The iconic Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are returning to Manchester early next year, and this time around, they’ll be bringing a high-energy glow party.
Fresh off the back of what has been a hugely-successful debut in the US, popular family entertainment tour Hot Wheels Monster Trucks is bringing its rip-roaring ‘Glow Party’ experience right across Europe, and fans of all ages are being told to prepare to be “dazzled” as the huge trucks roll into AO Arena on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2023.
The all-new “thrilling” experience is set to give audiences the chance to watch their favourite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks like Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Boneshaker, Bigfoot, and the all-new Gunkster light up the floor.
They’ll all take part in a series of “outrageous” competitions and battles.
The new event is also set to feature spectacular laser light shows, exhilarating dance parties, performances from Freestyle Motocross, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways too, as well as a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot MEGASAURUS.
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NEW: @Hot_Wheels Monster Trucks Live are taking their HUGE rip-roaring trucks to London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow next year for their immersive Glow Party! 🔥
An exciting Crash Zone Pre-Show Party will be held before every performance, giving fans access to the competition floor to not only see just how big the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are, but also the chance to grab an autograph from their favourite drivers and performers.
“We are thrilled to be embarking on our third UK tour of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live,” explained Tim McWilliams – Senior Vice President of Touring and International Music at Live Nation.
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“As the world’s largest live-entertainment company, we are part of many incredible shows, but Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live provides a new dimension in family entertainment that never fails to impress.
“We can’t wait for these shows so we can all join the Glow Party.”
The iconic Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are returning to Manchester with a high-energy glow party early next year / Credit: Sarah Rhodes (via Hot Wheels)
Ahead of the event’s arrival next year, Ken Hudgens – CEO of Family Entertainment Live – added: “With the success of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party thus far, we’re excited to continue the amazing experience into 2023 internationally.”
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Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Glow Party is stopping off at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2023, with tickets set to go on sale at 10am this Friday 9 September and each ticket including an autograph card, a souvenir pass, and lanyard exclusive to Crash Zone attendees.
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
Yard Act announce handful of new headline shows ahead of 6Music gig in Manchester
Clementine Hall
Yard Act are back as they announce first round of UK headline dates since 2024, including a show right here in Manchester – but not before their BBC 6Music Festival gig later this week.
We are so, SO back.
It’s been a few years, but Yard Act have just announced a limited run of domestic shows for later in the year including their homecoming gig at the O2 Academy in Leeds on Friday, 6 November.
But after playing over in Yorkshire, the lads will be performing shows at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on the following Friday (13 Nov).
Yard Act completed the touring for their critically acclaimed second album, Where’s My Utopia?, with a victory lap back home at the 5000 capacity Millennium Square in Leeds in August ’24.
It was a record that brought a stark change of pace to the acerbic, post-punk of their debut, embracing something altogether more playful and bringing a different energy.
It shifted the dynamic on stage too, with the addition of dancing backing singers and additional musicians and openly challenged listeners to reconsider who they thought Yard Act were.
Since then, the band have been keeping busy writing and recording their third studio LP, as well as heading out across the UK and Europe with The Hives – oh, and that intimate one-off show at Blackpool Tower last May.
Following a lengthy stint in the studio, the band now look to this coming autumn for three big UK dates and we cannot wait. We spoke to them a little while back and know how much big stuff they’ve got further pipeline; you can see the interview HERE.
Booking just three headline slots, the handful of tour dates are as follows:
06 Nov – Leeds
13 Nov – Manchester
26 Nov – London
Tickets go on artist presale from 10am on Wednesday, 25 March before hitting general sale at 10am on Friday, 27 March. Sign up to grab yours right HERE.
As for those wanting to find out more about this year’s 6Music Fest, you find the full lineup and more down below.
Emily Sergeant -
6th September 2022 
