Co-op Live: How the line-up is shaping up ahead of opening with Liam Gallagher but no Harry Styles

The music scene in Manchester is preparing to move up a gear, and the ambitious folk behind Co-op Live are counting down to opening. By the end of April, the new venue will be ready to welcome in music fans eager to watch a variety of artists. 

Over recent months, waves of artists have been announced to play at the new venue. Whilst aspects of the line-up are lacking in some areas of diversity, one that it has nailed is that of genres. 

A wide and expansive range of genres will be a part of Co-op Live’s opening year. At present, the first act pencilled in for the arena is A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. The rapper from New York will make his Co-op Live bow just two days before pop star Olivia Rodrigo- and this is just the start. 

The full line-up for Co-op Live now makes for interesting reading and for fans who like a bit of everything. Rap, pop, metal, rock and country are all set to be given a run out on the stage, with a heavy end to 2024 on the cards. 

This is as a result of firstly Sleep Token, the moody, melancholic outfit from London who have burst onto the scene, performing. Their show will be followed just weeks later in December by metal icons Slipknot. 

Some of the more up and coming names in world music are continuing their breakthrough at Co-op Live, to. American singer songwriter Noah Kahan has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent months, and his headline gig in Manchester will come just months after the release of his hit ‘Homesick’ with Sam Fender. 

A boost for Co-op Live was nailing down Liam Gallagher’s summer tour dates. An initial allocation of three shows expanded due to demand, and the iconic Mancunian singer will be bringing songs old and new to the brand new venue. 

Mixed in with all of the announcements is one that hasn't happened - but fans are desperate for. Harry Styles is involved with one of the organisers behind Co-op Live, with most social media posts about new acts having a comment underneath asking "where's Harry?". Styles playing a gig at the new arena would make sense, and in adding his reputation to the line-up, the opening Co-op Live season would get a further touch of class. 

The build up of the Co-op Live schedule has been slow and steady in places, and rapid in others. Music fans have had a while to wait for its opening, and the wait isn’t quite over just yet, but the variation in genres is there for us to see. Whether or not this continues to broaden will no doubt be revealed in the coming weeks and months.

Gigs announced for Co-op Live 

Several gigs have already been announced for the new arena for when it opens up this year. The list of these is below:

• Olivia Rodrigo- May 3 and 4 2024
• Keane- May 5 2024
• Elbow - May 14 2024
• Barry Manilow- May 19 2024
• Take That- May 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and June 11 and 12 2024
• Eric Clapton- May 18 2024
• Nicki Minaj- May 25 2024
• Eagles- May 31, June 1, 4, 7 and 8
• Pet Shop Boys- June 9 2024
• The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer- June 13 2024
• James - June 14 2024
• Liam Gallagher- June 15, 16, 27 and 28
• Jonas Brothers- June 17 2024
• The Killers- June 18-21, 22 2024
• Pearl Jam - June 25, 2024
• Niall Horan- August 27 2024
• Hits Radio Live- November 23 2024
• Sleep Token- November 26 2024
• Slipknot- December 17 2024
• Jeff Wayne's The War of the World's- April 6 2025
• Simply Red - September 27 2025
• Jason Manford- October 2025