Monday 23 May – Highasakite – The Deaf Institute
On the back of the release of their latest album, Camp Echo, Norwegian indiepoprockers Highasakite perform at Manchester’s Deaf Institute during their brief UK tour. The album, a highly anticipated follow-up to debut LP Silent Treatment took shape over the 18 months leading to 2016 and marks a commentary on The War On Terror. Support comes from Gordi. Tickets £9.50.
Monday 23 May – Cate le Bon – Gorilla
One of the most creative artists around today, returns to Gorilla after her sold out 2014 show. Cate le Bon performs on the back of her fourth album Crab Day. According to Cate: “Crab Day was lovingly formed in the mouth of the Pacific Ocean, as it quietly mocked us with its magnitude. It’s the sound of the ‘accidentally on purpose’ coming together of the right people at precisely the right time in an environment that furnished and fuelled the abandonment we felt effortlessly. It’s a coalition of inescapable feelings and fabricated nonsense, each propping the other up. Crab Day is an old holiday. Crab Day is a new holiday. Crab Day isn’t a holiday at all.” Tickets £12.50.
Tuesday 24 May – Laura Esther – Gullivers
Outstanding Manchester-based French singer Laura Esther releases her debut EP Mysterious Boy at Gullivers. Mixing exotic sounds and French heritage with soul and a hint of jazz, she also takes inspiration from the likes of Lianne La Havas. With a skill for crafting marvelous songs, excellent musical ability and a hypnotic voice, she is definitely one to catch. Tickets £5.
Tuesday 24 May – As It Is – The Deaf Institute
Brighton’s pop-punk quintet released their debut album Never Happy, Ever After in April 2015 and haven’t looked back. A strong UK following has taken to their melodic, emo-inspired sound which hints of the likes of Taking Back Sunday and The Starting Line. Tickets £10.
Friday 27 May – Lukas Graham – The Ritz
It’s just a matter of weeks since Lukas Graham released their self-titled UK debut album, featuring the tracks 7 Years and Mama Said. It’s an album filled with honesty stories drawn from Lukas’s own life with the focus centred largely on remembering his father, as Lukas turned to his writing as a means to cope with and understand the loss of such a pivotal figure in his life. The result is an album filled with emotion, powered by Lukas’ soulful vocals and pop melodies but with his engaging and heartfelt lyrics always at the core. Tickets £14.50.
Saturday 28 May – Pentatonix – Albert Hall
Grammy winning a capella group Pentatonix perform at Manchester’s Albert Hall as they continue their world tour. The platinum sellers are on a roll with 3 million album sales in the U.S, over 1.4 billion views on their YouTube channel and two Grammy Awards. Tickets £22.50