May is a biggie for gigs. From the vast space at Co-op Live, now the UK’s biggest indoor arena, to the intimate surroundings of Band On The Wall in the city centre, there’s something going on every night of the week at this city’s plethora of live music venues.
Read on for our selection of the best gigs and club nights in Manchester in May…
Olivia Rodrigo at Co-op Live
Fast becoming a pop icon after just two albums, Olivia Rodrigo will be landing at Co-op Live on Friday 3 May and Saturday 4 May, 2024, as part of her globe-trotting GUTS world tour.
Craig Charles Funk & Soul Party at Albert Hall
Craig Charles returns to the Albert Hall in Manchester with his legendary Funk & Soul Party on Saturday 4 May. The acclaimed DJ will be joined on stage with live performances from legends Heather Small, The Real Thing and Loose Ends.
Prins Thomas at Let The People In!
Sticky Heat and Sprechen Music return to The Yard for another all-day tear up, culminating in a three-hour odyssey of galactic disco music from Norway’s most eminent practitioner of such things, Full Pupp don Prins Thomas. It kicks off at 2pm, with spectacular sets all day from the likes of Alinka, the Social Service and Suffragette City crews, Rinny, and the Sticky Heat ressies Massey, Marco Giannini and Muddy Feet. It’s indoors, it’s outdoors, it is all things to all ravers.
Orbital at O2 Victoria Warehouse
Electronic duo Orbital have announced a very special headline tour to celebrate their hugely influential seminal debut LP ‘The Green Album’. They will be stopping for a show at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday 4 May 2024.
Slap Funk Bank Holiday Block Party at Progress
Easing into its new season of outdoor day parties, Progress will be hosting the Slap Funk block party, with a sterling line-up running across its two main stages, featuring sets from Youandewan, Back to Basics legend Tristan Da Cunha, Fumiya Tanaka, Samuel Deep, Phone Traxxx, Dr Banana and Laidlaw, while the afterparty will be hosted by Dungeon Meat, Georgia and Loopa. Expect mess.
Tenacious D at AO Arena
American comedy rock duo Tenacious D, aka the ‘greatest band in the world’, made up of Jack Black and Kyle Gass, whipped a 300,000-strong crowd into a frenzy when they headlined the O2 in London last year. Now, they’re bringing their Spicy Meatball Tour and a set full of greatest hits to the North.
Ron Trent at Community
Truly one of the greatest producers of house music to have ever squared up to a Roland 909 drum machine, Chicago’s Ron Trent will be playing an ultra-rare date in Manchester at the Band On The Wall, via Irfan Rainy’s long-running party collective, Community. After a much-lauded set at this year’s Southport Weekender, expect the emotions to be running high and the spiritual vibes thick in the air.
The Japanese House
The Japanese House has announced a string of UK dates in May, closing the tour at Manchester’s historic Albert Hall on Friday 10 May. The tour supports her critically-acclaimed second studio album In The End It Always Does, which is out now.
Greg Wilson Music Is Better 20th Anniversary at YES
Greg Wilson celebrates two decades since his DJ comeback at Music Is Better in Manchester with a special, one-off party at YES. A more intimate affair, in contrast to his last date at the Warehouse Project, this will be up close and personal, in the venue’s basement space. The night will also feature Danny Webb and Solid State, who both played the original event in 2004.
S.O.S. Band at Band On The Wall
The absolutely legendary S.O.S. Band will be arriving in Manchester for a very special show at the Band on the Wall, bringing their classic electro-soul sounds from iconic tracks like Just Be Good To Me, The Finest and Take Your Time. In support will be Meli’sa Morgan & Glenn Jones, and if it wasn’t a solid night out, Colin Curtis, one of the city’s very finest selectors, will be spinning beforehand too.
Manchester Music for Gaza at The Klondyke
Manchester Music For Gaza launch their first event to raise funds and awareness of the ongoing situation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The all-day event will be packed with incredible live music and some of the country’s best DJs, plus poets, speakers, and family activities, with great food and drink. There will be live music from acts including Reem Anbar, Heavy Salad, Seaming To, Toolshed (from 808 State’s Graham Massey), and DJs including Kath McDermott, Andy Votel, James Holroyd, Rob Bright and Abigail Ward.
Dionne Warwick at The Lowry
Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Dionne Warwick, one of the most successful vocalists in history, heads to The Lowry in Salford for a special show. The artist behind timeless hits including Say A Little Prayer and Don’t Make Me Over will appear on stage to take visitors on an unforgettable journey through her life story and musical career.
Elbow at Co-op Live
Elbow are returning to their home city of Manchester in May to celebrate the release of their tenth studio album. Since forming in Bury in 1997, the acclaimed band have gone on to huge success with stand out singles including Magnificent, Grounds for Divorce and One Day Like This.
Dea Matrona at Night and Day
Irish rock band Dea Matrona head to Night and Day in the Northern Quarter on Tuesday 14 May. The duo, made up of school friends Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe, play a string of dates to mark the release of their highly-anticipated debut album For Your Sins, which is released on 3 May.
Manchester Jazz Festival
First staged in the summer of 1996, Manchester Jazz Festival is the city’s longest running music festival, and it returns this month. The annual celebration sees hundreds of musicians perform at venues across the city, including the RNCM, Stoller Hall, Matt & Phreds, Band On The Wall and loads more. There will also be a special launch event at First Street as part of the opening weekend.
Keep It Unreal x MJF with Nu Genea at Band on the Wall
Mr Scruff has put together a stunner of a line-up for this Manchester Jazz Festival instalment of his decades-running Keep It Unreal night. He’ll be joined on the ones and twos by Napoli’s very own Massimo Di Lena and Lucio Aquilina, better known as italo-dons Nu Genea who’ll be performing on decks with live keys. In the back room, the mighty Me Gusta will be bringing the party madness, with able assistance from Léna C.
Girls Aloud at AO Arena
In 2002, Cheryl, Kimberley, Nadine, Nicola and Sarah were voted the winners of reality show Popstars: The Rivals and formed legendary pop band Girls Aloud. Over 21 years later, to celebrate this milestone with all of their fans, Girls Aloud embark on a huge arena tour – including a stop in Manchester. Performing on three consecutive nights at the AO Arena on 23, 24 and 25 May, Girls Aloud’s hugely anticipated shows will feature all of the band’s hits including Sound Of The Underground, The Promise and Love Machine.
Danny Brown at O2 Ritz
Detroit-raised MC Danny Brown heads to the O2 Ritz in Manchester in celebration of his sixth studio album, Quaranta, the critically lauded set he released in 2023 via pioneering UK electronic label Warp, with beats from the likes of The Alchemist and Quelle Chris. One of the most unique MCs to emerge in decades, as well as being an electric on-stage presence, his UK tour marks his first solo work in more than four years. Don’t miss this.
Kamaal Williams at The Blues Kitchen
Kamaal Williams brings his jazz, hip hop and slick broken beat styles to the Blues Kitchen’s concert hall for a night of genre-spanning compositions. The Peckham-born maestro and musical polymath rose to prominence with drummer Yussef Dayes, forming the band Yussef Kamaal and catching the ear of Gilles Peterson and Brownswood, who signed them.
Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont Sunday Club Day Party at The White Hotel
Head down to The White Hotel in Salford for a celebration of UK garage in all its glorious forms with this Sunday Club Day Party on Sunday 26 May. Headlined by Tuff Jam legend and all-round garage royalty Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont, the line-up also features Huddersfield don DJ Q B2B with Finn as well as sets from BFTT and Esqueezy.
Corella at O2 Ritz
Manchester’s homegrown boys Corella have announced a UK headline tour, as well as a string of festival dates to support their upcoming, highly-anticipated debut album Once Upon A Weekend on Friday 3 May. Corella will play at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on Friday 31 May.
The Eagles at Co-op Live
Co-Op Live, Manchester’s huge new events arena, has announced it will host The Eagles’ final ever UK shows, as part of their global Long Goodbye tour. The Eagles have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, scored six number one albums and topped the singles charts five times.
Fabiana Palladino at YES
In unveiling her long-awaited, self-titled debut set, Fabiana Palladino might have released the album of the year (sometimes you just know). Daughter of bass icon Pino Palladino – who’s played with everyone from The Who to D’Angelo – it’s a stunning collection of lush, 80s-inspired dream pop, produced by the generally incomparable Jai Paul for his much-lauded Paul Institute imprint. See her in the intimate auspices of the Pink Room at YES before she leaves such bijou venues in her dust.
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