Opening act confirmed for UK’s new and largest arena at Co-op Live in Manchester

Manchester United will have to patch up their injury-hit squad for the Premier League showdown with Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon (12.30pm). Marcus Rashford is among those who will need to be checked up on after being hampered by a knock during the club's 3-1 defeat against Manchester City.

Chappell Roan has announced a 2024 UK and European tour.The former NME cover star is currently on the road with Olivia Rodrigo, serving as one of the opening acts on the ‘Brutal’ singer’s ‘Guts’ world tour. While on the road, Roan has announced a handful of live dates within the UK and Europe taking place this Autumn.Her string of gigs will kick off at the Le Bataclan in Paris on September 3.

Liam Gallagher has hailed Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden as 'God' after his stunning performance for the Blues against Manchester United.

Mayor Andy Burnham has called for an 'urgent meeting' as residents in and around Bury have been left to endure a 'sickening' landfill stench.

Liam Gallagher and John Squire.The former Oasis frontman is a well-known City fan, while the former Stone Roses guitarist supports United, and despite their album being released just two days ago (March 1), they find themselves duking it out in the city’s metro system today.As confirmed by the Bee Network, which runs the city’s buses and trams, Gallagher and Squire have been taking control of the tannoys on public transport throughout the day as fans of their respective teams made their way to the match.A post shared by Bee Network (@beenetworkgm)Trams passing through Manchester city centre stops and on the Ashton line had the chance to hear the two musicians forcibly voicing their support for their respective teams.The Premier League match, which kicked off at 3:30pm, sees City, who started the day 15 points ahead of United, looking to close the gap on Liverpool in the race for the title, while United are looking to close in on a Champions League qualification spot.#ManchesterDerby

Liam Gallagher is a busy, busy man. He has a new album out on Friday after teaming up with his childhood hero, the Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, that will be followed by a UK tour that sold out in an impressive 30 seconds amid fan excitement about this extraordinary Manc musical union.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Following its world premiere in the competition section of the Berlin Film Festival, Beta Cinema has revealed first sales across Europe and to Australia and New Zealand for Andreas Dresen’s “From Hilde, With Love.” The drama about anti-Nazi activists in Berlin, which is led by “Babylon Berlin’s” Liv Lisa Fries and introduces Johannes Hegemann in his first big screen appearance, will be released in France by Haut et Court, in Italy by Teodora and throughout Scandinavia by Angel Films. Beta Cinema also closed deals for Benelux (September Film), Portugal (Outsider), former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Hungary (Cirko) and Czech Republic (Film Europe). Palace Film picked up the film for Australia and New Zealand.

The 23,500-capacity arena is scheduled to open its doors on Tuesday, April 23 when Peter Kay will play the first of two consecutive stand-up dates there.Liam Gallagher, Take That, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Keane are among the acts who have been announced to perform at Co-Op Live in the coming months. It’ll also stage the 2024 MTV European Music Awards later this year.The new venue, which is the UK’s largest indoor arena, is located opposite Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, and features a “unique bowl design” that will bring fans “closer to the artist than at other arenas of equivalent size”, according to a spokesperson.Recently, Co-Op Live and the existing, 21-000 capacity AO Arena in the city came to blows in a licensing row.

Spring is well and truly on the way - and for music-lovers across the region, it signifies much more than just a change of season, but also an abundance of live shows on the horizon to look forward to and enjoy.

Muse, Stormzy, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa.“The MTV EMAs is one of the biggest global music celebrations, bringing together local and international artists to create iconic performances for fans around the world,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount, and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “With music at the very heart of Manchester’s rich creative heritage, this vibrant city – with the state-of-the-art Co-op Live – will guarantee a supercharged 2024 show.”Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, added: “As a city that is known the world over for our legendary music scene, MTV could not have picked a better place for this year’s EMAs.“With the expertise, experience and reputation we also have for delivering successful, world-class events, we’re confident Manchester will provide a superb platform for the best MTV EMAs yet, and look forward to welcoming MTV and the global music community to our city for what is set to be an epic celebration of music and artists.

UK Music, which is the collective voice of the UK music industry, has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut VAT in the spring Budget to throw the sector a “vital lifeline” and save venues that are threatened by closure.Tom Kiehl, UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive, has asked Hunt to use his Budget next Wednesday (March 6) to lower the current 20 per cent VAT rate on tickets to 10 per cent as a “boost for consumers, music professionals and venues”.The request to slash VAT is among the recommendations that UK Music has made to the Government in its Budget submission, which outlines the support the sector needs to grow (read it in full here).Currently, music fans in the UK must pay 20 per cent VAT on their tickets – almost double the EU average (10.3 per cent) and around triple the rate in countries like Belgium (six per cent) and Germany (seven per cent). ‌ The 20 per cent rate is the third highest rate of cultural ticketing in Europe. Gig-goers pay more tax on UK tickets than anywhere else in Europe, except Denmark and Lithuania.The calls come amid growing concerns for the future of grassroots venues.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief New Zealand-set detective Series “A Remarkable Place to Die” is being launched by Banijay Rights at the London Screenings. The 4 x 90’ murder mystery was created by Screentime New Zealand and is co-produced with Real Film Berlin (Berlin, Berlin,” Netflix’s “Unorthodox”) in association with Banijay Rights. Smart and savvy detective Anais Mallory (portrayed by Chelsie Preston-Crayford) returns to her hometown, Queenstown, in South Island, New Zealand and is met with a series of startlingly different homicides.

Emiliano De Pablos U.K.-based distributor DCD Rights has pre-sold the fourth season of New Zealand’s mystery drama “My Life Is Murder” to a raft of territories ahead of its Feb. 27 official launch at the London Screenings. Starring Lucy Lawless (“Top of the Lake,” “Spartacus,” “Xena: Warrior Princess”), the series’ brand new season rights have been secured by YLE Finland, TV2 Denmark, Quebecor Content Canada and Yes DBS Israel.

Stephen Merchant, known for his comedic brilliance and towering height, has become a household name both on and off screen. With a reported net worth of £26.6 million, he's cemented his status as the UK's richest comedian, surpassing industry heavyweights like Peter Kay and Ricky Gervais.

A. G. Cook, the producer and founder of P.C.

The pop legend Justin Timberlake has been announced as one of the artists that will take to the stage at the Co-op Live arena after it opens its doors this April.

Roman Kempmay be leaving the Capital Breakfast Show, but the radio presenter is taking on a huge TV gig with The Brit Awards 2024.The radio DJ will be hosting alongside Love Island ’s Maya Jama and BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo. However, Roman has admitted that he was so thrilled to be asked to host, he burst into tears when given the offer. "When they told me, I cried,” Roman said.

Liam Gallagher has got the rumour mill in overdrive as he teased a fan on social media that he could be making an appearance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Olivia Rodrigo is celebrating her 21st birthday! The singer and musician celebrated the milestone alongside her closest friends, including fellow musicians and actors like Tate McRae, Iris Apatow, Conan Gray, the Kid Laroi, and more. Jenna Ortega and Olivia Rodrigo Disney days: Remembering their featuring song ‘Legendary’Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge confirm relationship with a passionate kissA post shared by Olivia Rodrigo (@oliviarodrigo)Rodrigo shared a post showing her celebrating the occasion in a black dress with a plunging neckline. She accesorized the look with some jewelry, red lipstick, and with her hair pinned up.

John Squire has explained why The Stone Roses never made a new album during their 2011 reunion tour.It has now been 30 years since the Manchester legends released a record, with their last full-length project ‘Second Coming’ dropping in 1994. Although the band reunited briefly for a 2011 tour, and released two singles in 2016 before their split in 2019, they never made any new albums – and now, guitarist Squire has said why.In an interview with The Guitarist (via Music News), Squire said that “no one wanted to do it – so it turned out to not be that frustrating at all.”Squire went on to say that had the group recorded a third album, his guitar playing would be “more measured and respectful”.