Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Beyond the Music 2024

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Book now

Beyond the Music 2024

Band on the Wall, Manchester
1-31 October 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

From £16.75
Carmel Smickersgill
Book now

After a  massively successful year in 2023, Beyond the Music will be returning to Manchester at some point in October 2024 with more cutting edge thinking, excellent gigs and insightful talks.

Unlike any event of its kind, Beyond the Music is entirely driven by the need for change within an industry that is constantly shifting. Part festival, part conference this weekend of talks, gigs and discussions is a place to catch incredible break through acts as well as hearing and contributing to a wider conversation about music both within Manchester and the UK.

They provide support for local independent venues as well as young people looking to get into the music industry. These kind of forward thinking cultural hybrid festivals are more vital than ever. They keep scenes thriving and allow true creativity to be fostered

What's on at Band on the Wall

Where to go near Beyond the Music 2024

The Rose & Monkey Hotel
Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Rose & Monkey Hotel

The Rose & Monkey Hotel is one of the Northern Quarter’s best music-led bars, with a truly impressive beer garden. Our new favourite Manchester pub.

Manchester
Restaurant
Foundry Project

The Northern Quarter’s self-styled ‘happiest place in Manchester’, based at the old Bluu site.

Stray
Manchester
Restaurant
Stray

Stylish modern bar serving sophisticated cocktails in the Northern Quarter.

Ancoats
Restaurant
Ramona

If you haven’t heard of Ramona by now then where have you been? Taking Manchester by storm, Ramona is a Detroit Pizza restaurant, with a salty twist… Frozen margaritas!

Manchester
Restaurant
The Firehouse

The Firehouse serves up quality food and drink at its new Wednesday evening supper club.

Manchester
Restaurant
Mackie Mayor

A Grade II listed market building in the Northern Quarter, Mackie Mayor is a key fixture in the ever-growing Northern Quarter food and drink scene.

Fringe Bar in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Ancoats
Bar or Pub
Bar Fringe

No-frills bar on Manchester’s Swan Street. A wide selection of beers and ciders mixed with a great jukebox make this an ideal pre-Band on The Wall drinking spot.

Noi Quattro
Manchester
Restaurant
Noi Quattro

Noi Quattro is an independent pizzeria at the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

matt and phreds sign manchester music
Manchester
Music venue
Matt and Phred’s

New Orleans reaches Manchester with this dedicated jazz club in the Northern Quarter – a reliable choice for a good night out.

See all places

What's on: Activity
TourCity Centre
The Tour of Uninteresting Objects

This walking tour led by Jonathan Schofield, takes the time to stop and appreciate the under-rated elements that make up this city.

From £20.00
Foggy trees in Alexander Park, Hulme.
Walking TourManchester
Alexandra Park and Whalley Range Tour

Take a walking tour of both Alexandra Park and wider Whalley Range, uncovering the tales that lie within its mighty buildings, its churches and its people.

From £20.00
Until
ActivityManchester
Film Course: French New Wave at HOME

Coinciding with the release of Richard Linklater’s film Nouvelle Vague, this HOME course offers an accessible overview of one of cinema’s most influential movements.

From £65
Truly Madly Brutal - Jonathan Schofield Tours
TourManchester
Truly Madly Brutal

Explore the fascinating history of Brutalism in Manchester, while also exploring the movement’s wider intentions and ideals.

From £20.00

Culture Guides

A pair of white angel wings displayed against a dark, black background. The lower parts of the wings are stained with vivid red, resembling blood splatter.
Theatre

This month’s theatre highlights span dystopian classics, political thrillers and bold new opera.

Ceramic Sculpture
Exhibitions

Across Manchester and Salford, exhibitions are thinking hard about how things are made – and how materials carry stories.

Music

From underground festivals showcasing emerging talent to global icons unveiling new work, here are our latest live music highlights.

Food and Drink in the North

Spring is coming, at some point. As for now, it’s cold and grim so take our advice and shelter in a nice warm restaurant, pub or bar.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

See all guides