Afro Celt Sound System at Manchester Folk Festival

Chris Horkan
Afro Celt Sound System by Tom Oldham

Afro Celt Sound System at The Ritz, Manchester 20 October 2017 Tickets from £23.50 — Book now

A ground-breaking group of musicians, drawing inspiration from Irish and West African folk traditions, Afro Celt Sound System headline the largest show at this year’s Manchester Folk Festival.

The innovative collective – formed in 1995 by producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson – celebrated their 20th anniversary with The Source, their most ambitious record to date, and one described as ‘a colossus of an album’.

Live, long-term members Emmerson, N’Faly Kouyaté and Johnny Kalsi are joined by new core member Griogair – plus a host of talented folk musicians. With Robert Plant, Sinead O’Connor and Peter Gabriel among Afro Celt Sound System’s previous collaborators, the group’s strength is evidently in its eclecticism.

Support on the night comes from The Nightjar – who have drawn comparisons to Midlake and Simon & Garfunkel – and Sound of Sirens, aka Exeter-based singer-songwriters Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood.

Afro Celt Sound System at The Ritz, Manchester 20 October 2017 Tickets from £23.50 Book now

Where to go near Afro Celt Sound System at Manchester Folk Festival

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

City Centre
Bar or Pub
Peveril Of The Peak

Iconic Manchester pub adorned with the sorts of bottle green, yellow and brown Victorian tiles that are a reclamation yard’s dream – this gem of a boozer is named after Sir Walter Scott’s novel of the same name and was a favourite hang-out of Eric Cantona.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally patriotic name The Ancient Britain.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

City Centre
Bar or Pub
The Temple

Originally called The Temple of Convenience owing to its former life as a public toilet block, this is a tiny bar with some of the finest bathroom graffiti in town.

What's on: Music

A black woman sat down looking to the left.
Until
MusicLeeds
Sound Out Leeds 2024/25

Leeds International Concert Season is on a mission to push boundaries, expand horizons, and ask the question: ‘What haven’t we heard?’ as it presents its city-spanning Sound Out Leeds series.

from £10.00
Two dancers and orchestra on stage
Until
DanceManchester
Dance:Music at the RNCM

Through a treasure trove of concerts, the RNCM’s initiative Dance:Music explores the symbiotic relationship between music and dance.

from £0.00

Culture Guides

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still
Cinema in the North

Hollywood greats and early bird film fest tickets are on our horizon as we start the New Year.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.

The Super Duper Family Festival
Family things to do in the North

We might be past the holiday season, but Manchester and the North's arts and cultural calendar is still packed with brilliant events and activities for families

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Documentary performance, groundbreaking dance, world premieres and fresh takes on classic works - check out our early theatre highlights for 2025.

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.