Music

Rick Astley to play free NHS concert at Manchester Arena: here's how to get tickets, who can apply and when it's happening


The singer will perform for thousands of frontline workers and their loved ones

Wednesday, 1st April 2020, 8:09 pm

Updated Wednesday, 1st April 2020, 8:10 pm
Rick Astley is to do a special performance for NHS workers (Photo: Getty)

Rick Astley is to hold a free concert for frontline workers later this year as a “flag in the ground” to give people hope that things will return to normal.

The singer-songwriter will perform at the Manchester Arena on 28 October for all NHS frontline staff, primary care and emergency services workers as a “thank you” to those working throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

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Astley told BBC Breakfast: “Everything they’re doing is absolutely incredible and someone like myself, you feel a bit helpless at times, you’re wondering what to do.

“So I guess that’s what I do, I sing for a living, so that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to have a bit of a party on 28 October.”

Giving back to NHS

Musician Rick Astley will do the concert for free (Photo: Getty)

He added: “People have to put some gigs on and give people a bit of something to look forward to and to know that we will be through this and when we are, we can go out again, socialise again and do fun things again.

“I think this one-off gig that we’re going to do is just a flag in the ground to say, yes we are going to get back to normal, and we will be out there doing fun stuff again and obviously thank the first responders and the people on the frontline, that’s why we wanted to do that for them.”

How can I get tickets?

Those keen to attend Astley’s free concert will need to bring their valid staff ID card as ticket checks will be in operation.

But some additional people will be allowed in, too.

NHS workers will be permitted to bring one guest as a plus one, who must enter the venue at the same time as them, according to the rules.

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Postponed tour

The Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker said that he was “gutted” to have to postpone his UK tour, which was meant to kick off on 3 April.

“We tried to postpone (the dates) as soon as possible to give people the chance to sort stuff out and rearrange their lives around it, but it’s difficult making that decision, it’s the last decision you want,” he said.

“I’ve only cancelled one gig in the whole of my life and that was because I had horrendous food poisoning.

“It doesn’t sit well with me to do it, but obviously these are very different circumstances and it’s nobody’s fault, it’s just the way it is, but it’s gutting for people.”



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