May is always an exciting time of the year, with two bank holidays and a lot of sunshine, there is no better thing than some amazing live music, and this May, there are some very exciting events. From new and emerging artists to legendary pioneers of genres, there certainly is something for everyone this month. Here is what is going on this May in Manchester.

May 1

  • Ist Ist — Albert Hall
  • Eric Chenaux — St Margarets Church
  • Memorials — The Castle
  • Pictish Trail — Yes Pink Room

May 2

  • Anna Meredith & Halle — Aviva Studios
  • The Twilight Sad — New Century Hall
  • Puressence — Academy

May 3

  • EMMMA — Yes Basement
  • Sounds From The Other City — Salford  – Celebrating 20 years in 2026, Sounds From The Other City is a celebration of music and arts that is often overlooked. This is a place for promoters and labels to show off the artists that excite them most. In the past, there has been incredible shows from emerging bands that went on to be immensely successful, such as, Black Midi, Black Country, New Road and Alt-J. and this year is no different, with great emerging acts such as Lynks and Bathing Suits. It is going to be an incredible event, so don’t miss it!
  • Calva Louise — Yes Pink Room

May 6

  • Truthpaste — Soup Kitchen

May 8

  • Lorelle Meets The Obsolete — Yes Basement
  • John 5 — Club Academy
  • Mini Skirt — The Castle

May 9

  • AU/RA — Club Academy
  • Great Lake Swimmers — Yes Basement
  • Friendship — Yes Pink Room

May 10

  • Cowboy Junkies — New Century Hall

May 11

  • Lights — Academy 3

May 12

  • Zayn — Arena

May 12–16

  • Angel’s Bone — Aviva Studios

May 13

  • deary — Yes Pink Room – Recently, Deary have been causing a stir in the dreampop and shoegaze scenes. With their debut Birding, releasing at the start of April, it has received many positive reviews from critics and fans. And whilst this is their debut album, and having only formed in 2020’s lockdown, they are already being compared to some of the legends of the genre such as Cocteau Twins and Slowdive. Which coincidentally do have ties to the band, with Slowdive drummer Simon Scott helping them record their 2024 EP Aurelia, and their single ‘Fairground’ being released by the Bella Union label run by Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins. This is a chance to see an early band that have the possibility to become the next sensation in the shoegaze scene. Doors are at 7:30.

 

May 14

  • Reverend & The Makers — Gorilla

May 14–15

  • The Bug Club — The Eagle Inn – Formed 10 years ago, Welsh indie rock group The Bug Club, are playing intimate shows at The Eagle Inn, to only 200 people per night. With their fifth record just around the corner on May 29th, duo Sam and Tilly have been hard at work since their last release in June last year to get their next record out and this time they are going to land with a punch, with it being promised as their ‘Punkiest offering yet’ If you’re lucky enough to have tickets for these shows, doors are at 7:30.

May 15

  • Omar — Band on the Wall

May 16

  • Proud Mary — Academy 3
  • Tricky — Aviva Studios
  • Sienna Spiro — Academy
  • Rival Consoles — Gorilla

May 17

  • The Gnomes — Deaf Institute

May 18

  • Brother Wallace — The Castle

May 19

  • Midge Ure — Bridgewater Hall – Midge Ure is something of a pop legend in the UK, being the second frontman for Ultravox and helping the band get into high charting, as well as co-writing and producing the legendary Christmas single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and after all of this went on to have an extremely successful solo career, with his debut album ‘The Gift’ reaching number 2 in the UK Charts. It is rare that somebody so legendary still tours, so if you would like the chance to witness a legend 50 years in the making, get down to Bridgewater Hall.

May 20

  • Blackwater Holylight — Deaf Institute
  • Lone Assembly — FAC251

May 21

  • Super Furry Animals — Apollo – Formed in Cardiff in 1993, Super Furry Animals have had a stacked career, they have released 9 studio albums, with 4 of them reaching the UK Top 10s, they are classed as one of the most imaginative and important bands of their time. More recently they are releasing some of their rarer tracks from the early days, with ‘Pocket Sam’ being released in the middle of February, and a new compilation album ‘Percolation Percolation’ being released on May 1st. It is certainly a good time to be a fan of Super Furry Animals, so don’t miss them whilst you have the chance!
  • Fcukers — New Century Hall
  • Warmduscher — The White Hotel

May 22

  • Tinariwen — Ritz
  • Seafret — Academy 3
  • Sofia Kourtesis — Yes Pink Room
  • The Itch — The Castle Hotel

May 22–23

  • Kraftwerk — Apollo – Kraftwerk are one of if not the most important bands in the history of electronic music, stated as the pioneers of the genre and formed in Dusseldorf 56 years ago, this is such a rare and exciting opportunity to see such a legendary band live! And whilst Ralf Hutter is the only original member of the band still touring, the music is still as genre defining as ever, so if you can get tickets, this definitely is one not to be missed.

May 24–25

  • Pixies — Aviva Studios

May 26

  • Finn Forster — Deaf Institute
  • XO — Academy 3
  • The Ocelots — The Castle

May 27

  • Toots & The Maytals — New Century Hall – Toots & The Maytals are one of the most influential and key bands of the ska and reggae scenes and have been for over 60 years! Following the death of frontman Toots Hibbert in 2020, the band decided to carry on the band as a tribute and celebration of the frontman, and this May they are performing a special show at New Century Hall. Doors for this legendary reggae band are at 7pm
  • Ray LaMontagne & Natalie Jane Hill — Apollo

May 27–28

  • Big Thief — Aviva Studios

May 29

  • Puma Blue — Deaf Institute
  • Sugar — New Century Hall

May 30

  • Dermot Kennedy — Arena
  • The Lemon Twigs — Academy 2

May 31

  • Empress Of — The White Hotel

 

And then for a peak ahead. Coming up at the start of June.

June 2

  • Ecce Shnak — The White Hotel

June 3

  • Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra — Palace Theatre

June 4

  • Peter Hook & The Light — Palace Theatre
  • Jenny Hval — The White Hotel
  • Jon Spencer — Gorilla