It’s safe to say last year’s new intake of university students were robbed of a decent freshers week in 2020. This year, however, is a whole different story.
Manchester’s music scene is unrivalled – we all know that. And being a student in the city, you’re usually spoilt for choice with club nights. Sadly, over the past 18 months that’s not been the case.
But since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in July and nightclubs could reopen again, our calendars have been blowing up with music events.
So, if you’re heading to the city for the first time, or are returning for the new academic year, you’ll be pleased to know that the city’s clubs are throwing some serious parties this time around. And we’ve put together our very own guide to Manchester club nights in and around freshers week.
Which university you’re heading to, will of course determine your official freshers week dates are. But here we’ve included events spanning two weeks to cover all bases.
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These aren’t your typical ‘freshers’ events. There’ll be no foam, UV paint and £1 Jagerbombs. There will, however, be some decent music and even more decent vibes to kick off your time in Manchester properly.
Lean and Bop is back at The Deaf Institute
Fans of Drake, AJ Tracey, Post Malone, Kanye West, Cardi B, Frank Ocean and the likes of, this one’s for you.
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Lean & Bop – Manchester’s biggest hip-hop, grime and R&B club night – is back with a freshers part one event at the Deaf Institute from Tuesday 14 September.
They’re putting on a freshers week double header, with a part two the following Tuesday. And Lean & Bop fans will be pleased to know the club night will be returning for a weekly Tuesday night residency going forward, too.
The Deaf Institute | 135 Grosvenor Street, M1 7HE | 14 September | 10pm – 3am
90s nostalgia at Hatch
Did you know Hatch is launching a new weekly student night ‘Show Me Love’ on 14 September?
Every Tuesday for the foreseeable, you can enjoy a whole evening of old school hits and 90s nostalgia. All this alongside the usual Hatch offerings of beers, cocktail and tasty food options to line your stomach – or sober you up.
Oh, and it’s free to get in. But you’re best booking a table in advance anyway.
On Friday 17 September, newcomer Discopia returns to The Bread Shed for a second time, offering a night of funky beats, house and underground disco.
Discopia’s last visit to The Bread Shed was a delightful concoction of music, confetti and bubble guns.
But joining the lineup this time around will be Matty B, Dom C. Taylor and Cameron Rawson. Together, they’ll concoct the good-vibes-only dancefloor atmosphere that we all need right now.
If Purple Disco Machine, The Shapeshifters and Fat Boy Slim are a bit of you, get yourself down.
The Bread Shed | 126 Grosvenor Street, M1 7HL | 17 September | 11pm – 3am
Festival-like lineups at The Warehouse Project
The Warehouse Project will take over Mayfield Depot for 12 weeks. Credit: whp_mcr/IG
If you really want to go all out with one of the biggest scale Manchester music experiences, the Warehouse Project at Depot Mayfield is a must.
With a capacity of 10,000, the disused train depot opposite Piccadilly Station is like having a mini festival right here in the city.
Known for putting on festival-calibre lineups every single weekend, the 2021 Warehouse Project season is probably one of the biggest we’ve seen to date.
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On Friday 17 September, the lineup is heavily funk, house and disco orientated with Nile Rodgers and Chic, Horse Meat Disco, Craig Charles, Gina Breeze, DJ Paulette and more.
Tickets are generally more expensive but you’ll more than get your money’s worth. Find info and tickets here.
New students might not be familiar with the legend of Rusholme’s Antwerp Mansion. If you’re one of them, Google it.
But whilst it’s gone but never forgotten, the spirit of the beloved mansion lives on in the Antwerp Mansion Presents series. And this latest one at The Bred Shed on Saturday 18 September will see a collab with Bass Face for celebration of the rich history of drum and bass music.
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Seasoned drum and bass DJs will join fresh up-and-coming talent to bring the filthy beats and wobbly basslines. Mampi Swift will also play a two-hour set using a six-deck set up and it’s not to be missed. Plus, a ‘B3B’ with Kara, Kelvin 373 and Katalyst, and B2B from Frankee D and Bad Habitz will make this a big one.
The Bread Shed | 126 Grosvenor Street, M1 7HL | 18 September | 11pm – 3am
Hidden turns ‘weird and wonderful’ with Triple Cooked
The house and techno party starters Triple Cooked are experts at bringing venues to life with their colourful stage design and props. Hidden will undergo a Triple Cooked makeover on Sunday 19 September where two floors of the venue will be transformed into a ‘weird and wonderful adventure’.
Downtex Mill | 16-18 Mary Street, M3 1NH | 19 September | 11pm-4am
The biggest lineup ever from Hit & Run
Hit & Run’s annual ‘Start of Season Slammer’ always kicks off the academic year properly. Credit: gbmultimedia/IG
Longstanding bass music student night Hit & Run has revealed a giant lineup of DJs and MCs for its annual ‘Start of Season Slammer’ which coincides with freshers week.
Across the three floors of Hidden, you can expect to revel in five hours of drum and bass, jungle, bass, and dubstep from all the familiar Hit & Run faces.
Join Chimpo, Metrodome, Truthos Mufasa, Tonn Piper, Strategy, Slay, Rich Reason and more to kick off the academic year in a heavy bass-driven fashion. Plus, there’ll be an exclusive classic liquid DnB set from Ivy Lab.
What else would you be doing on a Monday? Nothing. Tickets on Skiddle here.
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Downtex Mill | 16-18 Mary Street, M3 1NH | 20 September | 11pm-4am
Moxy Muzik returns to Joshua Brooks
After a number of years, Moxy Muzik will return to the new-look Joshua Brooks. Credit: jackkirwin/IG
After an extended hiatus, Darius Syrossian’s Moxy Muzik residency finally makes its returns to the new and improved Joshua Brooks just in time for freshers week.
It all kicks off on Monday 20 September with an extended three-hour set from the man himself. Plus, appearances from Hock and Jake Adams.
This’ll be a one-off event due to such popular demand, because from early November the residency will resume a monthly Friday night slot like old times.
If you fancy one last dance before lectures get serious, tickets are only a fiver. Get them on Skiddle here.
Enjoy some FREE live music at Hatch with Open Beat. Credit: Hatch/IG
If you’re still going by Thursday, there’s another freshers all-dayer on down at Hatch with a music lineup curated by Open Beat in association with BIMM Institute.
The live music will start from 7pm, with performances from Kid Blue, Manta, Minerva Daisy, The Demo, Foxglove, plus DJ set from Unity Radio and BBC Radio1Xtra DJ Jermaine Lee to round things off.
This one is completely free too, which is a bargain considering all this live music! You still need a ticket to get in though, register here.
As one of our favourite small venues in the city, we strongly recommend you get down to Stage & Radio. And there’s a Lucid Juice event happening there on Thursday 23 September which falls within freshers week.
With Samurai Breaks, Hardcore Soy, Tee, Shannon From Admin B2bB Chande and Ekkinz B2B Gina all on the lineup, it’ll be a busy night of jungle, bass, breaks, acid house and grime.
For more music, club nights, gigs and events in Manchester, click here and follow The Manc Audio on Instagram.
Featured image: Hit & Run by gbmultimedia/IG
Gigs & Nightlife
Lord of the Rings live in concert is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
The fellowship is not lost: JRR Tolkien fans are being invited to come along to see the beloved first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy live in concert here in Manchester.
Undoubtedly, some of the most beautifully shot and, crucially, rousingly scored Hollywood blockbusters in history, the LotR movie soundtracks still remain among the most iconic to this day.
So just imagine how incredible they must be to witness it in the flesh…
Well, that opportunity is just on the horizon, as a live performance of The Fellowship of the Ring by a fully-fledged live band is coming to the city centre’s biggest indoor arena later this year.
Available either as an evening or matinee show, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring – In Concert’ arrives this winter at Co-op Live.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic Academy Award-winning film, which kick-started a mega franchise both on the big and the small screen nowadays, what better way to toast the date than by rewatching it like never before?
Teaming up with the one and only Hallé – Manchester’s premier orchestra since 1858 – the production will be bringing Howard Shore’s legendary original scores to life in person as they soundtrack the epic motion picture playing behind them.
We’ve got chills just thinking about some of those scenes: the council of Elrond in Rivendell; the ‘Argonath’ passing, that first stunning New Zealand vista as Middle-Earth, and SO many more.
Here’s a sample of what it’s like to hear those instantly recognisable sounds live:
Come on, how incredible is this?
For those looking to attend the Manchester showings of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring – In Concert, as always, official Co-op members will be granted early access through the venue’s presale window.
This will open at 10am on Wednesday, 25 March; meanwhile, general admission tickets will then be available from the same time the following Friday (27 Mar).
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/New Line Cinema (screenshots)
Gigs & Nightlife
The MOBO Awards in Manchester – everything you need to know
Thomas Melia
It’s official, the MOBOs are coming to Manchester for a night of live music performances and international artists, all at Co-op Live.
This award show, dedicated to music created by black creatives and musicians, has been hosted in cities nationwide, most recently in Newcastle, but 2026 marks its first time ever in the music capital of the North: Manchester.
A whole host of impressive musicians and acts take to the stage every year, with iconic moments throughout the award show’s history attributed to R&B royalty Lauryn Hill and Queen of Dancehall, Spice.
This award show is dedicated to celebrating Music of Black Origin but is recognised more widely as the MOBOs, with the aim of platforming as many genres as possible, from reggae and rap to soul, hip-hop and more.
Odeal and Spice performing at MOBOs 2025 in Newcastle / Credit: Nick Redman
The MOBOs first took place in 1996, and since then, founder Kanya King and her team have created a legacy – one now set to celebrate its 30th anniversary at 23,500 indoor venue Co-op Live.
MOBOs 2026 guide – all the key info
Are there still tickets left for the MOBO Awards ceremony at Co-op Live?
In a word, yes; there is still a healthy amount of tickets, both general admission and hospitality/VIP packages, if you fancy splashing out.
There’s still time to secure a seat, so grab yours HERE while you still can.
What time do the 2026 MOBOs start in Manchester and on TV?
This year, the MOBOs won’t be broadcast on mainstream TV channels; the award show has decided to collaborate with Amazon.
The show will be live-streamed via Amazon Music UK’s official Twitch account on Thursday, 26 March from 8pm – watch HERE.
There’s also an ‘Access All Areas’ programme hosted by DJ Target on BBC One with interviews and all the red carpet action on Friday 27 March, recapping all the action HERE.
All live streams and official channels have a finishing time of 10:30pm, meaning you can enjoy a night of huge performances while also getting a good quality kip.
Eve and Eddie Kadi are hosting this year’s MOBOs in Manchester / Credit: MOBO Organisation
2026 MOBO nominations
Obviously, the focus of this night isn’t just toasting 30 years of music with Black British culture and beyond, but recognising those pushing the industry forward in their field(s).
Lots of current and up-and-coming acts have found their way onto the list of nominees for the MOBOs this year – many for the very first time.
Shortlisted are the likes of the neo-soul singer-songwriting sensation, Olivia Dean, fellow female solo artists, PinkPantheress and Little Simz; Central Cee, Skepta, Kojey Radical, Raye, Myles Smith and FKA twigs, just to name a few excitinng few.
The MOBOs are known for some of the most insane live performances by some of the music industry’s biggest stars, this year with presenters Eve and Eddie Kadi.
Get ready for the Co-op Live crowd to chant “DEANO!” as the aforementioned Ms Dean will be performing on the night, and with the amount of hits this ‘Lady Lady’ has, we’re bound to know every word.
The ‘Queen of Afrobeats’, Tiwa Savage, is set to take to the stage and her album, This One Is Personal, helped soundtrack 2025, like the Skepta collaboration ‘On The Low’. With ‘Skeppy’ in attendance, anything is possible…
Dancehall diva Shenseea will be performing and has seen massive international success on MOLIY’s single ‘Shake It To The Max (Remix)’, Aya Nakamura duet ‘Dis-moi’, and solo hit ‘Time For Me’.
R&B trio FLO, Manchester rapper Aitch, Myles Smith, Slick Rick and Estelle, as well as a grime medley featuring Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E curated by DJ Target, are also putting on a show – Co-op Live is in for a treat.
Tiwa Savage, FLO and Shenseea are just some of the acts taking to the Co-op Live stage / Credit: Press Shots via supplied
Who else is on the live music line-up in Manchester for MOBOs Fringe?
With the MOBO Awards heading to town for the very first time, there’s also a whole host of events taking place at various independent venues throughout the city.
Some may have already passed in the build-up to event week, such as a special partnered Manchester Basketball game for the MOBO Fringe festival, but if you time to go along to any of the ones still remaining, we strongly urge you to do so.
Get your MOBOs fix ahead of the show by attending some stellar upcoming acts as you gear up for the big event next Thursday night.
Fri 20 March – Shimrise Selects – The Deaf Institute
Sat 21 March – Mobørigins – Renae
Sat 21 March – Habitat x MOBO Fringe – Cupra City Garage
Sun 22 March – Manchester Made: Roots, Rhyme & The Future – Niamos Centre
Sun 22 March – Aarchive House – Side Street
Sun 22 March – Crib Sessions with Faro – Side Street
There are plenty of events ahead of the MOBOs that you can get involved with across Manchester / Credit: Nick Flynn via supplied
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live to watch the BRIT Awards shows in person, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s also worth noting that anyone with a valid BRITs ticket is granted FREE travel from all zones travelling to and from the venue.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Hannah Starkie -
10th September 2021 
