Live music in Manchester this week: 13-18 Apr

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 13 Apr

Charlotte Church

Former child star turned outspoken critic of the right-wing political narrative, Charlotte Church brings her Late Night Pop Dungeon to Manchester – a gloriously silly and outrageously fun affair where you're as likely to hear the Welsh wonder cover En Vogue or Basement Jaxx as Super Furry Animals or Neutral Milk Hotel. Read our 2016 interview with CC right here. Gorilla, 7.30pm, £14

You like jammed-out, deep-fried psych-pop, as played by American garage heads who know how to beat 60s British art-rock at its own game? Hey, we like jammed-out, deep-fried... aww, fuck it, I'm not typing out all that again. Anyway, Nashville trio The Paperhead are very ace indeed, with a string of releases behind them for the wonderful Trouble In Mind Records and a live show that can't be beat. Night & Day, 8pm, £8

Fri 14 Apr 

Weyes Blood, photo: Cayal Unger

Santa Monica native Natalie Mering, aka Weyes Blood, released her third album to great acclaim towards the tail end of 2016, and she's scarcely been resting on her laurels since then. We awarded her Glasgow show four stars back in December, and we'd wager than her powerful yet fragile vocal and capacity for beautiful balladry will captivate audiences once more on this UK jaunt. Soup Kitchen, 7pm, £10

Sat 15 Apr

Samba, jazz, bossa nova and mambo collide with a joyous pop sheen as Amsterdam-born Caro Emerald visits the Bridgewater Hall – expect infectious rhythms and tales of romance aplenty. Bridgewater Hall, 7pm, from £22.50

Sun 16 Apr

Soup Kitchen welcomes London producer Jamie Isaac, whose delicate compositions tread the no-man's land between jazz, R'n'B, soul, hip-hop and electronica, showing off his classical piano training and knack for intelligent, self-aware lyricism. Pretty good, all told. Soup Kitchen, 7pm, £8

Mon 17 Apr

Chelsea Wolfe, photo: Jassy Earl

Two years ago, Chelsea Wolfe blew us away with her remarkable fourth album Abyss. "A skilled songwriter at the peak of her game," we said, and we weren't alone in our effusive praise. Colour us delighted, then, to see her return to Manchester, and this time she has psych-doom experts True Widow and stoner metal titans King Woman in tow for a truly essential bill. Read our interview with Chelsea Wolfe here. Gorilla, 7pm, £15

Tue 18 Apr

Once upon a time, it seemed like Anglo-French experimentalists Stereolab were the sort of band who'd continue indefinitely, reappearing every few years with yet another mind-boggling collection of avant-kraut-lounge-pop. They've been much missed since going on hiatus in 2009, but happily founding member Laetitia Sadier has continued in a similar, if ultimately more elegant manner ever since. Acquaint yourself; you won't regret it. Soup Kitchen, 7pm, £10

Attention, Galaxie 500 fans: someone's looking out for you. Brooklyn ambient-poppers Cigarettes After Sex have built quite a name for themselves in a short space of time, thanks to sparse, poignantly fragile cuts like Apocalypse and K., and we'd advise you to take this chance to see 'em in a relatively intimate venue while you still can. Gorilla, 7.30pm, £12

Don't Miss: Fat Out Fest

Rejoice! Rejoice! Fat Out Fest is finally upon us! We've been enthusing about this particular line-up for months, filled as it is with treats like Trans Am, Part Chimp and the returning collaboration between The Bug and Earth's Dylan Carlson – we've even spilled our guts about our favourite hidden treats on a line-up packed with weird'n'wonderful sounds (including some of the very best from Greater Manchester and way, way further afield). This one's guaranteed to be a winner. 14-16 Apr, Islington Mill, Salford, weekend tickets £65, day tickets £25