Noel fronts historic Arena re-opening gig

BENEFIT Noel Gallagher NOEL Gallagher will headline the first concert at the Manchester Arena since the May blast. The benefit show will raise cash for a memorial to the 22 victims killed in the atrocity at the Ariana Grande concert. The We Are Manchester event will feature Noel’s High Flying Birds plus The Courteeners, Blossoms, Rick Astley and poet Tony Walsh.

James Allen, general boss of the Arena, said: “May’s events will never be forgotten, but they will not stop us from coming together to enjoy live music.”

Tickets for the September 9 gig, with profits for the Manchester Memorial Fund, go on sale today.

Noel’s Don’t Look Back In Anger song became the unofficial anthem of Manchester in the wake of the Arena attack. But brother Liam was “very disappointed” that Noel did not perform at the Ariana tribute concert at the Old Trafford cricket ground in June.

We Are Manchester tickets from www.eventim.co.uk and www. ticketmaster.co.uk.