Featured image: Evangeline Causton
Local lad Harry Styles will take to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live for the city’s first-ever Brit Awards, before returning for his one-night-only show on March 6 to celebrate the arrival of his fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
When cryptic billboards bearing the words “WE BELONG TOGETHER” appeared across Manchester city centre at the start of the year, fans dared to ask the question: was Harry Styles about to finally step back into the spotlight?
Speculation intensified after the former One Direction star shared a reflective video titled ‘Forever, Forever‘, paying tribute to fans who attended his global Love on Tour between 2021 and 2023
The emotional clip prompted thousands of responses online, with one fan commenting that watching it felt “like seeing your ex after 3 years”.
Shortly afterwards, Styles confirmed on social media at the end of January that he would be heading back on tour. Supporters were quick to share their excitement, with one fan saying they were “shaking in my boots” following the announcement.
The Together Together tour will span more than 50 dates across seven cities worldwide. Styles will kick start the tour at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, before swiftly moving west through Europe and into the UK. The tour will then head overseas to North and South America, including a 30-night-residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden, before concluding in Sydney and Melbourne.
However, for many around Manchester – just a stones throw away from where the three-time Grammy and six-time BRIT winner grew up – disappointment set in when it was revealed that the only UK arena dates would take place at London’s Wembley Arena, where Styles is scheduled to perform a record-breaking 12 nights.
That frustration proved short-lived. The solo artist soon announced a One Night Only show at Manchester’s Co-op Live – a venue in which Styles holds a stake in – making the March 6 date feel like a true hometown show for the 32-year-old.
With tickets priced at £20, demand was high not just nationwide, but globally. Ticketmaster’s request system, introduced in 2022, was used for the Co-op Live date, allowing fans to place a deposit for the chance to secure tickets.
If you were one of the lucky ones, then on February 10, you would have received those two exciting notifications: the approved bank transaction and the ‘You’re In!’ email from Ticketmaster.
The atmosphere online was bittersweet, as fans grappled with both anticipation and disappointment. A flood of posts appeared on X from around 12pm on Tuesday, February 10, with reactions ranging from: “I GOT ONO TICKETS OH MY GOD??????????” to “Still not a single sign of ono tickets in my inbox.”
With March 6 just around the corner, fans are eagerly anticipating Styles’ return to Manchester. He has not performed in front of a home crowd since his 2022 Love on Tour dates, and expectations are high ahead of his appearance at the BRIT Awards on February 28, which is set to warm up things for the hometown show.
UK fans will be able to watch the BRITs ceremony live on ITV and ITVX, while international audiences can tune in via YouTube.
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