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Manchester

Elevate North launches with inaugural event at Co-op Live in Manchester

by jummy84 November 28, 2025

written by jummy84

Joe Charlton, Lauren Mucklow, Becci Thomson, Keeley Rogers and Mike Linford

80 event professionals from across the North West attend launch meet up
Quarterly Elevate North gatherings to be hosted at Co-op Live
New ambassador team to connect and support event professionals across the region

Elevate, the world’s largest free personal development community for professionals at every level of the events industry, brought its mentoring community to Manchester last night (Wednesday 26th November) for the first ever Elevate North meet up at Co-op Live.

80 guests from agencies, venues and brands across the region came together in Co-op Live’s Hideaway event space for an evening of networking, learning and conversation.

The new Elevate North initiative is being led by a team of Elevate ambassadors based in Manchester and Liverpool: Becci Thomson from Co-op Live, Mike Linford from the Asembl Group, Joe Charlton from Planit, Keeley Rogers from Nexus and Lauren Mucklow from What She Said. Together they will curate a programme of quarterly meet ups designed to connect and support event professionals across the region.

Guests heard from keynote speaker Louisa O’Connor, founder and managing director of award-winning brand experience agency Seen Presents. In a talk exploring the power of brand experience and what best in class really looks like, Louisa, who hails from Halifax, shared practical insights on creativity, measurement and building experiences that genuinely move people.

Peter Kerwood, who helps lead Elevate in London with Max Fellows and Mel Noakes said:
“We are excited to launch Elevate North, a quarterly meet up in Manchester for our mentoring community and industry peers across the region. Manchester’s central location makes it the perfect place to come together. We have long planned to take Elevate outside London and we are delighted to get started.”

Becci Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Live and experienced Elevate mentor, added:
“I am proud that Co-op Live is hosting all Elevate North events here in Manchester. For ten years Elevate has been transforming lives and careers in the events industry and we are so excited to be part of its next chapter in the North. It is free, it is for anyone working in events at any level and it is all about changing the industry for the better.”

To find out more about Elevate North visit the Elevate website: https://www.elevateme.co/north

November 28, 2025 0 comments

Events

CHS Manchester Launches for 2026

by jummy84 November 4, 2025

written by jummy84

EXTERIOR SHOT OF THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS ARENA.

CHS are combining their Birmingham and Leeds events to create one super show in Manchester next year. The new launch will see visitors and exhibitors from both shows arrive in Manchester on the 30^th September, with CHS choosing the AO Arena as its new home.

The announcement follows a collaboration between Marketing Manchester, AO Arena, and the new CHS Manchester show. The partnership will capitalise on the growing profile of Manchester as a centre of events excellence, and a natural choice for the event to continue its growth following 5 years in Birmingham over 15 in Leeds.

The show’s organisers are promising the same warmth and personality that the brand has come to represent but now with the support of the city of Manchester, as it looks to build a festival feel in and around the new event. CHS Manchester is expecting to see both an expansion and continuation of the quality exhibitors that visitors travel to meet, as well as a warm and welcoming visitor experience.

“This is amazing news for us, our exhibitors, and our visitor community as we bid sad farewells to our friends in Birmingham and Leeds and look to create a ‘supershow’ in Manchester,” commented Emma King, Founder & CEO CHS Manchester. “The move is part of an ambitious growth strategy we have for our events, and Manchester is a city that has the vision to help us reach new and exciting levels. There has never been a better time to be in Manchester, and we can’t wait to bring everyone together next year.”

“It’s incredible news that CHS has chosen Manchester for their new supershow. The teams at Marketing Manchester and AO Arena have worked hard to understand what CHS needed to support the show’s ambitions and deliver the best ever showcase here in Manchester,” added Victoria Braddock, Managing Director at Marketing Manchester. “The result is a great example of our collaborative “Manchester approach” for how we bid for, and win, major events. It’s no secret that we have massively increased our capacity and experience of hosting major events and conferences in the city over recent years, and we can’t wait to welcome CHS to Manchester for what will be a fantastic event.”

“We are thrilled to have been chosen as the launch venue for the new Manchester Supershow,” commented Amy King, Head of Exhibitions & Live Events, Legends Global. “The recent £50million venue refurbishment means that we can now accommodate exhibitions, conferences, and awards dinners by utilising the accessible event floor concourse and premium event spaces. We are more than just a music venue and can’t wait to show the CHS delegates how easy it is to access the venue directly from Victoria train station or the Multistorey carpark connected to the venue.”

CHS Manchester will open at the AO Arena, 30^th September 2026, with a new theme and educational programme that will once again take on the big issues facing event planners in 2026. All delivered with the personality and professionalism synonymous with CHS events.

November 4, 2025 0 comments

Music

Watch Måneskin’s Victoria De Angelis join Duran Duran for ‘Psycho Killer’ at Halloween Manchester show

by jummy84 November 1, 2025

written by jummy84

Duran Duran brought out Måneskin‘s Victoria De Angelis for a rendition of ‘Psycho Killer’ at their Halloween show in Manchester – check out clips of the moment below.

READ MORE: Duran Duran: “We’d love to do Glastonbury – we just need the right slot”

Last night (October 31) marked the first time the ‘80s pop icons have held their annual Halloween show in the UK. The tradition began back in 2022 after the band played an exclusive one-off show at the Wynn Theatre in Las Vegas. Taking place on Halloween, the gig saw Simon Le Bon and co. break out huge hits and rarities with a darker theme than usual.

That gig would later become immortalised with the release of their 16th album ‘Danse Macabre’ – a record that pieced together new music, darkly reimagined versions of Duran Duran’s classic songs, and covers of Billie Eilish and Talking Heads.

Since then, the one-off Halloween shows have continued each year, with fans encouraged to come dressed in Halloween attire, as was the case at the Co-op Live venue in Manchester last night.

The gig saw them joined by bassist De Angelis, who dressed as an angel, for Talking Heads’ 1977 classic ‘Psycho Killer’, which follows her playing it on ‘Danse Macabre’ alongside former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor on guitar.

When they first teamed up for the cover, the band’s John Taylor said De Angelis was “probably the most important electric bassist out there right now”.

He continued: “I met a couple of the guys from Måneskin at a party and they said, ‘you’ve got to meet our bass player.’ She’s such a dynamo! I was like ‘what inspired you?’ and Vic said, ‘Tina Weymouth’. So when Psycho Killer made the cut for the album, I thought, ‘I’m gonna ask her if she’d like to have a bass-off!’”

De Angelis said being asked to feature on the album was “such a wild honour”, adding: “I met John at a party, and we immediately bonded talking about music and bass. I told him Tina Weymouth was my absolute pinnacle of cool, attitude and incredible musicianship all rolled into one, and he told me he also started playing bass inspired by her and she was one of his music idols.”

News of last night’s Halloween gig came shortly after Duran Duran had announced two huge shows in Ireland at the start of the year, which will be held in the next couple of weeks and see Nile Rodgers and Chic open. Afterwards, they will play two UK shows, one in Exeter and one in Chelmsford.

Around the time that the ‘Danse Macabre’ album was announced, the band spoke to NME about how they would love to play at Glastonbury – something they have surprisingly not yet done. “I’d love to [do it] – we just need to get the right slot, that’s all,” Le Bon said.

“We have had the chance to do it before, but it wasn’t playing the main stage and I think we’d like to be doing that for sure. I’m sure we’re in negotiations [with Glastonbury], and if not, we will be.”

As for De Angelis, last year, she announced a new solo project that saw her trade in her signature rock sound for DJ decks and something much more dance club ready with the release of debut track ‘GET UP BITCH! (Shake Ya Ass)’ – a high-energy dance song that fuses bouncy techno with baile funk and features Anitta.

Speaking about the collaboration, De Angelis told NME that her love of “baile funk and Brazilian Latin club music” offered “the perfect combination of all the sounds I like combined with hard techno”.

November 1, 2025 0 comments

Events

Pride is needed more than ever – examining the downfall of Manchester Pride

by jummy84 October 27, 2025

written by jummy84

Written by Joseph Charlton, Founder of Planit Events

Like so many of us, I’m devastated by the news about Manchester Pride closing its doors.

We’re all asking the same questions.
What really happened?
Why were certain decisions made?
And where did the money go?

I actually applied recently to be a trustee, because I noticed there didn’t appear to be an event professional on the board. Yet the charity’s biggest moment each year is a major event, one that means so much to Manchester’s culture, economy and community.

The last financial update, filed in September 2024 for the year ending December 2023, showed a deficit of nearly £500,000 (£467k to be exact).

Then in March this year, the charity announced a significant new event and venue for its 2025 return, a Mardi Gras-style Pride at Depot Mayfield.

A bold move for an organisation already in financial trouble.

In that position, the first move should’ve been spend control, not booking bigger artists or ramping up production.

It should’ve been about bringing the community in, understanding the landscape, and making the hard calls to steady the ship.

That’s where trustees should’ve stepped in.

Pride’s organisers have cited rising costs, falling ticket sales and an unsuccessful bid to host EuroPride as key factors, but honestly, it feels deeper than that.

If anything, this highlights how crucial transparency, governance and real event strategy are when you’re stewarding something built by a community.

It was evident this was lacking in how it’s been handled.

Events are so often a force for good. For connection, jobs and pride (literally).

We just need to run them better.

I guess one thing we can take as a silver lining, there is an audience a community who wants to support Pride, and we now have a chance to start again.

If it were me on reflection here’s how I’d have tackled it after getting under the problem:

1. Budget: Define the gap clearly what’s the threat, what can be reduced, and how do we soften the impact?

2. Crisis campaign: Rally the city. Build a community-led Save Manchester Pride movement, mobilise charity supporters, partners and local businesses.

3. Governance review: Reassess decision-makers and make internal structural changes if needed.

About Planit Events

Planit is a creative event agency based in Manchester, known for crafting experiences that are strategic, human-led and unforgettable. From internal communications to brand activations, Planit partners with clients to bring bold ideas to life through moments that matter.

October 27, 2025 0 comments

Music

Dave adds extra London and Manchester dates to 2026 UK ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’ arena tour

by jummy84 October 21, 2025

written by jummy84

Dave has added more dates in London and Manchester to his 2026 tour. Check out the details below.

Earlier this month the Brixton-born, Streatham-raised rapper shared details of a new tour kicking off in 2026. The run of arena dates come in celebration of his new album, ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’, and are set to kick off in Munich on February 2.

Now, due to huge demand, he had added more UK shows to the itinerary. These include extra dates at The O2 in London on March 10 and 11, and another show at the Co-op Live in Manchester on March 17.

These add onto the two previously announced shows at the London arena taking place on March 6 and 7, and to the already confirmed Manchester date on March 16.

Tickets for all dates, including newly shared shows, go on general sale at 9am local time on Thursday (October 23). Visit here to buy tickets and find an updated list of shows below.

Dave’s 2026 tour dates are:

FEBRUARY 2026
2 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
4 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
6 – Brussels, Belgium – ING Arena
8 – Dusseldorf, Germany – PSD Bank Dome
10 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
13 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
15 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
17 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena

MARCH 2026
2 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
4 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
6 – London, UK – The O2
7 – London, UK – The O2
10 – London, UK – The O2 [NEW]
11– London, UK – The O2 [NEW]
13 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
16 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
17 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live [NEW]

Dave announced details of his new album earlier this month (October 1), with the record set to arrive this Friday (October 24). You can pre-order it here.

It follows on from his back-to-back Number One albums, ‘Psychodrama’, which was released in 2019, and ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’, which came out in 2021.

The latter featured James Blake and Stormzy, and was given five stars in a review from NME.

Dave – CREDIT: Gabriel-Moses

“As illustrated throughout the stunning ‘Psychodrama’, Dave has always been the one to rap traditionally, using hip-hop for what it was intended to do: give a voice to the voiceless,” it read. “He has always been able to show the inner-workings of many young Londoners in a clean and universal way that can perhaps help the whole world to better understand the Black British experience, especially that of Black men.

“Always ready to tell the hard truths for those who can’t, Dave has proved again that he’s a voice of a generation, sitting pretty atop his peers when it comes to making unforgettable London rap classics.”

That record debuted at the top spot in the charts with over 74,000 chart sales – making it the highest opening week of 2021, and the chart’s biggest opening week since November 2019.

October 21, 2025 0 comments

Events

Stadium Experience Unites Industry Together at Etihad Stadium in Manchester

by jummy84 October 20, 2025

written by jummy84

Stadium Experience brought together leading industry figures and UK stadium venues for an inspiring full-day event at Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City FC. More than 100 representatives from stadia across the country gathered to network with peers, hear from top industry speakers, explore innovative supplier solutions, and enjoy exclusive tours of the Etihad Stadium. Following the success of the inaugural session at Edgbaston Stadium in March, this second event reaffirmed the industry’s appetite for collaboration and innovation across all areas of stadium operations.

The programme featured dedicated sessions tailored to key areas of the stadium business including; non-matchday events, hospitality and retail kiosks and public catering managers. The day began with a breakfast networking session, followed by presentations from an impressive lineup of industry speakers representing Boxbar Tech, Edge Venues, GoTo Events, Ivvy, Kappture and Venue Performance.

Delegates then enjoyed a networking lunch, a fun-filled ‘Cube’-style team challenge, and the opportunity to connect with leading suppliers showcasing the latest innovations for the events and retail sectors. Participating suppliers included; Beer Saver, Boxbar Tech, Bramble Foods, The Branded Items Group, Creventa, Diversified, Edge Venues, GoTo Events, Meadow Vale Foods, Multi-Flow Dispense Ltd, Options Great Hire, Racing Snake Media and Target Response.

As part of the event, the guests experienced the non-matchday event offerings at Etihad Stadium, with the meetings held in the most exclusive areas of the venue – The Tunnel Club and The Chairman’s Club. The day concluded with a full private tour of their retail spaces and the venues 15 unique event spaces. See a snap-shot of the day in our event video.

About Etihad Stadium

Etihad Stadium offers a versatile range of multi-functional event spaces, each featuring stunning views of the iconic pitch. The venue can accommodate up to 480 delegates, making it the ideal setting for everything from intimate board meetings to large-scale conferences and exhibitions.

Rebecca Pickard, Head of Local Partnerships and Venue Sales for Manchester City Football Club, commented: “Today was another wonderful gathering of sporting venues from across the UK, further re-enforcing our collaborative co-operation in sharing best practise to drive forward and innovate the non-matchday visitor experiences in our stadiums. It was an honour to host so many clubs at the Etihad Stadium, and a pleasure to show them around our unique conference and event spaces.”

Jackie Kavanagh, CEO at Edge Venues, gave an update on the latest agency trends. She said: “This event was just amazing with a real thirst for excellence fuelled by learnings and collaboration! as no event experience is successful without a whole team effort of suppliers, venues and event specialists. Our industry is changing as more event planners and delegates are looking for so much more than a classroom experience and no one is better to deliver this than our perfectly placed stadium community.”

Caroline Dawson, Director of International Sales at Ivvy, spoke about the Digital Remix and how to evolve hard and elevate fast. She added: “Another fantastic event by the Stadium Experience team. It was great to connect and discuss how venues can move beyond traditional boundaries, lean into the change and set themselves up for the future. Change isn’t the challenge – It’s an invitation to lead, innovate, and redefine what’s possible.”

Reshad Hossenally, Co-founder & CEO at Boxbar Tech, spoke about the latest automation developments. They commented: “This was our first time attending a Stadium Experience event, and it certainly won’t be the last! Automation is transforming how stadiums manage their bars, kiosks and general operations and I was honoured to be asked to present to the members on the latest developments. Events like this are invaluable for sharing ideas and innovations that help venues embrace technology in a practical way and it is always really motivating to see the industry coming together like this.”

Debbie Rigney, Director of Stadium Experience, added: “We would like to express a massive thank you to the team at Etihad Stadium for hosting our Stadium Experience Industry Meeting and to our industry speakers for providing their latest insights. It was invaluable to meet up with our colleagues face-to-face again to hear the very latest trends, learn about new opportunities available and explore another fabulous stadium venue, which has developed significantly in recent years. Following such positive feedback from our members, the event is now a firm fixture in the Stadium Experience calendar, with the next gathering planned for March at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.”

About Stadium Experience

Stadium Experience was established in 2002 for football venues, and evolved in 2013 to welcome rugby stadium venues too. In 2022, the association expanded further to include cricket venues for the very first time. Some examples of their activities include; sharing best practice and ideas with regular networking events each year, joint exhibition opportunities, meeting event buyers and key agencies as a consortium, regular newsletters and blogs, an annual recognitions awards celebration; The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards and much more.

October 20, 2025 0 comments

Lifestyle

Erling Haaland’s Shocking Connection To Kantara Chapter 1 At Manchester City FC Revealed | Glamsham.com

by jummy84 October 7, 2025

written by jummy84

Manchester City shocked supporters and movie fans in equal measure with a stunning new revelation: “A legend, still being written.” These emotive words paralleled a dramatic image of football icon Erling Haaland against the otherworldly background of Kantara: Chapter 1, fusing the sport and cinema universes in a surprising but exhilarating cross-over.

The photo, posted on Instagram, is of Haaland standing in the misty forests and tribal patterns of Kantara’s mythical realm. The haunting poster soon went viral, reflecting how the movie has transformed from a local hit to a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

Kantara: Chapter 1, the prequel to the blockbuster hit in 2022, was released worldwide on October 2, 2025, in 30+ countries and several languages. Its U.K. premiere was greeted with a standing ovation, with reviewers hailing its deeply ingrained folklore and global appeal. The 4th-century AD-set film delves into the sacred history of the land of Kantara, searching out myths, ancient wars, and intervention by the gods. It’s a story of fire, faith, and destiny—one that now appears to resonate far beyond Indian films.

Directed, written, and starring Rishab Shetty, the film also features Sapthami Gowda, Gulshan Devaiah, Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, PD Satish Chandra, and Prakash Thuminad. Arvind S. Kashyap’s cinematography and B. Ajaneesh Loknath’s music bring the world of Kantara alive again.

Also Read: Kantara Chapter 1: Rishab Shetty’s Iconic Dialogues That Will Give You Chills

Made by Vijay Kiragandur on Hombale Films, Kantara: Chapter 1 is not merely a box office success—it’s a cultural crossover. From football heroes such as Haaland to theater-goers on both sides of the world, the legend of Kantara is being remade as a contemporary epic with genuinely worldwide appeal.

October 7, 2025 0 comments