HOZIER | O2 Apollo | Saturday 9 January
Despite irking a pastor or two, Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s controversial Take Me To Church was a worldwide hit and won multiple awards for its powerful lyrics and portrayal of religious hypocrisy - setting the bar high for his eponymous album. Expect soulful vocals and thoughtful verse, then, as the Irish singer-songwriter visits the O2.
O2 Apollo, Stockport Road, M12 6AP (7pm; tickets from £55 at ticketmaster.co.uk).
STRINGS FESTIVAL | Royal Northern College of Music | 9-10 January
Showcasing the cream of both students and staff, RNCM’s String Festival comprises six major ensembles, acclaimed cellist Miklós Perényi and a closing gala featuring Brahms’ Double Concerto. There’ll also be workshops and exhibitions, making it a perfect classic sampler for novices and experts alike.
Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, M13 9R (various times; tickets from £25 at rncm.ac.uk).
THE MACCABEES | Albert Hall | Monday 18 January & Tuesday 19 January
Fresh off the back of their first number one album, Marks To Prove It, the UK's biggest band right now, The Maccabees are playing Manchester's Albert Hall over two nights as part of a 14-date UK tour.
Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR (7pm; tickets £25 from alberthall.seetickets.com)
The MaccabeesDAUGHTER | Albert Hall | Thursday 21 January
Daughter rose from obscurity after winning over audiences at Mumford & Sons' live music nights. Since then the indie folk band have played headlining tours globally, made the UK album charts and garnered rave reviews for a uniquely ethereal sound that bleeds with emotion.
Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR (7pm; tickets £19.25 from alberthall.seetickets.com)
THE CORRS | Manchester Arena | Sunday 24 January
Forgiven not Forgotten, The Corrs are back in Manchester after a fifteen-year hiatus. The glamorous Irish siblings will perform tracks from brand new album White Light, featuring their signature blend of traditional Celtic music with pop rock accents, alongside past hits like Breathless and Radio.
Manchester Arena, Victoria Station, M3 1AR (tickets from £34.95 at eventim.co.uk).
The CorrsBOWLING FOR SOUP | Manchester Academy | Friday 5 February
Despite a ‘farewell’ tour in 2013, this year sees BFS bowl back into Manchester for their ‘How About Another Round Tour’ - apparently ‘it was farewell not goodbye’ for the tongue-in-cheek punk /heavy metal rockers. The band may have aged but their music hasn’t, cheesing up each decade with singles like Almost and 1985.
Manchester University Union, Oxford Road, M13 9PR (7pm; tickets £22 at manchesteracademy.net).
JESS GLYNNE | O2 Apollo | Thursday 18 February
Since rising to prominence on Clean Bandit’s Rather Be, Jess Glynne has become a mean, lean hit-making machine. Song-writing prowess coupled with strong, distinctive vocals have spurned five number ones including Hold My Hand, Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself and Not Letting Go.
O2 Apollo, Stockport Road, M12 6AP (7pm; tickets from £94 at ticketmaster.co.uk).
Jess GlynneMARINA AND THE DIAMONDS | Manchester Academy | Thursday 18 February
Marina Lambrini Diamandis refuses to be typecast, with a musical style that’s as eclectic as her fashion sense. Spanning myriad genres of pop, she is perhaps best known for Electra Heart lead single Primadonna. Froot, released in March 2015, became her third top ten UK album.
Manchester University Union, Oxford Road, M13 9PR (7pm; tickets £24.20 from manchesteracademy.net).
LEONA LEWIS | Bridgewater Hall | Wednesday 24 February
It’s almost a decade since Leona Lewis won X Factor but her ability to fuse raw power with emotional fragility has withstood the test of time. Alongside hits like Bleeding Love, the bestselling single of 2008, Lewis will lend her four-octave vocal range to latest studio album I Am.
Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS (7pm; tickets from £31.50 at tickets.bridgewater-hall.co.uk).
FOXES | O2 Ritz | Saturday 27 February
With songs like Youth and Holding onto Heaven, Louisa Rose Allen has become something of a chart vixen - making her alias increasingly fitting. The fashionista will perform songs from both All I Need and debut album Glorious. Let Go for Tonight...
O2 Ritz, Whitworth Street West, M1 5NQ (6.30pm; tickets £16 at ticketmaster.co.uk).
Foxes
