The undisputed kings of pop-punk, blink-182, are back and they’re playing not one but two massive dates at Manchester’s AO Arena.
And when we say back, we mean properly this time: Tom DeLonge returning on guitar and vocals and everything. This is going to be so mint.
The American outfit — which was recently restored to its original lineup of DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker — announced their new record, One More Time… back in September, which is the band’s ninth studio album all-told and the first in 12 years since the trio last recorded together.
We think we speak for everyone when we say it’s going to be a big night at the Arena. Or two. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about blink-182‘s Manchester double-header this Sunday and Monday.
Are their tickets left for either of Blink 182’s nights at the AO Arena?
If you’re looking to grab a last-ditch ticket to see the Blink boys do their thing, you’re in luck: there are still plenty of tickets available for both nights on this occasion, however, this fortunate situation does come with a catch…
We’re not going to lie to you, these aren’t the cheapest gig tickets you’ll ever buy. In fact, it was a bit of a story when they were first released as some people were paying over the odds to secure theirs. The cheapest seats you’ll find start from £64.95, whereas standing tickets on the main floor and the inevitable pit will set you back upwards of £166. Crikey.
If money’s not an issue then happy days; should that be the case, you can even spring for one of the extremely premium ‘Beautiful North’ packages — these things are more expensive than the usual Electric Lounge VIP boxes and will set you back a whopping £380.75. Nope, not joking.
On the other hand, we would argue the one thing these ticket prices do have to their name is overall value for money when you look at the calibre of blink-182’s support acts on this tour.
Pop-punk and rock royalty demands only the best of warm-up acts and, in this case, the place will be literally scorching long before the main event gets underway.
Manc fans will get also to see contemporary favourites of the genre, The Story So Far, who recently released their first new music in half a decade.
These are two bands most people would happily pay a significant sum to see on their own, let alone together in a huge arena setting where they’re sure to be on top form.
Doors open at 6pm and The Story So Far will kick things off around 7:30pm. While we’re still not too sure how long their set is going to be, blink-182 are scheduled to take the stage at 8:45pm.
As for the California rockers themselves, they typically play 90-minute sets judging from what we’ve been hearing from other shows on this European tour so far, and AO will have an 11pm curfew as it does with most gigs.
Oh, and if you hear any word of an after-party somewhere in town, you best let us know!
What’s the setlist going to be?
When it comes to what the seasoned pros will be playing for their long-awaited reunion, there will of course be a sprinkling of the tracks from the new album but they know as well as we do that everyone wants to hear the hits.
Fortunately, Setlist.fm has come in handy as usual and according to their most recent shows, the lads will be playing a staggering 27 tracks in total including an encore, so you’re really getting the full spectrum no matter what night you pick.
Here’s the running order as far as we know:
Anthem Part Two
The Rock Show
Family Reunion
Man Overboard
Feeling This
Violence (where Travis plays blindfolded)
Up All Night
Reckless Abandon
Dumpweed
More Than You Know
Edging
Dance With Me
Aliens Exist
Happy Holidays, You Bastard (played twice, the second time at double-speed)
Stay Together for the Kids
Always
Down
Bored to Death
I Miss You
Adam’s Song
Ghost on the Dance Floor
What’s My Age Again?
First Date
All the Small Things
Dammit (they have brought out a special guest at this point in the past)
Encore:
One More Time (the title track off the new record)
blink-182’s new album, One More Time…, releases on October 20 and from the glimpses we’ve heard so far, Mark, Tom and Travis are really enjoying being back playing and making music together.
It goes without saying that we love seeing them in each other’s company again too and whether you’re lucky enough to be seeing them on Sunday, 15 October or starting off your week right with the gig on Monday, 16 October, we beg you scream ‘All The Small Things’ at the top of your lungs.
To find out more about all the other big gigs taking place in Manchester, check out our trusty October gig guide down below:
Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.
Danny Jones -
13th October 2023 
