We’re all set to take a big trip down memory lane this weekend, when The Clone Roses and a whole host of Manchester tribute bands take to the stage at Heaton Park.
The momentous show, titled Heaton Park: The Resurrection, is in celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Clone Roses, who are the most successful The Stone Roses tribute band.
They’ll be joined on the stage at the outdoor gig by names like Oas-is, The Smiths Ltd, and Courtbetweeners.
It’s all taking place on Saturday 13 May, a decade after The Stone Roses’ 2012 reunion gigs at Heaton Park.
And while it’s mostly tribute acts harking back to the heyday of Manchester’s music scene, there will be a few actual familiar faces on the bill.
Bez from the Happy Mondays, and legendary DJ Clint Boon, will both be spinning tunes in the park.
Gav Scott (aka ‘Ian Brown’) says: “We’ve been wanting to do Heaton Park for ages but it’s such a popular and busy park. When the opportunity finally came, we couldn’t say no!
“Over the years, we’ve played the Blackpool Empress Ballroom, Spike Island, and now this… it feels like we’ve completed The Stone Roses cycle to a certain degree!”
Here’s everything you need to know for The Clone Roses in Heaton Park.
Tickets for The Clone Roses in Heaton Park
The Clone Roses. Credit: Manc Wanderer
Final release tickets are now on sale with just one day to go until the big day.
General admission is priced at £31.50 face value (or £34.65 including booking fee) and you can grab your tickets from Ticketline here.
Who’s on the line-up?
All the biggest names in Manchester’s 80s and 90s music scene… except not quite.
The tribute show will be showcasing the incredible music history of the city, from The Stone Roses to Courteeners to The Smiths, all performed by talented tribute bands.
That means audiences will be treated to sets from (here come the puns) The Clone Roses, Courtbetweeners, The James Experience, Happy Mondaze, Oas-is, and The Smiths Ltd.
Plus sets from actual Manc legends Bez and Clint Boon.
What are the stage times?
Stage times are always subject to change, but this is the expected running order for The Clone Roses at Heaton Park.
1pm – Gates open
1.50pm – Happy Mondaze
2.50pm – The James Experience
3.50pm – Courtbetweeners
5pm – The Smiths Ltd
6.05pm – Bez
7pm – Oas-is
8.15pm – The Clone Roses
About the venue
For The Clone Roses gig at Heaton Park, there’ll be a strict 18+ age limit in place.
Ticket-holders can only bring one small bag each, no bigger than A4 size.
There’s a list of prohibited items (including alcohol, fireworks, umbrellas and selfie sticks) which you should check before you go.
Security checks and searches will be in operation throughout the night.
Customers arriving on foot are advised to head for Gate 13 at Heaton Park, which is directly opposite the Heaton Park tram stop. Additional Metrolink services will be in operation to get gig-goers in and out of the area as quickly and safely as possible.
Other gates will be open for entry, but Gate 13 will be the only one used to exit at the end of the night.
If you’re getting dropped off by car, or driving yourself, you should use Gate 15 off St Margaret’s Road – follow the signs and instructions from staff on site.
There are still coach tickets available from several cities to Heaton Park, through Big Green Coach Co.
The nearest train station is Manchester Victoria, from which you can jump on a tram out to the gig site – but be aware of train strikes running on 13 May.
Featured image: Manc Wanderer
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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.
Daisy Jackson -
12th May 2023 
