Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

The Best Manchester Gigs This Week

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK CALENDAR

With over 4000 shows listed on Manchester Theatres, it can be hard to decide which show to go and see - as you will probably know if you are one of the 200,000 members who receive our Sunday night "What's on in Manchester over the next seven days" e-mails [subscribe here].

Additionally, you can also find our top theatre shows, classical concerts, comedy gigs and tribute shows here...

Our Top 10 What's on in Manchester Gigs This Week

Neighbourhood Weekender

One of the best festivals in the region returns with another massive line-up of Manchester artists.

Zayn

The multi-platinum selling Bradford pop star has enjoyed massive solo success since his One Direction days.

The Human League + ABC

A massive outdoor concert from the 1980s pioneers of the UK's new wave movement.

Doja Cat

The "Queen of Pop-Rap", GRAMMY Award-winning L.A. rapper and global superstar Doja Cat is best known for the UK no.1 single and International chart topper "Paint the Town Red".

Blue

All Rise for the homecoming of Simon Webbe and his mates from Blue.

Kraftwerk

Led by founder Ralf Hütter, influential German electronica icons and their much-celebrated robots return.

O2 Apollo, Manchester
Fri 22 & Sat 23 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Hallé - It's A Livin' Thing: The Music of Jeff Lynne's ELO

Pinkpantheress

Bath singer and TikTok star who serves up garage influenced songs which are frequently short in length and include samples of music from the 1990s and 2000s.

O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
Bank Holiday Mon 25 + Tue 26 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Pixies

The 1980's Boston alternative rock legends have been cited by avowed fan Kurt Cobain as a heavy influence on Nirvana with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" a conscious attempt to co-opt the Pixies' style.

AVIVA Studios Hall, Manchester
Sun 23 & Mon 24 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Midge Ure

The Scottish music legend has enjoyed an incredible career with Ultravox, Visage, Silk, Thin Lizzy and Band Aid alongside his chart topping solo career.

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Thu 19 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Christopher Cross

With his 1980 debut album and international hit "Sailing", the legendary Texan soft rocker became the first person in Grammy history to win the the “Big Four”: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. He has also won an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Mon 18 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Super Furry Animals

Burtsting on to the scene in 1996 and led by Gruff Rhys, Cardiff quintet Super Furry Animals are a musically eclectic band, incorporating pop, prog, punk, jungle, electronica, techno and death metal.

O2 Apollo, Manchester
Thu 21 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Go Your Own Way

Kingfishr

Folk-rock trio rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about and in-demand acts in Ireland.

O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
Sat 23 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Example

Chart-topping London rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer extraordinaire.

O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
Sun 24 May 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Fcukers

New York electronic duo described as paying "homage to parties gone before them but moreso to the maestros who such parties were built around such as Saint Etienne, Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Coldcut, Todd Terry and so many more".

Johnny Drille

Nigerian folk singer who was one of the contestants on the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa.

Mari Froes

One of Brazil’s most exciting new voices who blends the richness of MPB, bossa nova, samba, and jazz with effortless sensitivity and charm.

James Walsh & Ben Ottewell

An acoustic night with the frontmen of Starsailor and Gomez.

The Met, Bury
Thu 21 May 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Glen Hansard

The Frames frontman and Commitments star was nominated for a Grammy for best folk album and won an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly" from Once in 2007.

Sir Chloe

Vermont indie rocker Dana Foote, better known as Sir Chloe gained widespread popularity when their song "Michelle" went viral on TikTok.

Sasha & John Digweed

One of the most iconic duos in all of electronic music return.

Ahmet Aslan

Zazaki artist who creates a sound world of timeless beauty on his self-invented string instrument the Di-Tar, a hybrid of a classical guitar, a flamenco guitar and a bağlama.

Tinawirin

A collective of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara region of northern Mali who are considered pioneers of desert blues with their guitar-driven mix of African music and rock.

Day Fever

The mega popular day-time clubbing event started by Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure, her husband, Welsh actor and filmmaker Jonny Owen, and Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers.

New Century, Manchester
Sat 23 May 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Manchester Jazz Festival

The 2026 Manchester Jazz Festival

Band on the Wall, Manchester
Fri 15 Apr - Sun 24 Apr 2026.
Tickets & More Info

Dave Formula & Noko

Magazine's Keyboard player and guitarist present a full set of work-outs culled from the Manchester band's classic back catalogue.

Kiefer Sutherland

Ol' fashioned denim-and-dusty-boots country rock from the quintessential Brat Pack Hollywood star.

Jerron Paxton

Described by The Wall Street Journal as "virtually the only music-maker of his generation — playing guitar, banjo, piano and violin, among other implements — to fully assimilate the blues idiom of the 1920s and '30s, the blues of Bessie Smith and Lonnie Johnson."