Happy festival season one and all! The summer is warming up nicely (or at least it was for a week or two) and we’re ready for pints in the sunshine and live music – an unbeatable combination. This month, Parklife is back at Heaton Park, hip hop legends headline Band On The Wall and a Manchester poster boy plays just a stones throw from his favourite football club.
Here are the best gigs and club nights happening in Manchester this month…
Jungle Brothers at Band On The Wall
Legendary hip hop trio the Jungle Brothers come to Manchester on Saturday 1 June. Part of the vastly influential Native Tongues crew, along with De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love and Queen Latifah, the triumvirate of Mike G, Afrika Baby Bam and DJ Sammy B not only preached the gospel of conscious rap but also melded their style with house music, with pioneering tracks like I’ll House You. Their albums Straight Out The Jungle and Done By The Forces Of Nature remain pivotal. They will play at Northern Quarter spot Band On The Wall, so don’t miss these venerable statesmen of rap.
The Lovely Eggs at New Century
The Lovely Eggs will play the final show of their Spring 2024 UK tour at Manchester’s New Century on Saturday 1 June. Despite having no management, booking agent, record label or publisher, their latest album I Am Moron reached number one in the Official UK Independent Charts. Take that, the music industry.
Open Mic Night at BlackOwned Studios
BlackOwned Studios have collaborated with Cultureville on a brand-new monthly open mic night. The first event at The Studios will take place on Thursday 6 June, promising an immersive night of poetry, music, comedy and more. Expect performances from Manchester-based creatives, a fully-stocked bar and, of course, good vibes.
Brooklyn Funk Essentials at Band On The wall
During a career that stretches over 30 years, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have established themselves as an audacious project fusing soul, hip hop, spoken word, jazz and funk. Between recording seven studio albums, the Essentials have made a name for themselves as absolutely electric performers, exhilarating their loyal and adoring fanbase with performances across every continent. The band plays a headline show at Band On The Wall on Friday 7 June.
Parklife Festival 2024
It’s that time of year again, when the spangly shorts come out of the bottom drawer and the clubbers of Manchester and (well) beyond congregate in Prestwich for the iconic Parklife, taking over Heaton Park for a whole weekend of electronic madness. Thousands of music-lovers (about 80,000 in fact) will be in attendance to watch the stellar line-up of artists. This year, we’ll be welcoming the likes of Doja Cat, Disclosure, Becky Hill, J Hus, Peggy Gou, Camelphat, Kaytranada, Sub Focus, Skream, Chimpo, Children of Zeus, Loco Dice… we could go on. So we will; Four Tet, Interplanetary Criminal, Anne Marie, PAWSA, Moodymann, Krysko, Rudimental, and many, many, many more.
Pet Shop Boys at Co-op Live
Iconic synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys bring their ‘Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live’ tour to Manchester’s Co-Op Live on Sunday 9 June. The pair’s first ever greatest hits tour, it has already seen them play a string of sold-out shows across Europe and North America, as well as incredible festival appearances.
Vince Staples at O2 Ritz
A satellite to the Odd Future crew, Vince Staples came up through OFWGKTA members Earl Sweatshirt and Mike G’s mixtapes, notably the former’s breakthrough collection Earl in 2010. His own Stolen Youth mixtape, a collab with Mac Miller, burnished his own name, and then his proper debut Summertime ‘06 via Def Jam, with its cover being a take on Joy Division’s classic Unknown Pleasures. As the young Vince was a fan of the New Order precursor, this show at the O2 Ritz should resonate.
Richard Hawley at O2 Apollo
Richard Hawley is one of the UK’s greatest songwriters, having released nine studio albums over the last 20 years. Inspired by his hometown of Sheffield, the award-winning artist has now announced he will be playing a very special headline show at the O2 Apollo.
James at Co-op Live
Manchester’s James return for a huge hometown show at the Co-op Live Arena. The ‘Sit Down’ hitmakers will play at the UK’s biggest indoor arena on June 14, 2024, as part of a run of UK dates in celebration of the release of their 17th studio album, Be Opened by the Wonderful.
Liam Gallagher at Co-op Live
The Rock n Roll Star himself swaggers back to his hometown to play the whole of Definitely Maybe live this month, celebrating 30 years since Oasis’ seminal debut album. Performing a stones throw from his favourite footie ground, Manchester’s prodigal son comes back (not in anger) with a bang.
Ost presents ND_Baumecker at The DBA
This all-day party at the DBA will feature a headline slot from ND_Baumecker, one of the residents at Berlin’s legendary Panorama Bar. A craftsman on the turntables, expect a journey through deep house, techno, disco and all the threads in between. Joining him on the decks will be Leah Floyeurs, WHP residents Krysko and Greg Lord, Kiss Me Again and Bugs Groove. Strap in.
J P Worsfold & The Band of Gold at The Portico Library
Head over to The Portico Library for an evening of folk songs with JP Worsfold and The Band of Gold. Supported by Bryony Lloyd, the tracks revolve around themes of the natural world.
Percolate at Progress with Job Jobse
Percolate heads to all-day outdoor party venue Progress with a very special party, starring Dekmantel and Boiler Room favourite Job Jobse (pronounced ‘yob yob-zeh’, please, get it right) on the decks, blending house, techno, disco, old school vibes and everything in between. He’ll be joined on the bill by Anz, Sedef Adasï and Manchester party starters Ordinary Friends.
Freight Island Spring Summer Festival Series: Crazy P
Freight Island celebrate the start of the summer with their free festival series. On Sunday 16 June, legendary party starters Crazy P will take to the decks for a special DJ set. Able support will come from the Sticky Heat crew. Head down for great music, amazing street food and Freight Island’s trademark good vibes.
The Killers at Co-op Live
Mr Brightside hitmakers The Killers play Co-op Live not one, not two but three times this month. Watch them on 18, 19, 21 and 22 June. The string of dates celebrate the recent release of the band’s compilation album Rebel Diamonds, featuring the biggest tracks from The Killers’ incredible discography.
Lady Blackbird at Band On The Wall
American-born jazz and soul artist Lady Blackbird arrives in Manchester for a headline show at Band On The Wall on Friday 21 June. Her debut album, which was released in September 2021, earned her critical acclaim, and appearances on Jools Holland and BBC2 Piano Room.
Smile Special – In Memory Of Andy Martin at The Star and Garter
The Star and Garter host a very special edition of their legendary club night SMILE on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June 2024, in memory of landlord Andy Martin, who sadly passed away in March this year. The long-running club night, which began in 1993, will return with a host of DJs across the two days, including Hannah from The Smiths Disco, Keys Money Lipstick, Kissing Just For Practice, Tied To The 90s, Dean Mitchell, Jay Taylor, Andy Woods and loads more. All proceeds from the night will go to Andy’s family.
Salford Pride present The Pink Picnic at Peel Park
The Pink Picnic is Salford’s annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Non-binary, plus Pride celebration. The event, organised and delivered by Salford Pride, attracts thousands of attendees to Peel Park every year.
Pitched Black presents DJ Harri at White Hotel
Few DJs in the UK measure up to the legendary James ‘Harri’ Harrigan, co-founder of Subculture at Glasgow’s Sub Club with Domenic Capello, one of the most influential house nights to ever to do it, with more than 20 years of parties under their belts. Harri tips up at the White Hotel for one of Irfan Rainy’s Pitched Black parties, so immerse yourself in depths.
Troye Sivan at AO Arena
Global pop star Troye Sivan will embark on his biggest European headline tour to date this summer, including a show in Manchester. Celebrating his critically acclaimed album Something To Give Each Other, the Australian singer-songwriter will headline the AO Arena on Saturday 22 June 2024.
The Mysterines at HMV
Merseyside alternative rock band The Mysterines celebrate the release of their forthcoming album Afraid Of Tomorrows with a string of record store live shows in June. They will perform at HMV in Manchester on Tuesday 25 June.
Bat For Lashes at Aviva Studios
Mercury Prize-nominated indie favourite Bat For Lashes returns to Manchester as part of her first UK headline tour for five years. Celebrating the release of her sixth studio album The Dream of Delphi, the mesmerising Natasha Khan will play at Aviva Studios on 27 June 2024.
Outbreak Festival 2024
Independent music and arts festival Outbreak returns to Manchester in June, showcasing the best counterculture and underground music. Taking place at the BEC Arena in Trafford Park, the three-day festival boasts a diverse and eclectic line-up including the rap star and gourmand Action Bronson, Flatbush icon JPEGMAFIA, Flatbush Zombies, Have Heart, Basement and math rock dons American Football, who will be celebrating 25 years since releasing their seminal LP1.
ANONHI and The Johnsons at Factory International
For the first time in a decade, ANOHNI presents a series of concerts with The Johnsons, including a night at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Experience music for a time of change as ANOHNI – formerly known as Antony and The Johnsons – performs tracks from her latest album alongside songs from her expansive back catalogue.
