As we prep for the notion that perhaps summer is coming to an end (as painful a notion as that might be), we’ve got some storming dos in the calendar this month to ease the pain, including one of the most influential post-punk artists of all time at the O2 Apollo, shoegaze icons and the first event of the season for the mighty Warehouse Project.
Get involved.
This Celestial Engine at The Eagle Inn
Head to The Eagle Inn in Salford for This Celestial Engine – an exciting new project from drummer Ted Parsons, bassist Dave Sturt and keyboardist Roy Powell. The trio of remarkable musicians have used their diverse backgrounds to deliver a new album featuring a blend of experimental avant-jazz, rock and improvisation. You can catch them at The Eagle Inn in Salford on Tuesday 3 September, where they are also joined by band Das Rad.
Time Flies x Persona with Nicolas Lutz
MCR party peoples Persona and Time Flies club together for this all-night number at The Loft. Louie G will be back-to-back Ryan Ingleby, while Berlin types Levat and Nicolas Lutz will be turning out too, the former playing live. For those wanting to make a full day and night of it, they’ll be at the DBA in Cheetham Hill from 3pm, with DJ Rino, Daura, Lucy Cook and Ethan on the ones and twos.
Green Island Festival Vol III at Hulme Garden Centre
Grassroots festival Green Island presents the third and final event in its annual three-part series of all-day festivals. Showcasing underground, underrepresented and emerging artists from across the UK, it promises an enriching musical and cultural experience. Taking place at the idyllic Hulme Garden Centre an the Niamos Centre next door, the third edition of this year’s festival will see performances from artists including Janet Kiyo, Gnawa, Lovescene, Jade Li and Mikoudi, and DJ sets from Ruf Dug, Tia Cousins, Private Joy and Abigail Ward.
MEAT FREE x FRIXXXION: BYOB with Blasha & Allatt
The gang at Meat Free will be teaming up with FrixXxion for a huge party at a secret warehouse location this September. The audio will be supplied by the most excellent Blasha and Allatt and, as the name might suggest, it’s BYOB, which, weirdly, feels like a pretty exciting novelty.
Spring/Summer at Freight Island: Sit & Bun
Freight Island free summer gigs continue, showcasing the finest music selectors and artists from across the city. Join the Sit & Bun DJs (a spin-off from the legendary Hit & Run crew) on Sunday 8 September with special guests to be confirmed. As always at the venue, enjoy al fresco dining, drinking and dancing.
Little Big Town at Bridgewater Hall
Since arriving on the scene over 20 years ago, country music outfit Little Big Town bring their Take Me Home Tour to Manchester this summer. Over the last two decades, the band have earned more than 45 award nominations and numerous awards as well as number once singles including Pontoon, Tornado and Girl Crush.
The Lemon Twigs at Manchester Academy 2
With their musical roots in a whole host of rock genres, ranging from power pop and glam to the janglier, shoegazey side of things, The Lemon Twigs are brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario. They are bringing a slice of stateside sunshine to Manchester on Thursday 12 September. Active for the last decade, the most recent of the band’s five studio albums was released earlier this summer. A Dream Is All We Know was described by The Guardian as ‘a fabulous pop confection that magically transports the listener to the idyll of Abbey Road studios in 1966, if the Beatles were actually two brothers in their mid-20s from Long Island, New York’. Time to dig out your corduroy flares.
Jonas Brothers at Co-op Live
One of the most successful groups of the 21st century, Jonas Brothers – Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Kevin Jonas – have sold over 20 million albums to date, with two GRAMMY Award nominations, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and 26 Billboard Hot 100 hits under their belts. The trio’s appearance at Manchester’s Co-op Live forms part of the band’s global FIVE ALBUMS. ONE NIGHT. Tour.
Ride at New Century
Shoegaze icons Ride will be in town, off the back of their seventh studio album Interplay, which was released to widespread acclaim earlier this year. In fact, it’s being called the best album of the band’s stunning comeback, with nods to electro-pop vibes and krautrock. See them at the brilliant New Century on 13 September.
Shanti Celeste and OK Williams at White Hotel
Chile’s superlative Shanti Celeste will be heading to White Hotel for a four-hour back-to-back set with the equally superlative OK Williams. Expect everything from deep techno to UK Funky and all the way back again from two selectors at the very top of their games. Support comes from Aletha.
Repercussion at Depot Mayfield
Repercussion arrives at Depot Mayfield, once again kicking off this year’s Warehouse Project programming in fine style. As you’d expect the line-up for this one-day festival is immense. The mighty Jungle will be playing live, alongside DJ sets from Bonobo, Honey Dijon, DJ Seinfeld, Bradley Zero and Paula Tape, with a raft of local talent on the bill too – including Luke Una, Krysko, Mikey D.O.N, Levi Love, Joey T, Rich Reason, Jim Bane, Me Gusta and Faro.
Earl Sweatshirt at The O2 Ritz
Earl Sweatshirt was a mere 16-years-old when he was plucked from mixtape obscurity by Tyler, The Creator, to join the Odd Future crew. He’s crammed in a chunk of stuff since then, going top five in the Billboard charts, and collabs with the likes of Pharell Williams, RZA and even celebrated legal scholar Cheryl Harris (who happens to be his mum). His most recent set, Voir Dire (‘speak truth’), saw him hook up with DJ Muggs protege The Alchemist. Expect lyrical gymnastics, and support from Black Noi$e.
Fat Out Fest
Fat Out Fest returns, bringing some of the UK’s most innovative leftfield artists and music to venues all across Salford. From 20 September to Sunday 22 September, the festival will host gigs in Islington Mill, Peel Hall and The Working Class Movement Library. Among those on this year’s bill will be boundary-pushing acts like Brazilian producer and DJ LYZZA, audiovisual artist Hypersea and Homoelectric favourite, DJ Kim Lana. They join previously announced artists like bewitching folk songwriter Angeline Morrison, avante-punk Nuha Ruby Ra, hybrid rock-rap trio Third Kulture and renowned NTS DJ & broadcaster Zakia. Find the full line-up here.
Surco Boat Party in Castlefield
Back by popular demand, the Surco crew will return with another boat party on the high seas of Manchester (well, high-ish… OK, fine, quite low). The resident DJs will be bringing the vibes from 7pm, with their good friends at Powered by Rec providing the after-party over at The Loft from 11pm. Tickets are limited to a 50 person capacity – so grab them quick.
Melanie Martinez at Co-op Live
Multi-platinum alternative pop star Melanie Martinez has announced the UK leg of The Trilogy Tour will include a date at Manchester’s brand-new arena Co-op Live. The show will feature hits from all three of her groundbreaking Top 10 albums, the Cry Baby, K-12 and Portals.
Los Campesinos! at New Century
Indie pop outfit Los Campesinos! celebrate the release of their new album All Hell with a string of dates across the UK this September. Fans can catch the Cardiff-formed band at New Century in Manchester on Sunday 22 September.
Ned Doheny at YES
One of Manchester’s most visionary labels, Be With has been tirelessly unearthing forgotten and neglected gems and re-issuing them with love (and fabulous packaging) for 10 years now, a sturdy tenure in the independent label business. It’s testament to the quality, curated by label boss and sonic archeologist Rob Butler. One of its most treasured re-discoveries was of Californian singer-songwriter Ned Doheny, collaborator with the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Don Henley, whose super-smooth 1976 album Hard Candy was delivered to a whole new generation of listeners thanks to Be With in 2014. Ned will play the Pink Room at YES to celebrate a decade of great vibes, his first time back in Manchester for five years.
Orlando Weeks at Band on the Wall
From his time with The Maccabees, via becoming an author with his debut novel The Gritterman, to releasing three highly acclaimed solo albums, Orlando Weeks has carved a niche as one of the UK’s most intriguing talents. June 2024 saw the release of Loja, his third album, which he takes on the road this September.
Jordan Rakei at Albert Hall
New Zealand-born multi-instrumentalist and producer Jordan Rakei has worked with a host of artists, from Disclosure to Tom Misch, as well as releasing club bangers under the name Dan Kye. Via his given name, he’s released three albums of thoughtful, layered electronica on Ninja Tune, and then earlier this year, The Loop, a soulful elegy to the likes of Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo. See this ludicrously talented chap live at the Albert Hall on 26 September.
Mudhoney at New Century
Seattle punk dons Mudhoney – a huge influence on Nirvana and Kurt Cobain during their early days on Sub Pop – have never really gone anywhere, steadily releasing and touring since the late 80s, and now up to their 11th album in 2023’s Plastic Eternity. Though many will receive that electric thrill from classics like Touch Me I’m Sick, their new gear is still every bit as uncompromising.
Meekz at O2 Ritz
Manchester rapper Meekz has announced a huge UK and Ireland tour later this year – including a hometown show at the O2 Ritz. The lyricist from Gorton emerged in 2018 and has since established himself as one of the country’s brightest, most exciting talents. Fresh from the release of new single Mini Me, catch Meekz on Monday 30 September 2024.
The The at O2 Apollo
After reanimating in 2017, Matt Johnson’s wildly influential post-punk project The The will be doing their first live shows since sell-out shows in London and a handful of shows around the world in 2018, which was followed in 2021 by a live album made from their feted show at the Albert Hall. A new album, Ensoulment, will arrive in September 2024, the first original work from Johnson in 25 years, to accompany a slew of live dates.
