Barry Manilow has to book back-up venue after artists forced to cancel gigs at Manchester’s Co-Op Live arena due to ‘ongoing technical issues’

Barry Manilow has been forced to book a back-up venue over fears about the Co-Op Live arena.

Several artists, including Olivia Rodrigo and Take That, have had to move or cancel their gigs due to ‘ongoing technical issues’ at the country’s biggest indoor arena in Manchester.

Now Manilow, 80, has revealed he has also booked the AO Arena in the city in case the new venue is not ready for his show on May 19.

Co-Op Live said it will be taking ‘a short pause to events’ before opening from May 14, when Elbow are due to play.

A statement from Copacabana singer Manilow’s husband and manager Garry Kief said his team shared the ‘concerns’ of fans.

He added: ‘We promise that we will let you know as soon as we know if we have to move the concert from Co-op Live to AO Arena. Like you, we would love to have this resolved sooner than later.’ 

So far only a test event by Rick Astley has gone ahead at the Co-op Live.

On Wednesday, the £365million venue postponed its opening show with rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie when part of the ventilation system fell from the ceiling.

Tim Leiweke, chairman and chief executive of US-based venue operator Oak View Group, said: ‘It’s not been the smooth start we had planned for.’