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- Category: whats on
- Updated: 21st January 2023
What's on in Manchester: Upcoming Concerts and Events in 2023
As a bustling metropolis, Manchester offers a diverse range of entertainment options for fans of music and the arts. Whether visiting the iconic Manchester Arena or the historic Albert Hall, you'll always find something worth watching in this vibrant city.
Indie Gigs in Manchester
The Orielles
If a special blend of surf-rock psychedelia sounds like your cup of tea, head down to Manchester New Century Hall to catch the Orielles. The band has built a fanatical fanbase since they burst onto the scene in 2018, deliving into 70s funk, dream pop, and even space rock, and their latest release, 2022’s double album ‘Tableau’ shows that the Orielles still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Florence + the Machine
Florence + the Machine are storming the AO Arena stage this year, riding high off the success of 2022’s album ‘Dance Fever’. Following in the footsteps of her own musical icons Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks, and Siouxsie Sioux, lead vocalist and songwriter Florence Welch has led the Machine from strength to strength, delighting fans with new and exciting musical elements along the way.
Yungblud
Doncaster indie rock and pop artist, Yungblud, has been winning over fans both online and onstage as he smashes together genres with a defiance and exuberance you can’t help but love. Following the release of his self-titled third album towards the end of last year, Yungblud is taking his fresh-faced and fearless show on the road - fans of anything from the Cure to the Clash to Katy Perry will find something to enjoy.
KT Tunstall
The Albert Hall’s stage is set to receive Scottish singer-songwriter, KT Tunstall. Winning the hearts of audiences with her contralto vocal range and her skill with a loop pedal, indie-folk artist Tunstall released the third in album in her ‘Kin’, ‘Wax’, and ‘Nut’ trilogy last year to favourable reviews, with album opener ‘Out of Touch’ proving that she is anything but.
Dodgy
If you fancy some acoustic-flavoured nineties nostalgia, get yourself ticket to see Dodgy play their most successful album, ‘Free Peace Sweet’ at the O2 Ritz Manchester. Soaring up the UK charts at the height of Britpop with their enduring classic ‘Good Enough’, Dodgy are still a musical force to be reckoned with.
Rock Concerts in Manchester
Black Stone Cherry & The Darkness
American rock band, Black Stone Cherry, are joining forces with British rock band, The Darkness, for a string of what are shaping up to be highly enjoyable UK tour dates - and their show at the AO Arena is sure to be no exception. Both bands have an impressive repertoire of certifiable bangers, and bothhave gained a reputation for their energetic, uplifting live performances - and to see the two bands in one single sitting sounds like any rocker’s dream come true.
Panic! At the Disco
Panic! At the Disco, led by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Brendan Urie, are touring the UK as part of their ‘Viva Las Vengeance’ album tour. Having expanded their sound considerably since their already-eclectic first album, 2005’s ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’, Panic! Have, under Urie’s direction, seamlessly fused electropop, baroque pop and pop punk with their rockier emo roots, and their spectaculr stage show has only become grander and more elaborate.
Paramore
Paramore are heading to the AO Arena to promote their sixth studio album, 2023’s ‘This Is Why’. Fronted by the charismatic lead vocalist and principle songwriter, Hayley Williams, Paramore have gained popularity with a new generation of fans and remained firm favourites of everyone who was there at the centre of the mid-2000s emo boom.
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips will be performing their 2002 electronic masterpiece ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots’ in its entirety at the O2 Apollo Manchester. Led by the enigmatic Wayne Coil, the Flaming Lips always promise to deliver a dynamite show - and their ‘Yoshimi…’ album, which was developed into a Broadway Musical, gives the band the perfect platform to showcase their diverse musical tastes and talents.
Duran Duran
Duran Duran, the British new wave band, is set to entertain Manchester with their legendary fusion of new wave, dance-rock, and funk rock. Helping to popularise the New Romantic movement in the eighties and scoring the coveted ‘Bond Theme’ gig for ‘A View to a Kill’, Simon Le Bon continues to lead Duran Duran to new heights of success.
Pop Concerts in Manchester
Hot Chip
Electro dance-pop outfit Hot Chip will be filling the floor with movers and shakers at
Manchester’s Depot Mayfield. Led by Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, the band have been creating and innovating in the digital realm of electronic music since the dawn of the new millennium, adding acoustic percussion to their live shows to add a visceral, human touch.
Lizzo
Singer, rapper, and flautist Lizzo will be stopping by Manchester’s AO Arena as part of The Special Tour. A body positivity and self-confidence icon, Lizzo has given us such feel-good anthems ‘Juice’ and ‘Good As Hell’, and is sure to leave concertgoers feeling very special about themselves too.
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg, who has remained one of the world’s biggest rap stars since the 90s, is performing at the AO Arena in Manchester. With a slew of laid back, ultra-chill West Coast hip-hops hits, Snoop invites you to see why he’s still the Doggfather for yourself.
Rebecca Black
American singer and YouTuber, Rebecca Black, will be performing at Manchester Gorilla this year. After becoming an internet sensation following the release of her divisive first song ‘Friday’, Black has come into her own as an artist and developed some considerable singwriting chops, set to release her first full-length album ‘Let Her Burn’ in 2023.
Elton John
Elton John is currently performing across the UK as part of his last ever tour. As Elton waves ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, fans can look back on over five decades of pure pop, rock, and R&B excellence from one of the greatest talents of our time. Don’t miss this living legend at the AO Arena.
Metal Gigs in Manchester
Gojira
French metal band Gojira are heading to Manchester as part of their first-ever headline arena tour of Europe and the UK. The band’s sound, which draws influence from death metal and groove metal, is just as crushing as their giant reptilian namesake - an absolute must-see for all metalheads.
Dream Theater
Prog-metal giants Dream Theater are touring the UK this year, with a highly anticipated performance scheduled for the O2 Apollo Manchester. Fans of their complex, ambitious song compositions and intricate musicianship will not be disappointed to see that the band are just as - if not even more - impressive live.
Beartooth
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Beartooth will be delivering nu-metal riffs, hardcore punk energy, and choruses that just get bigger and bigger to O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester. Beartooth, the brainchild of frontman and multi-instrumentalist, Caleb Shomo, have gained notoriety - and an army of loyal fans - for their intense live shows.
I Prevail
As they enter their tenth year, American metallers I Prevail are ready to show Manchester that they’re only just getting started. Catch them at the O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester for a furious, fun-filled evening of pop, trap, and electronic elements all stirred together in I Prevail’s big metal cauldron.
Ozzy Osbourne
Living legend Ozzy Osbourne, star of band Black Sabbath and reality TV show ‘The Osbournes’, is blowing audiences away with his latest solo tour. Ozzy’s unmistakable voice and image, plus a highly successful solo career that helped launch guitarists Zakk Wylde and Randy Rhoads to global fame, have made him an icon in his own right - catch him while you still can at the AO Arena.
Comedy Shows in Manchester
Kevin Hart
Starring in such blockbuster franchises as ‘Jumaji’ and ‘Ride Along’ has made Kevin Hart a household name - but as fans of his specials ‘Let Me Explain’ and ‘What Now?’ will tell you, his first love is stand-up comedy. His latest show ‘Reality Check’ proves that Hollywood has done nothing to smooth down his comedic edge and tireless onstage energy.
Weird Al Yankovic
Weird Al Yankovic will be performing his hugely popular collection of parodies and comedic songs at O2 Apollo Manchester as part of his ‘Unfortunate Return of the Ill-Advised Vanity Tour’. Fresh from the success of his semi-autobiographical movie ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Weird Al’s live shows are marked by a mix of stand-up comedy, musical performances, and storytelling.
Jim Jefferies
Sydney’s own Jim Jefferies will be making a stop at the O2 Apollo Manchester for his ‘Give 'em What They Want Tour’. Jefferies’ stand-up is not for the faint of heart, melding social commentary and political satire and delivering it with an acerbic wit.
Jon Richardson
Jon Richardson’s latest show ‘the Knitwit’ is coming to Manchester’s O2 Apollo. A permanent fixture on such comedy panel shows as ‘8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown’, the curmudgeonly cardigan enthusiast is taking to the stage once again to remind us why we love to listen to him moan.