Live music in Manchester this week: 2-8 Nov

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 3 Nov

[PJ Harvey, photo: Christie Goodwin]

The only two-time Mercury prize-winning artist PJ Harvey returns to cherry-pick gems from her recent album, The Hope Six Demolition Project. While it's deemed a success commercially and, for the most part, critically, our two-star review perhaps suggests you'll have to go and check it out for yourself before making a final judgement. Victoria Warehouse, £37.50, 6.30pm

London-born, British-Israeli singer-songwriter Lail Arad follows up 2011's debut, Someone New, with The Onion, the release of which takes her out on her longest tour to date this month, thanks to support from PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music fund. Fallow Cafe, 7.30pm, £5

Promising an evening of 'blow your socks off' tunes from Manchester and beyond, Enter the Dragon's Lair brings The Wonder Inn to life with live sets from PINES, The Roasts, HK and Empty Rooms. Originally scheduled for Aatma, FYI, but all advance tickets are still valid. The Wonder Inn, 7pm, £5

Fri 4 Nov

For one evening, suspend your neverending quest to be cool and clued up and get yourself a fix of classic disco from Philadelphian 70s discobabes Sister Sledge, as they head our way with three of the original four sisters. O2 Ritz, 6pm, £25-£30

Sat 5 Nov

Just under a year on from their momentous gig at the Albert Hall last year – their first in Manchester for a decade – inimitable nu-jazz/electronica troupe The Cinematic Orchestra return to home turf to give us all the feels once again, this time ahead of their forthcoming new album. Support comes from Submotion Orchestra and fellow Manc stalwart Mr Scruff, together completing a very nifty little package indeed. O2 Apollo, £29.50, 7pm

Tue 8 Nov

[Local Natives, photo: Derek M Chapman]

Silver Lake indie-rockers Local Natives, whose core trio originally met at high school before being joined later by a bassist and a drummer, return with a third album, Sunlit Youth, which was released earlier this year. Manchester Academy 2, 7pm, £17.50 

[Happy Meals, photo: Vito Andreoni]

We've been big fans of Glasgow synthpop duo Happy Meals for some time now, so we're more than a bit buzzing to see that Grey Lantern and Comfortable On a Tightrope are teaming up to bring them hither once more as part of their European tour (or a 'Brexit Blowout', as they're calling it), which kicks off in this 'ere Manc before concluding on home turf at Glasgow's Nice N Sleazy. Expect solid, pounding European cosmic disco that more than justifies last year's SAY Award nom. Aatma, 7.30pm, £5

Now booking:

Get poised to snap up tickets for Radiohead next year, hitting up Manchester Arena with two dates in July, following the release of new material earlier this year. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 4 Nov; read more about it here.

John Cale has announced that for 2017 he'll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the world's most iconic debut albums, The Velvet Underground and Nico, by performing it in full with a selection of high profile musical guests. Along with gigs in New York and Paris, Cale has hand-picked Liverpool for his only UK jaunt, due to it being the city he sailed from when he left the country. Might not be Manchester, but it ain't far off. Read our news story, and if you're willing to make the trip, snap up your ticket here.