Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Lost in the middle distance between Christmas and spring, February, if we’re being honest, is a bit bleak, isn’t it? The weather’s grim, everyone’s skint and the festive bulge remains. BUT there is a saving grace amid these trying times: SO. MANY. GIGS.
Diligent as ever, we’ve scoured the gig listings for Manchester and the north, and have rounded up the cream of the crop.
New additions this month include garage rock stalwarts The Growlers, ambient electronica wizard Steve Hauschildt, and the indefatigable Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Also new is seminal producer DJ Shadow, and fast-rising singer-songwriter, Julia Bardo.
With plenty more to sink your teeth into below (The Murder Capital, Sleater Kinney, Aerial Festival, Eliza Carthy, The Grahams, Thom Yorke), we present to you the best gigs in Manchester and the north.
Here are our picks
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1. The Growlers at Albert Hall
Taylor Bonin The Growlers at Albert Hall, City Centre, 22 February 2020, from £18 - Book now
Still finding new ways to tweak the garage rock formula, The Growlers’ new album, Natural Affair, is their best yet. Watch them perform it live at Albert Hall.
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2. The Foetals + Fruit Tones at YES
The Foetals The Foetals + Fruit Tones at YES, Manchester, 24 February 2020, free entry - Find Out More
In celebration of Musica! Musica! Musica!, a solo exhibition by Raissa Pardini, The Foetals and Fruit Tones are playing a FREE party at YES.
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3. Sleater Kinney at Manchester Academy
Sleater Kinney Sleater Kinney at Manchester Academy, Manchester, 27 February 2020, from £27.50 - Book now
In support of their 10th studio album The Centre Won’t Hold, feminist punks Sleater Kinney are bringing their mighty-as-ever live show to Manchester Academy, one of only two UK dates on their current tour.
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4. DJ Shadow at Albert Hall
Andres Tardio DJ Shadow at Albert Hall, City Centre, 28 February 2020, from £24 - Book now
Over two decades on from his seminal album Endtroducing, DJ Shadow returns to Albert Hall, a venue that the pioneering producer holds dear.
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5. Syd Shelton: Rock Against Racism at Gallery Oldham
Specials Fans. Potternewton Park, Leeds, 1981. Courtesy of the artist and Autograph, London Rock Against Racism at Gallery Oldham, Manchester, 14 March–30 May 2020, free entry - Find Out More
Gallery Oldham presents a nationally touring exhibition of photographs by Yorkshire-born Syd Shelton, capturing the legendary Rock Against Racism movement.
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6. Julia Bardo at YES
Julia Bardo -
7. Aerial Festival
John Shedwick Aerial Festival at St Mary's Parish Church Ambleside, Cumbria, 26–29 March 2020, from £12 - Book now
Aerial is a new festival of contemporary music, literature and performance, taking place in and around the Lake District town of Ambleside.
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8. Steve Hauschildt at The Yard
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9. Eliza Carthy: Restitute Live at The Stoller Hall
Eliza Carthy Eliza Carthy: Restitute Live at The Stoller Hall, 2 April 2020, from £11 - Book now
One of the most prominent figures in the English folk revival, Eliza Carthy is bringing her brilliant new solo album Restitute toThe Stoller Hall.
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10. The Grahams at The Stoller Hall
The Grahams The Grahams at The Stoller Hall, 9 April 2020, from £11 - Book now
With guitars and whiskey in tow, travelling troubadours The Grahams are soon to lay down their hats at The Stoller Hall, where they’ll perform songs from their forthcoming album, Kids Like Us.
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11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Manchester Arena
Steve Parke Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Manchester Arena, Manchester, 6 May 2020, from £30.50 - Book now
One of the world’s great live acts, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are returning to Manchester in support of their extraordinary album, Ghosteen.
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12. Thom Yorke at Victoria Warehouse
Alex Lake Thom Yorke at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, 20–21 June 2020, from £54.70 - Book now
Following the release of his excellent solo album ANIMA, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is performing not one but two shows at Victoria Warehouse this June.
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13. Use Hearing Protection: The Early Years of Factory Records at the Science and Industry Museum
Use Hearing Protection: The Early Years of Factory Records at Science and Industry Museum, Castlefield, 3 July 2020–10 January 2021, from £5 - Book now
Use Hearing Protection tells the story of Factory Records’ formative years from 1978-1982, when the label made waves with its innovative work in music, technology and design.
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