Event news and updates following Manchester Arena incident

Image: Gorilla Jack Kirwin -JK Photography

We were deeply saddened to wake up to the horrendous news about what unfurled in manchester last night. Many of us live or are from the city, and it's somewhere we've been heavily involved in throughout our 16 years as a business, making the shocking turn of events quite literally all the more closer to home.

Our thoughts remain with anyone directly involved in the tragedy, or who has lost loved ones and family members. There are a few options for people in this boat trying to come to terms with what happens, so if this does involve you please use the phone numbers or wesbites/hashtags above.

Please avoid Manchester city centre as emergency services still working at the scene of last night’s incident at Manchester Arena

— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017

There are a number of events that were scheduled to go ahead in the city tonight. We've been contacting the promoters involved to give an accurate and up to date status on whether they are still going ahead as well as any travel advice that directly relates to them. All information is below.

First and foremost there will be a candlelit vigil at 6pm tonight at Albert Square, confirmed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham via Twitter.

Of the events that are taking place tonight, this is what we know so far:

Broken Social Scene at Albert Hall ON

Homeshake at Gorilla ON

Brent Cobb at Deaf Institute ON 

Access to music Manchester: summer showcase at Band On The Wall OFF

Band On The Wall will also be closed on Wednesday 24th May, however events taking place from Friday onward will go ahead as planned. There will be increased security at the venue with no entry to non-ticket holders. If you wish to attend, you must obtain a valid ticket in advance. There will be no ‘on the door’ sales.

Blowout at 42nd Street Nightclub ON, donations will be taken on the door

Priests at Gullivers ON

White Hills at Soup Kitchen - ON

London Posse at Rebellion OFF

Simple Minds at Bridgewater Hall ON 

Take that at Echo Arena in Liverpool OFF

Take That have also postponed their shows at Manchester Arena on Thursday (25th), Friday (26th) and Saturday (27th).

The Courteeners have confirmed that their show at Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Saturday 27th May will take place.

Comedians John Bishop and Jason Manford have cancelled a charity gig set to take place on Saturday 27th May at the Lowry Theatre, it has been rearranged for Monday 16th October.

A string of festivals have also posted via social media, much like Parklife above, to confirm that they will be holding a social media blackout until Thursday, however the festivals themselves WILL take place. The likes of Liverpool Sound City, Download, Creamfields, Reading and Leeds and Latitude have also posted the same message. 

The BBC have also released the following statement ahead of the BBC Radio One Big Weekend, which is set to take place in Hull this weekend:

“Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those affected by the tragic events in Manchester,” a BBC Radio One spokesman said. “The health and safety of everyone involved in Big Weekend is now our primary focus and we are carrying out a full assessment, with the police and our partners, of every aspect of the festival.”

All of these events are subject to change, however thus far this is what we know. 

TRAVEL NEWS. Manchester Victoria Station and surrounding roads are closed while Metrolink posted on its website that no services will operate through Victoria Station, with services on the Bury and Rochdale via Oldham lines are operating a reduced route until further notice.

The firm said services on the Bury line will stop at Queens Road while those on the Rochdale via Oldham line will finish at Monsall.

For affected tram passengers, Metrolink said both Stagecoach and First bus services will be accepting Metrolink tickets.

And tram services that operate south of the city centre are also set to be affected, with the airport line stopping at Deansgate, the Eccles service running all day via MediaCityUK to Ashton, Altrincham running to the Etihad Campus or Piccadilly and East Didsbury service redirected to Piccadilly.

The following streets were closed off to traffic this morning in a two-mile radius around the arena: Miller Street, Shudehill, Whitworth Street, Trinity Way up to Chapel Street, along with a stretch of Rochdale Road.