Live music in Manchester this week: 29 Mar-4 Apr

Whether it's Malian desert blues from Songhoy Blues, classic cosmic jazz from Sun Ra Arkestra or twee indie-pop from Swedish troubadour Jens Lekman, there's lots to get excited about this week

Feature by Jess Hardiman | 29 Mar 2017

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 29 Mar

Young ensemble Songhoy Blues – who fled their Malian hometown of Timbuktu after it was seized – match a compelling backstory with equally compelling punky desert blues, which has seen them feature on Damon Albarn’s Africa Express recordings before getting a little help from Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner for their debut album. Catch them now before they head back to the North for Liverpool Psych Fest in September. The Ruby Lounge, 7.30pm, £13.50

[Francois and The Atlas Mountains, photo: Dylan Matthews]

Saintes-born Francois Marry will be doing his airy and understated thing under his Francois and The Atlas Mountains banner, melding African and South Asian sounds for afrobeat sway and sweet indie-pop melodies – promising some rewarding new tracks from latest album Solide Mirage. Soup Kitchen, 7pm, £10

Thu 30 Mar

Oklahoma’s Samantha Crain heads to UK shores with her fifth album in tow, which “shows off her folk balladry and experimental spirit with greater pop emphasis.” You can read our full review of the release here, before catching her at Night and Day on Thursday. Night and Day Cafe, 7.30pm, £9

Fri 31 Mar

[Jens Lekman]

Enjoy more humorous, romantic and string-laden guitar-based pop from lovably twee Swedish troubadour Jens Lekman – if you have a ticket for his sold-out gig this week, that is. If not, you can try having a beg over on the Facebook event page to be in with the chance of seeing his new material live… Band on the Wall, 7pm, £sold out

[Run the Jewels, photo: JayJay Robertson]

And if you can’t hunt down a couple of tickets to Jens Lekman, why not try the even less achievable task of sourcing some for Friday’s Run the Jewels gig at Albert Hall? That sold out almost immediately thanks to an incredible third album released at the beginning of this year, fusing equal parts red-hot fire and cold hard reality. Albert Hall, 7pm, £sold out

Tombed Visions present the decently priced – and, crucially, not sold-out – alternative, with a label showcase celebrating the album launch of Vanishing’s self-titled new material, set for release at the beginning of April. Expect spoken word and electronic/industrial soundscapes, with support from Carriers and Burn Into Sleep. Islington Mill, 8pm, £5

Sat 1 Apr

Cambria Instruments’ head honcho Nathan Fake, who’s been at the forefront of British electronic music for a good decade or so, returns with fourth album Providence. Released on Ninja Tune earlier this month to critical acclaim (read our four-star review here), you’ll be able to catch it in all its live glory this week in the Soup basement. Soup Kitchen, 7.30pm, £10

Sun 2 Apr

[Sun Ra Arkestra, photo: Kate Johnston]

Round the weekend off with a spacey smattering of avant-garde cosmic jazz, as the revered Sun Ra Arkestra stop by with 92-year-old alto saxophonist Marshall Allen at the helm. Band on the Wall, 7.30pm, £22

Tue 4 Apr

[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 with a special solo grand piano show, with support from the equally great Francis Lung. A very nice booking from Hey! Manchester. Halle St Michael’s Church, 7.30pm, £12 

Now booking:

[Josefin Öhrn]

Another 30 acts have been announced for Dot to Dot festival this May, including The Big Moon, Josefin Öhrn and many more. See who's been added to the bill here, before snapping up a ticket.

Elsewhere, Bushmills Whiskey is launching a nationwide tour showcasing established bands and rising talent in independent music venues. And while Vant's gig at The Deaf Institute for the Manchester leg has sold out, there are still tickets for The Wytches at Headrow House over in nearby Leeds. In fact, we've also got a competition running where you can win tickets! Click here for more info on that.