Live music in Manchester this week: 16-22 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. 

Wed 16 Nov

[Joan as Policewoman, photo: Markus Thorsen]

Joan Wasser Continuing to mix sweet pop melodies with a more hard-edged guitar nous, Joan as Policewoman’s Joan Wasser tours this month under the collaborative umbrella project with Okkervil River’s Benjamin Lazar Davis. Gorilla, 7pm, £16.50

Thu 17 Nov

Currently signed to Fat Cat Records, Chichester krautrock trio Traams are out on the road for their 2016 tour, stopping by Aatma to give Manchester a whirl this week. Aatma, 7pm, £8

[BC Camplight, photo: Alexander Bell]

Bella Union-signed songwriter BC Camplight completes his ascension from being down and out in Philadelphia to riding critical acclaim, for the skewed pop of 2015's album, How to Die In The North. The Ruby Lounge, 7.30pm, £10

Sun 20 Nov

Formerly a member of Kurt Vile’s backing band, New York-based guitarist and songwriter Steve Gunn continues to ride the solo wave, currently out touring his latest LP, Eyes on the Lines, and surprisingly heading to one of Manchester's more intimate venues. Gullivers, 7.30pm, £11

Alternatively, you can round your week off with Leeds-based grunge three-piece Forever Cult, who’ll be calling in as part of their headline November tour. The Castle Hotel, 7pm, £5

Mon 21 Nov

Comprising the achingly cool combination of Sade, Irtita and Ellie, California trio L.A. Witch bring the punky rock on reverb overdrive this week, no doubt able to shake away the cobwebs and have us feeling pathetic no more. 

Now booking:

Evoking the eclectic rock experimentation of Frank Zappa, Melbourne psychniks King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard return to Manchester next June as one of just two UK shows. Why? Well, because they're releasing five albums in 2017, of course! Snap up those tickets here, before looking out for their next record, Flying Microtonal Banana, which is released on 24 Feb.