Speaker by Various Artists

Maybe Richey Edwards will appear on stage.

more likely to watch quietly from the back of the room one would think

The track we’ve recorded for Welsh Music Day is an instrumental called ‘See it like Sutherland’ – influenced by Cocteau Twins and Colourbox and it’s rather beautiful xx

Wow. I’m just a little bit excited about the concert (understatement), and this gem is something else to look forward to.

Must get that box set of singles too…

#fanboi

Like Charlie Bucket, I am dreaming of winning a golden ticket to the concert. Fingers crossed Rip it up

Or them coming to Christchurch and playing The Holy Bible in full, midst the rubble & crap.

I didn't know they had done a cover of The The, my other fave band. Cheers for that nugget of info.

The Manics were coming to NZ once before - for a Big Day Out.

You lucky lucky peeps who are going. Throw the lads a kiss from me.

I'm so looking forward to this gig - Manics are one of my bucket-list bands to see live. From what I can gather, we should expect a range of the hits from across the years, and although I'd love to see some of the less upbeat tracks from The Holy Bible and Journal For Plague Lovers live, I imagine they'll stick more to the sing-along anthems and singles. If they play at least "The Girl Who Wanted To Be God", "Motorcycle Emptiness", "Faster" and "Autumnsong" I can die happy! #fangrrl

I saw them at Knebworth/Oasis. They were OK, but it wasn't really a venue where you'd have the best ever Manics experience. I'd love to see them, just them, in a more modest environment, that's for sure.

I can imagine them doing the 'Your Love Alone is Not Enough" song at the Pallet Pavilion in Christchurch. Or anything there. During a market. With Ian D's stall of course. A rollicking, bollocking hoot it would be.

And then just to make things even more awesome, they're going to perform on Monday night's elimination show of the X Factor. Seriously. This is fairly awesome as it means all the Moorhouse and Gap5 fans will be confronted with an act that's quite unlike anything that's previously happened on the show (though Benny Tipene came closest when he did a Smiths song).

And then just to make things even more awesome, they're going to perform on Monday night's elimination show of the X Factor. Seriously.

For reals? I find this hard to imagine.

Hope they play this, but it won't quite have the John Cale vibe.

For reals? I find this hard to imagine.

Absolutely for reals! It's a completely weird booking, but it's sure to be interesting telly.

Will they play "if you tolerate this..." ?

Bizarro - I kinda hope they play "You Love Us" or "Little Baby Nothing" or "Yes"!

Absolutely for reals! It’s a completely weird booking, but it’s sure to be interesting telly.

I'm trying not to be, um, something, about this, but yes, the expressions on all the judges faces, with the possible exception of Ruby, will be 'priceless'.

'Yous are awesome'.

'We know. Who are you again?'

James, Nicky and Sean - you may not remember me from Pont and Oakdale schools but hoping for a chance to see you backstage in Auckland. Any passes would be welcomed - Carl Robinson

Absolutely for reals! It’s a completely weird booking, but it’s sure to be interesting telly.

Part of me died when I saw that

Will they play “if you tolerate this…” ?

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I bloody hope so!

In part because I remember standing in a queue at WINZ listening to that song over the radio. But only in part...

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I bloody hope so!

And while we're on the same subject matter...

Yep - the Manics have long been known as rugby fans; being Welsh helps. I was fortunate to see them in 1996 at the Crocodile Cafe, a small, but reputable music venue in Seattle. The Manics had been touring the US as support to Oasis after earlier playing with them at two massive 100,000+ gigs at Knebworth. However, when a dispute between the Gallagher brothers (not for the first or the last time) brought the tour to an early end, the Manics stayed on with a handful of pick-up gigs including this one in Seattle. It was my second time in the city - both times for work - and this time I'd arrived a day early, to have a look around, including a visit to the Sub Pop store, and to line up things to do in any spare time I had; one of those things was the Manics gig. I was in Seattle for an airline conference and after the last night's gala dinner, I convinced a number of Brits, Kiwis and a handful of Americans, to head along. Seeing the band up close in a venue the size of the Kings Arms, amidst a crowd of no more than 150, was tremendous - spine-tingling stuff. Most of the tracks came from Everything Must Go, plus their cover of Bacharach's 'Raindrops Keep Falling..' among others. For the Manics, who were otherwise unknown in the US, the highly excitable Brits and Kiwis jumping up and down in front of them and yelling their lyrics back at them, reportedly made the gig one of the highlights of their tour. It's one of my favourite gigs, ever.

I can only assume ticket sales have been poor and X Factor offers last minute marketing. Even then this doesn't sound like the Mannies. Perhaps they'll take the opportunity to denounce the evilness of the Cowell empire? Fingers crossed. Regardless, it'll be fun thinking of me mum watching them belt out say "Motown Junk". Saw them in Melbourne 3 years ago and they were brilliant. Best moment was the look on my wife's face when Nicky came on stage in best frock - she had no idea of his cross dressing tendencies. Now that will be a great look for X Factor.