Live music in Manchester this week: 11-17 Aug

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 11 Aug

Islington Mill welcomes the collaboration between Delphine Dora and Sophie Cooper, as they come together for a Franco-English evening of live improv with piano, trombone and vocals, following last year’s release of their album, Distance Future.

They’ll also be joined by Todmorden-based sound artist and improviser Holly Jarvis, whose installations and performances explore soundscape ecology and deep listening practices – specifically, for this show, the sonic topography of the famed Salford venue, using motorised objects, bells, gongs, percussion and strings.
Islington Mill, 7.30pm, £4

Fri 12 Aug

[Everything Everything, photo: Ashley R. Good]

The Deaf Institute are throwing themselves an eighth birthday party this weekend, bringing together live music and DJs to celebrate several years as one of Manchester’s best-loved venues.

The evening gig, featuring Everything Everything, Dutch Uncles and DNCN, sold out long ago, but you can still get in on the free-entry club night with DJ sets from Girls on Film, Doodle, So Flute, Gold Teeth, You Dig, Piccadilly Records, Bophelong and more.
The Deaf Institute, 6.30pm, club event free before midnight (ticket required); gig tickets sold out

Also this Friday, Now Wave and Soup Kitchen present New York’s Show Me the Body, a hardcore/hip-hop hybrid trio based in Queens who are also part of the Letter Racer zine/label/collective. They're out trailing their debut album, Dead Body, which they released with little to no fanfare via YouTube. Support comes from Mancunian punk outfit Denim and Leather.
Soup Kitchen, 7pm, £8 

[Islington Mill]

Bob down to Islington Mill to watch Action Beat in, er, action, as they put on a 24-hour noise installation. After they kick off at noon on Friday, the only rule is that there must be at least one person manning the drone, noise and ambient output at all times. It’s free to come and watch, though donations are welcomed to cover the cost of travelling musicians.
12-13 Aug, Islington Mill, 12pm, free

Sat 13 Aug

The elusive Willis Earl Beal returns to Mancunian soil as one of a select handful of summer dates, trailing his irresistably moody and mysterious bluesy folk, which is inflected with rich, gospel sincerity. The under-a-tenner price tag ain't bad, either.
Soup Kitchen, 7pm, £9.50

It's also time for Manchester Caribbean Carnival! An institution that's been partying hard for well over 40 years, along with the parade there will also be 10 stages of live calypso, soca and reggae – along with lots of Caribbean food and drink to wash it all down with. In short: two days of fun, sunny vibes for free.
13-14 Aug, Alexandra Park, free

Now booking:

We're throwing a party! We're teaming up with The Deaf Institute for Stay Fresh Fest this September, a day-long festival that sees two stages taken over by some of the most vital new musicians in the North (and slightly beyond), including Leeds-based Cowtown and Glasgow's pop-happy Catholic Action, Manchester's Shaking Chains, Francis Lung, Kyotoya and Ethan & The Reformation, the formidable Liverpudlians Pink Kink and Chester indie-pop trio Peaness. Read all about it here.

Now Wave present the debut Manchester show for Brisbane teen trio The Goon Sax, who have been busy causing quite the stir not only in their native Australia, but also here in the UK, with their critically-acclaimed first album, Up to Anything.

There are also somehow still tickets knocking about for Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, playing at Mantra Warehouse next month. It'll be a very rare chance to catch one of the 90s' forerunning hip hop duos, so we suggest you sign yourself up for some of their inimitable jazz-driven beats.