Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 January – The Maccabees – Albert Hall
Out on tour in support of their first ever UK number one album Marks To Prove It, The Maccabees perform at Manchester’s Albert Hall. The tour follows on from a successful 2015 which also saw them perform an excellent set at Glastonbury. Tickets £25.
Tuesday 19 January and Wednesday 20 January – Northern Sessions Live – Deaf Institute
RNCM year 1 and 2 students perform a mix of pop classics and modern day hits at the Deaf Institute. The event sees 14 bands performing over the two nights. Tickets £5 (£3 students).
Friday 22 January – Angaleena Presley – The Ruby Lounge
As country continues a seemingly almost unstoppable rise in the UK, Angaleena Presley hits the shores, with a gig at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge. A former member of Platinum-selling Pistol Annies (alongside recent CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe), Presley is establishing herself as a soloist as well with the release of her excellent album American Middle Class. Tickets £14.
Saturday 23 January – The Kooks – Albert Hall
Following on from a huge summer of festivals including Lollapalooza and Leeds/Reading Festival, The Kooks come back out on tour with ten dates, including a performance at Manchester’s Albert Hall. The band perhaps remain best known for their hit song Naive, but there is far more to them than that. Tickets £22.
Saturday 23 January – Minus The Bear – Gorilla
Over the course of their career, Minus the Bear have demonstrated that they are more than just some flashy playful indie pop act. It was a bit of a gamble to follow up the buoyant guitar gymnastics of their debut album with a full-length that throbbed with staccato riffs, sepia-toned lyrics, and an almost electronic pulse. But it wound up being a pivotal album in Minus the Bear’s trajectory. Not only did Menos el Oso propel the band to bigger audiences, it set a precedent for the band’s future fearlessness in exploring new sonic frontiers and now they’ve got five albums to prove it. Tickets £14.
Saturday 23 January – Leopards – Sound Control
Manchester Al-Rockers Leopards bring the band to a close at Manchester’s Sound Control with a farewell show. The band, formed in 2011, have built up a strong following with relentless touring and will be determined to go out on a high. Tickets £5.
