Tunbridge Wells Forum to become “first venue in the country to introduce grassroots ticket levy”

Holly Willoughby shared a beautiful nine-word message to fellow ITV star Ant McPartlin, after he became a dad for the first time. On Tuesday, 14 May, Britain's Got Talent star Ant, took to Instagram to share a stunning black and white snap as he cradled his newborn son, Wilder, after his wife of three years, Anne-Marie, gave birth. In a sweet caption, Ant wrote: "Welcome to the family Wilder Patrick Mcpartlin.

Ant McPartlin has welcomed his first child into the world and disclosed his extraordinarily unique name.

Elbow have said they are “ready” to open the new Co-Op Live arena in Manchester tonight (May 14) following weeks of chaos at the venue.Guy Garvey and co. are scheduled to perform at the 23,500-capacity arena – which is the UK’s largest indoor venue – as part of their current UK headline tour.

NME as a government committe of UK MPs have joined the call for a levy on arena and stadium gigs – as well as a cut in VAT – to support struggling grassroots music venues and artists.Earlier this year, the Music Venue Trust delivered their full report into the state of the sector for 2023, showing the “disaster” facing live music with venues closing at a rate of around two per week.

Andy Burnham has said the opening of Co-op Live has ‘not been handled well’ after the 23,500-capacity venue suffered a nightmarish start to life.

Just days after hosting the first of six rescheduled gigs from Co-op Live, Manchester’s AO Arena has been named as one of the best music venues in the country.

The Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals kicked off in Malmö, Sweden and fans from Ireland have rejoiced as Bambie Thug has become the first Irish Eurovision Song Contest finalist since 2018.The Cork-born singer, 31, triumphed with their witchy and mesmerising execution of their alternative song Doomsday Blue. During their first Eurovision performance, Bambie’s male dancers also looked almost devil-like with blue paint, highly exaggerated ears and fake teeth. Halfway through the end of the song, they also revealed the trans flag on their costume ahead of fire appearing to be set off around the stage.

John Swinney must “make amends” to the Covid bereaved for deleting key WhatsApp messages if he is to become Scotland’s next first minister, the Liberal Democrats have said.

Sadiq Khan is set to make history by securing a third term as Mayor of London, with the Labour Party declaring victory. The incumbent mayor took an early lead in the first areas to declare results, and his party is confident that he will be re-elected.

“If they can’t control what they’re doing building-wise, how can they control security?” ask worried survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing this morning (May 3).

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie has announced that he will perform at the AO Arena on Saturday night (May 4) following the last-minute cancellation of his original gig at Co-op Live.

This time yesterday in the M.E.N office, we were settling in to cover what looked set to finally be opening night for Manchester’s Co-op Live.

stand-up performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24. Following a test event with Rick Astley, however, the comedian’s gigs were postponed until April 29 and 30 due to a failed power test.A Black Keys gig that was scheduled for April 27 later had to be pushed back to May 15, and the Kay dates were delayed for the second time.Last night (May 1), A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s concert was cancelled at the last minute because of a “venue-related technical issue” before it was confirmed that Olivia Rodrigo’s shows at the Co-Op Live this Friday and Saturday (May 3, 4) had been postponed.

Co-op Live's first full show was cancelled minutes before it was due to start after part of an air conditioning unit fell from the gantry inside the venue prior to the start of the gig.

Olivia Rodrigo fans say they have been left 'in tears' after her Co-op Live gigs were pulled just days before she was set to perform.

Thousands of A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Olivia Rodrigo fans have been left disappointed after both gigs were rescheduledtonight.

a performance by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie last minute due to a “venue-related technical issue”.The venue announced just 10 minutes after doors had opened that the show could no longer go ahead due to technical problems. “We kindly ask fans to leave the area.

BBC, Mark Davyd (CEO of the Music Venue Trust) said he was to meet with the Co-Op Live once the venue was up and running. The meeting comes amongst the furore with Co-Op Live’s executive director Gary Roden, who suggested some grassroots venues were “poorly run” whilst discussing the case for a £1 ticket levy to preserve them.Davyd later criticised Roden’s comments, pointing out the average age of the artists booked to play at the venue was 52: “The average length of time it takes for a British artist to be booked to headline the Coop Live Arena from the date of the release of their first album is 30 (THIRTY) years.

Alien Ant Farm have announced a joint headline tour with CKY, which will come with a £1 ticket levy to help support grassroots venues. Find ticket details below.The announcement of the upcoming 2024 shows comes on the heels of California nu-metal band sharing ‘~mAntras~’ last week – marking their first new album in nearly a decade.Set to kick off towards the beginning of November, the shows will see frontman Dryden Mitchell and co.

An SNP Minister has warned Kate Forbes would need Tory support to become the next First Minister.