Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

The Best Manchester Gigs This Week

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...

(Now updated daily).

Our Top 30 What's on in Manchester Gigs This Week

Busted v McFly

Three co-headline shows from the British pop rock favourites.

AO Arena + Co-op Live, Manchester.
Fri 17 & Sat 18 October + Weds 5 Nov 2025.
Tickets & More Info

Little Simz

Ivor Novello award-winning, Mercury nominated rapper and actress Simbiatu Ajikawo delivers undeniable modern classics, effortlessly condensing any number of disparate styles and genres.

AR Rahman

Jai Ho! Described by Time Magazine as the "Mozart of Madras", the Oscar-winning soundtrack to "Slumdog Millionaire" comes to town.

Graham Nash

A homecoming for the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy award winning Salford singer-songwriter, who performs songs spanning his sixty-year career from The Hollies to Crosby, Stills and Nash, to CSNY and his solo career.

Shayne Ward

A homecoming for the multi-Platinum Mancunian recording artist who rose to fame as winner of the second series of The X Factor.

Rishab Sharma

Hailed as the youngest and last disciple of sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sharma brings a legacy of tradition, innovation and purpose to every performance blending classical Indian music with contemporary sensibilities, digital visuals and raw emotional storytelling.

Wet Wet Wet + Heather Small

The iconic Clydebank pop act now stars original member Graeme Clark, lead guitarist Graeme Duffin, who has been with the band as a touring musician since 1983, and new lead vocalist Kevin Simm, a former member of Liberty X who also won The Voice UK in 2016. M People star Heather Small supports.

Rick Wakeman

The legendary Yes keyboardist and Manchester City fan performs The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table.

The Stranglers

One of the most credible and influential bands to have emerged from the punk era, they are best known for hits Peaches, No More Heroes and Walk On By.

Jalen Ngonda

With shades of Marvin Gaye, the Liverpool-based US singer is one of the most captivating performers on today’s soul scene.

Men I Trust

Two nights from the Quebecois electo-pop band fronted by Emmanuelle Proulx.

Manchester Academy 1
Sat 18 & Sun 19 Oct 2025.
Tickets & More Info

One OK Rock

With numerous number 1 albums in their own country and success on the US Billboard Rock Charts, the Japanese band play varied styles of music, with songs ranging from alternative rock and emo to post-hardcore and pop punk.

Newton Faulkner

An intimate gig from the multi-Platinum selling, two time album chart topping Surrey acoustic singer-songwriter whose folk pop sensibility sits easily alongside the likes of Jack Johnson, Paolo Nutini, and Ed Sheeran - who stole his original "ginger guy with a guitar" crown.

The Blow Monkeys + The Christians

A co-headline tour from the 80s favourites.

Eddi Reader (Fairground Attraction)

The supremely talented, unique and charismatic triple BRIT award-winning Scottish folk pop singer has gone on to enjoy a successful solo career since her days as the lead singer of 80's chart-toppers Fairground Attraction.

Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets)

The former Inspiral Carpers frontman performs songs from his solo career and the brilliant Madchester legends back catalogue.

Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff)

A solo show from the the singer of 90s indie favourite The Wonder Stuff, who scored classic Top 20 hits such as "The Size of a Cow", "Unbearable", "Caught in My Shadow", "Don't Let Me Down, Gently" and the no.1 hit "Dizzy" (with Vic Reeves).

Pale Waves

A homecoming for Manchester's slick NME and Q-Award winning synth-rock outfit who offer contemporary pop with an 80s sound palate.

Idlewild

Roddy Woomble's raucous cult Scottish Highlands folk rock curiosity turned chart bothering national treasures.

Mimi Webb

The first UK female artist, since Dua Lipa in 2017, to land two singles in the UK Top 15 before the release of her debut album, including the Platinum-selling Top 10 hit "Good Without".

Sleeper

A homecoming for the Platinum-selling Manchester University-formed 1990's Britpop band fronted by Louise Wener.

Fairport Convention

The 1960's legends who have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, with Radio 2 listeners voting their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief "The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time’.

The Met, Bury
Sat 18 Oct 2025 + more dates
Tickets & More Info

Seth Lakeman

Mercury Prize nominated Dartmoor folk singer, songwriter, who has graced the UK Top 10.

St Mary's Chambers, Rossendale
Weds 15 Oct 2025 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Bury Tomorrow

Hampshire metalcore outfit who rapidly propelled the genre into the British mainstream scoring a UK Top 10 album.

We Are Scientists

The New York indie rock legends are glued to the indie dance floor but also showcase a darker, more electronic pop rock sound.

Overmono

The Welsh electronic music duo Overmono headline with a live set in the Depot.

New Model Army

The Bradford rockers who have been massively influential in post-punk, folk-rock, political-rock, goth, metal and all kinds of musical sub-culture circles.

Hope of the States

The Chichester indie rockers Hope of the States have developed their post-Radiohead sound, scoring UK Top 40 hits including "The Red the White the Black the Blue".

Nova Twins

A clash of ideas from the worlds of punk, rap, pop, hard rock and beyond, the London duo's sound is one that smashes genres.

Jamie Jones

From its Ibiza home of DC10, the world renowned Cardiff house and melodic techno DJ is bringing a little bit of Paradise to Manchester.

The Vamps - Up All Night (DJ Set)

Tristan and Connor, two of The Vamps’ electrifying members, take to the decks for a DJ set with a twist, blending some of the biggest party hits from the last 20 years, iconic Vamps anthems, and a live performance element.

The Pharcyde + Souls of Mischief

A co-headline tour from the 1990's California jazz hip hop legends who are collaborators with Manchester electronic acts Rae & Christian, and AIM.

Vieux Farka Touré

The Malian Folk, Desert Blues and jazz singer, composer and guitarist has firmly cemented his name and star power alongside his esteemed father Ali Farka Touré, both in songwriting and masterful guitarwork.

Larkin Poe

The Nashville Southern rock'n'roll sisters, compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan, who are descendants of tortured artist and creative genius Edgar Allan Poe.

Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens)

The Brisbane indie pop rocker and award-winning author, best known for his work with Australian indie group The Go-Betweens returns with a new band of Swedish musicians.

Jesca Hoop, Kate Stables (This is the Kit) & Lail Arad - The Songs of Joni Mitchell

An all star tribute to the folk legend from Jesca Hoop, Kate Stables (This is the Kit) and Lail Arad.

Cymande

The 1970's London Psychedelic funk legends return to form, bringing a fresh modern edge to their iconic sound, which remains foundational to early hip-hop and funk.

Merry Hell

Joyful Wigan folk rockers Merry Hell have graced the UK charts with their trademark all-standing, all-dancing, roof-raising traditional folk music.

Tamino

The grandson of one of Egypt's most famed singers, the great Muharram Fouad, Tamino is a spellbinding classically trained Belgian-Egyptian indie folk rocker with a divine falsetto.

Randy Edelman

An intimate performance from the 70s musician and prolific Hollywood film composer whose hits have been covered by the likes of Barry Manilow, The Carpenters, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, Patti LaBelle, Nelly, Dionne Warwick, Olivia Newton-John, Willy Nelson, Shirley Bassey, Nancy Wilson, and even Bing Crosby.

Children of Zeus + Secret Night Gang

Band on The Wall celebrates its 50th anniversary since reopening with the two popular Manchester jazzy soul acts headlining the second of two concerts.

Damien O'Kane & Ron Block Band

Two of the most innovative banjo players on the planet join forces again as Irish maestro Damien O'Kane - a member of Kate Rusby's band - is joined by Texan bluegrass star Ron Block - famed for his work with Alison Krauss & Union Station.

Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage

The New York comic artist who serves up a brilliant style of scuzzy urban indie-rock-folk, like a 21st Century mash-up of Sonic Youth, Pete Seeger and R. Crumb.

The Groove Chorus

A choir of 40 singers, a 9-piece live band, pole dancer and drag queens serve up dance anthems with a disco twist.

Steve'n'Seagulls

The Finnish nutters who combine bluegrass, Finnish folk, classic rock and heavy metal music.

Pete Roth Trio featuring Bill Bruford

The modern jazz act features the incomparable former Yes and King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

An intoxicating cocktail of the 1960s organ jazz stylings of Jimmy Smith and Baby Face Willette; a pinch of the snappy soul strut of Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Meters; and sprinkles Motown Records, Stax Records, blues, and cosmic Jimi Hendrix-style guitar.

Martha Tilston

The Cornwall folk star is heavily influenced by her singer-songwriter father Steve Tilston and renowned folk singer step mother Maggie Boyle, with their musician friends Bert Jansch, John Rebourn and John Martin often gathering and singing in the family kitchen.

Hallé at St Michael's, Manchester + Todmorden
Thu 16 & Sun 19 Oct 2025
Tickets & More Info

Mike Sweeney's 60's Classics

The broadcasting legend performs his last ever 60s show, with guest stars inlcuding Herman's Hermits Karl Green paying tribute to Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, and The Swinging Blue Jeans and remembering Eric Haydock (The Hollies) and Derek Quinn (Freddie and The Dreamers).