Johnny James

The RNCM unleashes a season of daring stories, fearless players and performances ranging from jazz and opera to film scores and full-blown orchestral spectacle.

Add some extra glitter to your Manchester Pride celebrations with Glitterbox, Pride’s official Saturday night afterparty at Albert Hall. Life’s stresses can be left at the door at this bank holiday blow-out to end all blow-outs.

After achieving great things with his jazz-funk band Yussef Kamaal, drummer Yussef Dayes is now embarking on a solo project. Watch him play live at YES this September.

Revelling in the success of their latest album Beyondless, intelligent punk rockers Iceage will bring their sullen grandeur to Gorilla this September.

Copenhagen-based producer Anders Trentemøller finds beauty in melancholy. Brooding and intense, his music is made for Church, where you can catch him this October.

This Doncaster punk trio have been taking the UK’s live circuit by storm in recent months. It’s Manchester’s turn to catch The Blinders perform this September.

An outstanding orchestra live in a world-class concert hall – read about the BBC Philharmonic’s Autumn Season at The Bridgewater Hall.

One of the architects of Lo-fi house, Ross From Friends is a lover of all things old school. Join him on a nostalgia trip at Gorilla this October.

Combining jazz, electronica, classical, north Indian, folk and ambient styles, Mammal Hands make achingly powerful music whose ebbs and flows take you on a deeply immersive and cathartic journey.

Taking a victory lap after the release of their critically acclaimed album A Humdrum Star, Manchester’s own jazz-but-not-jazz trio stop off at Albert Hall to revel in some well-earned hometown glory.

Ludicrously creative, boundary-smashing composer, producer and performer Anna Meredith unveils a brand new work, before scientists from the National Graphene Institute let slip their latest revelations.

Charmingly mischievous art-pop trio Stealing Sheep pull out all the stops in a theatrical-musical-dance-art spectacular that pays tribute to the electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire.