AARON CARTER | Manchester Academy 3 | Weds 14 Jan
Sure, most of Aaron Carter's original fan base (predominantly teenage girls) of the early noughties have grown up now but his return to the stage is still expected to draw a large turn-out. Best known for his squeaky-clean pop hits I want Candy and Aaron's Party, the younger brother of Backstreet Boy's Nick Carter will showcase some new stuff. We suspect it's good stuff too...
Aaron Carter
DIE ANTWOORD plus special guests | The Albert Hall | Fri 16 Jan
Granted, Die Antwoord are an odd, and at times a little scary 'rap-rave' duo, but their upcoming performance is sure to be an exciting one. Comprised of South African rappers Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek, Die Antwoord's image forms part of a counterculture movement called 'zef'... no us neither.
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND | Gorilla | Sat 17 Jan
Welsh rockers Funeral For A Friend's much awaited new album Chapter & Verse is to be released in the UK on 19 January 2015. They'll be back with their furious live presence and 'visceral explosions of riffs, screams and melody' that fans have come to know and love.
Funeral For A Friend
SLIPKNOT & KORN | Phones 4U Arena | Tues 20 Jan
Only heavy-metal pioneers Slipknot and Korn could tempt concert-goers into a Prepare For Hell tour. Seven years after their last studio album All Hope Is Gone, Slipknot are donning their horror masks again to incite some serious moshing alongside fellow heavy metal masterminds Korn. Are they new masks chaps?
Slipknot
QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT | Phones 4U Arena | Weds 21 Jan
Rock legends Queen and dynamic American Idol vocalist Adam Lambert welcomed in the New Year with an electric perforformance outside Big Ben for the BBC. This year sees the powerful partnership continue with a six week tour across the UK.
Queen + Lambert
JESSIE J | 02 Apollo | Sat 24 Jan
South London's talented vocal acrobat Jessie J is heading to Manchester following a successful 2014 with her no 1 hit, Bang Bang.
Jessie J
AN EVENING WITH MATT GOSS | The Ritz | Sat 24 Jan
Some say Matt Goss and his twin brother Luke defined the 80s as teen heart-throb band Bros. Matt (now residing in Los Angeles) has been solo since the mid-90s and has a residency in Las Vegas, he now returns to the UK with new and matured music.
Matt+Goss
JESSIE WARE | Manchester Academy | Sun 25 Jan
Back following the release of her sophomore album, Tough Love, soulful songbird Jessie Ware will be making an appearance at Manchester Academy. Best known for songs Strangest Feeling, the singer is often described as a modern Sade.
Jessie Ware
NENEH CHERRY | Gorilla | Thu 29 Jan
These days it seems like everyone dresses like an early 90s Neneh Cherry: big hair, gold earrings, colourful clobber and an ostentatious attitude. Now in her 50s and somewhat grown-up, the Swedish entertainer has made a massive comeback with new album Blank Project and has been met with much critical acclaim.
Neneh Cherry
NIPSEY HUSSLE | Sound Control | Sat 31 Jan
American rapper Nipsey Hussle is set to perform a barnstomper at Sound Control to close out the month. In an industry that's fallen victim to bubble gum lyrics and erroneous dance fads, Hussle has set himself apart as 'the spokesperson the block wants' and is described as having 'the sociopolitical outrage of Ice Cube and N.W.A'. A must-see performance for hip-hop fans.
Nipsey Hussle
