One of the biggest rap, R&B and pop names on the planet rocks up to Manchester this week and we really ‘Stay’, never say his ‘Goodbyes’ and soak up all the ‘Congratulations’…
That’s right, Post Malone is coming to 0161 for not one but two nights on the trot and it’s going to be an absolute party.
It’s been a couple of years since Post Malone was last in the UK for a show, playing Reading Festival back in 2022, and it’s been four whole years since the New York-born rapper was last in Manchester.
Luckily, us Mancs get to make the most of this visit, with Posty set to play two massive shows at AO Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday (16-17 May). With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know.
Thankfully, if you’re looking to get in on the Twelve Carat Tour, there are still a fair few tickets left to see Post Malone in Manchester either night, with even more available on the second night (Wednesday).
Better still, they all range between various different locations and prices around the Arena too, with tickets in the lower seated section starting from just under £100 and VIP standing spots around his impressive stage area setting you back £126.50.
The cheapest seats up towards the back of the venue will cost you £76.55, but you best be quick if you want these before they get snapped up by someone else. You can always opt for the Champagne, Suite and Heineken Sky Lounge experiences if you really want to splash out.
Whatever level of flashy you want to go, you can grab yours HERE.
Post Malone’s supports for his Manchestergigs are two-fold: American rap duo Rae Sremmurd — one half of which, Swae Lee, combined with the 27-year-old on the hit track ‘Sunflower’ for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film — as well a guest appearance from another name that is yet to be confirmed.
Who it could be is a total mystery; as far as we can tell from the previous gigs on the UK leg of this tour, there has little been little info leaked about who else has got it on the action, but all we know is that an additional support act is set to be confirmed soon.
Who do you think it could be or, maybe the better question is who would you like to see?
Doors for Post Malone at the AO Arena will be open from 6pm, with the first support act (whoever they might be) taking the stage at 7.
After a swift half-hour set, Rae Sremmurd will take the stage at 8pm until 8:40; from then there’ll be a quick 20-minute interval for you to fill up on snacks and booze before Posty himself starts playing, with the gig set to run to 10:30pm.
Of course, you always have to make room for an encore and with so many bangers to his name, your guess is as good as ours as to what he’ll close the show with.
Chances of him doing a Manc cover or some kind? He does love that guitar of his…
Predicted setlist
Speaking of the music itself, judging by the tracks and the running order from his recent three-night run at London’s O2 Arena, this is what we are expecting when it comes to Post Malone’s setlist for Manchester AO Arena:
It’s set to be a brilliant double bill at Manchester’s iconic AO Arena and with tickets still left to grab, you still have a chance to see Post Malone do what he does best right on your doorstep: put on a brilliant performance with more genre’s in one night than you’ll get from virtually any other musician around.
From the clips we’ve seen of his world tour so far, this bloke is just enjoying himself, having an absolute party on stage every night and taking crowds along for the ride.
We hope to see a few of you there and if there are any other details you need, you can always check out the Arena’s info pack 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 -
15th May 2023 
