Music in Manchester and the North

Johnny James, Managing Editor

It’s March, spring’s around the corner (somewhere), and our gig calendar is filling up nicely.

Purveyors of raw, intimate folk rock that increasingly surprises, Big Thief perform at the O2 Apollo on 7 April in support of their critically acclaimed double album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You – their most adventurous release to date.

A perfect fusion of The Flaming Lips’ experimental urges and their pop instincts, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002) is the sound of the lauded psych rock band at their creative peak. Catch them performing the album in its entirety for the first time in England at Manchester’s O2 Apollo on 29 April.

Manchester Jazz Festival is back this May with 10 days of live music from some of the best northern, national and international musicians operating in the world of contemporary jazz.

The hallowed collaborative project from electronic music composer Nicolás Jaar and jazz multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington, Darkside dropped their second record, Spiral, in 2021. To fans’ glee, they’re finally taking this alchemic fusion of electronica and psychedelic rock on the road, calling in at Manchester’s New Century on 16 June.

We also round up our top picks from the music side of things at this summer’s Manchester International Festival, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, AFRODEUTSCHE and The Comet is Coming.

What else? Richard Dawson – one of Britain’s best, most humane songwriters –  plays at New Century, and Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters continues his This Is Not A Drill tour at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Here are our picks

  • 1. Big Thief at O2 Apollo

    Big Thief by Alexa Viscius

    Big Thief at O2 Apollo, Manchester, 7 April 2023, from £29.00 - Book now

    Big Thief call in at Manchester’s O2 Apollo in support of their latest and possibly greatest album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, which finds the band in an unprecedentedly exploratory mood.

  • 2. Richard Dawson at New Century

    Richard Dawson

    Richard Dawson at New Century, Manchester, 25 April 2023, from £18.00 - Book now

    Richard Dawson, one of Britain’s best, most humane songwriters, returns to Manchester for the first time since the release of his celebrated seventh album, The Ruby Cord.

  • 3. The Flaming Lips at The Apollo

    Blake Studdard, Atria Creative

    The Flaming Lips at O2 Apollo, Manchester, 29 April 2023, from £55.50 - Book now

    The Flaming Lips perform their 2002 landmark album, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, in its entirety at Manchester’s O2 Apollo. Buckle up for a psychedelic circus…

  • 4. Manchester Jazz Festival 2023

    Image courtesy of Manchester Jazz Festival.

    Manchester Jazz Festival 2023, 19–28 May 2023 - Book now

    Manchester Jazz Festival is back this May with 10 days of live music from some of the best northern, national and international musicians operating in the world of contemporary jazz.

  • 5. Roger Waters at AO Arena

    Roger Waters

    Roger Waters at Manchester Arena, Manchester, 10 June 2023, from £98.50 - Book now

    Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters continues his This Is Not A Drill tour at Manchester’s AO Arena, bringing both solo and Pink Floyd material to the city for the first time in five years.

  • 6. Darkside at New Century

    Tim Jones

    Darkside at New Century, Manchester, 16 June 2023, from £31.42 - Book now

    The hallowed collaborative project from electronic music composer Nicolás Jaar and jazz multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington, Darkside will finally air their long-awaited second album, Spiral, at New Century.

  • 7. MIF23: Kagami by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Tin Drum

    Ryuichi Sakamoto by Luigi & Iango, 2023.

    Kagami by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Tin Drum at Versa Manchester Studios, Castlefield, 29 June–9 July 2023, from £10 - Book now

    Watch a ground-breaking mixed reality concert created by legendary composer and musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and world-leading production studio and technology developer, Tin Drum.

  • 8. MIF23: AFRODEUTSCHE with Manchester Camerata conducted by Robert Ames

    AFRODEUTSCHE by Pierre Debusschere.

    AFRODEUTSCHE with Manchester Camerata at Factory International, City Centre, 5 July 2023, from £10 - Book now

    Manchester Camerata and Robert Ames are teaming up to premier a new work for string ensemble from Manchester’s very own AFRODEUTSCHE.

  • 9. MIF23: John Grant sings Patsy Cline with Richard Hawley and Band

    John Grant sings Patsy Cline, 11 July 2023, from £10 - Book now

    John Grant brings his baritone and Richard Hawley his band together in celebration of legendary country star Patsy Cline.

  • 10. MIF23: The Comet is Coming and Daisy Dickinson

    The Comet is Coming by Fabrice Bourgelle.

    The Comet is Coming and Daisy Dickinson, 12 July 2023, from £10 - Book now

    The Comet is Coming and Daisy Dickinson present Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam – a unique collision of the band’s cosmic sounds and Dickinson’s transcendent visuals, specially commissioned for the Festival.

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Culture Guides

Cinema

Northern flicks, sci-fi masterpieces and some brand new film festivals feature in this month’s cinema preview.

Exhibitions

Spring weather might be dragging its feet a little, but the world of exhibitions isn’t slowing down with new shows popping up everywhere to greet the new season.

The Bull and the Moon at Instituto Cervantes

Families

With spring’s indecisive weather in mind, we’ve pulled together a whole load of fun indoor and outdoor family events and activities taking place in Manchester and the North.

Poet Helen Mort.

Literature

Spring is making an entrance in live literature land with some extra special festival events, writing walks, online launches and in real life readings from local writers as well as international talent.

Theatre in Manchester and the North

Theatre

You’ll find everything from work-in-progress scratch nights to multi-award winning musicals in this month’s theatre guide.

Classical Music

We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.

Food and Drink

Get ready for spring and summer with the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North.

Tours and Activities

From indie markets to bit-sized meditation, spoon carving workshops to gallery tours, here are the headlines in the world of tours and activities.

Things to do right now

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