Friday 20-05-2022 - 12:07

To say Manchester’s got anything less than an iconic music legacy, you’d be very much mistaken.

From Oasis to The Smiths, and The 1975 to The Chemical Brothers – they all started somewhere on these famous streets.

Whilst you’ll never be shy of a big-name act visiting the city for a show or two, this article is focussed more on the places you’re likely to find lesser known, up and coming acts to add to your playlists.

And with Manchester’s music venues being just as iconic as the musicians they gave birth to; we don’t think you’ll struggle finding a new favourite.

 

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The Salutation

 

We’d never be able to give you a guide on places to discover live music without mentioning our very own Salutation pub.

Located in between The Union and Manchester Met’s Vegas-like SODA building, it’s hard to miss.

The Sal does their own monthly open mic nights and the talent have been hand-picked by staff to perform. So, you won’t have to worry about being picked for a spontaneous rendition on the night.

Just bring yourselves, bring your friends and enjoy the show.

However, if you fancy getting on stage at The Sal, get in touch on social media to get the ball rolling.

 

 

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Night n Day

 

If you’re a Northern Quarter regular, you’ll probably have visited (or at least heard of) Night n Day before.

The first of a few Northern Quarter venues mentioned in this guide, the former fish and chip shop is now famous for its intimate gigs and indie club nights, rather than its battered cod.

The venue has hosted loads of big-name acts over the years, including Arctic Monkeys and Mumford and Sons - and with tickets rarely going over the £10 mark, this could be your chance to see an act before they make it to the big time.

So, head over to Night n Day for some typical Northern Quarter vibes, good food and good music.

 

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The Castle

 

If you were to describe a typical old Manchester pub to someone, you’d probably describe The Castle to a tee, without ever even seeing it – and that’s a good thing.

Another staple of the Northern Quarter, The Castle has oozed character since it opened in 1776, even hosting a now famous interview with Ian Curtis and John Peel in 1979.

Since then, the name’s been changed a few times, as well as the construction of an 80-capacity music hall in 2010.

One thing that’s remained though, is The Castle’s dedication to live music: sill hosting weekly gigs, all day festivals, as well as spoken word performances on a regular basis.

 

 

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YES

 

In terms of iconic, decade-spanning music venues, YES is very much still a baby, but by no means a weak contender.

Located on Charles Street (just a 5-minute walk from campus), the venue opened in 2018 and is spread across 4 floors. Across those floors you’ll find two incredible live music spaces (the basement, and the now iconic Pink Room), as well as a rooftop bar and terrace.

This place doesn’t genre discriminate either, with regular indie gigs, as well as late night DJ sets and pop club nights all on a regular bill - you can’t really say no to YES.

 

 

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Band on the Wall

 

The final instalment of Northern Quarter venues in this guide, Band on the Wall is a special one.

The venue’s name came from their stage set up in their heyday; in the 1930’s bands would perform quite literally on a stage that was built into the brick wall behind the bar, to make more space in the pub.

That’s not the only cool thing about this place though, Band on the Wall was refurbished in 2009 (costing £4 million), with a focus solely on live music, and they now host regular gigs from pop music to jazz, and everything in between.

As well as regular performances, Band also hosts music learning events for different age groups; from new-borns all the way up to the elderly.

You won’t struggle to find something to suit you at Band on the Wall. A true Manchester music gem.

 

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Hatch

 

Like YES, Hatch is still very much in its infancy but has proven itself to be a new go to place for live music – especially for students.

Located even closer to campus that YES, just on the opposite side of Oxford Road, you’ll find Hatch underneath the bypass, built into recycled shipping containers. Very quirky.

The venue has now trebled in size since its opening, filling the space with independent food and drink stalls, pop-up shops and an incredible entertainment space. The space is home to showcasing upcoming indie and alternative talent.

There are regular Manchester DJ slots at Hatch, as well as genre-jumping gigs throughout the week. There’s also currently a search on to find a brand-new resident DJ, so expect even more live music slots soon.

 

Image Source: Jody Hartley