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We head into August with a whole lot of musical goodness to look forward to, from massive indie gigs to inner city electronic festivals.
Perfume Genius has, through the course of six studio albums, proved himself among the most exciting contemporary artist, whether he be making hushed alt-indie, maximalist pop or, as in the case of his latest record Ugly Season, experimental orchestral music. Catch him in the grand surrounds of Manchester Cathedral to see what the fuss is about.
Next it’s indie rock stalwarts The National, who take to Depot Mayfield this August along with their 4AD label mates, Dry Cleaning. It was way back before the pandemic that The National set foot on these shores; this tour will feel a long time coming for a lot of fans. More will be heading down for Dry Cleaning, who’ll be debuting tunes from their anticipated second album.
A change of pace in the form of Repercussion Festival – a “a day to night party of ground-breaking music and art in all its forms” which takes up the full expanse of Depot Mayfield plus surrounding venues. Jamie xx, Little Simz, Fred Again, Jeff Mills… the line-up’s huge.
Katy J Pearson’s debut record Return (2020) saw her snowball from Bristolian newcomer to critically-acclaimed breakthrough star, loved for her magnetic blend of soaring, widescreen melodies and warm, intimate storytelling. Having just dropped a brilliant second album, Sound of the Morning, now’s a great time to catch her live at Gorilla.
Noisy Shoegazers Just Mustard are playing the all-new Band on the Wall this September in support of their dark and dangerous second album, Heart Under, which hones the epic of Disintegration-era Cure during the Bloodiest of Valentines.
What else? Cult favourites The Magnetic Fields, leadings lights of the ’90s American underground Pavement, possibly the greatest living rapper Kendrick Lamar, symphonic punk outfit Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and more.
Here are our picks
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1. Perfume Genius at Manchester Cathedral
Perfume Genius Perfume Genius at Manchester Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter, 23 August 2022, from £23.70 - Book now
From hushed alt-indie to strange, orchestral experimentation via maximalist pop, Perfume Genius has, through the course of six studio albums, proved himself a thrillingly unpredictable artist. His show at Manchester Cathedral is high on our list of August gigs.
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2. The National and Dry Cleaning at Depot Mayfield
The National The National and Dry Cleaning at Mayfield Depot, Manchester, 27 August 2022, from £43.45 - Book now
Indie rock stalwarts The National take to Depot Mayfield this month, joined by their 4AD label mates, Dry Cleaning. A big old twin punch.
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3. The Magnetic Fields at O2 Academy Leeds
via Leeds Inspired The Magnetic Fields at O2 Academy Leeds, Manchester, 1 September 2022, from £30.00 - Book now
The Magnetic Fields have long held cult status within the indie world, their short, sharp songwriting wit undimmed three decades into their career. This summer, Stephin Merritt and co are heading to the UK to perform intimate, orchestral arrangements of songs spanning their discography, from 1999’s classic 69 Love Songs to 2020’s Quickies.
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4. Manchester Psych Fest 2022
Manchester Psych Fest Manchester Psych Fest at The Ritz, Manchester, 3 September 2022, from £45 - Book now
Manchester Psych Fest, the UK’s leading psychedelic music and arts festival, returns this September, and with the second wave of artists now announced, the 9th edition of Psych Fest is set to be the best yet as it takes over Manchester for one day only.
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5. Repercussion Festival
Image by Gary Brown Repercussion Festival at Mayfield Depot, Manchester, 10 September 2022, from £49.50 - Book now
Repercussion Festival returns to Depot Mayfield and surrounding venues, with a massive line-up including Jamie XX and Little Simz.
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6. Katy J Pearson at Gorilla
Katy J Pearson -
7. Just Mustard at Band on the Wall
Image courtesy of Band on the Wall Just Mustard at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 22 September 2022 - Book now
Noisy Shoegazers Just Mustard are playing the all-new Band on the Wall this September in support of their dark and dangerous second album, Heart Under.
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8. Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Manchester Academy
Yannick Grandmont Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Manchester Academy, Manchester, 23 September 2022, from £30.25 - Book now
In 2021, symphonic punk outfit Godspeed You! Black Emperor released one of the best albums of their 27 year career. They’re bringing it to Manchester Academy in September.
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9. Manchester Folk Festival 2022
The Drystones Manchester Folk Festival at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 13–15 October 2022, from £13.20 - Book now
Manchester Folk Festival is back with a huge line-up and a new venue on the books. We take a look at the artists playing at this year’s city-wide festival, from Grace Petrie to Lady Maisery.
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10. Pavement at O2 Apollo
Image by Tarina Westlund. -
11. Kendrick Lamar at AO Arena
Renell Medrano Kendrick Lamar at Manchester Arena, Manchester, 16 November 2022, from £64.50 - Book now
Following a brilliant fifth album and a masterful headline performance at Glastonbury, Kendrick Lamar is victory lapping the world, calling in at Manchester’s AO Arena on 16 November.
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12. BADBADNOTGOOD at Albert Hall
Jamal Burger BADBADNOTGOOD at Albert Hall at Albert Hall, City Centre, 10 December 2022, from £17.50 - Book now
In support of their expansive 2021 album Talk Memory, BADBADNOTGOOD play their biggest show in Manchester to date, at Albert Hall.
More in Music
Sounds of Nature at The Stoller Hall
The Stoller Hall has taken Sound of Nature as its new programming strand for 2022, with the aim of connecting audiences with nature through music.
Just So Festival 2022
Just So, the best family festival in the UK, returns in August. Expect woodland adventures, magical storytelling and outdoor arts and creative activities for families.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022
Leeds International Festival, the UK’s leading metropolitan festival of new ideas and innovation, is back in 2022, with a focus on tackling some of the most crucial questions of our time.
The Mighty Kids Beatbox Comedy Show at The Lowry
Head to the Mighty Kids Beatbox Comedy Show at The Lowry on 24 September, a fusion of comedy & beatboxing with Jarred Christmas and Hobbit.
Lightpool Festival
Taking place during Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display, Lightpool is a celebration of spectacular art works and live, illuminated performance across the iconic town.
David Gibb’s Family Jukebox
Experience musical delight for families with children of all ages at David Gibb’s Family Jukebox, part of the Manchester Folk Festival.
Manchester Science Festival 2022
Expect another action-packed programme of inspiring, entertaining and playful experiences as Manchester Science Festival returns, with interactive online events, thought-provoking talks and eye-opening exhibitions.
Porridge Radio at Leeds Irish Centre
Porridge Radio are one of the most vital new voices in alternative music, having gone from being darlings of the DIY underground to one of the UK’s most thrilling bands in the space of less than a year.
Ghost Hunting at the Former Leeds Union Workhouse
Visage paranormal take those brave enough Ghost Hunting in the former Leeds Union Workhouse, as they try to make contact with the other side.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions
From seductively immersive environments to the enduring magic of maps, August does not disappoint with an abundance of exhibitions in Manchester and further afield.
Literature
There are online readings and live launches as Manchester and the North welcomes some great writers – and we’re building up to book festival season, so let’s get planning…
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink
Explore the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North this August.
Tours and Activities
Break out of the old summer routines and try something different with roller skating, kite flying and more in this month’s Tours and Activities guide.
Destination Guides
Related Guides
Food and Drink
Explore the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North this August.
Music Venues in Liverpool
There’s more to Liverpool’s music venue landscape than the Cavern Club, as the city’s cafes, bars, concert halls and former warehouses offer a rich variety of live music – from chamber to freakscene, and everything in between.
Music Venues in Leeds
Boasting a strong musical heritage, Leeds has a wealth of music venues to match: from suburban social clubs and former textile mills to co-operatively run DIY spaces and its recently built arena, the city has plenty of exciting spaces to offer its young, outgoing population.
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Music Venues in Manchester
Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.
Things to Do in Manchester
There’s plenty of things to do in Manchester, from award-winning theatre and exhibitions to exciting food and drink offer and thriving literature and music scenes. Our guide to the best things to with your time in Manchester.
