What's On · Greater Manchester
What's On in Manchester
Live music in Manchester over the next four weeks — 20 Sept – 18 Oct. 268 gigs listed in Manchester over the next 28 days across 38 venues. Friday is the busiest night with 74. In total we track 135 grassroots venues and 59 regular open mics here.
Two pubs a day are closing, and last year 78 grassroots venues stopped putting on live music. Get Manchester gigs in your inbox — and go to one.
Help keep grassroots venues open in Manchester
—A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Manchester. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.
Updated daily · 268 gigs in Manchester over the next four weeks
Last updated: 20 September 2026
Support grassroots music in Manchester
Grassroots venues are where every act you have ever paid to see started out. Manchester still has 135 of them.
From the Northern Quarter to Ancoats, Manchester's music scene never stops. Planning a private party instead? See [booking live entertainment in Manchester](/gigs/live-entertainment-manchester) for bands, singers and DJs for one-off occasions. Booking for the company rather than yourself? See [corporate entertainment in Manchester](/gigs/corporate-entertainment-manchester) for Christmas parties, awards nights and conferences.
Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them shut for good. Those are the rooms where new acts learn to hold an audience, where a first support slot happens, and where a Tuesday night can still turn into something.
This page exists to make them easy to find. It lists 268 gigs across Manchester over the next four weeks, pulled from the venues themselves and updated daily — alongside the 135 grassroots venues and 59 regular open mic nights we track in the city. No algorithm decides what you see: it is simply everything we know is on.
The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before. If you would rather be told than remember, the sign-up above sends Manchester listings straight to your inbox. If you run a venue here, claim your page so people can find you.
Gigs in Manchester
Every grassroots gig we hold for Manchester in the next four weeks — 20 Sept – 18 Oct. Updated daily.
Showing 24 of 268 gigs · page 11 of 12
OCT
16
Neighbourhood Festival
The Deaf Institute, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
16
Gurriers at Manchester New Century Hall
New Century·Piccadilly, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Pop
View details›
OCT
16
Red Light Factory - Manchester
The Rat And Pigeon·Piccadilly, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
16
Sports
YES (Pink Room), Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreDJ / Electronic
View details›
OCT
16
The Mountain Goats
Albert Hall, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Alternative Rock
View details›
OCT
16
K-ESTATE LIVE @ Nest Collective, Manchester 16th October 2026
Nest Collective MCR·Ancoats & Beswick, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, House
View details›
OCT
16
UCHE YARA
SOUP·Piccadilly, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Alternative Rock
View details›
OCT
16
Makeshift Art Bar
The Abbey·Hulme, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
16
RnB, Hip Hop + Afrobeats 'Til Late
The Blues Kitchen·Deansgate, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreR&B, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop
View details›
OCT
16
Motorwrecked
Holy Diver·Brinnington & Stockport Central, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreTribute Act
View details›
OCT
16
Lime Garden
Manchester Gorilla, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreIndie Rock, Alternative Rock, Pop
View details›
OCT
16
Sports
YES Pink Room·Deansgate, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
16
Fältsånger, Peggy McCool's 16th October 2026
Peggy Mccools·Bewsey and Whitecross, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreDJ / Electronic
View details›
OCT
16
Lime Garden
Gorilla·Deansgate, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
16
Yur Mum -
The Blossoms·Davenport & Cale Green, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock, House
View details›
OCT
16
Warehouse Project, Hannah Laing
Depot Mayfield, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenrePop, DJ / Electronic
View details›
OCT
16
Fomies (CH) // Mister Strange
Big Hands·Hulme, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreHouse, Garage
View details›
OCT
17
Neighbourhood Festival, Keo, Florence Road
Various Manchester Venues, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
View details›
OCT
17
SQUARE WILD Debut Album Launch- The Bread Shed, Manchester
The Bread Shed·Hulme, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
17
Church Andrews & Matt Davies / Elsa Hewitt / Kirk Barley
PINK Stockport·Brinnington & Stockport Central, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreDJ / Electronic
View details›
OCT
17
Snug Live Sessions w/XL Poncho + moniker.
The Snug Coffee House·Atherton North, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Indie Rock, Funk
View details›
OCT
17
Courtney Barnett
Aviva Studios - The Hall, Manchester
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Alternative Rock
View details›
OCT
17
Tides of Ire + Malicious Compliance Tour 26
Fuel Cafe Bar·Old Moat, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
OCT
17
Eban Brown
The Bowdon Rooms·Bowdon, Manchester
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
Venues in Manchester
Where live music actually happens in Manchester.
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
9inety6ix
First Street games bar with live music, open mics and DJ sets.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- MonClosed
- TueClosed
- Wed14:00–22:00
- Thu14:00–22:00
- Fri14:00–00:00
- Sat14:00–00:00
- Sun14:00–22:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Aatma
Underground Faraday Street music and events venue.
Backline4 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon16:00–00:00
- Tue16:00–00:00
- Wed16:00–00:00
- Thu16:00–04:00
- Fri16:00–04:00
- Sat16:00–04:00
- Sun16:00–00:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Albert Hall
Restored Wesleyan chapel on Peter Street, one of Manchester's most atmospheric music venues.
Backline1 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times—
- Mon—
- Tue—
- Wed—
- Thu—
- Fri—
- Sat—
- Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Albert Halls Bolton
800-cap rock, indie, comedy and theatre hall.
Backline2 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon09:30–20:00
- Tue09:30–20:00
- Wed09:30–20:00
- Thu09:30–20:00
- Fri09:30–20:00
- Sat09:30–20:00
- Sun09:30–20:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Arley Hall And Gardens
Cheshire stately home with outdoor concerts.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon10:00–17:00
- Tue10:00–17:00
- Wed10:00–17:00
- Thu10:00–17:00
- Fri10:00–17:00
- Sat10:00–17:00
- Sun10:00–17:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Aviva Studios - Warehouse
Factory International warehouse space for gigs.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- MonClosed
- Tue09:00–19:00
- Wed09:00–19:00
- Thu09:00–19:00
- Fri09:00–19:00
- Sat09:00–19:00
- Sun09:00–19:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Band on the Wall
Manchester's Sunday-night free open mic at 25 Swan Street, M4 5JZ — historic music venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
Backline7 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- 3 vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon17:00–00:00
- Tue17:00–00:00
- Wed17:00–02:00
- Thu17:00–02:00
- Fri17:00–02:00
- Sat12:00–03:00
- Sun13:00–00:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Big Hands
Hulme bar with DJ nights and live music.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon15:00–02:00
- Tue15:00–02:00
- Wed15:00–02:00
- Thu15:00–02:00
- Fri12:00–03:00
- Sat12:00–03:00
- Sun15:00–02:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Blarney Barrel
Rustic Irish bar in Bramhall village.
Backline1 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon16:00–23:00
- Tue12:00–23:00
- Wed12:00–23:00
- Thu12:00–23:00
- Fri12:00–02:00
- Sat12:00–02:00
- Sun12:00–23:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Bolton Socialist Club
Bolton grassroots club hosting the Write Out Loud spoken word open mic
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon10:00–22:00
- Tue10:00–22:00
- Wed10:00–22:00
- Thu10:00–22:00
- Fri10:00–22:00
- Sat10:00–22:00
- Sun10:00–22:00
View venue›
Claim this venue
Central Hall Oldham Street M1 1JQ
NQ event space for pop and live shows.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times—
- Mon—
- Tue—
- Wed—
- Thu—
- Fri—
- Sat—
- Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Cheadle And Gatley Conservative Club
Conservative club with DJ and social nights.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon18:00–23:30
- Tue18:00–23:30
- WedClosed
- Thu18:00–23:30
- Fri18:00–23:30
- Sat12:00–00:30
- Sun12:00–23:30
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
City Airport (Barton)
Historic 1930s aerodrome with R&B events.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon09:00–18:00
- Tue09:00–18:00
- Wed09:00–18:00
- Thu09:00–18:00
- Fri09:00–19:00
- Sat09:00–19:00
- Sun09:00–19:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Co-op Live
The UK's largest indoor arena, on Manchester's Etihad Campus.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times—
- Mon—
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- Wed—
- Thu—
- Fri—
- Sat—
- Sun—
View venue›
Photo: Google
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Depot Mayfield
10,000-cap former railway venue, home of The Warehouse Project.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times—
- Mon—
- Tue—
- Wed—
- Thu—
- Fri—
- Sat—
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View venue›
Photo: Google
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Dulcimer
Bolton pub with live music.
Backline2 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- 2 vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon14:00–00:30
- Tue14:00–00:30
- Wed14:00–00:30
- Thu14:00–00:30
- Fri14:00–01:30
- Sat12:00–01:30
- Sun12:00–00:30
View venue›
Claim this venue
Elevation13
Hyde's party-night venue for tribute acts, country nights and the Chaos Quiz.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times—
- Mon—
- Tue—
- Wed—
- Thu—
- Fri—
- Sat—
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View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Empire Warrington
Free-entry live music bar on Bridge Street, Warrington.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times—
- Mon—
- Tue—
- Wed—
- Thu—
- Fri—
- Sat—
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View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Factory 251
Peter Hook's three-floor club and gig room in the old Factory Records HQ
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon23:00–04:00
- TueClosed
- WedClosed
- Thu23:00–04:00
- Fri23:00–04:00
- Sat23:00–04:00
- SunClosed
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Fox & Pine
Grassroots live music venue in Oldham with a regular open mic night.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon12:00–22:00
- Tue12:00–22:00
- Wed12:00–22:00
- Thu12:00–22:00
- Fri12:00–22:00
- Sat12:00–22:00
- Sun12:00–22:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Freight Island
Piccadilly food and entertainment destination.
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- MonClosed
- TueClosed
- WedClosed
- Thu16:00–23:00
- FriClosed
- Sat12:00–00:00
- Sun12:00–22:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Award-winning Manchester comedy club.
Backline1 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon19:00–23:00
- Tue19:00–23:00
- Wed19:00–23:00
- Thu19:00–23:00
- Fri19:00–23:00
- Sat15:00–23:30
- Sun18:00–22:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Fuel Cafe Bar
Withington's monday-night free open mic at Fuel Cafe Bar — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 10-minute slots, all ages.
Backline1 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon11:00–00:00
- Tue11:00–00:00
- Wed11:00–00:00
- Thu11:00–00:00
- Fri11:00–02:00
- Sat11:00–02:00
- Sun11:00–00:00
View venue›
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Fuel Café Bar
Withington's veggie café bar and live music venue
Backline0 of 7
- PA system
- Drum kit
- Guitar amp
- Bass amp
- Keys / keyboard
- Vocal mics
- In-house engineer
Opening times7 of 7
- Mon11:00–00:00
- Tue11:00–00:00
- Wed11:00–00:00
- Thu11:00–00:00
- Fri11:00–02:00
- Sat10:00–02:00
- Sun10:00–00:00
View venue›
Open mics in Manchester
Turn up, put your name down, play. Most are free.
OTHER
Wed
The Copper Bar
Northern Quarter, Manchester
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
EVERY
Wed
The Egerton Arms
Salford, Salford
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
EVERY
Wed
The Fitzgerald
Manchester, Manchester
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
EVERY
Wed
Grand Central Alt Bar & Live Music Venue
80 Oxford St, Manchester
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
OTHER
Wed
The Kings Arms
Salford, Salford
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
MONTH
Wed
Rocksalt Cafe Bar
192 Heaton Moor Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
Hosted by Izzie Walsh
EVERY
Wed
The Pen & Pencil
Northern Quarter, Manchester
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots15 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic, comedy, poetry
View details›
2-WK
Wed
Trof Northern Quarter
Manchester, Manchester
- Sign-up—
- Slots—
- EntryFree
- PA—
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
1ST
Wed
The Star Inn
Higher Broughton, Salford
- Sign-up—
- Slots—
- EntryFree
- PA—
- Backline—
- Open tomusic, poetry, spoken_word
View details›
EVERY
Thu
Hop and Hazlewood
Manchester, Manchester
- Sign-up—
- Slots—
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
EVERY
Thu
The Blarney Stone
Town Centre, Bolton
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots12 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic
View details›
EVERY
Thu
Nook Cafe Bar
Heaton Moor, Stockport
- Sign-up19:30
- Slots20 min
- EntryFree
- PAProvided
- Backline—
- Open tomusic, spoken_word
View details›
What's on in Manchester — FAQs
Common questions about live music in Manchester, answered with this week's live data.
We currently list 268 gigs in Manchester between 20 Sept and 18 Oct, across 38 venues. The listings above are the full set, sorted by date and refreshed daily from the venues themselves — no algorithm decides what you see. For everything beyond this window, browse the Manchester gig directory or every city we cover.
None of the Manchester gigs currently listed are marked free entry, though many venues do not publish a price at all. Manchester open mic nights are your reliable free option — most charge nothing to watch or to play.
Friday, with 74 gigs listed across the next 28 days. Friday: 74 gigs · Saturday: 66 gigs · Thursday: 42 gigs. Filter by This week or This weekend above to narrow it down.
Right now: 5d4ecc7c-83a3-47dd-9003-5bc64fbfa350, 83d0d165-2123-40dd-ba9c-0d72b9915eb3, aaab72a9-da41-49b4-816c-ce066409a03f. In total we track 135 grassroots venues in Manchester, of which 38 have something listed in this window. Capacity, backline and opening times for each are on the Manchester venue directory.
Manchester has 59 regular open mic nights that we verify on a rolling cycle. Each listing carries the sign-up time, slot length, entry fee and whether a PA and backline are provided — see the Manchester open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.
Where a Manchester venue publishes a price, the average ticket is £26.83. Grassroots entry is typically a few pounds on the door, and many nights are free. On the other side of the transaction, the Musicians' Union publishes national gig rates as the recognised floor for live engagements, and the ISM publishes guidance for self-employed musicians. Our own UK gig rate benchmarks show what artists are actually being paid by region and act type.
Grassroots rooms are where every act you have paid to see learned to hold an audience. Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them for good. Manchester still has 135 on our list. Music Venue Trust campaigns for them nationally; venues themselves navigate PRS licensing and local authority licensing to keep putting music on. The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up and buy a drink at the bar.
Listing is free and takes about two minutes — submit through the Manchester gig directory and it is verified within 48 hours. No account is needed and there is no listing fee. If you run a venue here, claim your venue page to keep its capacity, backline and contact details current. Promoters and venues booking acts can also post paid work or find artists directly.
Go to one this month
268 gigs listed in Manchester over the next four weeks, across 135 grassroots venues and 59 open mic nights. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before — it is the single most useful thing anyone can do for a room like these.
Help keep grassroots venues open in Manchester
—A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Manchester. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.