Live music in Manchester this week: 15-21 Mar

Go catch locals Luxury Death, London duo Factory Floor, conceptual punk duo The Garden and more, before booking yourself in for some of Manchester International Festival's music events

Feature by Jess Hardiman | 15 Mar 2017

We dive into the listings to bring you this essential guide to gigs in Manchester this week plus the latest news on festivals, tour announcements and more. Think we've missed something? Hit up jess@theskinny.co.uk with the details. 

Thu 16 Mar


Luxury Death, photo: Laura Merrill

Rising from the ashes of Sheffield duo Nai Harvest, Manchester-based indie rockers Luxury Death – the new venture from Ben Thompson and Meg Williams – will be launching their new EP with a hometown show. After catching their hypnotic hip-wiggling at January’s Stay Fresh Fest at The Deaf Institute, we heartily recommend you bob down to show your support, though in the meantime you can also catch a glimpse of what’s to come with this live performance filmed at Low Four Studio. The Castle Hotel, 8pm, £5


Moon Duo, photo: Sam Huddleston

San Franciscan space rock twosome Moon Duo (aka Ripley Johnson and Sanae Yamada) also stop by, bringing their always-perfect combination of lazily advancing solos and eccentric organ meanderings of loveliness. Tickets are sold out, so you'll have to get begging. Band on the Wall, 7.30pm, £sold out

Fri 17 Mar


Factory Floor, photo: Alexander Bell

London duo Factory Floor head to The White Hotel to blend dance, industrial and post-punk sounds in one of Manchester’s most fitting spaces, rounded off by support from Makeness and DJ sets from Stop Making Sense, This is Tomorrow and Now Wave. The White Hotel, 9pm, £10

Sat 18 Mar


Jagwar Ma, photo: Ryan Johnston

Aussie trio Jagwar Ma are out giving their second album, Every Now and Then, another airing, following a trip to Manchester Academy at the tail-end of last year. Once again they’ll be bringing their unique brand of hazy neo-psychedlia, which will hopefully live up to October’s four-star review. O2 Ritz, 6.30pm, £15

The raspiest voice in the music industry returns to the stage as Macy Gray heads our way to mark nearly two decades since the release of her debut album. Now also trailing her latest output, Stripped, we’re also hoping for the classic material that we know and love… though what ‘classic material’ entails outside of I Try, we’re not entirely sure. Anyone know? Manchester Academy 2, 7pm, £32.50

Sun 19 Mar

Time for another descendant of Afrobeat royalty you’ve spotted, in the form of Fela Kuti’s youngest son Seun Kuti. The Nigerian musician will take to the stage alongside Fela’s former band, Egypt 80, together blasting out his father’s back catalogue and Seun’s own material. Band on the Wall, 7.30pm, £19.50-£22

Tue 21 Mar 


The Garden, photo: Matt Wilson

Part-time Yves Saint Laurent models and twin brothers from the Orange CountyThe Garden will be returning to Mancunian soil to their hand at conceptual punk in the wake of releasing their new EP earlier this month. Soup Kitchen, 7.30pm, £8

Now booking: 

The programme for 2017's much-anticipated Manchester International Festival has finally been announced (more on that here), and as always the music line-up is looking strong. And while some events like New Order and Bonobo unsurprisingly sold out within moments, there's still lots you can sink your teeth into, including Sampha at the Albert Hall and the Mary Anne Hobbs' Dark Matter series, with the likes of LEVELZ, Holly Herndon, Paleman, The Haxan Cloak, Clark, Kojey Radical, Colin Stetson and SUNN O))).