing for either his stuff or if they’re [Oasis] gonna bring out a couple songs, I don’t know.”
It seems the pair are still more than friendly, though he gave little away about his relationship with Liam Gallagher; the two British rock groups did share somewhat of a rivalry in the 90s and 2000s, with Stereophonics making no secret of Oasis inspiring their own music.
Describing the band in their heyday, Jones described the period “kind of chaotic and mayhem but it was all very joyous”, insisting that things are very different nowadays but that he is not the less excited than a whole new generations of fans are going to be able to see them live for the first time
As for whether he and his bandmates will be able to find the time, he revealed in a subsequent chat live on Radio X that their own tour clashes may mean they’ll miss out on the Live ’25 tour experience.
Further reflecting on the age of streaming, content overload and what some would argue is an overabundance of media, Kelly said of art and music in particular that “people need it now more than they’ve needed it in a long time.”
We don’t know whether or not Noel’s return to songwriting is for the next High Flying Birds record or whether the rumours are true and new Oasis music really is on the way.
As much as we love his solo stuff, PLEASE let it be the latter.
We do know that the siblings are said to be getting on swimmingly so far and even spent some of the Easter break together, according to LG himself. Here’s hoping they were throwing around ideas for another instant hit.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd May 2023 
