A new year has begun, and January is often when we think about and make plans for the year ahead, whether that’s setting and checking off some goals or planning some memorable experiences with loved ones.
In regards to the latter, there’s lots to look forward to right here in Manchester this year with a slate of incredible live shows scheduled by well-known artists like Scissor Sisters, The Black Keys, Santana and Circa Waves, alongside fabulous dance parties courtesy of Clubland and Ibiza Classics.
Take a look below for the full details – including dates, venues, and where to get tickets – and kickstart your 2025 in the best way.
Scissor Sisters – Co-op Live, Manchester
May 21, 2025
The long-awaited reunion fans have been clamouring for is here: Scissor Sisters are back and readying their first live shows in over 12 years.
In 2024, the band marked the 20-year anniversary of their debut album ‘Scissor Sisters’ – one of the UK’s 40 best-sellers of all time. To celebrate the milestone, the era-defining pop disruptors – lead singer Jake Shears plus multi-instrumentalist Babydaddy and guitarist Del Marquis – will fill UK arenas this May with their signature mix of showmanship, songcraft, and galvanising queer energy.
The UK’s best-selling album in 2004, ‘Scissor Sisters’ sold over three million copies globally, with a staggering two million being just UK sales. Ranked as the 20th biggest-selling album of the 21st century in the UK and the 35th biggest-selling album of all time, it went nine times platinum and won three BRIT Awards in 2005, including ‘Best International Album’, ‘Best International Group’ and ‘Best International Breakthrough Act’, making Scissor Sisters the first act ever to win all three international categories.
The band is currently batting around setlist ideas but plans to perform every single track from their successful debut album on the upcoming tour. They will also cherry-pick highlights from their three subsequent albums, 2006’s ’Ta-Dah’, 2010’s ’Night Work’ and 2012’s ’Magic Hour’, which contain some of the band’s biggest hits and cherished fan favourites.
Tickets are on sale here.
Santana – Co-op Live, Manchester
June 19, 2025
Grammy award-winning, rock and roll hall of fame guitarist Carlos Santana will be hitting the road for additional dates of the ‘Oneness Tour’ this year. Santana will perform high-energy, passion-filled songs from their 50-year career, including fan favorites such as ‘Abraxas’, ‘Woodstock’ and’ Supernatural’.
Delivered with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar, the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world’s best-known musical signatures. For more than five decades – from Santana’s earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Francisco – Carlos has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural and geographical boundaries.
Most recently, ‘CARLOS’, the feature documentary directed by Rudy Valdez and produced by Imagine Documentaries and Sony Music Entertainment celebrating the music icon’s life and career, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and was released worldwide.
Tickets are available here.
The Black Keys – Castlefield Bowl, Manchester
July 9, 2025
Grammy award-winning rock duo The Black Keys will play a mix of large-scale outdoor headline shows and festival dates for their upcoming UK and European tour, with support from Miles Kane.
The Black Keys’ European dates come just a year after their last overseas shows, which Mojo praised as an “electrifying testament to the power of rock’n’roll,” and the Daily Telegraph described as “a thrilling clash of the indie rock titans.”
The upcoming dates will mark the band’s first visit to Europe since the release of their Grammy-nominated Ohio Players last year. Ohio Players (Trophy Edition) – an expanded version of that album – was nominated for ‘Best Rock Performance’ and ‘Best Rock Song’ for “Beautiful People (Stay High)”, bringing their career total to an impressive 18 nominations.
Tickets are on sale now here.
Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics – AO Arena, Manchester
December 6, 2025
DJ, broadcaster and global dance music legend Pete Tong will return with his critically acclaimed Ibiza Classics show featuring long-time collaborator Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra.
Ibiza Classics debuted in 2015 as part of BBC Radio 1’s Prom at London’s Royal Albert Hall, paying musical homage to Ibiza and its infectious, energetic brand of club music. Now celebrating the best of 10 years and its huge success, Ibiza Classics has firmly cemented itself as part of the live music calendar becoming the world’s most iconic orchestral electronic music event.
Having already captured the hearts of millions with sold-out dates across the UK, the new live show will include a host of special guest DJs and singers showcasing stunning reimagines of timeless classic house tracks.
Working on new music, Pete has recently released his highly anticipated new single ‘Release Me’ from The Ibiza Classics series, featuring vocals from Poppy Baskcomb with co-production from Paul Harris and orchestral arrangement by Jules Buckley.
Tickets are on sale here now.
Clubland – AO Arena, Manchester
May 10, 2025
Following the huge success of last year’s tour, Clubland is returning to UK arenas this year. In a spectacular three-hour action-packed show, attendees can relive all the classic tunes in a party atmosphere and enjoy the Clubland experience.
Clubland began as a series of compilation albums in 2002 and was the umbrella brand for an entire movement of commercial dance music spawning countless classic dance hits, with artists such as Cascada, Scooter, Bass Hunter and Ultrabeat, amongst many more – selling over 30 million albums in total.
See Cascada, Darren Styles, Ben Nicky, Basshunter, Ultrabeat, Billy Gilles ft Hannah Boleyn, Flip n Fill, Kelly LLorenna, and Karen Parry perform (on selected dates).
Tickets are available here.
Circa Waves + Peace + Corella – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
February 22, 2025
Liverpool’s indie powerhouses Circa Waves are back with their spectacular new album ‘Death & Love Pt.1’, due January 31, 2025, with the first track ‘We Made It’ out now.
Circa Waves will return to the road this February and March, embarking on their biggest UK headline tour yet, playing to their ever-expanding fanbase, plus special guests Peace and Corella.
Circa Waves was formed in Liverpool in May 2013 by Kieran Shudall. After writing a batch of songs and putting some demos online, he recruited second guitarist Joe Falconer, bassist Sam Rourke, and drummer Sian Plummer (replaced by Colin Jones in 2015).
The band first gained a buzz and earned favourable comparisons to the Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and the Vaccines before they hit the Top 10 with their debut, 2015’s ‘Young Chasers’. Buoyed by singles like ‘T-Shirt Weather’ and ‘Stuck in My Teeth’, the album reached the Top 10 of the UK albums chart and paved the way for a series of well-attended live shows, including a sold-out date at London’s O2.
Tickets are on sale here.
