Music in Manchester and the North

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Heading our way from Australia, America and Japan, some brilliant international acts grace Manchester stages this spring, alongside many a homegrown gem. From 70’s legends to noughties hip hop icons through to the leading lights of today’s post punk scene, let’s dig in…

First up, the original drummer of 70’s new wave band XTC, Terry Chambers releases some truly wonderful songs from their four-decade confinement as EXTC perform at Band on the Wall. Operating within XTC’s lineage, Aussie band Teenage Dads will be twisting together the sounds of new wave, synth pop and early 2000s NYC indie at The Deaf Institute.

A different flavour from Detroit icons Slum Village, authors of some of the most influential hip hop albums of the 2000’s. They’ll be performing old and new tracks at The Blues Kitchen in support of their first new album in eight years.

From Australia to America to Japan. Interlacing jazz, electronic, and classical music into a patchwork of contemporary math- and post-rock, Elephant Gym play in Manchester before one of the city’s best festivals comes into view. Manchester Psych Fest will see 60 live acts – including Baxter Dury, The Horrors, James Holden, Fat Dog and Heartworms – taking over seven city centre venues, plus a brand new outdoor stage…

Read about all this and a whole lot more below.

Our top picks

The Smile at The Apollo

The Smile at O2 Apollo, Manchester, 19 March 2024, from £58.10 - Book now

Radiohead side project The Smile – featuring the Oxford band’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood along with former Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner – perform in Manchester in support of their new album, Wall of Eyes.

The Smile, image courtesy of O2 Apollo Manchester

Everything Everything at New Century

Everything Everything at New Century, Manchester, 23 March 2024, from £34.79 - Book now

Finding the sweet spot between esoteric experimentation and art pop accessibility, Manchester’s own Everything Everything play two homecoming shows in support of their new album, Mountainhead.

Everything Everything by Steve Gullick.

Gaz Coombes at Band on the Wall

Gaz Coombes + Support at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 24 March 2024, from £25 - Book now

Gaz Coombes can write a song. This we know. But with his latest album, the former frontman of Supergrass has outdone anything he’s put to record in the last 20 years.

Image supplied by Band on the Wall

EXTC at Band on the Wall

EXTC at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 29 March 2024 - Book now

Soothing the loneliness of being a fan of a band who were elusive enough when they actually existed, never mind the fact they last graced a stage together a staggering 43 years ago, Terry Chambers celebrates the incredible music of EXC at Band on the Wall.

Image by Dommett Young, supplied by Band on the Wall.

Fair Play Festival 2024

Fair Play Festival at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 6 April 2024, from £15 - Book now

Following two sold out festivals in 2022 and 2023, Fair Play is back to take over the Northern Quarter with a day of live music in all its alternative forms.

Band on the Wall

Slum Village at The Blues Kitchen

Slum Village at The Blues Kitchen Manchester, Manchester, 15 April 2024, from £24.75 - Book now

Detroit icons Slum Village are taking over The Blues Kitchen this April, performing new music as well as tracks from their legendary 2000’s albums.

T3 and Young RJ
Slum Village

Bar Italia at Band on the Wall

bar italia at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 1 May 2024, from £15 - Book now

One of London’s most hyped bands of the moment, Bar Italia are playing Band on the Wall in support of their acclaimed 2023 album, The Twits.

Image supplied by Band on the Wall

Tourist at New Century

Tourist at New Century, Manchester, 25 May 2024, from £20.59 - Book now

After spending the past decade taking a solo journey through various electronic sonic landscapes, London-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Tourist has arrived at somewhere that feels like home.

Picture of the artist Tourist
Tourist

Teenage Dads at Deaf Institute

Teenage Dads at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 22 May 2024, from £15.00 - Book now

Twisting together the sounds of new wave, synth pop and early 2000s NYC indie, Melbourne-based band Teenage Dads are back with killer new tunes and a fresh wave of dates in the UK.

Teenage Dads
Charlie Hardy

Elephant Gym

Elephant Gym at Canvas Manchester, Manchester, 30 May 2024, from £17.75 - Book now

Interlacing jazz, electronic, and classical music into a patchwork of contemporary math- and post-rock, Taiwanese trio Elephant Gym are bringing their new album World to Manchester.

Picture of the three band members of Elephant Gym
Elephant Gym, image courtesy of Canvas.

New Order at Wythenshawe Park

New Order at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, 24 July 2024, from £61.60 - Book now

An all-day outdoor concert at Wythenshawe Park features a special homecoming show from New Order, plus performances by Manchester legend Johnny Marr and adopted Manc Róisin Murphy.

New Order, courtesy of We Are Indigo.

Pixies at The Piece Hall

Pixies at The Piece Hall, West Yorkshire, 21 August 2024, from £47.50 - Book now

Legendary Boston band Pixies are performing a one-off show at Halifax’s glorious Piece Hall this summer.

Pixies by Tom Oxley

Manchester Psych Fest 2024

Manchester Psych Fest at Albert Hall, Manchester, 31 August 2024, from £45.20 - Book now

Manchester Psych Fest, the UK’s trailblazing psychedelic music and arts festival has announced its second wave of artists for the 2024 edition, with more than 60 live acts taking over eight city centre venues, including a brand new outdoor stage.

Image supplied by Manchester Psych Fest.

Idles at The Apollo

Idles at O2 Apollo, Manchester, 6 December 2024, from £42.15 - Book now

Taking the power of love on the road, IDLES bring their latest album, TANGK, to The Apollo in December 2024.

Idles by Daniel Topete, image couresy of SONIC PR
Idles by Daniel Topete, image courtesy of Sonic PR.

More music events

MusicManchester
New Order at Wythenshawe Park

New Order play an all-day outdoor concert at Wythenshawe Park alongside Manchester’s own Johnny Marr and adopted Manc Róisin Murphy.

from £61.60
MusicManchester
Gaz Coombes at Band on the Wall

Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes performs live at Band on the Wall, following the release of his best album in 20 years, Turn The Car Around.

from £25
MusicHalifax
Pixies at The Piece Hall

Legendary American rock band Pixies are bringing their unmistakable and era-defining sound to The Piece Hall.

from £47.50
MusicManchester
Manchester Psych Fest 2024

Manchester Psych Fest, the UK’s trailblazing psychedelic music and arts festival has announced a massive bill for its 2024 edition.

from £45.20
T3 and Young RJ
MusicManchester
Slum Village at The Blues Kitchen

Detroit icons Slum Village are taking over The Blues Kitchen this April, performing new music as well as tracks from their legendary 2000’s albums.

from £24.75
Easter Holidays in Manchester and the North
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Music in Manchester and the North

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Now back open with a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

The Hepworth Wakefield
Wakefield
Gallery
The Hepworth Wakefield

Winner of the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, The Hepworth in Wakefield is easily one of the leading cultural highlights of the North.

Culture Guides