Music in Manchester and the North
Johnny James, Managing EditorReady for Christmas? No, us neither. That’s why we’re skipping over it entirely (for a few weeks at last) while we take a look at some of the best gigs happening in early 2025, plus a few events this side of the holiday.
First up by way of new picks, the legendary Femi Kuti will inject some joy into the god-awful month of January, as he and his band The Positive Force perform an intimate show at Band on the Wall.
Deeper into the year, the iconic Primal Scream celebrate their new, funk and soul-infused record with a massive show at Aviva Studios, the same venue that will premiere Thom Yorke’s latest project: Hamlet Hail to the Thief.
As for pre-Christmas musical happenings, we can’t wait to catch Katy J Pearson again, and with a glistening new indie pop record in tow. And our top New Year’s Eve pick right now? The globe-trotting sounds of Me Gusta Collective at Band on the Wall.
Finally, for something a bit extra-curricular, we recommend an in conversation event with Pete Maclaine, the man who said ‘No’ to The Beatles, at Stockport Museum.
Read about all this and a lot more, below.