Hello Manchester, hope you’ve been doing well and finding lots of great new music; even if not, you’ve come to the right place because it’s time once again to dive into five bands and artists from in and around Manchester that we’ve been listening to of late.
We’re not sure what it is necessarily – perhaps all the smaller to mid-level British bands that we loved for many years announcing their break-ups recently – but we’ve been soaking ourselves in pretty much not but groups and mainly infectious indie riffs for the past 31 days.
That being said, we do have a surprise or two on the list this time around and, more importantly, everyone that we’ve spotlighted is obviously brilliant because we’d never lead you astray.
Anyway, enough faffing about, time for you to find some new Manchester artists and music to get stuck into – go right ahead.
Five Manchester bands you should check out this month
First up on our list of five Manchester bands we’ve been listening to throughout October is the still very new and already very good, The Guest List: five mates making very good indie rock with a more old-school vibe that’s almost reminiscent of the early 2000s and a general swagger way beyond their years.
Only formed back in 2021 and are obviously still young lads, there’s already an impressive understanding of building both mature and memorable melodies, which we can only assume has come from soaking up the right influences growing up. They did go viral for a great cover of ‘505’ by Arctic Monkeys too.
They’ve only released a small selection of music so far, meaning you should definitely catch up with all their discography whilst it’s still easy, but we’d pick out ‘161’ as a great example of that impressively reminiscent sound and lyricism, so is ‘Won’t You Leave Me Alone’ and we just love the guitar on ‘Canada’.
2. Larkins
Next up for this month is Larkins and while they have been around for a good long while now, with just a couple of EPs and one admittedly short and sweet debut album between them, they still feel like our little secret somehow.
They’re categorically not by the way: these guys gained some loyal local fans from their humble beginnings up in Glossop all the way back in 2015, unbelievably, and as their Manchester following grew, along with the number of gigs and festival slots,
‘Hit and Run’ – the first song they ever released – remains an effortless indie banger designed to get the crowd jumping and an older track we also still love is ‘Sugar Sweet’, but TV Dream is still their biggest song for a reason. You can start wherever you want with these guys, to be honest, it’s all pretty good.
We also enjoy this slower, synthy sing-a-long, not least because of where it’s filmed…
3. The Apex Singers
In at the middle mark, we’ve got undoubtedly the most talented vocalists we’ve ever put on this list simply due to the level of classical training, range and the sheer amount of people pulling together to make such a fulsome, orchestral sound. They even do workshops but it must be hard to teach this…
A Manchester-based vocal ensemble made of eight incredible voices, the name Apex Singers couldn’t be a more fitting moniker. They can go from soothing and uplifting – like you’re listening to the Elven songs from a medieval fantasy film – to haunting, hallow and utterly tear-jerking times.
It genuinely floors us at times that humans can sound this beautiful. Their recent original song ‘The Mermaid Wife’ is a stunning production and a special shout-out to ‘The Booley House’ which actually started out life as a fiddle solo, but you’ll probably best recognise this old Irish song made famous by Hozier not too long ago.
Special shout-out to The Manc‘s very own Oli for this recommendation.
4. Rolla
The second to last band on our list of Manchester artists we recommend you get stuck into is Rolla, and we’re going from soft to hard and in your face with this one. Do the bucket hats, mod haircuts and shades give off quintessentially Northern rock and roll? Yes. Is that kind of the point? Absolutely.
Make no mistake, this isn’t just another band merely trying to imitate the Britpop sound that was mastered here in 0161 enough now, they’re the real f***ing deal if you ask. Rather ironically rolling Oasis, Stone Roses, The Verve, Shed Seven and more all into one, it’s pretty much a Mancs wet dream.
There are so many tracks that give Liam Gallagher leaning into the mic if that’s what you’re after, but ‘No Violence’ was the first track we heard, ‘When Life’s Thunder Striking’ is the one we fell in love with and we’re quite literally addicted to their newest single ‘We Owe You Nothing’. They’re also doing their bit to help out Salford Lads Club too.
Last but not least, we’re swinging back in the direction of no-nonsense indie yet again with Ventrelles, though there’s also a throwback element sonically here too. This Manchester quartet are still pretty green as well but they seem to have found the niche they’re going for.
Self-described as everything from ‘ScallyGaze/Council Soul/Highrise Psychedelia’ to ‘Fleece Pop’, you can call their so-called sub-genre whatever you want but you’ll definitely get dripping vocals that hark back to the Roses, as well as some Echo and the Bunnymen-esque effects and guitar patterns at times.
‘County Lines’, ‘A Symphony of Sorts’ and their 2023 single ‘Happenstance’ almost reminded us a little of Hard-Fi in spots; we’re not sure whether this was just a moment in time for the band but delays, pedals and shimmery guitars or not, we just can’t wait for them to drop some more tunes.
They also credit some of their sound to Liverpool band Pale Fountains and other contemporaries from the area.
And there’s your lot, five more Manchester artists for you to familiarise yourself with and we hope you get at least some variety from us this month even despite the fact we’re still mourning the likes of Sundara Karma, Jaws, The Native and more.
Still, it looks like we’re getting back everyone from The Maccabees and Doves to even the Scissor Sisters, so it’s not all bad and we still love stumbling across new bands and artists more than anything.
As always, we encourage you to go back and check out last month’s list and all the other for that matter, and we’ll catch you next time!
Lewis Capaldi announces huge outdoor Manchester gig at Wythenshawe Park next summer
Emily Sergeant
Lewis Capaldi has announced a run of huge outdoor shows next summer, and he’ll be stopping off here in Manchester.
After unprecedented demand saw one of the biggest-ever rushes for tickets across both pre-sale and general sale earlier this year, Lewis Capaldi is currently blazing through a triumphant 200,000-ticket sold out 17-date UK arena tour as we speak – and is set to take to the Co-op Live stage for two huge Manc gigs this weekend.
But he shows no signs of slowing down soon, as he has today announced his biggest ever UK and Ireland headline gigs for next summer.
Wythenshawe Park is fast becoming one of Manchester‘s go-to outdoor gig venues, and Lewis’s visit next summer is only helping the reputation, as the Scottish 28-year-old will be headlining the park for one night only next August.
The announcement of the run of summer outdoor shows comes amid Lewis’s first return to touring in two years following his triumphant Glastonbury 2025 return after an extended break to take care of his mental health break, and following the release of his comeback track ‘Survive’, which shot to the top of the UK charts and became the fastest-selling single of 2025.
The response to Lewis’s current tour has been ‘electric’, according to critics, who have been unanimous in their praise for him.
Prior to his comeback, Lewis played a run of Scottish warm up shows in May that saw him return to the stage as a guest of mental health charity CALM, in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Lewis Capaldi – Summer Outdoor Gigs 2026
Wednesday 24 June – Marlay Park, Dublin
Friday 26 June – Thomond Park, Limerick
Sunday 28 June – TX Maxx presents Live at Powderham, Exeter
Tuesday 30 June – Blackweir Fields, Cardiff
Saturday 4 July – American Express presents Roundhay Festival, Leeds
Saturday 11 July – American Express presents BST Hyde Park, London
Thursday 20 August – Vital, Belfast
Saturday 22 August – Wythenshawe Park, Manchester
With no pressure and no level of expectation, the shows allowed Lewis the space to gauge his comfort and emotional response before returning to the spotlight – a move which ended up proving nothing short of a triumph.
Lewis Capaldi will be coming to Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on Saturday 22 August 2026, and tickets go on pre-sale this Thursday 18 September at 9am, before general sale commences the following day (Friday 19 September), again at 9am.
Manchester will host the 2026 MOBO Awards, with city-wide takeover planned
Daisy Jackson
Manchester will be the host of the 2026 MOBO Awards for the very first time, as the influential awards heads north for its 30th anniversary celebrations.
The MOBO Awards are the biggest celebration of Black music and culture in Europe, and has travelled the length and breadth of the UK since 2009.
But this is the first time Manchester will have the honour of hosting the MOBO Awards, for an unforgettable night at Co-op Live of live entertainment, tributes, recognition and celebration.
It’s yet another major cultural event choosing our city and putting Manchester on a global stage, following the MTV EMAs last year, the upcoming Brit Awards, and the Chanel Metiers D’art show.
Set to take place on Thursday 26 March, the MOBO Organisation’s 30th anniversary celebrations will also include a city-wide takeover of the city.
MOBO is working with Manchester City Council to deliver the MOBO Fringe Festival, a week-long celebration of music, culture and creativity.
That’ll include industry panels, talent showcases, live performances, workshops, and loads more, all designed to engage the local community and the next generation of talent.
When a similar event was hosted in Newcastle last year, it attracted thousands of attendees and delivered an estimated £1m plus in combined economic and social impact for the city and wider North East region.
Scorcher at MOBO 2024. Credit: Nick Redman
MOBO will be welcoming back both Prostate Cancer UK and got2b as returning partners, with the former sponsoring the Best Male Act category, raising lifesaving awareness of Black men’s higher risk of prostate cancer and campaigning to fight health inequalities across the UK.
Kanya King CBE, founder and CEO of MOBO Group said: “For 30 years, MOBO has been more than an awards show – it has been a movement, shaping culture, championing creativity, and opening doors for generations of talent.
“This milestone is a reminder that when you celebrate culture, you don’t just preserve history – you shape the future.
“Three decades on, the MOBO Awards remain a powerful reminder of how music can inspire, unite, and transform lives. Manchester has always been a city of music and movement, and now, together with MOBO, we will write the next chapter of cultural history.”
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We’re honoured to have been chosen by MOBO to host their awards in what is such a special year for them as they mark an incredible 30 years of celebrating Black music and culture.
The MOBO Awards are coming to Manchester
“As a proudly diverse city that is known the world over as a city of music, creativity and talent, the MOBOs and Manchester are made for each other.
“We have a lot of expertise as a city in delivering world class events with a global reach, and together with our partners at Co-op Live and across the city we’re determined to do everything we can to support MOBO in making sure next year’s event hits all the right notes and is the very best one yet.
“Recognising and supporting emerging talent and our grassroots music scene in Manchester is also really important to us and we’re looking forward to collaborating with MOBO on the MOBO Fringe Festival which is set to provide some amazing and unmissable opportunities for young musicians and others to gain experience, learn from, get involved in and enjoy.”
MOBO has been proudly celebrating and elevating Black music and culture for 30 years, across genres including rap, hip-hop, R&B, soul, grime, drill, gospel, jazz, reggae, African music, electronic, alternative, and beyond.
Notable winners over the years have included Stormzy, Little Simz, Rihanna, Central Cee, Beyonce, Jay Z, RAYE, and Janet Jackson, along with countless rising stars.
It’s expanded beyond music and celebrated excellence across the arts too, honouring talent including Idris Elba, Steve McQueen, and Damson Idris.
The MOBO Awards will take place in Manchester on Thursday 26 March 2026 at Co-op Live.
Fans can register now at mobo.com/awards to be the first in line for updates and priority access when tickets go on sale in December.