As we leave festival season and outdoor gigs well and truly behind us for another year, there’s plenty of dance floors to get on this October.
From the multi-venue music festivals to live orchestral performances of our favourite tv shows, here’s our pick of the best this month…
Bowling For Soup at Aviva Studios
Aviva Studios host punk rock legends Bowling For Soup in February as they celebrate 20 years of their legendary album A Hangover You Don’t Deserve. Hailing form Texas, the band have enjoyed a hugely successful career since they formed in 1994, attracting a global fan base. The High School Never Ends singers perform in Manchester on Saturday 8 February 2025 at the home of Factory International.
Black Creative Trailblazers at Aviva Studios
Black Creative Trailblazers present their annual showcase at Aviva Studios in October. Taking place during Black History Month, guests can expect dynamic performances by Black musicians, poets and dancers, as well as fashion shows by independent designers and an art exhibition showcasing work by Black artists. The show will respond to this year’s theme of Black Resistance. Black Creative Trailblazers serves as a launchpad for emerging talent, with past participants featuring in London Fashion Week, Glastonbury and Netflix productions. The showcase highlights the exceptional contributions of Black artists, offering them significant exposure and opportunities for career advancement.
Public Service Broadcasting at Night & Day
To celebrate the launch of their new LP, The Last Flight, Piccadilly Records bring the brilliant Public Service Broadcasting to Night And Day. The London-based band will play an exclusive and intimate live set at the Northern Quarter venue on Friday 4 October.
Rødhåd at The White Hotel
Rødhåd, Berghain regular, co-founder of Berlin’s legendary Dystopian parties and associated label, is like a living viking. But replacing the pillaging and whatnot with firm techno. Not tech house, for the scoop-neck t-shirt business techno bros, but the real stuff, deep and funky. He hits Meat Free for its hook up with Milan-based party Closer, with Blasha & Allatt rubbing up against Closer resident Yamila. For the extremely hardy, the afterparty kicks off at 8am on Saturday morning at the DBA, with Aalice, Habgud and Rorschack once the WH kicks out.
Neighbourhood Festival 2024
Manchester’s best and biggest multi-venue festival returns this year, set to take over the city centre on Saturday 5 October. The event will be headlined by rock band Pale Waves, who formed in Manchester in 2014, joined by fellow local heroes Corella, Anthony Szmierek and Seb Lowe. The line-up also includes the likes of ADMT, Red Rum Club, Villanelle and loads more upcoming and emerging artists. The festival has previously hosted acts including BRIT Award winners Sam Fender, Mabel and Holly Humberstone as well as live favourites Yungblud, Mahalia and The Lathums. Venues taking part include Albert Hall, Gorilla and O2 Ritz.
Mr Scruff X MC Kwasi: 25 Years of Keep It Unreal
Join Stretford’s absolute finest, the inimitable Mr Scruff and his longtime MC Kwasi as they celebrate 25 years of the legendary club night Keep It Unreal. With six hours of tunes, expect to hear the full gamut of soul, jazz, hip hop, house, electro, disco, techno, Afro, latin, dub and probably every single point in between. The first Keep It Unreal, back in 1999, was the launch party for Scruff’s album of the same name, and it endures today. After a year at Planet K and 10 years at the Music Box, the night moved to Band On The Wall in 2009, where it remains a jewel in the crown of this stately music venue. A momentous achievement from perhaps the nicest man in the Manchester music scene.
Planet Earth III Live In Concert at AO Arena
Following on from the critically acclaimed Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II Live In Concert tours, Planet Earth III Live In Concert will come to the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday 6 October. The show features breath-taking footage from the latest series of the much-loved programme, shown in 4K ultra high definition on a gigantic LED screen. Playing alongside, the concert will feature a remarkable score by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and Sara Barone for Bleeding Fingers Music, performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic orchestra. Hans Zimmer said: “Creating scores for any of the BBC’s Natural History series is always an honour for me as there are no more epic stories than those occurring naturally every day in our own planet’s ecosystem. For Planet Earth III it’s been a further privilege to work with the incredible world class talents of Bastille who created wonderful vocals on the soundscape for the series, and RAYE with her a beautiful, poignant prequel track”.
Joan As Police Woman at Band On The Wall
Iconic American singer-songwriter and producer Joan Wasser, aka Joan As Police Woman, performs in Manchester this October. Well known for her time in The Dambuilders, Those B*stard Souls and ANONHI and The Johnsons, she stops off at Band On The Wall on Monday 7 October as part of a string of European live dates. Do not miss.
Life On Our Planet In Concert at The Bridgewater Hall
Ground-breaking documentary series Life On Our Planet has been transformed into a spectacular audio-visual live experience. Telling the incredible story of the earth’s four-billion-year journey of life, the show will tour across eight UK venues, including a date at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. Life On Our Planet In Concert will show the drama of the series on the big screen, accompanied by an epic soundtrack composed by Lorne Balfe and performed by some of the country’s finest orchestras.
Crowded House at Co-op Live
Multi-platinum rock band Crowded House will perform a run of huge dates as part of their Gravity Stairs UK and European tour. Following the release of their eighth studio album of the same name, the tour will arrive at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Tuesday 8 October.
Solardo x The Drop at The Yard
Tech house dons Solardo are set to play an intimate homecoming gig. A collaboration between charity Headstock and Skiddle, the gig will launch The Drop – a new event series fusing uplifting house music and good mental health. Taking place on Thursday 10 October, which is World Mental Health Day, the gig will be the first edition of The Drop, with Solardo supported by rising stars Shimrise.
Beyond The Music Festival 2024
Following a successful inaugural year, Beyond The Music is set to once again take over venues across the Northern Quarter to showcase and celebrate a diverse range of upcoming talent. The live programme also runs alongside the world-class conference, held just across the city at Aviva Studios. The line-up for the three day festival has been selected by a group of selected curators, which includes the likes of Chris Hawkins (BBC Radio 6 Music), GigPig, Unity Radio, Headstock and more. Acts performing across stages include Adjua, Little Strange, Renee Stormz, J Chambers, Lucy Deakin and loads more. In addition to its night time music programme, Beyond The Music conference will span twelve summits, four keynotes, ten networking sessions, talks, and exclusive announcements. This year’s delegate programme welcomes some of the most influential voices in music, tech and content, including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Rebecca Ferguson MBE (artist), Tony Harlow (Warner Music UK), Dotty (Apple Music) and loads more. The conversations will uncover solutions on some of the most pressing challenges in the music and content sector, this year asking ‘Is It Time For The Music Industry’s Great Reset?’ The keynote speaker will be Manchester’s very own Aitch, who will chat to Dotty, host of The Dotty Show on Apple Music.
FAC51 The Haçienda presents – HAÇIENDA THREADS at New Century
Celebrate the launch of the new book all about The Haçienda with the people who were there. This very special book launch, taking place at New Century, will explore the music, fashion, people and love surrounding the legacy of the Manchester nightclub. The special In Conversation event will dive into the stories and memories that defined a generation. The panel will be hosted by the journalist Paul Flynn and will feature renowned figures from the Haçienda alumni, including New Order’s Peter Hook, resident DJs Graeme Park and Greg Wilson, general manager Ang Matthews and Flesh promoter Paul Cons. Also joining the discussion, fashion designer Ian Griffiths, Manchester’s alt-cabaret legend The Divine David Hoyle, Angela Murray of the legendary fetish label Murray & Vern, music legend Noel Gallagher and Mani from the Stone Roses.
A.R. Kane at The White Hotel
A revisionist view of the wildly influential A.R. Kane would find them at the epicentres of everything from shoegaze to trip hop to dream pop to acid house, even toying with the charts via their collaboration on pioneering crossover rave anthem Pump Up The Volume as M/A/R/R/S/. Those who know, know. Those who don’t should get to. They play Eat Bodies at The White Hotel, with support from Action.
Lauryn Hill at Co-op Live
Among the most talented singers, songwriters and rappers of her generation Lauryn Hill will be coming to Co-op Live in October, joining forces once again with the legendary Fugees.
Responsible for one of the greatest soul albums of all time, Grammy-trawling The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill blew minds on its release in 1998 and continues to blow minds today, with tracks like Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor and Everything Is Everything still on regular rotation. As The Fugees, with Wyclef Jean and Pras, they released The Score in 1996, an album which went seven times platinum and even now is one of the most-streamed hip hop albums of all time.
Overmono at The Warehouse Project
Electronic duo Overmono are to curate a day-into-night club event at The Warehouse Project this autumn, bringing in some of the UK’s biggest artists to play alongside them. Taking place on Saturday 12 October, Overmono will top the bill with a live set, also bringing with them legendary dubstep pioneers Skream & Benga. They will be joined in the cavernous Depot by Sammy Virji, Joy Orbison, Manchester’s own Interplanetary Criminal, Emerald, Surusinghe and Tia Cousins. Meanwhile, on the Concourse, Ewan McVicar will play a headline back-to-back set with Special Request, with support coming from the likes of Ben UFO, KI/KI, Blawan, DJ Fuck Off, DJ Love and Aletha. In the Archive room, there will be sets from Breakage, Blumitsu, Sam Gellaitry, RHR, Gyrofield, Saint Ludo and Zuri.
Alice Cooper at AO Arena
Alice Cooper loves a bit of Manchester. The undisputed heavy metal legend was here just last year, performing with Hollywood Vampires, his supergroup which includes Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Johnny Depp. He even turned up at Affleck’s for a spot of vintage shopping. 76-years-young, he returns to the UK with his new tour Too Close For Comfort, bringing his crew to Manchester’s Co-op Live on Thursday 17 October. As if Alice alone wasn’t a draw, he will be joined some dudes by the name of Primal Scream in support.
Becky Hill at AO Arena
Singer-songwriter Becky Hill is set to grace stages across the UK this month, including a headline slot in Manchester. The BRIT Award winner will perform at the AO Arena on Sunday 20 October.Becky said: “This is my biggest tour yet! ARENAS HERE I COME!! I can’t wait to play all my hits for you as well as tracks from my new album. See you there for a party!”
The 5. 6. 7. 8’s at Band On The Wall
World-renowned all-female Japanese rock band from Tokyo, The 5. 6. 7. 8’s perform live in Manchester on Sunday 20 October. The trio rose to global fame after appearing in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill Vol. 1’, in which they performed a number of songs in a Tokyo club. Head down to Band On The Wall to see them live.
Ben Howard at Aviva Studios
Ben Howard celebrates the anniversary of his number one sophomore album I Forget Where We Were with a huge gig at Manchester’s Aviva Studios for Factory International. Released in 2014 as the follow up to debut LP Every Kingdom, I Forget Where We Were helped to make the Brit Award-winner a household name. He has since gone on to tour the globe, performing on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage and recently releasing his 5th studio album Is It? The show at Aviva Studios will see him perform the album live, in full.
Razorlight at Band On The Wall
Noughties indie rockers Razorlight are back with a new album. They celebrate the forthcoming release of LP Planet Nowhere with an intimate headline tour this Autumn. The In the Morning hitmakers will play at Manchester’s Band On The Wall on Monday 21 October.
Valves and Brassive Attack at The White Hotel
The White Hotel present the latest original performance from The Commission for New and Old Art – VALVES. A full 25-piece brass beast of a band from Hebden Bridge, the wonderfully named Brassive Attack, will perform new work by Ivor Novello-winning composer Oliver Vibrans, featuring concert horn soloist Ben Goldscheider and the vacuum tube valve synthesiser, invented by Agnes Cameron and Lydia Phillips.
Disclosure presents Family & Friends at The Warehouse Project
Disclosure return to Depot Mayfield in October for another huge takeover at The Warehouse Project. The dance duo will curate all three rooms, with the line-up featuring Folamour, a DJ set from Floating Points, DJ BORING b2b Sam Alfred, Jyoty, Sally C and many more.
Black Coffee at The Warehouse Project
The legendary Black Coffee, undisputed king of South Africa’s dominating house music scene, returns to The Warehouse Project in October after his debut set last year. Playing his only UK show outside of London, he’ll lead the charge at the main Depot stage, where he will be joined by grime icon Skepta, who will bring his Más Tiempo show to Manchester.
Deep house originator Kerri ‘Kaoz’ Chandler and South African DJ and producer Desiree complete the Depot stage line-up, whilst the unique 360° booth at the Concourse is set to welcome the fabulous Jayda G alongside TSHA, Themba, William Djoko and Krysko. Meanwhile, under the arches of the Archive, Jaimiie, Airrica and FKA Mash will take to the controls, while able support comes from Mix Stress and WHP’s venerable resident Krysko.
Protoje meets Tippy I at Band On The Wall
Reggae royalty Protoje brings his live show to Manchester this October. Easily one of the most important artists in modern reggae, the Jamaican singer, songwriter and DJ will headline Band On The Wall in the Northern Quarter on Sunday 27 October.
Sum 41 at Co-op Live
Sum 41 bring their Tour of the Setting Sum to Manchester in October 2024. Boasting a roster of pop punk singalong hits, the Canadian band say their final goodbyes to the live stage at Co-op Live on Monday 28 October.
Silence of the Baths: Back From The Dead at Victoria Baths
Get ready for a spooktacular Halloween as The Silence of the Baths: Back from the Dead takes over Victoria Baths this spooky season. Following last year’s successful debut, the historic venue will be transformed to host the resurrection of three of Manchester’s legendary night clubs – South, Jilly’s Rockworld and The Tiger Lounge.
Travel back in time to South with DJ Clint Boon, Mike Diablo from Jilly’s Rockworld and Max Oblivion from The Tiger Lounge. The whole pool complex is set to show its darker side as the pool halls, Turkish Baths and labyrinth of spaces that make up the Grade II-listed Victoria Baths are given an epic Halloween makeover. Guests can expect 100 spine-tingling skeletons, nine-foot high unearthly ghosts, a cauldron of 1,500 bats and 500 watchful eyes.
Peter Hook & The Light at King George’s Hall
Peter Hook & The Light return to the UK in 2024 to perform the ‘Substance’ albums by Joy Division and New Order in full.
Since first revisiting seminal Joy Division album ‘Unknown Pleasures’ for a charity concert in 2010, Peter Hook has followed it each year by performing subsequent records from the repertoire of his bands. Now, the band arrive at the Factory Records ‘Substance’ compilation albums of Joy Division and New Order singles.
Peter Hook said: “It still amazes me how enjoyable it is to play the ‘Substance’ LPs. The contrast between Joy Division and New Order is very apparent but both complement each other very well. My only frustration is not being able to play more of our records each night. I am totally looking forward to the next phase. So, let’s enjoy some ‘Substance’ and get ready for the future. Lots of love, Hooky.”
Eddie Chacon at YES
At one time, Eddie Chacon was best known as one half of 90s R&B icons Charles and Eddie, but this journeyman artist is significantly more than the smooth radio vibes that pair produced. Working with the likes of visionary producer John Carroll Kirby – who’s polished the likes of Solange Knowles and Frank Ocean – and the eminent Stone’s Throw Records, he ended nearly two decades of silence with the albums Pleasure, Joy and Happiness and Sundown, the latter one of the best albums of 2023. See him at the fabulously intimate setting of the Pink Room at YES and be enthralled.
