Gigs are stacked up this month – and with the pleasing addition of some Bank Holiday action, there’s no excuse not to get in amongst it.
We’ve got hip hop legends, house legends and Australian pop legends, festivals, raves… the lot.
Dive in…
Chase & Status at Co-op Live
Acclaimed electronic duo Chase & Status stop in Manchester as part of their major UK arena tour next Spring. The Blind Faith hitmakers will play at Co-op Live on Thursday 1 May 2025. Saul and Will’s last record Ruff Vol 1 was released in 2023 and saw the pair work with the likes of ArrDee, Stefflon Don, Hedex, Takura and loads more. More recently, they have been back in the spotlight for achieving their first ever UK number one single, Backbone featuring Stormzy.
Chase Atlantic at Co-op Live
Australian R&B group Chase Atlantic bring their Lost In Europe tour to Manchester. The band, who formed in 2014 and recently released new single Doubt It, will play at Co-op Live on Friday 2 May.
Manchester Forever at Bowlers
Manchester Forever takes over Bowlers Exhibition Centre this May for a 10-hour celebration of 90s rave. Taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, 3 May, the epic rave reunion will span four arenas, with over 60 legendary artists and a full-scale 90s fairground. Headliners include legends like Fabio & Grooverider, Hype, Kenny Ken, DJ Rap, Micky Finn, DJ SS, Slipmat and Seduction from the world of jungle and hardcore, while Danny Rampling, Allister Whitehead, Jon Pleased Wimmin, Paul Taylor, Rob Tissera and Tall Paul hold it down from the house music old school.
Sounds From The Other City 2025
Sounds From The Other City returns for 2025, with Salford once again being taken over by some of the best alternative music in the UK. Among the headliners this year will be the likes of The Orielles, Du Blonde, Loose Articles, YARD, WH Lung’s Tom Sharkett and Grove ft. Toya and TaliaBle. Also on the bill will be German-Australian producer Hachiku, Danish violist Astrid Sonne, Manchester dons Chunky B2B Samrai and Marla Kether. Heavenly Recordings, Now Wave and Band on the Wall will be among those hosting stages and throwing parties, alongside Crop Radio, $eamu$ Presents, Rare Mags and FLUFF. Events will happen across 15 stages and venues, around Chapel Street and The Crescent, including Peel Hall, Islington Mill, the Working Class Movement Library, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Maxwell Hall and St Philips Church, while after parties will happen upstairs at the Pint Pot at Islington Mill Galleries and The White Hotel. It all happens on 4 May.
Kyle Hall & Mas O Menos at Soup
Detroit’s Kyle Hall makes a rare appearance in Manchester, hitting the decks at Soup in a rave-up helmed by Mas O Menos main man Levi Love. The Wild Oats and Forget The Clock label-runner will be tearing out the techno, deep house, disco and everything in between at this underground institution. Further audio support comes from Stallone.
Love To Be… at The Yard
Veteran Sheffield house night Love To Be… returns to Manchester with a massive day party at The Yard. Expect a full-on bank holiday weekend of quality house music, across an open air stage and intimate disco room, hosted by Manchester disco brand EDIT. Headlining is house icon Roger Sanchez and disco legend John Morales, alongside Trimtone, Nicola Bear, Jaegerossa and Supernature.
Olly Murs at Co-op Live
Fresh from his nationwide tour as special guest to Take That earlier this year, Olly Murs has announced a massive UK Arena tour for next Spring. The Dance With Me Tonight hitmaker will bring the party to Manchester’s Co-op Live on 8 May 2025. He will be joined by special guests Blue.
StalyFest Weekender 2025
Manchester’s newest music festival Stalyfest takes over the Bower Fold stadium in May. Head down to the Tameside town for two days of live music, entertainment and the chance to raise funds for The Christie hospital. Majestic headline Friday, with Cast and Starsailor leading the charge on Saturday.
Tangerine Dream at Aviva Studios
Aviva Studios welcome electronic pioneers Tangerine Dream to Manchester to celebrate 50 years of their groundbreaking album Phaedra. The vastly influential German outfit bring the classic LP back to the stage, with current members Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane and Paul Frick performing the album in full. Founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese in Berlin, Tangerine Dream have since released more than 100 albums as well as numerous film soundtracks and the original score for Grand Theft Auto V.
The RAH Band at Band On The Wall
Richard A. Hewson’s 80s synth-boogie group The RAH Band come to Band On The Wall this May. Returning to the stage in celebration of the 40-year anniversary of 1985 album Mystery, Richard’s son Dan Hewson will lead the full live band reincarnation of the original studio group alongside his father.
Gregory Porter at Co-op Live
Internationally acclaimed jazz and soul artist Gregory Porter has announced a series of live dates in April and May 2025. He has enjoyed global success with his voice, a unique blend of jazz, soul and gospel. He headlines a massive show at Co-op Live on Saturday 10 May 2025.
SK1 Records presents Street Party with Aficionado & Psychederek
The long-awaited return of SK1 Records’ legendary street parties is over. Following the success of previous events, the festivities return, this time with a new home of the Mersey Way car park. To kick things off at the new venue, Aficionado legends Jason Boardman and Moonboots return to SK1; delivering summer vibes and Balearic beats with support from local maverick Psychederek.
Twenty One Pilots at AO Arena
GRAMMY® Award-winning duo Twenty One Pilots have announced details of their massive global headline The Clancy World Tour, including a date in Manchester. The Stressed Out hitmakers will celebrate the release of latest album Clancy with a date at AO Arena on Sunday 11 May 2025.
Rogér Fakhr & Charif Megarbane (Habibi Funk) at Band On The Wall
Both hailing from Beirut, Charif Megarbane and Rogér Fakhr represent two generations of artists pushing Lebanese music culture forwards, with Rogér starting his career in the late 70s, and Charif taking the helm in more recent years. Rogér has developed an incredibly strong cult following, with his lost tapes recorded in 1970s Beirut (and later in Paris during the Lebanese civil war) finally being released to the public by Habibi Funk in 2021 gaining millions of streams. Together, Charif and Rogér bring the show to cities across Europe, including Manchester, for the very first time.
Pride In Trafford 2025
Pride In Trafford returns to the Waterside in Sale this May for the seventh annual festival of LGBTQ+ life, creativity and community. This year, the celebration expands beyond Sale to include events in Altrincham – making it the most exciting and inclusive year yet. The festival offers a dynamic space where everyone can come together to celebrate love, identity and diversity.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at Co-op Live
The incomparable Grammy, Golden Globe, Academy Award and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Bruce Springsteen arrives in Manchester for three live dates with The E Street Band on 14, 17 and 20 May 2025.
ganavya at Aviva Studios
Critically acclaimed vocalist ganavya comes to Aviva Studios for the opening night of the Manchester Jazz Festival 2025. Described by Wall Street Journal as ‘among modern music’s most compelling vocalists’, ganavya is a New York-born, Tamil Nadu-raised singer and trans-disciplinarian. Trained as an improviser, scholar, dancer and multi-instrumentalist, ganavya takes inspiration from an intergenerational constellation of collaborators, anchoring her practice in pasts, presents and futures. Much of her childhood was on the pilgrimage trail, learning the storytelling art form of harikathā and singing poetry that critiques hierarchal social structures.
Luke Una live and in conversation at AO Arena
With a career in the Manchester – and frankly global – music scene spanning more than 30 years, Luke Una will be sitting down for a fireside chat (likely minus the fireside) at the AO Arena, with BBC 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins. It will be a no-holds-barred deep dive, so expect some laughs alongside anecdotes from his pivotal clubnights Electric Chair and Homoelectric, as well as his more recent E Soul Cultura incarnation.
Kylie Minogue at AO Arena
Pop sirens may come and go, but some are forever. Kylie Minogue is one of those. She loves this city too. Fans may recall the time she chose Gorilla to host a tiny, intimate gig back in 2018. At AO Arena it promises to be something else entirely. As part of her Tension tour, which will be taking in shows in London, Birmingham and Glasgow, as well as dates across Asia, Europe, North and South America, and, of course, Australia, she will land at the AO Arena on 19 May 2025.
KRS-One at O2 Ritz
Boogie Down Productions legend KRS-One embarks on his Temple of Hip Hop Tour, including a date in Manchester. Famed for classics like Sound of da Police and MCs Act Like They Don’t Know, KRS-One represents the true essence of hip hop from a golden era for the genre. Catch the show live on Tuesday 20 May.
Scissor Sisters at Co-op Live
Scissor Sisters mark the 20th anniversary of their debut self-titled album with their first live shows in over 12 years. The band (Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis) will tour arenas around the UK, including a date in Manchester. The I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ hitmakers will headline Co-op Live on Wednesday 21 May 2025, with support from special guest Alison Goldfrapp.
The Hallé Presents: Honey Dijon at The Bridgewater Hall
Musician, DJ and producer Honey Dijon comes to Manchester for a huge headline show. The Chicago-born artist, from the home of House music, has captivated dance floors across the globe fpr the past two decaes. She has inspired the fashion circuits of London, Paris, Berlin and New York, and graced the stage at Glastonbury. She brings her forward-thinking blends of style and genre to this truly unique performance with Manchester’s very own Hallé orchestra. Anticipate a night of thrilling house music, anthemic celebration and unapologetic joy on Thursday 22 May.
Olly Murs at AO Arena
Fresh from his nationwide tour as special guest to Take That earlier this year, Olly Murs has announced a massive UK Arena tour for next Spring. The Dance With Me Tonight hitmaker has added an extra date to the tour, and will bring the party to Manchester’s AO Arena Friday 23 May. He will be joined by special guests Blue.
Pixies at O2 Apollo
Legendary band – and we use that term without apology – Pixies embark on a huge European tour next year in celebration of latest long-player The Night The Zombies Came, their tenth studio album. The tour will include a string of UK dates and feature a night in Manchester next Spring. Black Francis and co will take to the stage at O2 Apollo on Saturday 24 May 2025.
Habitat presents LEN at YES
Habitat present the first in their new Len – Live! series at YES on 24 May. Expect the full Habitat club sound with a soundtrack of trap, dancehall, funky, ampiano and afrobeat, with support from Sham Steele, Tone Rarri, Tooj and CVP.
Gia Fu & Me Gusta DJs at Band On The Wall
Hong Kong-based Gia Fu is a DJ, selector and music producer who produces Afro-Latin music – particularly salsa and associated rhythms. Beyond her experience touring as an international DJ and music producer, her research work explores how cultures (including her own Chinese heritage and Latin American influences) enrich one another. You can catch her live at Band On The Wall on Saturday 24 May.
Tyler, the Creator at Co-op Live
Rapper and record producer Tyler, the Creator lands in Manchester at Co-op Live on Tuesday 27 May, in support of his latest album CHROMAKOPIA. Support will come from special guests Lil Yachty and Paris Texas. His last appearance in the city, at Parklife in 2022, was an absolute stunner, so expect lavish stage sets and twisted vibes.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor at O2 Apollo
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has announced her biggest ever UK headline tour in May and June 2025, including a headline show in Manchester. With an impressive musical career spanning over 25 years, Sophie has landed five top 10 albums and eight top 10 singles, including the reinvigorated party anthem Murder On The Dancefloor.
MK at Progress
Now the fiery ball in the sky has returned, so have the outdoor raves at the sprawling Progress in Ardwick. Among a sterling line-up of gigs heading into the summer (including shows from the likes of Maceo Plex and Chaos In The CBD) is this headline set from Marc Kinchen – the one and only MK. Let loose at this all-day party from one of the vey best to do it.
Jasmine.4.t at The Deaf Institute
Jasmine.4.t (Jasmine Cruickshank) sings about the tangled joy, heartache, camaraderie and isolation of transfeminine life. Based in Manchester, she is the first UK signee to Phoebe Bridgers’ label Saddest Factory Records and her debut single Skin on Skin was produced by Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Backed by an all-trans-woman band and a label full of friends and supporters, her vivid and intimate stories will reach new listeners, conveying the reality of her lived experience.
