Unmissable Music in Manchester – October Gig Guide

Hero Image Credit: William Ellis

From Neighbourhood Festival to celebrating Motown classics. No matter what your music tastes, catch a ground-breaking performance in one of Manchester’s iconic venues including Night and Day Café or the brand-new Co-op Live, Manchester is the home of Unmissable Music. Check out our roundup of events coming up in October:

Manchester’s best and biggest multi-venue festival is back! Neighbourhood Festival will be taking over Manchester city centre on October 5. The event will be headlined by Pale Waves, alongside a host of great names including local heroes Anthony Szmierek and Seb Lowe and live favourites ADMT, Corella, The Mysterines, Red Rum Club and many more. Neighbourhood Festival returns to the Albert Hall, Gorilla, O2 Ritz and many more much-loved stages this October. 

Find out more here. 

British jazz, funk, and street soul masters, Secret Night Gang, led by Manchester natives and childhood friends Kemani Anderson and Callum Connell, spread their uplifting, transcendent, and genre-blending street soul sound to the crowd at Night and Day Café on 10 October. Handpicked in 2021 by legendary broadcaster, DJ, producer, and label head Gilles Peterson from Manchester’s vibrant live music scene, the band has been championed by a wide range of tastemakers, including Rolling Stone, Clash magazine, Jazz FM and Jamie Cullum.  

Grab your tickets here.  

Beyond The Music is a global music conference and festival taking place in Manchester, the beating heart of the UK’s cultural enterprise and a city historically known for social change. The festival will take place across venues and skylines in and around the city. Catch some of the best up and coming artists gracing Manchester’s stages over three nights of music across the city.  

Find out more information here. 

Join the spectacular celebration of classic Motown music from the heart of the Motor City – Detroit, Dancing In The Streets is a concert full of timeless tracks that have shaped generation after generation. Coming to The Lowry on 15 October, Join the incredible vocalists and live band as they recreate some of the world’s most influential and enduring songs including, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Baby Love, My Girl, You Can’t Hurry Love and many, many more. 

Secure your seats here.  

Miso Extra is the solo project and moniker behind the fast-rising, trailblazing artist. Her musical influences include J Dilla, the late MF DOOM, Daft Punk and Kelis. Aside from music, anime has been a huge inspiration, with all these references woven into her work today. Bringing their unique sound to YES Pink Room on 15 October.  

Get more information here. 

A spellbinding superstar, Le Gateau Chocolat is a sequin-clad, wig-wearing musical chameleon serving Queer Black excellence with his incredible bass vocals. Joining the Hallé at Bridgewater Hall on 19 October for one night only, experience this musical phenomenon performing music in his own inimitable style, from opera and disco to musicals and pop. 

Secure your tickets here. 

English punk rock duo Soft Play are bringing their hard-hitting show to Manchester Academy on 23 October. Previously known as Slaves, Soft Play are heavily influenced by artists that include the Clash, Rancid, Ramones, Gang of Four, Billy Childish, and Talking Heads. Looking for a head banging and high energy show? Secure your tickets to Soft Play now. 

Find out more information here.  

WOMEX - Worldwide Music Expo - is the most international and culturally diverse music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene. The evening festival is renowned for showcasing some of the world’s eclectic musical talents. Aviva Studios, Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall and O2 Ritz all set to host live music showcases, alongside a programme of international films at HOME. 

Find out who’s playing and more here. 

This October, Sum 41 will be saying their final goodbyes as part of their "Tour Of The Setting Sum". We can't wait to host these legends on their final world tour, as they play here in Manchester for one last time. Coming to Co-op Live on 28 October, this is not one to be missed. 

Find out more here. 

Maximise your Halloween fun content with one of the country’s most entertaining live acts – expect a few hits from the spookiest ska record ever made – “Skalloween”. Baked A La Ska are the 11-piece band bringing the “heavy heavy sound” of Manchester to audiences across the country. Fancy dress is encouraged for their show on 31 October at Band on the Wall.  

Grab your tickets here.