Now we’ve all enjoyed our little taste of freedom over the past two weeks, we’re looking ahead to June when we’re finally released back into some form of normality.
And with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown in full swing now, we thought we’d put together another round-up of music events and gigs to book in Manchester right now – because there are just so many good ones to choose from.
Plus, we’ve got a lot of making up for lost time to do…
Left, Right & Centre, The Old Abbey Taphouse – 2 May
The Old Abbey Taphouse will play host to Manchester club night Left, Right & Centre on 2 May to celebrate their 3rd birthday.
Heading the lineup is Scapa, Jazz, Porter Brook and Hessle Audio’s Bruce from 4pm until 11pm.
This one will still be seated and socially-distanced, but we’re still more than happy to have a dance at our tables at this point.
Longstanding Manchester drum and bass night Hit & Run continue their return on Friday 25 June with a massive lineup at Hidden. Kick off your first weekend of post-covid freedom with the bassy sounds of Fox, Chimpo, Truthos Mufasa, Slay, Sparkz, Metrodome plus head honcho Rich Reason.
Less than 1% of tickets remain for this one so we imagine they’ll be snapped up soon – get them on Skiddle here.
Libero, venue TBC – Friday 25 June
Libero’s Luke Welsh, Mike Morrisey and Dan Costello will be accompanied by special guests for a big event in June – but they’re keeping everything hush at the minute with no venue announcement.
Wherever it happens, we know these boys will pull it out the bag – they always do.
Join them for a big night of house, minimal and techno on 25 June.
Skiptrace Day Party at The Old Abbey Taphouse – Saturday 26 June
Another one at The Old Abbey Taphouse – this time, for Manchester label Skiptrace’s all-dayer on 26 June.
A handful of Skiptrace alumni will be playing from 2pm until 11pm, which will feature housey vibes from Joe Roche, Althea and Ed Hodge, plus the bassier style of Walton, creating a proper mixed bag.
The Projekts Skatepark, located right under the Mancunian Way, will welcome some of Manchester’s best underground labels and promotors on a handful of dates from July through to September.
Kaluki, Mason Collective, Haus22 and Moxy Muzik will all takeover the skatepark, where we expect to hear plenty of house, minimal and techno vibes to get you in that post-covid summer party mood.
MrTraumatik & Friends, The Bread Shed – Saturday 24 July
To celebrate the release of his new track ‘Hallucinations’, MrTraumatik is setting out a series of UK tour dates which will include The Bread Shed on 24 July.
The grime MC and drum and bass producer is known for his chaotic tracks and explicit lyrics – and we can expect this kind of mayhem in July.
You&Me Music in the Trees, Venue TBA – Saturday 7 August
House and tech label You&Me have found a picturesque little spot just outside Manchester city centre to celebrate their sixth birthday on 7 August.
It’ll take place from 2pm to 11pm in a brand-new unused space that organisers can only describe as “built for dancing”.
The lineup and venue haven’t been announced yet, but You&Me never disappoint so get your tickets here.
After party also pending.
Fields of Gold, Ashton Cricket Club – 3-4 September
Fields of Gold festival
Fields of Gold will take over Ashton Cricket Club on 3 and 4 September for two days of tribute bands.
Woasis, The Smiths Utd, The Ultimate Stone Roses, and Laid are all set to play your fave Manc songs in what will be the ultimate celebration of the city’s music.
Plus, there’ll be DJ sets from Clint Boon and Happy Mondays’ Bez throughout the weekend.
Stay up-to-date with music, gigs and events around Manchester with The Manc Audio.
Music
The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year
Danny Jones
The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.
You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.
We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.
If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.
She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.
Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.
From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.
Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…
We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.
There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize
It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.
“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.
“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”
She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?
Featured Images — Raph_PH (via Flickr)/Publicity picture
Music
Country star Tyler Childers is coming to town for his biggest Manchester show to date
Danny Jones
US country music star Tyler Childers is returning to Manchester for his biggest ever show in this city, and tickets go on sale very soon.
Fresh off the back of his new album, Snipe Hunter – which was only just dropped back in July – the 34-year-old singer-songwriter is riding a fresh wave of excitement after years of hard work within the genre, mixing in plenty of classic bluegrass and folk into his modern take on the classic American sound.
As one of the most-streamed and well-respected contemporary country musicians on the scene right now, the Kentucky-born solo star and understated acoustic guitarist often falls into that category of your favourite artist’s favourite artist.
Now Tyler Childers is coming to our most legendary arena as part of his UK and European tour early next year, and we’ll certainly be queuing online for tickets.
As far as AO Arena shows booked in for the new year go, we’re very excited about this one.
His seventh studio album has been well-received by his die-hard followers and newcomers alike, delivering that same traditional Appalachian storytelling and hard-bitten humour, as well as plenty of attitude and anecdotal idiosyncrasies, not to mention plenty of vocal range as always.
Having not long come back from a pilgrimage to India, Lawrence County king teamed up with legendary producer Rick Rubin (along with some help from Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn) to create one of his most eye-opening, broad and best records yet.
Post-release, the Associated Press went on to label him “one of country music’s most compelling and unpredictable artists”, and we tend to agree.
The LP immediately spawned plenty of fan favourites, and we certainly have ours – and the video has definitely had a hand in it:
It may just be his best work yet.
Experimenting with his current unique take on country rock sound more than ever, you couldn’t ask for a better time to go and see him live.
Once again, Tyler Childers comes to the AO Arena in Manchester on Sunday, 8 March 2026, with an official pre-sale available via Three+ from 9am on Wednesday, 10 September.
As for general admission, tickets go live at the same time on the following Friday (12 Sep); you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We don’t know about you, but we’re very much enjoying our country moment at the minute…
Hannah Starkie -
22nd April 2021 
