Since it was first announced, gig-lovers in Manchester and further afield have been looking forward to the opening of Co-op Live – the UK’s largest live entertainment arena.
This week, much-loved Bolton comedian Peter Kay was announced as the opening act when the doors to the 23,500-capacity venue open this spring, with tickets on sale today.
But Peter isn’t the only big name coming to the city with Gary Numan and The Wailers set to grace Manchester stages, along with a special BBC Radio 2 Piano Room Live for three nights at Manchester Opera House.
Read on for the full line-up and where to get your tickets – you’ll have to be quick!
Peter Kay – Co-op Live, Manchester
April 23, 2024
Legendary comedian Peter Kay will open Manchester’s state-of-the-art venue with his current record-breaking tour, when it first welcomes fans in April. The 23,500-seat arena is the largest in the UK and is set to offer an unparalleled fan experience that will set a new benchmark for large venues around the world.
Peter Kay will perform at Co-op Live on April 23 to kickstart a new chapter in the city’s revered cultural story, having delighted fans across the UK for well over two decades as one of most successful stand-up comedians of all time.
Tickets go on sale here at 10am today (February 23).
Gary Numan – O2 Ritz, Manchester
May 24, 2024
Gary Numan has announced a UK tour for this year, including a show at Manchester’s O2 Ritz on May 24.
The tour will celebrate 45 years since the Replicas and Pleasure Principle albums were released, and will kick off following Gary Numan’s Pleasure Principle set at Cruel World Festival in May.
Tickets are on sale here now.
The Wailers – O2 Ritz, Manchester
November 15, 2024
Embark on an unparalleled musical odyssey with The Wailers as they announce their 2024 UK tour, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley’s iconic album ‘Legend’. This year, the iconic reggae band celebrates not just the timeless appeal of ‘Legend’ but also continues to honor the rich legacy of Bob Marley through their music and performances.
Under the visionary leadership of Aston Barrett Jr., The Wailers are not merely preserving the classic sound that has defined them for decades, they are expanding it, introducing new layers and textures. The addition of Mitchell Brunings to the line-up, with his compelling voice and magnetic stage presence, brings a new vitality to the band, elevating their performances to new heights.
Tickets are available here from 10am today (February 23).
BBC Radio 2 Piano Room Live – Opera House, Manchester
September 12-14, 2024
BBC Radio 2’s beloved Piano Room is taking its magic on the road for the very first time in September 2024 at Manchester’s Opera House for three special nights.
Hosted by Vernon Kay, Piano Room Live – a showcase brought to you by SJM Concerts – follows the phenomenal success of BBC Radio 2’s month-long series, where pop’s most loved artists perform their best-known tracks alongside legendary covers, accompanied by the renowned BBC Concert Orchestra, at the iconic Maida Vale studios.
Piano Room Live will see a stellar line-up of artists including Jamie Cullum, David Gray and Katie Melua headline each night with a host of rising talents as they deliver unforgettable performances.
Tickets are on sale here now.
Fat White Family – New Century, Manchester
June 13, 2024
To celebrate the release of their forthcoming opus ‘Forgiveness Is Yours’ on April 26, exciting live band Fat White Family will be returning to their natural habitat for shows in the UK and Europe in May and June 2024.
‘Forgiveness Is Yours’ is the most sophisticated, vital and flamboyant creation of the band’s career. Like everything they’ve done, it has pushed them to the limits of not only their creative talent but of their health, sanity, and very existence.
Tickets are available here now.
Brittany Howard – Albert Hall, Manchester
July 6, 2024
Brittany Howard is heading to the UK this July, with a show at Manchester’s Albert Hall.
Throughout ‘What Now’, Brittany’s latest release, she brings her singular musicality to a shapeshifting sound encompassing everything from psychedelia and dance music to dream-pop and avant-jazz – a fitting backdrop for an album whose lyrics shift from unbridled outpouring to incisive yet radically idealistic commentary on the state of the human condition.
Tickets are available here now.
