Summer is festival season and you might still be recovering from either going to Glastonbury or spending the whole weekend watching it on the telly but the gig and club action never ends in this city. There are a few festivals in and around Manchester this month including indie ones, house ones and Caribbean ones and there are plenty of gigs too.
From big 90s R&B pop stars to scrappy little punk bands, Manchester is characteristically packed with opportunities to watch some live music this month.
Read on for the best gigs and clubs in Manchester in July.
Caribbean Rocks Festival
Saturday 1 July
This massive festival takes in all that’s good in Caribbean food, drink and culture – plus there’s fun fair. But there will also be a huge focus on music with artists that spans the breadths of dancehall, bashment, soca, reggae and more including live performances from the likes of Valiant and Father Philis.
Hide and Seek Festival
Saturday 1 July
Just outside of Manchester, this one, at Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire. Hide and Seek Festival is back and giving you another chance to run to the hills for a bit of green bathing and some fresh air. There will also be fresh tunes from headliners including Italian minimum house from Francesco Del Garda,Romanian minimal house from Rhadoo, French house from Sweely, and Oden & Fatso as well as Sidney Charles, Shonky b2b Traumer, Margret Dygas and more. Representing from the Manchester area are Josh Baker, Local Dub and Scott Forrest b2b THT GRL.
Too Many Zooz / Jarrod Dickenson at Blues Kitchen
Wednesday 5 July
This brass-house trio of NYC buskers turned viral sensation is going to give Manchester the horn at The Blues Kitchen in July. The high energy dance group have toured all over the world since humble beginnings on the subway in 2013 and even made a guest appearance on Beyonce’s huge Lemonade album. If this isn’t your glass of soda, the other option at Blues Kitchen that night is Texan country crooner Jarrod Dickenson who will be serving up a side dish of tunes to go with the BK’s limited edition Texan menu.
Ways Away, The Great St Louis, Supera Morza Gullivers
Thursday 6 July
Head down to Gullivers in Manchester’s Northern Quarter for a night of melodic post hardcore from Ways Away who feature members of Stick To Your Guns, Knapsack, Samiam, and Boysetsfire. Support comes from The Great St Louis and Supera Morza.
The Real Thing Blues Kitchen
Thursday 6 July
Never mind all these new young scamps, the pioneering UK soul, funk and dance duo Chris Amoo and Dave Smith are celebrating five DECADES of making music. Formed in 1972, The Real Thing are Britain’s longest-established black group in UK entertainment history. They’re heading to The Blues Kitchen to blast out hits like You To Me Are Everything, Can’t Get By Without You and ground-breaking 1977 song Children of the Ghetto.
Body Heat: Imogen, Aaron Valdar and Body Heat DJs at SOUP
Friday 7 July
“NTS resident and all round rave aficionado” Imogen brings a heavy duty evening of all things electro and techno to the glorious basement venue at SOUP. Imogen will be joined by Aaron Valdar before Body Heat DJs take it into the small hours.
Right To Roam Festival Bolton
Friday 7 and Saturday 8 July
If you’re one of those people skriking about the price of Glasto tickets then here’s a bargain for you. Tickets to Bolton’s two-day Right To Roam festival are a measly £10 (plus booking fee). The line up of the event, which takes in five venues across the town, includes Manc legends A Certain Ratio and indie darlings The K’s as well as Ithaca, Dutch Uncles, Random Hand, The Empty Page, Tom Hingley, Trampoline and loads more. There’s a good chance at least some of these will be playing bigger festivals next year and you will be able to say you once saw them play on roof of a market in Bolton. All ages too.
FAC51 The Hacienda at Albert Hall
Saturday 8 July
FAC51 The Hacienda heads back to The Albert Hall on Saturday 8 July. Headlined by American DJs, Roger Sanchez and Todd Terry with original Hacienda residents DJ Paulette and Graeme Park completing the line up. The event will also be the official afterparty for the Hacienda Classical, taking place earlier that day at the Castlefield Bowl.
Homoelectric at Hidden
Saturday 8 July
Homoelectric returns to Hidden this July with a party over three floors featuring the usual resident DJs plus guests. Headlining is hot favourite Prosumer with their “fierce discotek” and they will be joined by Flash Ibiza Takeover, Guy Williams, Santanna Rush, Shay Malt and more.
Jūku at The Talleyrand
Saturday 8 July
Jūku is a new jazz, hip-hop, jazz-funk, soul, disco, post-punk, yacht rock, dub, electronic, and (deep breath) house club night setting up in the back room at The Talleyrand in Levenshulme. So Flute co-founder and resident DJ Danuka will be manning the decks for this one.
The Ghost at The Progress Centre
Saturday 8 July
Berlin-based DJ duo The Ghost are hosting a full-day of music, fashion and art at The Progress Centre in Ardwick this July. The event includes stalls from Gone Fishing Vintage, Me To A Tee, Dead Sheep, Haunted Dancefloor and floating record shop Rub a Ducky Records. Local artists Caroline Dowsett, Madi Marcantonatos and Grace Biddle will also be painting live murals across the day. DJs on the day include Christian AB, Rinse FM residents Hamish & Toby, Berlin’s Huerta B2B with Ghost Records alumni DJ Pipe and The Ghost duo themselves.
Better Days Festival at Freight Island
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July
More house and disco in the, er, house at Freight Island’s Better Days Festival. This event at Manchester’s liveliest multi-purpose outdoor venue features sets from Maurice Fulton, Red Rack’em, Rebecca Vasmant and Aleena Arpels on the Saturday and Boston Bun (Ed Banger), Kirollus, Iraina Mancini, Ruf Dug and (Finest’s own) Matty White on the Sunday.
Heart Attack Man at Deaf Institute
Wednesday 12 July
This American pop punk band that have described themselves as “God’s least favorite boy band” are heading over to the UK to celebrate the release of their fifth album. For fans of Fall Out Boy, Blink 182, Good Charlotte and similar energetic emo rock.
The Junta, Ian Moet Moss, DOTS, MHO The Peer Hat
Friday 14 July
You can’t beat a gig at The Peer Hat for underground venue realness and our pick of the month is Salford electronic artist The Junta who returns to the venue with guest vocalists including vinyl obsessed local legend Ian Moet Moss. Support comes from DOTS and MHO.
Craig David Barton Aerodrome
Thursday 14 July
Can I get a rewind to the early 2000s? Yes, yes you can at Barton Aerodrome this July where fast mover Craig David is doing a massive gig. He’ll no doubt be rolling out the hits that hark back to those heady days such as Fill Me In, Walking Away and 7 Days.
Femonade Queens of Pop party at Deaf Institute
Thursday 14 July
This female focused club night asks that you bring your fiercest moves and sisterhood vibes to Deaf Institute for a night of party bangers. Expect to hear Beyonce, Lady Gage, Britney, Christina Aguilera, Eve, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliot, Fergie, Rihanna, Shakira, J-Lo, Nelly Furtado, Whitney Houston and more. Read a little about Femonade and other female-focused club nights here.
MVSON WORLD at Barton Aerodrome
Friday 15 July
Also at the Aerodrome this month is MVSON WORLD, a one day house and techno event. Headlined by Manchester’s trailblazing Mason Collective, the bill will also feature Fabric resident and Cuttin’ Headz talent AJ Christou, Cocoon’s star performer wAFF, Calvin Clarke, Fletch, Fleur Shore, Joella Jackson, Joseph Edmund, Sosa and more. This festival style event will also feature art installations, wellness activities and food and drink.
Fortitude Valley and Supermilk The Castle (matinee)
Saturday 16 July
If all the late nights are getting a bit much for you, how about a matinee gig? London power pop band Fortitude Valley are proving a Sunday afternoon of pogoing and singing along at The Castle with support from indie rockers Supermilk.
Spaced, Going Off, Fast Blood, Sadaxe Gullivers
Saturday 16 July
And if you decide you still have the energy for an evening gig after all, you can head over to Gullivers after the matinee show at The Castle to keep the party going. All the way from Buffalo New York, Spaced are bringing their body slamming hardcore with almost Beastie Boys-esque vocals and old school guitar solos to Gullivers with support from Going Off, Fast Blood and Sadaxe. Bring your bounciest shoes.
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band at Night and Day
Saturday 16 July
The Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band are coming to Night and Day to throw down, but not too rough, not too much hell, but just enough. The Rev once famously played 18 different instruments in one song so you can expect everything from cigar box guitars to lap steels to mandolins at this country tinged show at one of Manchester’s best loved venues.
Bilal at Blues Kitchen
Sunday 17 July
Sure, you can sing opera, but can you sing opera in seven languages while also maintaining a Neo-soul cool? Philadelphia’s Bilal can and he’s heading to Blues Kitchen this July. A member of the Soulquarians collective alongside Common, Erykah Badu, Mos Def and more, Bilal is big on collaboration and has also worked with Robert Glasper, Beyoncé, Musiq, and more. This Grammy- notated artist is not to be missed.
Meatbodies at Gullivers
Wednesday 19 July
Californian psych-rock and rollers Meatbodies have played with likes of TY Seagall and Fuzz, gaining a cult following in their home state of California. Now they’re heading to Manchester to lavish us with endless riffs and echo pedals.
bluedot
Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 July
Just down the road at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire – the home of the Lovell Telescope – bluedot is a festival that combines music and science with impressive deftness. Headliners this year are singer and style icon Grace Jones, everyone’s favourite slacker rockers Pavement, and dancing queen Roisin Murphy but there are loads of other bands on over the weekend as well as science talks, activities and kids stuff. Food is again provided in association with Eat Well MCR so look out for some of your Manchester faves.
Airborne and Black Spiders Manchester Academy
Saturday 22 July
Grab your cut-off denim jacket, fashion yourself a mullet and get ready to party like it’s 2009 as Australian rockers get heads banging at Manchester Academy. Joined by Brits Black Spiders, this is going to be a sweaty one.
Anna Mieke at Gullivers
Thursday 27 July
Whimsical Irish folk artist Anna Mieke has been compared to Joanna Newsom but we can hear traces of Joni Mitchell (in her weirder moments) and Simon and Garfunkel in her beguiling sound. If you’ve had a rough week, this will be just the tonic to take your mind elsewhere.
Green Island Fest Vol II at Hulme Community Garden Centre
Saturday 29 July
Returning for its third year, Green Island Fest will once again take over the gorgeous canopied space of Hulme Community Garden Centre. The event is split into three different day festivals taking pace throughout the year. This is the second of the three events and features performances from Ruf Dug, Mim Suleiman, Sham Steele and more.
Vintage Trouble and Standin’ Man Manchester Academy 2
Sunday 30 July
Hollywood based rhythm and blues band Vintage Trouble roll up to Manchester Academy this July with their 50s and 60s inspired tunes. The band that has supported AC/DC, The Who and Dave Matthews Band and appeared like shows on Letterman is led by gospel influenced singer Ty Taylor. They will be dipping into their five album career with tunes like Nobody Told Me, Not Alright By Me, and erm, Pelvis Pusher.
