Some of the biggest artists of the 90s will be coming together for a nostalgic night of music at the AO Arena Manchester.
The 90s Baby gig will bring together pop stars including Aqua, Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, the Cheeky Girls, Five and B*Witched.
The huge pop show this autumn will see more than 20 legendary artists perform in front of thousands at the AO Arena.
Europop legends Aqua will be performing their multi-platinum hit Barbie Girl, while Eiffel 65 will bring their 90s anthems like Blue (Da Ba Dee) and Move Your Body back to the live stage.
Eiffel 65 will perform at 90s Baby. Credit: Supplied
The soundtrack to an entire generation’s birthday parties, Macarena, will be on the bill with Los Del Rio joining the 90s Baby line-up.
ADVERTISEMENT
The sing-along vibes continue with Mambo No. 5 from Lou Bega, and Eurodance banger Freed From Desire from Gala.
Then it’s over to Heather Small, of M People fame, who fronted the Manc band when they won Best British Dance Act at the BRIT Awards in both 1994 and 1996.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lou Bega
Las Ketchup
Heather Small
Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton, two members of Atomic Kitten, will be back together to perform their hit singles such as Whole Again and The Tide Is High.
Irish girl group B*Witched, who were behind chart-toppers like C’est La Vie, Rollercoaster, and Blame It on the Weatherman, join the bill for the 90s Baby gig too.
2 Unlimited will perform their legendary acid-house track Get Ready For This, while Corona will be on stage with The Rhythm of the Night.
ADVERTISEMENT
Italian dance act Whigfield will get everyone dancing along to Saturday Night, as will global sensations Las Ketchup, with The Ketchup Song (Asereje), which sold more than seven million copies.
Big Brovaz are coming back to the stage. Credit: Supplied
One of the 90s biggest boy bands, Five, will be back together to sing Keep On Movin’ and Everyone Get Up.
20 years after they were brought together on reality TV show Popstars, Liberty X will hit the stage once again with their back catalogue of hit singles, like Just A Little and Got to Have Your Love.
Also on the bill at 90s Baby are British boyband Damage, who had success in the 1990s with singles like Forever – Lady of Soul and Ghetto Romance.
5ive
2 Unlimited
S Club All Stars
With more than 15 million record sales under their belts, 911 will be performing at the AO Arena, as will British girl group The 411.
ADVERTISEMENT
Big Brovaz, who sang Booty Luv, will deliver even more nostalgia, and there’s a real blast from the past with The X Factor’s Chico singing his debut single It’s Chico Time.
True noughties icon Gareth Gates, who won Pop Idol in 2002, will be back performing his tracks What My Heart Wants and Go Your Own Way.
Three members of the S Club empire (Bradley and Tina from S Club 7 and Stacey from S Club Juniors) have now formed S Club Allstars, to perform some of their most iconic tracks.
British R&B girl group Honeyz, whose singles include Finally Found and Won’t Take It Lying Down, join the packed 90s Baby line up.
ADVERTISEMENT
And finally, The Cheeky Girls will be performing their Cheeky Song live.
90s Baby will take over the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday 29 October.
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 29 April – you can sign up here.
Featured image: Supplied
Audio
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall Manchester – groovy, hazy and effortlessly cool
Clementine Hall
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the Albert Hall proved exactly why they’ve built such a cult following over the past decade.
Formed in 2010 by frontman Ruban Nielson, the band first broke through with their scrappy, lo-fi self-titled debut and since then, they’ve become known for their signature blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and warped pop.
I first saw the band back in 2023 at Glastonbury, and yes sorry I am one of those annoying people that bring it up all the time.
They’re the perfect band to close your eyes, sway your head and tap your foot to – and that’s exactly what the crowd were doing in unison last night at the Albert Hall.
Image: The Manc Group
From the second they stepped on stage, there was no rush – just that signature hazy groove met with enough stage lights to sink a ship.
You could barely see them on stage, but that made it even cooler. And you can only imagine how gorgeous the Albert Hall looked with hundreds of spotlights in different colours whizzing all over it.
Early tracks simmered and pulled us in before the band stretched out into crowd pleasers like ‘Multi-Love’ and ‘Hunnybee’. What an absolute tune by the way.
Image: The Manc Group
There wasn’t much crowd interaction but, again, there didn’t need to be. They let the music do the talking and by treating us to some of the most epic guitar solos we’ve ever heard (no, seriously), we’ll forgive them for not talking to us.
Each song melted into each other as the band oozed effortless charm and talent throughout the almost two hour set, which is no mean feat.
Of course, a sea of phones shot up for ‘So Good at Being in Trouble‘, their most popular track which prompted a harmonious audience singalong. Not very harmonious by me, admittedly.
It was a fantastic ending that left the audience feeling united by the laidback brilliance of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and I hope they don’t leave it too long to come back this time.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Daisy Jackson -
25th April 2022 
