As 2025 draws to a close, Manchester has one last month of excitement up its sleeve, away from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, there is only one way to keep your spirits up, live music! And with a wonderful selection of new and old artists performing across Manchester this month, there is bound to be something to pick your fancy, here is what is happening in Manchester this December.
- December 1
o Dirty Three — New Century Hall
- December 2
o Aepanemer — Club Academy
o Gogo Penguin – Albert Hall
- December 3
o Sasy — Aviva Studios
o Oreglo — Yes Basement –
o Mumford & Sons — Co-op Live
o The Liminans – Band on the Wall
- December 4
o Sudan Archives — Academy 2
o Niall McNamee — Night & Day
o Hazlett — Academy 2
- December 5
o Amy Macdonald — Apollo
o Alabama 3 — Ritz
o The Orb — New Century Hall
o Rianne Downey — Band on the Wall
o Joe & the Shitboys — Yes Basement
o Novelty Island — Castle Hotel
o Orchestral Qawwali Project ft. Rushil Ranjan, Abi Sampa & Manchester Camerata — Aviva Studios
o Madness – AO Arena – Madness are a staple band of the UK ska and two-tone scene. Formed nearly five decades ago in 1976. This December, the band will be performing a greatest hits tour of the UK, finishing with a special hometown show. For those lucky enough to have tickets, they will also be joined by new wave legends Squeeze. It is certainly going to be a wonderful night of some amazing music. Doors are at 6pm.
o Silverwingkiller – The Rat & Pigeon
- December 6
o The Twang — Ritz
o Snapped Ankles — The White Hotel
o Yoshika Colwell – Low Four Studio
o Don Broco — Aviva Studios
o Jamiroquai– Co-op Live –it has been 8 years since the legendary London based Acid Jazz and Funk icons Jamiroquai last played Manchester with a headline show at Manchester Arena. And this month, playing the Co-op Live, fans will be able to see the groove with their very own eyes once again. With monumental hits such as ‘Virtual Insanity’ and ‘Cosmic Girl’, this show is a serious must see. Doors for Jamiroquai’s return are at 6pm
- December 7
o Heartworms – Band on the Wall
o Katatonia — Academy 2
- December 10
o The Band Camino — New Century Hall
o Villanelle – Castle Hotel – it has been an exciting couple of years for Villanelle, from opening for Liam Gallagher on his ‘Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour’ to now performing headline shows across the UK and Europe. With a wonderful blend of mind-bending grunge style guitar and some stellar vocals, it certainly will be an exciting night from one of the UK’s hottest rising talents.
o Divorce – Academy 2
- December 11
o Stereolab — Ritz – following the release of their newest record ‘Instant Holograms on Metal Film’ Stereolab have received much critic applause as of recent, and this December is the chance for them to take it out on the road for a tour of the UK. For fans new and old of this band formed over 30 years ago, this is going to be an exciting and incredible night full of past hits and new discoveries. Doors are at 7pm.
o Edward Barton – The Yard
o My Life Story — Gullivers
o Sunflower Bean — Yes Pink Room
o The Charlatans
- December 12
o Of Mice & Men — Academy 2
o Stereophonics — Co-op Live
o Jennifer Walton + Black Brunswicker — Low Four Studio
- December 13
o 808 State — New Century Hall – 808 State are one of the most influential and important bands in Manchester’s history, transforming what we know as dance and electronic music from a pipe dream to one of Manchester’s most famous club scenes. Paving the way for acid house and key in the Madchester scene. And this December the band still led by Graham Massey, will be performing an intimate night at New Century, for fans of bands like the Happy Mondays and The Chemical Brothers, this is a must see!
o Inspiral Carpets – Albert Hall
o Stereo MCs — Ritz
o Jesca Hoop — Hallé St Michael’s
- December 18
o Loose Articles — Rebellion
- December 19
o James B Partridge: The Big Christmas Assembly — New Century Hall
o Arkayla – Academy 2
- December 20
o Doves — Apollo
o The Kairos – Gorilla – The Kairos are one of the best rising talents in the UK, with their strong roots from Liverpool, and their reminiscence of iconic bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Oasis, they have quickly worked their way into the hearts of fans and critics alike and are still yet to release their debut album! If you would like to be able to say you saw The Kairos before they blew up and went all over the world, be at Gorilla at 7pm.
o The Bug Club (Matinee & Evening Show – Yes (Pink Room)
- December 21
o The Man From Delmonte — Ritz
- December 22
o Slade — Ritz – Its Christmaaaaas!!. And would it really be Christmas without Slade? However, the time has unfortunately come to say goodbye to the legends that rocked their way through the 70s, and are still a staple across the world, as they embark on their final tour, wrapping up six decades of music and memories, it is going to be a bittersweet ending, but they aren’t going to go out without a bang, and they are certainly going to tear the roof of the Ritz.
- December 28
o Public Image LTD – Ritz
