Manchester urban landmarks and ‘local legend’ feature…

Manchester urban landmarks and ‘local legend’ feature in new Noel Gallagher music video

Noel Gallagher’s new single with his band High Flying Birds is set to land tomorrow, with the video boasting a host of urban Manchester landmarks. The new clip, for the single Council Skies, the title track of his forthcoming album, was filmed all around the city.

Despite the Gallagher brothers growing up in South Manchester, the video features shots of tower blocks and street views from around Monsall and Collyhurst. Among the buildings featured is also the soon-to-be levelled Eastford Square shopping centre.

News was received with relief by locals that the ‘eyesore’ was to be demolished earlier this month, but it’s now been curtailed due to a roost of bats which have taken up residence. Aside from the shopping centre, also briefly featured is The Queen’s Hotel in Monsall, which was shut down in 2021 after it was branded ‘a hub for criminals’.

A brief look at the Queen's Hotel (Supplied)

There are also extended scenes which were shot in New Century. The revived gig venue near Victoria, which reopened last year, was the former Co-op ballroom, and played host to seminal shows from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones.

It has since been given a huge makeover, with the ballroom’s original light-up ceiling - a main player in the video - and sprung dancefloor being completely restored, and is now one of the city’s hottest venues.

New Century's amazing light-up ceiling (Supplied)

The video, which has just premiered online, also features Mancunian musician, journalist and cultural commentator John Robb in the New Century scenes, filmed behind the venue’s tiled main room bar.

Council Skies, the single, is due out tomorrow, with the album of the same name following on June 2. It will feature the singles Pretty Boy, which boasts guitars from Smiths icon Johnny Marr, Easy Now and Dead To The World.

The band’s fourth studio album, it also features photography from Kevin Cummins, notably a shot of the band’s live equipment all stacked up on the spot where Manchester City ground Maine Road once stood.

The release of the album precedes a 26-date US tour, and a full tour of the UK, including a headline date - the first of its kind - in Wythenshawe Park on August 26. There will also be arena shows in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Glasgow and Liverpool in December.