WHAT'S ON AT MANCHESTER ACADEMY, MANCHESTER
Manchester Academy is four independent venues all (almost) under one roof, located on campus at The University Of Manchester. The venues are Academy 1,2,3 and Club Academy. The original student union building was built in 1957, the Academy in 1990, with Buzzcocks being the first band to play there. Following a refurb, capacity grew to around 2600 for Academy 1, 950 for Academy 2, 450 for Academy 3, and 650 for Club Academy.
Manchester Academy attracts a varied wealth of local and worldwide artists, including Adele, Nirvana, Blur, Oasis, David Bowie, Bruno Mars, Inspiral Carpets, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga. It is often referred to as one of the UK’s greenest venues, making substantial steps towards minimising environmental impact and improving sustainability.
Enjoy exciting shows, events, concerts and premieres at these four live music venues. Events to look forward to include Throwing Muses, Tim Gallagher, Joeboy, Bootleg Blondie, A Thousand Horses, Manchester Psych Fest 25, and Goldie Lookin Chain. See what's on at Manchester Academy below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Manchester Academy, Manchester
What's On at Manchester Academy, Manchester
Pygmy Twylyte - The Music of Frank Zappa

Club Academy
Friday 7 November 2025
Navigating the vast Zappa oeuvre then is no mean feat, but Scotland's Pygmy Twylyte have embraced the challenge with gusto. So prolific was Frank Zappa's output, that it is nearly impossible to present a representative sample of his work in...The Plot in You

Academy 1
Saturday 8 November 2025
With an eclectic style and creative flair Ohio rock band The Plot in You have spent years crafting their unique take on modern rock, transcending genres from metalcore to alternative. ...The Bluetones

Club Academy
Saturday 8 November 2025
Formed in 1993, Britpop legends The Bluetones had an impressive run of hit singles throughtout the late 90's/early 00's, including 'Bluetonic', 'Slight Return', 'Marblehead Johnson', 'Solomon Bites The Worm', 'If' and 'Keep the Fires Burnin...Urzila Carlson

Academy 1
Sunday 9 November 2025
 Multi award-winning South African-New Zealander Urzila Carlson is back with her brand-new show, You Don't Say. Urzila's chart-topping premiere podcast That's Enough Already! sees her discussing everything that frustrates her guest, and...Billie Marten

Academy 3
Thursday 13 November 2025
Raised in the rolling hills of North Yorkshire on artists such as Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, and Kate Bush, critically acclaimed acoustic singer-songwriter Isabella Tweddle, aka Billie Marten, recorded her debut album 'Wri...Absolute Bowie - Tribute to David Bowie

Club Academy
Saturday 15 November 2025
There will only ever be one David Bowie, he was unique in every way and an inspiration to millions. Absolute Bowie continue to celebrate the life and music of the Starman with a spectacular show uniting Bowie fans across the UK. Absolute Bo...UK Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters Tribute Band

Academy 3
Saturday 15 November 2025
This world-famous tribute band takes you on a journey spanning 25 years of music from the now legendary rockers Foo Fighters and their charismatic leader, Dave Grohl. They absolutely nail the true vibe of a Foos live experience, all perfor...Lawrence

Academy 1
Thursday 20 November 2025
Lawrence is an eight-piece soul-pop band comprised of musician friends from childhood and college, led by brother-sister duo Clyde and Gracie Lawrence. The New York band has gained a devoted following for its high-energy, keyboard-driven so...Lawrence

Manchester Academy, Manchester
Thursday 20 November 2025
Lawrence is an eight-piece soul-pop band comprised of musician friends from childhood and college, led by brother-sister duo Clyde and Gracie Lawrence. The New York band has gained a devoted following for its high-energy, keyboard-driven so...Killer Rhapsody - A Night of Queen

Academy 3
Friday 21 November 2025
Now in their 10th year, Killer Rhapsody remain one of the hottest and most riveting tributes to Freddie Mercury and Queen. Publicly endorsed and featured on none other then Dr Brian Mays Guitars. Performing a spectacular show, running for o...The Lilacs

Academy 1
Saturday 22 November 2025
Wigan band The Lilacs have hit the scene with a bang already performing on stages at Manchester Academy, o2 Ritz and London's O2 Academy Islington ...Moving Pictures - A Tribute to the Music of Rush

Academy 2
Saturday 22 November 2025
Scottish power trio Moving Pictures play for over two hours covering all the Rush classics such as Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio and Xanadu (with doubleneck guitars) plus some deeper cuts such as By Tor and later belters such as Far Cry a...Arthur Hill

Academy 1
Sunday 23 November 2025
 Arthur Hill is a multifaceted talent making waves both in the music industry and the world of TikTok. Hailing from Buckinghamshire, Arthur has seamlessly blended his musical prowess with a flair for comedic content, captivating audiences...Ozric Tentacles

Academy 2
Sunday 23 November 2025
Formed in 1983 with a debt to jazz fusion as well as space rock, Ozric Tentacles are a band from another time, serving as the bridge from '70s cosmic rock to the organic dance and festival culture that came back into fashion during the '90...The Saints '73-'78

Academy 2
Monday 24 November 2025
One of the most influential punk bands of all time, Australian rockers The Saints were formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1973 by singer-songwriter Chris Bailey, drummer Ivor Hay, and guitarist-songwriter Ed Kuepper. According to Bob Geldof,...Lil Tracy

Academy 1
Wednesday 26 November 2025
For years, Jazz Butler has consistently remained an innovator of alternative hip-hop. Best known as Lil Tracy, Butler has also gained acclaim for his music under various names including Yung Bruh, Souljawitch, Tracy Minajj, and others. As a...Electric Six

Club Academy
Wednesday 26 November 2025
Detroit's fun-loving alternative garage rock collective Electric Six celebrate 20 years of their UK Top 10 debut album "Fire" in 2003. The high-octane collection, mixing garage rock, disco, punk, new wave, and metal into cleverly dumb, in-y...Evil Scarecrow

Academy 3
Thursday 27 November 2025
This fabulous, fun and as-brilliant-as-they-are-bonkers band will be bringing their unique brand of metal, mayhem and madness to several shows across the UK. With a brand-new line up, version 5.0 of Evil Scarecrow continues to captivate, de...Bad Manners

Academy 2
Friday 28 November 2025
Buster Bloodvessel, one of the biggest characters in Ska, has stayed loyal to the music and has become as influential as he is entertaining with his band Bad Manners, who are best known for their biggest hits, "Lip Up Fatty" (UK No.15 in 19...Morgan Wallen Tribute UK

Academy 3
Friday 28 November 2025
The UK's first tribute to Country mega star Morgan Wallen with a full live band, comprised of some of the UK's finest musicians, takes you on a musicaljourney through the hits of this world record-breaking artist. Morgan Wallen's meteoric r...The Gerry Cinna-man Experience + Cortinas

Academy 3
Saturday 29 November 2025
The ultimate tribute to Gerry Cinnamon is back with special guests Cortinas!...Arctic Numpties - Tribute to Arctic Monkeys

Academy 3
Saturday 6 December 2025
Barnsley and Sheffield's premium tribute to Arctic Monkeys, playing hits from all their albums. ...Katatonia

Academy 2
Sunday 7 December 2025
 Considered by many to be one of Sweden's most prominent metal bands, Katatonia's long, storied career has seen them shift from a rough, sludge-like doom metal sound to a more streamlined approach that embraces prog rock, assonant vocal h...Divorce

Manchester Academy, Manchester
Wednesday 10 December 2025
For Nottingham quartet Divorce, home is a feeling. Initially meeting as teenagers through the city's close-knit DIY scene, the band came together as Divorce in mid-2021, releasing a slew of genre-defiant singles that quickly caught the atte...Pogue Traders - Tribute to The Pogues

Ultimate Coldplay - Tribute to Coldplay

Academy 3
Friday 12 December 2025
A live tribute to Coldplay and performing all the Coldplay hits and more in a brilliant sound and look-a-like show. The vocals, mannerisms and atmosphere these guys deliver are second to none. Giving the audience that same high energy perfo...The Slow Readers Club

Academy 1
Saturday 13 December 2025
Manchester's The Slow Readers Club deliver an energetic blend of driving drums and infectious guitar lines with evocative verses and anthemic choruses, imbued with their idiosyncratic brand of insightful and confronting lyricism, all set a...Pink By Vicky Jackson

Academy 3
Saturday 13 December 2025
Vicky Jackson's tribute to Pink has been a run-away success and has consistently been her most booked act since 2008. Whilst the Pink tribute show was not her first tribute act, Vicky found herself being compared both physically and vocally...Orange Goblin

Academy 2
Saturday 13 December 2025
Originally formed in London under the name 'Our Haunted Kingdom' back in 1995, celebrated UK metal greats Orange Goblin entered the world of heavy music as wide-eyed enthusiasts, eager to channel the fire & fury of their favourite bands. Em...Clutch

Academy 1
Friday 19 December 2025
While musical trends have come and gone since Clutch originally formed in Maryland, USA in 1991, they've always thrived by just sitting back and doing their own thing. Coming from American punk and hardcore influenced roots, they moved more...Black Grape

Academy 1
Saturday 20 December 2025
Featuring Happy Mondays legend Shaun William Ryder and Ruthless Rap Assassins frontman Paul "Kermit" Leveridge, Black Grape could only have been made in Manchester. The swagger, fun and cryptic humour seem hewn from a city historian AJP Tay...New Purple Celebration - Music of Prince - Last Manchester Show

Manchester Academy, Manchester
Friday 9 January 2026
Come Celebrate the life, legacy and the music of Prince....The Blue Stones

Academy 2
Thursday 5 February 2026
The Canadian blues rock band showcase an incredibly diverse palette of influence. Although they're a duo, it's unfair to limit the comparisons just to The Black Keys and The White Stripes. The weight of Led Zeppelin, the grit of Jimi Hendri...Avatar

Academy 1
Sunday 15 February 2026
A mix of Nu Metal, melodic Death Metal and their always expanding dark roots, Gothenburg, Sweden's AVATAR the band, featuring His Royal Highness The King ("Kungen") and his elite backing orchestra offer superior examples of how metal should...Creedence Clearwater Review - Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute

Club Academy
Thursday 26 - Friday 27 February 2026
Creedence Clearwater Review are the UK's premier tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of America's greatest bands who, despite their relatively short career, left an enduring legacy of classic songs written and sung by lead guitaris...Punk Rock Factory

Academy 1
Friday 6 March 2026
High energy, punk rock powerhouses Punk Rock Factory make easy work of their special brand of punk covers - including a UK no.48 album consisting entirely of Disney classics - gaining an online following of over a million fans across the m...Live/Wire - The AC/DC Show
