Live music in Manchester this week: 1-8 Sep

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.

1 Sep

Scruff of the Neck Records welcome Mancunian indie rock 'n' rollers Larkins, as they take on their biggest headline show to date in celebration of new single, Velvets. Also on the bill are Leeds quartet Victors, ambient post-rock outfit Young Monarch and singer-songwriter Jack Conman. Academy 3, 7.30pm, £6

[Hot Chip, photo: Derek Robertson]

Hit the road for your live music fix and make a beeline for one of the UK's most dreamlike settings, as boutique bash Festival No. 6 returns to the unrivalled setting of Portmeirion, a Mediterranean-inspired village in North Wales. This weekend the enchanting landscape will come to life with the likes of Hot Chip, Super Furry Animals, Roots Manuva, Roisin Murphy, Blossoms, Andrew Weatherall, Broken Social Scene, Noel Gallagher and, er, Bastille, as well as a whole programme of talks, comedy and carnivals. It'll be reet good. Portmeirion, 1-4 Sep

2 Sep

Manchester-based psych/fuzz collective Freakout Honey take to the stage this week, peddling their dreamy alt grooves that'll come into their element in the live setting. They'll be joined by guests Crimsons and Sam Craighan as support. Night & Day Cafe, 7.30pm, £5 

3 Sep

Time to welcome the cream of the classic hip hop crop as Pete Rock and CL Smooth roll into town with their inimitable jazz-driven beats. Rarely ones to grace the UK live circuit, this one's essential viewing for anyone with even the remotest interest in alternative hip hop, smooth jazz, East Coast rap or even just a good set of solid beats. Mantra Warehouse, 7pm, £22.50

Penn Badgley continues to break from the shadow cast from his Gossip Girl earlier days with a foray into music, fronting Brooklyn synthy indie quartet Mothxr, who head our way this week as part of their September European tour. Go see the Other Tucker get off his lawnmower and do his thang. xoxo. Sorry, we'll stop now. Sound Control, 7pm, £8

6 Sep

Soup Kitchen and Islington Mill live programmers Fat Out present Kayo Dot, whose musical leanings span everything from chamber muisc and jazz to black metal and gothic, with frontman and primary composer Toby Driver at the helm. Support comes from Manchester's own Hexagon Trail and Liverpool-based composer Germanager. Soup Kitchen, 6 Sep, £8

Now booking: 

[Blossoms, photo: Andy Sawyer]

The next wave of artists for October's Neighbourhood Festival have also now been announced; prepare yourselves for some added Blossoms, White Lies, Fenech-Soler, The Pigeon Detectives and more. Sound tempting? Get your ticket here.

Psych rockers Gong return to the scene a year and a half on from the sad death of the band's Aussie co-founder Daevid Allen, playing as a quintet at Gorilla in November in support of new album, Rejoice! I'm Dead!. Tickets on sale now via Dice.

Canadian rock group Black Mountain are back on the road, too, treating us to their first album in six years – also at Gorilla and also in November; you can book this one here.