Music in Manchester and the North

From all-nighters to family-friendly fun via considered, thought provoking weekends, we select out top picks from the many, many festivals taking place in the North this summer.

Amyl and The Sniffers at Albert Hall, City Centre, 31 May 2022, from £13.00 - Book now

Punk animals Amyl and The Sniffers have risen up from the sticky carpets of Melbourne’s underground music scene to storm the world stage. Fiery, spontaneous and crammed with colossal riffs, their latest album Comfort To Me is made for the stage — and Albert Hall’s is as good as any you’ll find in Manchester.

Parquet Courts at Albert Hall, City Centre, 12 June 2022, from £19.00 - Book now

Starting life as a genetic mutation of late 70’s post-punk, Parquet Courts’ new currency is groove-heavy psychedelia – the kind you might file somewhere in between Talking Heads and Primal Scream. A creative handbrake turn that we’re here for.

Richard Dawson & Circle at Gorilla, Manchester, 8 July 2022, from £21.00 - Book now

Geordie troubadour Richard Dawson performs with Finnish Heavy Metal band Circle in support of their collaborative album — the greatest flora-themed hypno-folk-metal record you’ll have heard in recent months.

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 9^th edition of Psych Fest is set to be the best yet as it takes over Manchester for one day only.

Pet Shop Boys at Manchester Arena, Manchester, 20 May 2022, from £81.99 - Book now

The ever-iconic electro-pop duo Pet Shop Boys are heading to Manchester’s AO Arena this May as part of their first ever greatest hits tour.

Manchester Guitar Festival at The Stoller Hall, Manchester, 20–22 May 2022, from £0.00 - Book now

From classical and jazz, acoustic, electric and flamenco, the three-day Manchester Guitar Festival will feature some of the finest guitar music talent from around the world, including Sean Shibe, Daniel Martinez and Craig Ogden, alongside many rising stars.

Adam Green at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 29 May 2022, from £15.75 - Book now

Cult songwriter, filmmaker, artist and poet Adam Green is bringing his whimsical antifolk to The Deaf Institute this May.

The Smile at Albert Hall, City Centre, 2 June 2022, from £49.50 - Book now

The Smile – Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood plus Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner – are making their Manchester debut in June.

Billie Eilish at Manchester Arena, Manchester, 7–8 June 2022, from £47.80 - Book now

Seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is heading to Manchester Arena with Happier Than Ever, The World Tour.

Maya Youssef with Levare String Quartet at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 11 June 2022, from £18.00 - Book now

Maya Youssef, the ‘queen of qanun’, brings her latest album Finding Home to life on the RNCM stage with the Levare String Quartet.

RNCM Session Orchestra: Original Artists Edition at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 18 June 2022, from £15.00 - Book now

Discover the next generation of artists emerging from the RNCM’s Popular Music department as they perform their original music accompanied by the RNCM Session Orchestra.

Bluedot Festival 2022 at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfield, 22–24 July 2022, from £59.75 - Book now

After two years without Bluedot, we’re super excited for its return in 2022, and the just-announced line-up is well worth the wait.

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.

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.

Sounds of Nature at The Stoller Hall, Manchester, Until 5 October 2022, from £5.50 - Book now

This year, The Stoller Hall aims to connect audiences with nature through music, getting us thinking about everything from climate change to our relationship with the animal kingdom. Take a look at our highlights from their Sounds of Nature programme.

New Century, Mayes Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M60 4ES - Visit now

From Jimi Hendrix to Pink Floyd, Manchester’s iconic New Century Hall once played host to some of the most influential artists on the planet. Following a £10m transformation, the ’60s dance-hall is returning this summer. Take a look at what’s in store.