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JLS reuniting for HUGE comeback tour with Manchester date
‘We’re talking to special guests who will come out at different shows so it’s going to be a unique experience every night for fans.’
Popular boy band JLS have announced they’ve reunited for a huge arena comeback tour — including a Manchester date.
After a long hiatus, JLS, consisting of Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, JB Gill and Ortise Williams, are planning on an epic arena tour where they will be performing their greatest hits, including number ones, Beat Again, Everybody in Love and The Club Is Alive.
In an exclusive interview to make the announcement, Marvin said: “There is going to be an element that audiences have never seen before from us. People know that I DJ and the fans have asked that I do some sort of DJing in the show.
“But that would mean the other three getting a rest, which I’m not up for. Aston is DJing now, so there will be a part of the show where Aston will be playing tunes and JB and Ortise will be hyping the crowd.
“We’re not just talking about JLS songs, we’ll be playing big records that represent the era that people know us from.”
Aston added: “You’ve seen flying cars from us and you’ve seen us come down from the ceiling.
“We’ve set trends by doing outlandish stuff on tour so I’m not sure what else we can do to shock people. But everyone’s always expecting greatness from a JLS show, which we will try and provide.”
The Everybody Say JLS: The Hits Tour will kick off first at Dublin’s 3Arena on October 20th, before taking in 15 arena shows ending at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on November 11th.
Ortise continued: “We just want to get out there and play the hits. It’s those nostalgic songs which remind people of all their experiences growing up. And now some of those fans have children and they want their children to experience what they experienced growing up in the JLS era.”
Marvin added: “We’re not ruling out new music, we just haven’t had the chance to get into the studio yet. If we manage to get some tracks down this year then it will be a big bonus.”
The lads are keen to get back to the gym, admitting that their decision to do a comeback tour has given them the motivation they need. Aston joked: “I need to get in some serious shape. Trust me, I’m trying to be out here looking like Michael B. Jordan.”
Many JLS fans were also eager to know if they could hope for some kind of comeback from The Saturdays — the band Marvin’s wife Rochelle was a member of. Asked if she would return to the stage just like him, Marvin said: “I honestly don’t know. She hung up the microphone a long time ago and she’s so busy with everything else she’s doing.”
He added: “The aim for us is to make the show different every night. We’re talking to special guests who will come out at different shows so it’s going to be a unique experience every night for fans.”
The band are heading to Manchester’s AO Arena on Thursday November 2nd, with tickets going on sale on March 3rd at 9am.
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Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester
Can’t wait for this!
Manchester Craft Beer Festival is back for another year, bringing with it more than 80 breweries and 500 different beers to sample.
The fourth edition of the festival will be taking place at Depot Mayfield on Friday July 5th and Saturday July 6th.
Cloudwater, Track, Marble, Northern Monk, Bundobust, Sureshot and Seven Brothers will be there to represent Manchester, alongside other UK stalwarts like Deya, Verdant, Siren and Leeds’ North Brewing Co.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Heritage breweries like Timothy Taylor’s, Chouffe and Timmermans will also be there, as well as international breweries from the US, Greece, Spain and Australia.
There will also be some great food options to line your stomach, including bao buns, crispy chicken and katsu tater tots at Bone Daddies, as well as Almost Famous, Bundobust, MorMor and Voodoo Rays.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Greg Wells, director of Manchester Craft Beer Festival, said: “It’s been a disheartening year for Manchester’s beer scene so far with closure of the beloved Indy Beer Con Fest and the unsuccessful debut of the International Brewing and Cider Festival, but we’re pleased to announce our return and bring more of what has been loved in the past three years.
“With even more breweries and experiences on offer and larger capacity this year, we’re buzzing to be back to satisfy all the beer lovers out there.
“The addition of a complimentary trade session to our programme is all about promoting this world class beer city and a small gesture to support all the incredible people who work across the drinks and hospitality industries.
“We all have a mutual understanding of the hardships our industries have faced in recent times so we thought it’d be a nice gesture to get everyone together for the love of drinks, food and music to celebrate beer and ourselves!”
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
The entry price includes all your drinks throughout your session, as well as festival glass and access to all the events happening.
And as it’s on during the Euros, it will be screening the football too.
Day tickets cost £57 per day session – with a discount for four tickets – or £145 for the whole weekend. Grab tickets HERE.
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New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester
Get this one in your diary!
A brand new makers market is coming to Manchester this late May Bank Holiday weekend, with something for everyone.
Taking place at New Jackson – a new urban neighbourhood located at the southern gateway to the city – Manchester Made Market will be held on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th.
Over the two days you’ll be able to browse a selection of local artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region.
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There’ll be everything, from food produce, homewares, crafts and creations to dog accessories, house plants, jewellery and homemade soap.
Among the traders will be Manchester and Cheshire-based florist and floral artists Dot & Flora, graphic artist Ablott MCR selling music prints, HGT with crochet fashion and homeware designs, and artisan candlemakers Leaves and Prickles.
Elsewhere, there will be essential oils and other treatments from Grounded Wellness, permanent jewellery from Sealed Links, and desserts from Cake With Heart.
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There will be plenty of street food options to keep you topped up while you shop, including The Wild Grill, Food Sorcery, Salvi’s and new favourite Medlock Canteen.
Neighbourhood Brew will be supplying some great drinks as well.
Supported by Renaker, the market is free, but you can upgrade your experience with a limited, free VIP ticket with access to the dedicated bar area.
What's On
Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne
It’s taking place later this month!
The legendary Manchester Flower Festival is returning to our city later this month, complete with pop-ups, installations and tributes to some local icons.
Taking place over the late May Bank Holiday, the event will be headlined by its ‘Floral Trail’.
This year’s theme is Manchester Icons, with a host of names past and present being honoured in flower form, including the late comedy legend Caroline Aherne, pop star Sarah Harding and suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Collaborating with Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow, floral designer Liv Woodward will create a portrait of Caroline Aherne at the Floral Marquee on New Cathedral Street, using sustainably sourced plants and flowers.
Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding will be remembered in a ‘tribute garden’, sponsored by the AO Arena, with visitors able to donate to the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal by scanning the QR code at the display.
The homage to Pankhurst has been created by female-led Decordia, featuring an ornate wooden Manchester Town Hall-inspired planter with sashes, posters and colourful icons, alongside a wicker figure of the suffragette herself.
This can be found at the corner of Cross Street and King Street, adorned with purple, green and white plants – the colours of the suffragette movement.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Other local legends will also be honoured with their own installations, including Happy Mondays vocalist Rowetta and iconic Manchester brewery Boddingtons .
Fringe events will be taking place too, at locations including Northern Quarter art shop Fred Aldous, The Bridgewater Hall, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and the National Trust’s Castlefield Viaduct.
Selfridges Exchange Square, El Gato Negro, Tast Catala, Franco Manca, Grand Pacific Manchester and Urban Playground will also be taking part, with alfresco dining, festival-related dishes and cocktails.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Now in its seventh year, the Flower Festival, which is put together by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, with live entertainment, workshops, and arts and crafts markets.
It all happens from May 24th to May 27th – head over to the website HERE to find more information.
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Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester
New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester
New apartment development with huge gardens and outdoor space opening this year
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne
