Manchester's music scene is as strong as ever. From international touring acts, world-renowned DJ sets, and some of the UK's best festival action, the city has it all.
And, away from the mega-stars, is a wave of smaller talent building their repertoire in the city's more intimate venues, where stages are only a foot tall and sunlight hasn't been seen for days. The city is also now starting to host an impressive amount of world music stars, who you might not have heard of - but will be delighted when you do.
To that end, here are the give best gigs going on in Manchester in August 2022, selected by the MEN's What's On team. There's a mix of DIY psych, international art-pop, and even some Ethiopian Jazz.
So wherever you end up, have fun. This city is alive (with the sound of music).
Baby Dave - Yes - August 8
Slaves’ Isaac Holman’s solo project comes to Manchester in what promises to be an intimate show in the venue’s basement. Opening single for the project, ‘29’, was produced by Damon Albarn, who also features instrumentally.
As part of The National Lottery's Revive Live Tour with Music Venue Trust, the event is designed to get live music back up and running after two years of near-silence. We think this will be the perfect first gig back for so many people because it will show off Holman’s own musical talents in a setting that lends itself to his personality. Expect energy, craftsmanship, and ingenuity.
Tune-Yards - Band On The Wall - August 23
Art-pop excess in a proper music hall is a helluva combination. That’s exactly what Tune-Yards should deliver at Band On The Wall later in the month.
The show, which was originally scheduled for Gorilla and was moved due to ongoing engineering works, is the first appearance for Merill Garbus in Manchester since 2018.
Since then, the daring new album Sketchy has been released, which won critical acclaim last year. It will be a show full of creativity, ambition, and desire — so not one to be missed.
Chemtrails - Gullivers - August 13
Manchester-based Chemtrails are bringing their sixties-psych inspired sounds to Gullivers. It's been a busy period for the five-piece, who are juggling a full-on festival season while recording their third album.
Chemtrails have put out five 'DIY' records since 2016, which were mostly recorded in their living room - and they've earned critical acclaim from BBC Radio 1, 6Music, and KEXP. Impressively, the band was signed by Swedish label PNKSLM Recordings after only playing one gig at Trans Pride Brighton.
The project, formed by couple Mia Lust and Laura Orlova, creates lo-fi, new wave music which lyrically confronts love and the human condition. Their latest single Eternal Shame is sure to go down well with the Gullivers crowd.
Mulatu Astatke - Band On The Wall - August 26
At 78-years-old, Ethiopian jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke has had an incredible music career, which shows no sign of slowing down. Born in the Ethiopian city of Jimma, he was sent to study engineering in Wales in the 50s, but went on to earn a degree in music instead.
The 1960s saw the percussionist head to Boston, USA where he continued his studies at the famed Berklee College of Music. He then moved to New York, releasing albums Afro-Latin Soul, Volumes 1 and 2.
Mulatu also collaborated with the likes of Mahmoud Ahed and Duke Ellington and had a resurgence in the 2000s among western audiences, thanks to his feature in the 2005 Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers. He's been sampled by Nas, Damian Marley, Kanye West and Cut Chemist.
Expect a lively night at Band On The Wall, with a melting pot of Ethio-jazz, Afro-funk, soul, and Latin rhythms to enjoy.
Gus Dapperton - Gorilla - August 31
Bringing his dreamy indie-pop sounds across the pond, Gus Dapperton is set to play an intimate gig at Gorilla. The New Yorker, who's just 25-years-old, has a knack for matching his raw sounds to raw emotions - and he isn't afraid to explore both the light and the dark.
The singer-songwriter's 2020 release Orca epitomises this; it sees Gus navigate human pain and suffering, but also healing and redemption. Latest single Meteorite is a collaboration with Norwegian artist Anna of the North, combining feel-good tunes with reflective lyrics - making for a dance-bop brimming with emotion.
Catch Gus and his band for a special set in Manchester at the end of August, where you can expect to move and groove - and perhaps shed a tear or two.
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