Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region’s most cherished ensembles and venues.
Want more music? Head to our general Music guide for our latest scoop on the North’s best gigs and festivals.
The 27th instalment of The Bridgewater Hall’s flagship classical music series is here. True to form, there are some incredible concerts to look forward to, featuring some of the leading ensembles and musicians of our time.
Natural history and live orchestral music combine as Manchester Camerata help bring Netflix’s Life on Our Planet to life at The Bridgewater Hall.
This autumn, join The Stoller Hall for a solo piano performance from world-renowned multi-instrumentalist and producer, Elijah Fox.
Fusing the sound of a Western Classical Orchestra with Carnatic song, Rushil Ranjan presents his new composition Māyā, commissioned by Manchester Camerata, at The Stoller Hall.
The perfect way to introduce your little ones to classical music, this family concert explores a world of myths and legends through music from films we all know and love.
Home to the Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic orchestras, the Bridgewater Hall attracts some of the biggest names in classical music. Purpose-built to the tune of £42m, the hall was designed around its acoustic needs; it floats on 280 earthquake-proof isolations springs that mute all external noise, perfect for shielding around 250 performances a year from the trams outside.
The Royal Northern College of Music is both a music venue and an academic institution training up some of the country’s finest music students.
Still Manchester’s newest kid on the concert hall block, The Stoller Hall opened its doors in April 2017 to further enhance the city’s already enviable live music provision.
The 1930s Art Deco Philharmonic Hall, home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, gives no hint of the sensuous curves of the auditorium inside from its hard exterior.
Hallé St Peter’s is a deconsecrated Grade-II listed church, once a theatre prop store, then a knitting factory, before being restored and becoming home to the Hallé orchestra.
Manchester’s Albert Hall is an astounding Wesleyan Chapel turned live music venue, regularly hosting classical concerts.
Manchester Cathedral dates back to at least the 1400s and has been rebuilt many times. In current, striking form, it’s still a place of worship, but also host to regular gigs and events.
The Bridgewater Hall’s flagship concert series brings the best international orchestras, celebrated recitalists and world-renowned choirs to Manchester.
from £8
Expect a joyous weekend loaded with outdoor performances, live music, hands-on family events, and of course, Preston’s signature Torchlight Procession and firework display.
free entry
Fat Out Fest, a Salford festival championing the experimental and the underground in music and visual art, returns with three-days of music, exhibitions and workshops.
from £ 0
Porches, the synth-pop project of New York–based musician Aaron Maine, plays at Band on the Wall following the release of his sixth album, Shirt.
Marking the official start of The Warehouse Project’s 2024 season, Repercussion is back with a huge day-to-night party celebrating dance music in all its forms.
from £54.00
If you’re hunting for the perfect present – a Factory International Gift Membership could be just the ticket.
from £45.00
Get priority booking on the best seats, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and much more. Are you in?
from £45.00
Two brilliant Scottish artists come together for an intimate, audio-visual performance, melding meditative jazz, neo-classical and electronica.
from £16.50
From soul legends to fantastical opera, live art to dance’s cutting edge, we select our highlights from the RNCM’s Autumn Season.
from £8
Let the Hallé transport you to a galaxy far, far away…
from £18.00
Purveyors of sleezy punk funk that proudly resides in la-la-land, Warmduscher play at The Ritz in support of their fifth album.
from £26.95
This autumn, join The Stoller Hall for a solo piano performance from world-renowned multi-instrumentalist and producer, Elijah Fox.
from £22.50
Make the most of the sun in one of Manchester's many top-notch beer gardens.
Take me there
From the team behind the Kazimier, the Invisible Wind Factory is Liverpool’s most eclectic live music venue and nightclub.
District Liverpool is a multi-purpose venue in the Baltic Quarter, hosting gigs, club nights, films, cabaret, festivals and much more.
Based in Liverpool’s old Royal Institute of Arts and Science building, Liverpool Arts Club is a great spot to catch small touring acts.
The Arena has a regular programme of arts and entertainment including live music, concerts, comedy and dances with stage shows and national tours. With two licensed bars this is the perfect location for a great night out.
O2 Academy Liverpool (formerly the L2 and Carling Academy Liverpool) boasts two performance areas that host live music and clubnights.
The Lawrence Batley Theatre, home of live performance in Huddersfield, crafts a varied programme for and with its local community.
Opened in 2002, The Brickyard is Carlisle’s longest-running independent music venue, offering live performances in an intimate church hall.
Wakefield’s 7A is a flexible performance / exhibition space Yorkshire. It is host to a number of impressive events used by Leeds College of Music, Wakefield College and the Neon Workshops.
This year's Manchester Literature Festival tickets are being snapped up, and festival fever is also taking hold in the suburbs as well as further afield.
Develop a new skill with this month's workshop and learning based tours and activities guide.
From intricate textiles to a medieval poem-inspired arts festival, there is lots of new art to see before the autumn rains start for good.
Summer is in full swing and Manchester and the north is brimming with fun activities for families.
Look out for Widescreen Weekend, a celebration of Women of the West and a Leeds Cinema Crawl as we head into leafy Autumn.
Punchy verbatim shows, comedy festivals and rave-fuelled Shakespeare feature in this month’s eclectic pick of live theatre.
From synth pop and jazz punk to meditative piano and Indian classical, read about the autumn shows that have piqued our interest.
Take some eating-out tips from this month's guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
