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More brilliant gigs appear on the horizon as we inch further into 2023.
New this month, Irish post punks The Murder Capital head to Manchester armed with their long-awaited second record, Gigi’s Recovery. Leftfield pop artist Jessica Smyth AKA Biig Piig hits up Gorilla ahead of what will no doubt be an explosive year for her, beginning with the release of debut album, Bubblegum.
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. And 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.
Also on our radar, Noise experimenter turned folk pop songstress Weyes Blood brings her transcendent fifth album And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow to The Ritz, France’s Gojira stop off in Manchester for the first time since their huge 2021 album, Fortitude, and Caroline Polachek showcases her massively anticipated album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.
Read about all this and more below.
Here are our picks
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1. Weyes Blood at The Ritz
Weyes Blood by Neil Krug. -
2. Gojira at Victoria Warehouse
Gojira by Travis Shinn Gojira at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, 14 February 2023, from £39.30 - Book now
Gojira, France’s biggest metal export, head to Manchester this February – the band’s first headline show in the city since their acclaimed 2021 album, Fortitude.
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3. Caroline Polachek at Albert Hall
Caroline Polachek by Nedda Asfari Caroline Polachek at Albert Hall, City Centre, 15 February 2023, from £25.00 - Book now
One of those rare artists who makes treading the line between the experimental and the mainstream sound easy, Caroline Polachek’s massively anticipated new album drops on Valentine’s Day. Watch her in the majestic surrounds of Albert Hall the day after.
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4. The Murder Capital at Albert Hall
The Murder Capital by James Kelly The Murder Capital at Albert Hall, City Centre, 16 February 2023, from £17.50 - Book now
Irish post punks The Murder Capital are back with their long-awaited second record, Gigi’s Recovery – the follow-up to their brilliant 2019 debut album When I Have Fears.
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5. Biig Piig at Gorilla
Biig Piig -
6. 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.
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7. 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.
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8. Turn It Up: The Power of Music at the Science and Industry Museum
Science Museum Group © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum Turn It Up: The Power of Music at Science and Industry Museum, Castlefield, Until 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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Culture Guides
Exhibitions
The world of art and exhibitions never quite stops, so we have lots of new shows to look forward to at the start of 2023.
Literature
Live literature land welcomes in 2023 with lots lined up in Manchester and beyond, from book launches and bookshop openings to prize-winning poets and award-laden authors sharing their secrets and stories.
Classical Music
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink
Start 2023 as you mean to go on, with the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North.
Tours and Activities
New years are for new experiences, and we have a whole lot of ideas to inspire you as 2023 gets underway.
Destination Guides
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Music Venues in Liverpool
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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
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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.
