There might be a few more social engagements to cram in in the month of December, but that’s no reason not to be getting in amongst it. Maybe even combine that office party with some live music, or better still, a murky underground clubnight, to see how Julie from HR gels with the millennials on their home turf.
This month in Manchester, there are visits from everyone from The Horrors to aggro Bristolians IDLES to Sam Fender to Paul effing McCartney.
And for those seeking purely New Year’s Eve events, fear not – a dedicated guide is on the way.
Remi Wolf at Albert Hall
Remi Wolf follows up her support slot on the European leg of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour by announcing a string of headline dates. In celebration of her forthcoming sophomore album Big Ideas, Remi will play at Manchester’s Albert Hall on Monday 2 December 2024.
The Horrors at YES
Goth-adjacent indie favourites The Horrors perform in the relatively intimate surroundings of YES’ The Pink Room. Expect to hear their signature tracks like Still Life, as well as teasers from new album Night Life, their first in 7 years. Take a rare opportunity to see this loud and atmospheric act up close on Tuesday 3 December.
Zayn Malik at O2 Apollo
Multi-platinum selling artist and former member of One Direction ZAYN has announced his first ever solo tour for later this year. Spanning the UK and US, in support of his latest album Room Under The Stairs, the Stairway To The Sky tour will stop off at Manchester’s O2 Apollo on Wednesday 4 December 2024.
Sundara Karma at The O2 Ritz
Sundara Karma have announced details of their special Farewell tour, which brings to a close their 12 years of being in a band together. The She Said indie hitmakers will stop off in Manchester as part of the string of dates with a show at O2 Ritz on Wednesday 4 December.
IDLES
Searing rock brutalism arrives at the O2 Apollo courtesy of Bristol’s IDLES, on the back of the worldwide success of Tangk, their celebrated fifth studio album. Joe Talbot and co will absolutely tear it up (and for those wanting more, they’re DJing afterwards at YES).
808 State: 90 Live at New Century
The original acid house innovators 808 State will be marking 35 years since the release of seminal album 90 with a special show at New Century. Performing the album in full, plus a set of classics, deep cuts and new material, founding member Graham Massey will take to the stage on Friday 6 December.
Tama Sumo and Prosumer at Amber’s
One of the most anticipated new venues in Manchester, Amber’s has a radical premise: you can see some of the best DJs around right in the city centre (Circle Square to be precise), but they won’t be announced. And tickets are just £5. And the roster of industry figures behind the new concept gives a sense of the calibre of who those DJs might be. James Hutchins – aka Hutch – is a resident at London’s most iconic nightclub fabric, has a regular slot on Rinse FM and has worked as an editor at i-D Magazine. He’s teamed up with Nothing Forced, the design agency from Mixmag alumni Jeremy and Lawrence Abbott. Don’t miss their opening night on Friday 6 December, featuring Panorama Bar legends Prosumer and Tama Sumo at the controls.
Sam Fender at Co-op Live
North Shields’ finest, Sam Fender has announced an arena tour for this December – his first UK tour since Spring 2022. Fans don’t have too long to wait, as the Seventeen Going Under singer will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on Friday 6 December and Saturday 7 December 2024. As part of the People Watching Tour, he will also stop off for dates in Leeds, London, Birmingham and Glasgow. £1 from every ticket sold for the UK dates will be donated to the Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues. General release tickets go on sale on Friday 25 October at 10am. Co-op members can get pre-sale access at 10am on Wednesday 23 October 2024.
The Untold Orchestra presents Movement at Factory International
The Untold Orchestra present a meditative, multi-artform work exploring the experience of black creatives through a mix of music, dance and spoken word. Taking place at Factory International, Movement seeks to address the tribulations and experiences of black creatives. Created by The Untold Orchestra, Movement is a compelling, collaborative performance capturing experiences of ‘archetypal roles, stereotypes and expectations’ that black artists and communities in Manchester face.
Grey Goose Lates presents… Derrick Carter at Exhibition
Chicago house music legend Derrick Carter takes to the decks at Exhibition’s 360 booth on Friday 6 December. Derrick’s sets are rooted in house, but he travels outside club tastes, incorporating old-school disco, soul, jazz and whatever catches his fancy. An education. Derrick joins resident DJs IVES and Eddie Leader (Hudd Traxx) bringing the vibes to the city centre venue.
Pete Tong Ibiza Classics
DJ, broadcaster and global dance music legend Pete Tong has announced his critically acclaimed show Ibiza Classics returns in Winter 2024. He will once again be joined by long time collaborator Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra. Pete Tong will play at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday 7 December 2024.
KOMPND AfterDark at Albert Hall
KOMPND take over the historic Albert Hall in Manchester city centre to celebrate their third anniversary. Head over the venue on Saturday 7 December as they close out the year with one of their biggest parties, AfterDark. Expect a unique 360 concept that will see the DJ booth on the floor, bringing partygoers as close to the action as possible. The world’s leading DJs and selectors will play the best of R&B, dancehall, Afrobeats, hip hop and 90s classics.
Alabama 3 at O2 Ritz
Formed in London in 1995, Alabama 3 are best known for 1997 hit Woke Up In The Morning, which was used as the theme music for the successful, long-running HBO series The Sopranos and subsequently earned them a global fanbase. The band have announced a show at Manchester’s O2 Ritz on Saturday 7 December 2024.
Jacob Collier at AO Arena
The five-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jacob Collier brings his biggest European headline tour to date to Manchester. Following the release of his highly-anticipated album Djesse Vol. 4, Collier and his band will play at the AO Arena on Sunday 8 December 2024. Collier’s latest single Witness Me features Shawn Mendes, Stormzy and Kirk Franklin.
Ben Ottewell (Gomez) at Notion, Stockport
Celebrate the launch of Stockport’s brand-new gig space Notion with a live performance by Ben Ottewell. The Gomez singer-songwriter will take to the stage on Monday 9 December 2024.
Cumgirl8 at YES
What New York’s Cumgirl8 might lose in restricted internet searches they gain with their smutty mystique. This Manhattan four-piece smash together post-punk and grimy electro to stunning, evocative effect, with throwbacks to the electroclash vibes of the early 2000s. They should dominate the basement room at YES.
Culture Club at Co-op Live
Boy George and Culture Club have announced a major UK and Ireland arena tour this December. The 80s icons will celebrate their first two monumental albums, Kissing To Be Clever and Colour By Numbers with thousands of fans. They will perform the landmark albums in their entirety, featuring hits like Do You Really Want To Hurt Me and Karma Chameleon. Watch them at Co-op Live in Manchester on Wednesday 11 December 2024.
Club Coco: Coco María at Band On The Wall
Coco María brings her beloved Club Coco night back to Band On The Wall in the Northern Quarter on Friday 13 December 2024. Expect a night of forward-thinking electronic, future Latin, jazz, samba and all sorts of rarities. Support comes from Cosmo Sofi and Nossa!
Paul McCartney at Co-op Live
The legend of legends, Sir Paul McCartney has announced TWO huge dates in Manchester this year. Keeping his promise to perform in the UK again, Macca will bring his acclaimed Got Back tour to Co-op Live on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December 2024. The new shows in London and Manchester mark the first time The Beatles legend will perform in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury Festival in 2022. Irrefutably one of the most successful singer-songwriters and performers of all time, McCartney is behind some of the biggest hits of all time. Expect songs like Hey Jude, Band on the Run, Let It Be and so many more from a back catalogue from his last 60 years in music, a Paul McCartney show is a must-experience for all music lovers.
The Twang at O2 Ritz
The Twang celebrate the 15th anniversary of their album Jewellery Quarter with a string of dates across the UK. The band will be performing the album in full for the very first time, including tracks that have never been played live before. You can catch them at Manchester’s O2 Ritz on Saturday 14 December.
The Prodigy at The Warehouse Project
The Prodigy – following a host of 2024 festival shows – bring their Disrupta Tour to Manchester this winter, with two huge nights at The Warehouse Project. The rave pioneers will play at the iconic venue on 14 and 15 December 2024 – the latter having a late 1am finish for the most dedicated of ravers.
Grey Goose Lates presents… Luke Una at Exhibition
Following the recent release of new compilation album Everything Above The Sky, the legendary Luke Una returns to Exhibition on Saturday 14 December. Setting up in the 360 booth, the É Soul Cultura head honcho will be joined by Exhibition resident DJs IVES.
Festive Happening at Albert Hall
The ever-popular Festive Happening by Manchester Camerata bring some Christmas cheer to the Albert Hall this December. The performance will take the crowd on a musical journey that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas, an event for the whole family. The orchestra will be joined by AMC Gospel Choir, one of the UK’s top live performance Gospel choirs. Start your holiday season in style with the show on Sunday 15 December 2024.
Paul Heaton at Co-op Live
Fresh from the release of new single Fish ‘N’ Chip Supper, Paul Heaton has announced a huge UK tour in support of his forthcoming album The Mighty Several, which is out in October. The former frontman of The Housemartins, Paul brings his band to Co-op Live on Monday 16 December. Support comes from Liverpool indie legends The Zutons and Ian Broudie’s The Lighting Seeds.
Slipknot at Co-op Live
Metal icons Slipknot will be celebrating 25 years of face-melting rock in a run of multi-sensory shows, with a date at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Tuesday 17 December 2024.
Jembaa Groove at Band On The Wall
Jembaa Groove celebrate the recent release of their second studio album Ye Ankasa/We Ourselves with a date at Manchester’s Band On The Wall in December. Lead by singer and percussionist Eric Owusu and bass player/producer Yannick Nolting, the Berlin-based outfit has established itself as an invigorating international touring band over the past two years. Catch them on Thursday 19 December at the Northern Quarter venue.
The Thief of Time at YES
Chris Massey of Sprechen Music’s Thief of Time arrives at YES for another live action psyche-out wig-out freak-out, bringing tracks from the debut album Where Do I Belong, released last year, to life in the Basement with Lady Lady on vocals and Mike Grubert on guitars. Support comes from Grubert’s own Love Letters From Space project, plus a DJ set from Psychederek. There will be vibes.
Erol Alkan at YES
Erol Alkan is a DJ. He’s also a producer, artist, radio host, label head and collaborator. Some have labelled him a musical polymath, others have singled him out as one of most unique talents in electronic and alternative culture in recent decades. Bringing joy to the strange days between Christmas and New Year, Alkan will be playing tracks exclusively from the four years after the millennium on Saturday 28 December.
Ordinary Friends presents Optimo (Espacio) at White Hotel
What better way to get into the festive spirit than a heady blend of techno, electro punk, house, rave and all points found in between from JD Twitch and JG Wilkes – Glasgow’s very finest purveyors of extraordinary club nights. And where better to do it than the White Hotel, where they’ll be locked into the DJ booth for the entire evening.
