Live music in Manchester this week: 17-23 May

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 17 May

 

[Metronomy, photo: Jassy Earl]

The Joseph Mount-led electro-pop pleasurists Metronomy return, this time trailing last year's fifth studio album, Summer 08. Tickets sold out long ago, but you can try your luck haggling over on the Facebook page. Albert Hall, 7pm, £sold out

Thu 18 May

DJ Food (aka Ninja Tune’s Kevin Foakes) presents a live audiovisual set of pieces from the Aphex Twin back catalogue, in the wake of the recent 25th anniversary of his Selected Ambient Works. The Deaf Institute, 7pm, £15

Alternatively, you can take your mum to Take That, whose dwindling line-up now features just three of its original fellas. Barlow, Mark Owen and, er, the other one? Manchester Arena, Thu 18-Sat 20 May & Thu 25-Sat 27 May, 7.30pm, prices vary

Fri 19 May

[Jane Weaver, photo: Stuart Moulding]

Enjoy some ethereal kraut-influenced psychedelic sounds as Bird Records’ Jane Weaver heads to Band on the Wall with new album Modern Kosmology. Band on the Wall, 7pm, £10

Sat 20 May

[Leftfield, photo: Sam Brill]

We recently spoke to Leftfield’s Neil Barnes and Paul Daley to find out which albums influenced and helped shape their seminal debut, Leftism, which turns 22 this year – see for yourself what they said here, before catching them live in Manchester this weekend. O2 Apollo, 7pm, £30

And if pioneering British 90s dance music ain't your thing, you can opt for some contemporary heavy post-punk from Leeds, as Post War Glamour Girls hop across the Pennines armed with new album Swan Songs. Gullivers, 7.30pm, £6

Leeds exports and serious up-and-comers Clay bring their fusion of Factory Records-style indie with a falsetto groove back to Manchester this week, following a sell-out show at The Deaf Institute late last year. Support comes from Cassia and Plastic House. Gorilla, 6.30pm, £8

Mon 22 May

[Hazel English, photo: Julie Juarez]

If we were to recommend one absolute must for the week, it'd be Aussie-born, Oakland CA-based singer-songwriter Hazel English, who we billed as one of the top five Australian acts to check out this year. You'll like her. Go watch. The Castle Hotel, 7.30pm, £8

Tue 23 May

Get ready to punch your fist in the air in triumph, as Glaswegian pop-rockers Simple Minds stop by with all the hits for some Tuesday 80s nostalgia. Bridgewater Hall, 7pm, £46

Now booking:

This October Grey Lantern will be welcoming influential German ambient musician GAS, aka Kompakt Records co-founder Wolfgang Voigt. He'll be making his Manchester debut, playing in support of his first album in 17 years, Narkopop. Tickets on sale from 10am on Wed 17 May, costing £17.50.