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Autumn’s a fine old time for gigs in Manchester and the North, with pretty much every music venue pushing a packed calendar. From otherworldly folk to life-affirming soul, here are our top picks for October onwards.
New this month, Beth Orton heads to RNCM in support of her first album in six years, Weather Alive – the culmination of 30 years spent shapeshifting between folk, trip hop and brooding experimentalism.
At New Century, it’s R&B/soul trio Gabriels – a real discovery. Featuring the soaring, once-in-a-generation vocals of gospel singer Jacob Lusk and the smouldering production of Ryan Hope and Ari Balouzian, theirs is a sound of an era, and yet future facing.
A very different flavour in the form of Sigur Rós. Ahead of their first studio album in nearly a decade, the Icelandic post rock stars bring their rapturous and romantic, dramatic and alien music to the O2 Apollo.
Another change of pace – celebrating 30 years of their seminal album It’s a Shame About Ray, Boston band The Lemonheads will play the album in full at The Ritz. The sun-kissed nostalgia we crave as the chill sets in.
Then, unusually for this section, an exhibition. A world premiere at that. The Science and Industry Museum presents Turn It Up: The Power of Music – an interactive experience exploring the science of music’s mysterious hold over us, and how it drives us to create, perform, feel and share.
What else? Alabaster de Plume and Rioghnach Connolly come together to perform a one-off show at Band on the Wall. Grandbrothers bring their electronic take on prepared piano to the same venue. Leading lights of the ’90s American underground Pavement play in Manchester for the first time in a decade, and quite possibly the greatest living rapper, Kendrick Lamar, stops by on his victory lap around the world.
Here are our picks
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1. Parcels at The Ritz
Parcels -
2. Alabaster de Plume & Rioghnach Connolly at Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall Alabaster de Plume & Rioghnach Connolly at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 3 October 2022 - Book now
Longtime collaborators Ríoghnach Connolly and Alabaster de Plume come together to perform a one-off show at Band on the Wall.
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3. Beth Orton at RNCM
Beth Orton Beth Orton at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 15 October 2022, from £25.00 - Book now
Beth Orton’s first album in six years is up there with her very best. After 30 years spent shapeshifting between folk, trip hop and brooding experimentalism, Weather Alive is the ethereal and moving sound of one of the UK’s longstanding finest songwriters and musicians, who clearly has so much more still to give.
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4. 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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5. Pavement at O2 Apollo
Image by Tarina Westlund. -
6. Turn It Up: The Power of Music at SIM
Science Museum Group © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum Turn It Up: The Power of Music at Science and Industry Museum, Castlefield, 21 October 2022–21 May 2023, from £6.00 - Book now
Prepare to get hands-on at the Museum of Science and Industry’s new major exhibition exploring the science of music’s mysterious hold over us and how it drives us to create, perform, feel and share.
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7. Gabriels at New Century
Gabriels Gabriels at New Century, Manchester, 23 October 2022, from £21.65 - Book now
Head to Manchester’s recently-resurrected venue New Century on 23 October to catch one of the most exciting live acts around: LA-based R&B/soul trio, Gabriels.
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8. Grandbrothers at Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall Grandbrothers at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 24 October 2022 - Book now
Grandbrothers bring their modern and unique electronic take on prepared piano to Band on the Wall.
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9. Sigur Rós at O2 Apollo
Sigur Rós -
10. The Lemonheads at The Ritz
The Lemonheads -
11. Kendrick Lamar at AO Arena
Renell Medrano Kendrick Lamar at Arcade Fire at AO 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.
DJ Gym at Hatch
Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.
New Dawn Fades: A Play About Joy Division & Manchester at RNCM
Set in the wake of the punk revolution of 1970s Manchester, this timely revival tells the story of the four ordinary lads who came together to create one of the most significant bands of all time.
The Color Purple at The Lowry
With a soulful musical score and a jaw-droppingly talented cast, this moving musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-prize-winning novel should definitely be on your radar.
Elizabeth Llewellyn (soprano) & Simon Lepper (piano) at RNCM
Following their award-winning album of songs by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Elizabeth Llewellyn and Simon Lepper perform for RNCM’s 50th celebrations.
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.
RNCM Young Explorers: Halloween Spooktacular
Dress up in your creepiest costumes and get chills down your spine at the RNCM Young Explorers: Halloween Spooktacular on 16 October, featuring live orchestral music and lots of spooky delights!
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.
Culture Guides
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Enjoy these brand new exhibitions (and hide from the late summer downpours) opening this month in Manchester and the North.
Literature
There are plenty of online readings and live launches as Manchester and the North welcomes some great writers with book festival season getting underway, and there are loads of new spoken word nights and open mics to check out…
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink
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Tours and Activities
Every season change is an excuse to try something new, and when it comes to tours and activities, autumn delivers!
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