Music

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Grubby dance music meets high-gloss hyperpop and wildly ambitious opera in our latest music guide.

First up, FaT OuT brings its intense, experimental, unapologetically queer spirit to The White Hotel and The Derby Brewery Arms.

Gold Panda’s in Salford, too, switching his reflective electronica for fast, scrappy house.

At Albert Hall, the music of The Durutti Column gets bathed in new chamber textures courtesy of Vini Reilly’s bandmates and close collaborators, including Caoilfhionn Rose.

Underscores brings something different. Recently named “pop’s most brilliant brain” by the Guardian, the hyperpop artist performs tracks from her new album U at Aviva Studios.

We stay with Aviva Studios as we look ahead to one of the biggest cultural events of 2027: Philip Glass’ first opera, Einstein on the Beach, which is both one of the most influential stage works of the last 50 years and among the least performed.

Proving big ideas don’t always need big venues, we look towards opera of a very different scale at The Martin Harris Centre: Ghost of the AI Empire asks audience members to decide how a futuristic Japanese ghost story unfolds, while AI contorts the sound of live instruments in real time.

Our top picks

Einstein on the Beach at Aviva Studios

Einstein on the Beach, 29 May–12 June 2027, From £36.50 - Book now

One of the most iconic stage pieces of the 20th century returns, reimagined in 360 degrees with Philip Glass’s blessing.

Einstein on the Beach
Factory International

FaT OuT 26

FaT OuT at The White Hotel, Salford, 23–24 October 2026, From £ 10 - Book now

FaT OuT is back with one long, dark night of loud music and underground performance split between two legendary venues: The White Hotel and The DBA.

Victim Unit, courtesy of From The Other.

For Vini: The Music / The Durutti Column at Albert Hall

For Vini: The Music / The Durutti Column at Albert Hall, Manchester, 19 November 2026, From £35.00 - Book now

Nearly 50 years after The Durutti Column formed in Manchester, their music comes home to Albert Hall for a one-night-only chamber-style performance.

Vini Reilly by Mark Warner.

Gold Panda at The White Hotel

Gold Panda at YES, Manchester, 14 November 2026, From £19 - Book now

Gold Panda swaps reflective electronica for fast, scrappy house on his latest album TON UP, bringing 140bpm energy to The White Hotel.

Photo by Laura Lewis, provided by 3D Agency.

Ghost of the AI Empire at The Martin Harris Centre

Ghost of the AI Empire at Martin Harris Centre for Music & Drama, Manchester, 6 November 2026, From £18.00 - Book now

In the new opera Ghost of the AI Empire, audiences use their phones to decide how a futuristic Japanese ghost story unfolds.

Singers and musicians on stage in a darkened concert hall, watched by a seated audience. A large screen above them shows a set of scales weighing KILL against FORGIVE, with the word KILL in large letters in the centre.
Chris Scott.

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.

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

MusicManchester
Gold Panda at The White Hotel

Gold Panda swaps reflective electronica for fast, scrappy house on his latest album TON UP, bringing 140bpm energy to The White Hotel.

From £19
Tokky Horror at Partisan by Jess Robinson.

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Image by Jess Robinson.

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