BELOW you'll find ten of the best gigs and concerts in and around Manchester throughout July and August. Not your bag? Well then how about the Top 10 Exhibitions or Top 10 Theatre and Comedy shows?
AIDAN MOFFAT | HOME | Friday 1 July
Scottish cult pop raconteur and former Arab Strap front man Aidan Moffat will be performing an acoustic set at HOME, following a screening of his new film Where You’re Meant To Be. Directed by Paul Fegan, the feature documentary follows Moffat as he plans a tour of Scotland, performing modern reinterpretations of old folk songs. The only thing standing in his way? Sheila Stewart, a feisty 79-year-old balladeer.
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, M15 4FN (8.30pm; tickets from £7 at homemcr.org).
FAC51 THE HACIENDA | Albert Hall | Saturday 2 July
If you missed out on Sound of the City’s Hacienda Classical, Albert Hall has the perfect antidote: another mega line-up featuring Detroit's techno innovator Derrick May and acid house legends Justin Robertson & Jon Dasilva. They will be joined by local music maverick A Guy called Gerald, who helped to define the Manchester house scene with hits like Voodo Ray and Pacific State.
Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR (10pm-4am; tickets from £24.75 at alberthall.seetickets.com).
Albert HallBEYONCE | Emirates Old Trafford | Tuesday 5 July
Beyonce sashays into Old Trafford this month for her Formation World Tour, promoting new album Lemonade. Not only can audiences expect a dynamic assortment of hits, from up-tempo tunes like Crazy in Love to emotional ballads like Love on Top, the production and staging is set to be a ‘game-changer’. Cue dazzling outfits, clever choreography and some jaw-dropping effects. ‘Queen Bey’ doesn’t do things by halves.
Emirates Old Trafford, Talbot Road, Old Trafford, M16 0PX (7.30pm; tickets from £81.25 at ticketmaster.co.uk).
RICK ASTLEY | O2 Ritz | Wednesday 6 July
There aren’t many people who could top the UK album charts after a 29-year hiatus, but Rick Astley is one of them. The Never Gonna Give You Up crooner also won ‘Best Act Ever’ by internet users at the 2008 MTV awards and now returns with his eighth studio album 50, which fittingly begins with Keep on Singing. The pop icon will be ‘Rickrolling’ into the Ritz for a healthy dose of nostalgia, spliced with his signature brand of wit.
O2 Ritz, Whitworth Street West, M1 5NQ (7.30pm; tickets £17 at ticketweb.co.uk).
Rick AstleyTIRED LION | Gullivers | Friday 15 July
Tired Lion are fast gaining attention outside of their native Oz homeland - as indicated by the fact they’re now playing gigs on the other side of the world. Fronted by the enigmatic Sophie Hopes, the indie rock quartet’s infectious melodies are brought forth with raw honesty and intensity; a refreshing take on nineties classics.
Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, M4 1LW (7.30pm; tickets £7 at gulliversnq.info).
KEY 103 SUMMER LIVE | Manchester Arena | Saturday 16 July
Key 103 plays like a Spotify Charts list, drawing some of pop’s biggest names for an evening of crowd-pleasing hits in one of the world’s biggest arenas. Acts this year include OneRepublic, Years and Years, Sigala, Craig David and Clean Bandit. Whilst sun can’t be guaranteed, a great night certainly can.
Manchester Arena, Victoria Station, Hunts Bank, M3 1AR (7.30pm; tickets from £29.90 at eventim.co.uk).
Clean BanditMIRANDA SINGS | O2 Apollo | Wednesday 17 August
Not one to go to if you’d rather not hear your favourite songs completely massacred...but, for comedy value, Miranda comes top of the class. The enigmatic YouTube star has amassed over 24 million views with her humorous takes on some of our most popular songs; characterised by off-key wailing, unusually active eyebrows and dubious facial quirks. A social commentary? Perhaps, but a light-hearted one nevertheless.
O2 Apollo, Stockport Road, M12 6AP (doors 8pm, starts 9.30pm; tickets £35.88 at seetickets.com).
THE WINACHI TRIBE | Gorilla | Saturday 20 August
Danny Saber said the Winachi Tribe’s music ‘blew his head off’; high praise coming from someone who’s worked with everyone from Madonna to the Rolling Stones. The electro funk band will be joined by Manc-based hip hop collective The Moods, Leeds’ Happy Daggers and Salford’s new indie wordsmiths, Strangest of Saints.
Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, M1 5WW (6.30-10pm; tickets £8.80 at gorilla.seetickets.com).
Winachi TribePRIDE BIG WEEKEND | Citywide | 26-29 August
Gear up for 72 hours of mayhem and music, because Manchester’s annual Pride party is almost upon us. Set to draw tens of thousands of revellers to the Village and surrounds, this year’s Big Weekend line-up includes M People’s Heather Small, X Factor’s Lucy Spraggan and Brit award-winner Will Young. These will be joined by a host of familiar events; including reflective candlelit vigil, LGBT expo and, of course, the lively Pride parade.
Various times and venues; check the website.
THE WHO | Manchester Arena | Wednesday 31 August
The legendary rockers are back, promising to take fans on an ‘amazing Journey’ through their entire career from the days of The High Numbers to classic albums such as Who’s Next, Tommy, Quadrophenia, and My Generation, up to the present day.
Manchester Arena, Victoria Station, Hunts Bank, M3 1AR (7.30pm; tickets from £67.75 at manchester-arena.com).
The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend
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