Music

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Returning legends, their noisy heirs and centuries-old music made new.

Many of the heavier bands we cover in this guide (this updated included) operate in the lineage of industrial pioneers Cabaret Voltaire. 50 years after the Sheffield band first dreamed up their tape experiments and DIY electronics, founding members Chris Watson and Stephen Mallinder re-unite one last time at Albert Hall, to honour the late Richard H Kirk.

From the originators to their heirs. Described by Pitchfork as “a rage-forward bulldozer of poetic wordplay and experimental hardcore”, Brighton-based industrial band Ditz perform at The White Hotel for the first and last time this October, supported by Bathing Suits.

And some very old classical music is getting a contemporary rewiring this October. English Touring Opera’s two nights at Buxton Opera House include Gluck being reorchestrated with electronics by former Metalheadz producer Leo Grant. Meanwhile, Manchester Collective and griot percussionist Sidiki Dembélé set Playford and Purcell against West African folksong.

Our top picks

Cabaret Voltaire at Albert Hall

Cabaret Voltaire at Albert Hall, Manchester, 19 October 2026, From £35.00 - Book now

More than 50 years after Cabaret Voltaire’s first gig, this is your final chance to see the band that did it first, doing it one last time.

Pete Hill.
Pete Hill.

English Touring Opera at Buxton Opera House

English Touring Opera at Buxton Opera House, Sheffield, 23–24 October 2026, From £32 - Book now

Timeless stories of love and grief get a contemporary makeover as the nation’s leading touring opera company pay their annual visit to Buxton.

Courtesy of Buxton Opera House.

Ditz at The White Hotel

Ditz at The White Hotel, Salford, 15 October 2026, From £18.50 - Book now

Brighton’s Ditz bring industrial noise and thoughtful lyrics to The White Hotel for the first and last time, supported by Bathing Suits.

Ditz, courtesy of Grey Lantern.

Manchester Collective x Sidiki Dembélé: Constellations

Manchester Collective x Sidiki Dembélé: Constellations at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 9 October 2026, From £10.00 - Book now

West African folksong and storytelling meet British classical and folk music as percussionist Sidiki Dembélé joins Manchester Collective.

Nwando Ebizie and Sidiki Dembélé wear jewel-toned clothes against a midnight blue backdrop.
Mike Skelton / Manchester Collective

Auris Sound Art Festival

Auris Sound Art Festival at International Anthony Burgess Foundation (IABF), Manchester, 9–11 October 2026, From £12.50 - Book now

Manchester’s debut Sound Art Festival brings three days of installation, performance, spatial audio, talks, workshops, soundwalks and film screenings.

My New Band Believe at The Golden Lion

My New Band Believe at The Golden Lion, Todmorden, Todmorden, 21 October 2026, From £18.00 - Book now

Former black midi bassist Cameron Picton fronts a project that’s equal parts lush chamber pop and feral, goading chaos.

MNBB by Daisy Ayscough and Tomos Ayscough, courtesy of Qu Junktions

Madra Salach at New Century

Madra Salach at New Century, Manchester, 6 October 2026, From £21.00 - Book now

This Irish folk six-piece released a crushingly beautiful debut EP that gives little hint of their “feral, snarling” live show.

Matt Spratt.
Matt Spratt.

The Hallé 2026-27 Season

The Hallé 2026-27 Season at Manchester Cathedral, Manchester (and other venues), Until 30 January 2027, From £18 - Book now

New brand, new roles, new premieres. It’s all happening at the Hallé, and these six concerts are where it’s happening most.

Alex Burns.

International Concert Series at The Bridgewater Hall

International Concert Series at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Until 24 July 2027, From £8 - Book now

Nine centuries of music, one incredible local story, and a Wagner opera that the composer feared would drive people mad.

Tadaaki Otaka by ©Takashi Iijima.

More Music

Matt Spratt.
MusicManchester
Madra Salach at New Century

This Irish folk six-piece released a stark and often beautiful debut EP that gives little hint of their “feral, snarling” live show.

From £21.00
Music
Ditz at The White Hotel

Brighton’s Ditz bring industrial noise and thoughtful lyrics to The White Hotel for the first and last time, supported by Bathing Suits.

From £18.50
Pete Hill.
MusicCity Centre
Cabaret Voltaire at Albert Hall

More than 50 years after Cabaret Voltaire’s first gig, this is your final chance to see the band that did it first, doing it one last time.

From £35.00
Tokky Horror at Partisan by Jess Robinson.

Never Miss a Show.

Subscribe to our newsletter for curated arts and culture picks, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By subscribing, you confirm you have read and accept our privacy policy

Image by Jess Robinson.

Explore Music by city

  • Music Venues in Liverpool

    When it comes to music venues, there's more to Liverpool than the Cavern Club. Lots more. Here are our top spots in the city.

  • Music Venues in Leeds

    Boasting a strong musical heritage, Leeds has a wealth of music venues to match: from suburban social clubs and former textile mills to co-operatively run DIY spaces.

  • Photo of the Halle orchestra at Bridgewater
    Music Venues in Manchester

    Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.

  • Music Venues in Sheffield.
    Music Venues in Sheffield

    With a strong and diverse musical heritage, you'll find many music venues, appeasing different tastes, in the city of Sheffield.

Hotel Guides

  • Photo of the exterior of the Palace Hotel
    Hotels in Manchester

    To make life easy when it comes to booking your stay, here’s our guide to Manchester's best hotels.

  • The Nadler Hotel exterior
    Hotels in Liverpool

    There’s no shortage of hotels in Liverpool, but you don’t have to go far to find something a bit more stylish than a Travelodge. Here’s our guide.

  • Hotels in Leeds.
    Hotels in Leeds

    Leeds has plenty of new types of accommodation, from sleek, modern luxury to affordable art hostels and grand accommodation in green space.

  • Great Victoria Hotel
    Hotels in Bradford

    For a weekend break in a private apartment or an overnight stay in high luxury, we've rounded up the best places to stay in Bradford, Ilkley and Saltaire.

Recently covered restaurants

Salford
Restaurant
Black Friar

After two decades out of action, the historic Black Friar is back open and now serving high-end cuisine in stunning surroundings.

Blackburn
Restaurant
Northcote

Northcote’s Michelin-starred restaurant is the jewel in the crown of the Ribble Valley. We get a first look at the new autumnal menu.

Waterfront
Gallery
Royal Albert Dock

Liverpool’s Albert Dock is a reliably great day or night out, and here’s what’s on offer there over the Christmas weeks.

Cumbria
Restaurant
Pentonbridge Inn

Pentonbridge Inn is a Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms in north Cumbria. Eight courses of bunkum-free fine dining from head chef Chris Archer.

Manchester
Restaurant
Zouk

Manchester has more than one top-tier Indian restaurant, but Zouk is right up there with the best, and counts Drake as a fan.

Manchester
Restaurant
Dahlia Stereo

Dahlia Stereo is a Latin American-inspired open-fire kitchen and bar off the Northern Quarter’s Stevenson Square, with a pitch perfect soundsystem.

Spotlight on

Food and Drink in the North

Step into autumn safe in the knowledge that you have the North's very best mid-September guide to food and drink in Manchester and beyond.

Take me there