Music in Manchester and the North

GRRRL at Soup Kitchen, Manchester, 31 August–1 September 2017, from £7.00 - Book now

Featuring a Mercury Prize-winning rapper among its ranks, GRRRL is a collective of empowered, fierce, independent women from around the world. With members from as far apart as Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa and Zimbabwe, this night promises a unique fusion of techno, hip-hop, dancehall, soul, electronica and plenty more.

Strange Waves II at The Ritz, Manchester, 2–3 September 2017, from £17.50 - Book now

Local promoters Strange Days and Now Wave collaborate again for Strange Wave’s second outing at the Ritz – featuring New York rockers Parquet Courts and Beach Fossils, plus an energetic supporting bill of some of this year’s most exciting new bands.

Manchester Psych Fest at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 2–3 September 2017, from £12.50 - Book now

Taking over three venues simultaneously for the first time, Manchester Psych Fest returns to the Northern Quarter with the likes of Teleman, Ryley Walker, Flamingods, Bo Ningen, Menace Beach and MOTHER – plus DJs, art installations and trippy visuals. The festival invites you to ‘Come get weird!’

Festival No 6 2017 at Portmeirion, 7–10 September 2017, from £120.00 - Book now

The picturesque Italiante village of Portmeirion is a fitting home for Festival No.6, which is as aesthetically pleasing as it it is a pleasure to the ears. In only its sixth year, the event has already become a firm fixture on the festival calendar – and this year features music from The Flaming Lips, Bloc Party, Mogwai, Wild Beasts, Steve Mason, Public Service Broadcasting and Charlotte Church

New Mills Festival at New Mills Art Theatre, 8–24 September 2017, free entry - Find Out More

Featuring music, poetry, film, talks, walks, exhibitions and more, New Mills Festival provides something for everyone in the heart of the Peak District. Highlights this year include concerts by Dutch Uncles and Holy Moly & The Crackers, which book-end this 16-day-long celebration.

Manchester Camerata 2017/18 Season at The Stoller Hall, 9 September 2017–31 May 2018, from £15.00 - Book now

Manchester Camerata – ‘probably Britain’s most adventurous orchestra’ – returns for a new season, featuring exciting programming in a diverse range of venues. From its intimate UpClose series, which visits HOME and Manchester Cathedral this autumn, via its now-traditional Festive Happening at Albert Hall, through to concerts at the Stoller Hall and RNCM in the new year, the Camerata’s 2017/18 season is equal parts ambitious and adventurous.

Ramsbottom Festival 2017: Head for the Hills at Ramsbottom Cricket Club, Manchester, 15–17 September 2017, from £8.00 - Book now

Formerly Ramsbottom Festival, the award-winning Head for the Hills is renowned for its magnificent music line-up, which balances well-known headliners like Beth Orton and Maxïmo Park alongside more intimate performances from emerging and established artists.

Kiran Leonard at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 23 September 2017, from £12.50 - Book now

Celebrating the release of his new LP Derevaun Seraun, 21-year-old Oldham-raised musician Kiran Leonard is joined at Band on the Wall by a string trio, for what promises to be a thoughtful and intricate performance.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Manchester Arena, Manchester, 25 September 2017, from £45.00 - Book now

One of the most critically acclaimed acts in the world, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds stop off at Manchester Arena as part of an eight-week-long European tour. They are visiting for the first time in three years to promote 16th studio album, Skeleton Tree, which has been their highest-charting record to date.

BBC Philharmonic 2017/18 Concert Season at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 24 September 2017–9 June 2018 - Visit now

Millions of listeners enjoy BBC Philharmonic concerts on Radio 3, recorded or broadcast live from the outstanding acoustic of The Bridgewater Hall, making this orchestra one of the most widely heard in the country.

Manchester Folk Festival 2017 at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 19–21 October 2017, from £16.00 - Book now

Debuting this October, Manchester Folk Festival will highlight the best of English folk and acoustic roots music – with the initial artists involved including the likes of The Young ‘Uns, Tom Robinson, False Lights and Afro Celt Sound System. With 10 more concerts to be announced, watch this space

Transformer 2 at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, 28–29 October 2017, from £20.00 - Book now

New concert series Transformer returns to Victoria Warehouse for its second one-day festival outing – featuring genre-defying acts including Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Liars, Ben Frost and Omar Souleyman across two stages, plus cinema, digital funfair, record stalls and food trucks.

The People’s Concert at Albert Hall, City Centre, 11 November 2017, from £20.00 - Book now

Manchester’s Albert Hall celebrates 100 years as a music venue with a ‘People’s Concert’, taking its name from an event exactly a century ago. In 2017, this concert will feature a line-up of crowd-pleasing bands including British Sea Power, Dutch Uncles, Field Music and Boxed In.

Thundercat at Albert Hall, City Centre, 15 November 2017, from £22.50 - Book now

Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles musician Thundercat returns to Manchester to perform music from his acclaimed album Drunk, which features contributions from the likes of Pharrell, Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus. Expect an evening of cosmic jazz reverence in the former Wesleyan chapel.

Jesca Hoop at The Stoller Hall, 28 November 2017, from £15.00 - Book now

Following last year’s collaborative record with Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, Jesca Hoop has signed to Sub Pop Records to release her latest solo album, Memories Are Now. Chetham’s Stoller Hall should provide an ideal space to experience her breath-taking, intimate country-folk music.

Jane Weaver at The Ritz, Manchester, 30 November 2017, from £13.50 - Book now

Psychedelic singer-songwriter and guitarist Jane Weaver plays a hometown show in support of recent album, Modern Kosmology. With a bill that also features She Drew The Gun and Pictish Trail performing live, plus DJs, it promises to be an action-packed evening at The Ritz.