Music
Guide
Manchester’s best live music venues
Whether you’re a local or you’re a visitor hoping to experience some of the city's famous musical energy, here's a comprehensive guide to Manchester's best live music venues
Few UK cities are quite as synonymous with music as Manchester: from punk, post-punk, Madchester and Britpop, to modern favourites like The 1975, Everything Everything and Blossoms, the city has constantly bloomed new and exciting music scenes that have impacted on bands and fans all over the world. Crucial to that is its wide and iconic range of venues, from intimate clubs – like the fabled Haçienda for instance – to grand theatres and massive arenas.
Like the city itself, many of the venues on this list have deep and storied histories, with some operating continuously for the better part of a century, while others have sat derelict until being lovingly refurbished. The rooms described below won’t just be sites for you to catch your favourite band or the hidden gems you’re yet to discover; they also each provide heaps of personality in their own right.
Below, in order of capacity, we delve into some of Manchester’s best venues. Whether you’re a local or you’re a visitor hoping to experience some of the city’s famous musical energy, and whether you want to see massive stars or local newcomers, there’ll be something for you in here.
If you’re looking for something closer to home that’s not on the list, check out our handy Local Guide to find out what’s on near you.
Co-Op Live
Where is it? 1 Sports City Way, Manchester, M11 3DU
Capacity: 23,500
What can I expect to see there? Well, given that Co-Op Live is now the biggest indoor arena in the UK, you can rightly expect to see the world’s biggest names in music take to its stage. Edging out Manchester’s neighbouring AO Arena by an extra 2,500 in terms of capacity, the monolithic state-of-the-art black box of a venue sits on the Etihad Campus next to Manchester City Football Club’s stadium, in a world-class development that welcomes equally prestigious artists to write their own chapter in the city’s storied musical history: hometown heroes Elbow opened the concert venue in 2024, with Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher, Eric Clapton, The Black Keys, Janet Jackson, Pearl Jam and Sabrina Carpenter being merely a few names picked out from an illustrious list of performers to pass through.
Find out more about Co-Op Live and its listings here
O2 Victoria Warehouse
Where is it? Trafford Park Road, Manchester, M17 1AB
Capacity: 3,500
What can I expect to see there? Straddling Manchester and Salford – and a stone’s throw away from the Old Trafford football ground – this former storage warehouse is a tribute to Manchester’s industrial grit. It sat derelict after a fire in 1980 until it was renovated and reopened in 2012. It plays host to arena level artists who want something with a roof, having seen the likes of Thom Yorke, Sam Fender, Blossoms, Lizzo and Aphex Twin grace its stage.
Find out more about O2 Victoria Warehouse and its listings here
O2 Apollo
Where is it? Stockport Rd, Manchester, M12 6AP
Capacity: 3,500
What can I expect to see there? This art deco building in Ardwick, just outside of the city centre, is an absolute cornerstone of Manchester’s cultural scene. It opened in 1938 as a cinema, and has been hosting concerts since the ‘60s. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Tina Turner and Paul Simon have all passed through here over the years; more recently, it’s hosted current stars like ZAYN, The Vamps, Teddy Swims and Mitski. The sumptuous, multi-layer auditorium inside makes for a grand atmosphere.
Find out more about O2 Apollo Manchester and its listings here
Manchester Academy
Where is it? Manchester University Students Union, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PR
Capacity: 2,600
What can I expect to see here? Adjacent to the University of Manchester student union, the Academy has a rich history beginning in the 1960s. It’s hosted Queen, Pink Floyd, Oasis, The Who, The Velvet Underground, Prince, David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Adele, Lady Gaga… need we go on? Besides the main building, inside the student union building you’ll also find the 950-cap Academy 2, 650-cap Club Academy and 470-cap Academy 3; so you may see your favourite small artists graduating through its ranks.
Find out more about Manchester Academy and its listings here
O2 Ritz
Where is it? Whitworth St W, Manchester, M1 5NQ
Capacity: 1,500
What can I expect to see there? This is another one with a lot of history — it opened as a dancehall in the 1920s, and it’s operated continuously since then. The Smiths played their first gig here in 1982, and it’s played host to plenty of other Manchester legends, including the Happy Mondays, New Order, John Cooper Clarke and both Gallagher brothers. Famously, it’s got a sprung dancefloor, making it extra bouncy when you’re dancing or moshing along. Besides hosting exciting up-and-comers and beloved legacy artists alike, there are also regularly club nights right afterwards – so you can keep the night going ’til the early hours.
Find out more about O2 Ritz Manchester and its listings here
Manchester New Century Hall
Where is it? 34 Hanover St, Manchester, M4 4AH
Capacity: 1,300
What can I expect to see here? This venue was originally opened in 1962, and it hosted the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Lee Lewis back then, before becoming central to the Madchester scene in the 1980s. It lay vacant for a long time, before being brought back to life in 2022 by a group of live promoters with roots in the city. It’s a Grade-II listed building with a beautiful, mid-century interior in the first-floor music hall, and a food hall situated on the ground floor. Its promoters have their fingers on the pulse, so you’ll see some of the coolest acts in indie gracing its stage; recently that’s included buzzy electro-popper The Dare, folk supergroup Bonny Light Horseman, irreverent Irish rappers Kneecap and esoteric cult singer-songwriter John Maus.
Find out more about Manchester New Century Hall and its listings here
Gorilla
Where is it? 54-56 Whitworth St, Manchester, M1 5WW
Capacity: 550
What can I expect to see here?: Located under a railway arch in the city centre, this sister venue to the Deaf Institute (see below) opened in 2012. With a cool industrial vibe, it’s a favourite for mid-sized touring acts to stop at; Sam Fender and Foals all did so in their earlier days. It’s also hosted special intimate gigs by the likes of Kylie Minogue and hometown heroes The 1975. Meanwhile, there’s a great bar and kitchen attached to the place, so you can really make an evening of it.
Find out more about Gorilla and its listings here
Band On The Wall
Where is it? 25 Swan St, Manchester, M4 5JZ
Capacity: 520
What can I expect to see here?: A lot of the venues we’ve listed here have rich histories, but none as much as Band On The Wall – there’s been music in this building since the 1800s, when it was the George and the Dragon pub. The origins of its unusual name were in the 1930s, when a stage was built high on the wall on which its house band would play. In the 1970s it was turned into a jazz club and officially named Band on the Wall; later that decade, it started to regularly host the city’s now-legendary post-punk scene, including bands such as The Fall, The Buzzcocks and Joy Division. These days you can find an eclectic blend of the coolest underground acts from around the world and close to home, including a lot of jazz, funk and soul.
Find out more about Band On The Wall and its listings here
The Deaf Institute
Where is it? 135 Grosvenor St, Manchester, M1 7HE
Capacity: 260
What can I expect to see here?: The Deaf Institute is Manchester’s coziest club venue, and it’s rightfully revered by the city’s music fans. Its Grade II-listed, church-like architecture is gorgeous, while the eccentric interior decoration – with parrot wallpaper, a huge disco ball, and a wall of speakers behind the bar – is like no other. There’s a balcony with comfortable seats along the side wall and bleacher-style seating at the back, for those who don’t fancy standing throughout. Plus, besides the main music hall, there are two other levels to explore – the Lodge, a bar which often features intimate live performances, and the basement Den, which is used for private events. It’s not unlikely that whoever you catch here is a future household name; artists like The Last Dinner Party, Twenty One Pilots, Haim, and Florence & The Machine all played here early in their careers.
Find out more about The Deaf Institute and its listings here
Night & Day
Where is it? 26 Oldham St, Manchester, M1 1JN
Capacity: 250
What can I expect to see here?: Night & Day is a fixture of the Northern Quarter, the trendy part of the city centre full of independent bars and shops. During the day you can grab a pint and a pizza, while in the evening tables are cleared away ready for a boogie. Elbow played their first gig here, and acts like the Arctic Monkeys, the Manic Street Preachers and Paolo Nutini have also crammed onto its little stage. You’ll regularly see local bands and artists doing the same, usually with a sense of reverence for its iconic status.
Find out more about Night & Day and its listings here
