Rock in Manchester: The seven best gigs to see on a student budget this semester

Your guide for the next few months

1 month ago | UPDATED 2 weeks ago

Exploring your local music scene is such a great way to get to know a city. After a year of trial and error, I’ve been able to compile a list of the best headbanging opportunities in Manchester. Here’s what’s going on: Lots of bands and reliably upbeat, student friendly venues to discover if you fancy taking a step outside of Fallowfield!

In Heather – @inheatherband

In Heather is a group formed of passionate guys who like playing a smooth mode of rock which never fails to rile a crowd. Inspired by the classics, they play with a hint of groove which catches up to the speed of the drums creating the perfect balance of danceable rock.

This band is truly one of the hidden gems of the city and always a pleasure to see in a lineup alongside other Manchester bands because of their carefree persuasion driven by solid basslines and a frontman who is not afraid of a disorderly crowd. Their free spirited attitude is contagious, hailing a genuine sense of 90s rebellion. Often lighthearted, the best part of their set is when the band takes on a unique jazzy edge and bassist Zaim moves to centre stage for “Buffet Libre,” asking the audience if they’ve ever “seen a goth playing FIFA?” Have you?

They’re playing at Aatma for a Halloween special on the 29th – they say “no costume, no entry!”

Hungry – @hungryhungree

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Hungry is electric. Hungry never runs out of power and frontman Jacob makes sure of it. The way he masters the room allows the crowd to become just as much a part of the art as the band is.

Experiencing a Hungry gig is a mixture of surprise catharsis and a lingering angst for where their insatiable spirit will go next. What is created is an impression of authentic joy, passion and expression, leaving the audience sweaty and hopeful that punk’s not dead.

They’re playing at Band on the Wall on the 21st November – a great venue with a balcony in view of the main stage away from the crowds on the floor if that’s your jam. Also watch out for their new single coming out on the 10th of October.

Sugar for the Bee – @sugarforthebee

Sugar for the Bee make music for people who like to escape. Their out-of-the-box, psychedelic tunes will undoubtedly hold up for their first headline show on the 18th of October at 33 Oldham Street, a classic NQ venue.

Their music is a kaleidoscope of influences that creates a super inspiring and dynamic sound which is so much fun to see live, especially when a guitar solo gives frontman Tom the space to show the audience just how much the band enjoys it themselves.

Bipartisan – @bipartisantheband

Bipartisan stride through the Manchester scene with confidence. After their hiatus last summer, frontman OJ reckons they’re back and better than ever. “I want to be just like Phil” he says, leaning against the wall with a cigarette. He means Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy – his on stage glamour is certainly replicated when OJ saunters out to greet the audience in eyeliner and leather trousers.

Even better still is the roar of the rest of the band as they effortlessly keep up with the verve of their singer who moves across the stage with purpose to the delight of a ferocious crowd.

Their gig at Band on the Wall on the 13th November is supposedly their last gig in Manchester for a while so see them while you can.

Brickhouse – @brickhouseband

Brickhouse play music packed full of on-the-nose lyricism delivered by a singer who strikes a balance between musical cohesion and a self conscious irony. However, this is not what they want you to notice first. Early on in the set, the unruly drum solo injects the room with anticipation. Striking rhythms build and relax as the crowd looks onto the band with camaraderie.

This sets the tone for a band that seems just as much excitable as it is serious about the Manchester scene. Their next gig is at the Rat and Pigeon on the 21st of November.

Hill cliffe – @hillcliffe

Hill cliffe let introspective melodies do most of the heavy lifting, making the gig a relatively laid back experience compared to others on this list. With a promise of nostalgic chord sequences from bass guitar and keyboard, their harmonies offset by the drums, the band locates itself somewhere within the indie rock dreamscape.

Challenging the reckless fire running through the Manchester rock scene, their volume is often melancholic, sometimes joyful and always pensive. They reckon “you’ll feel like you’re the star of the quirky, British, teenage romance.”

They will be playing on the 11th of October at Withington Public Hall, which is such a special venue that we are all so lucky to see putting on events still after it managed to bounce back from its funding crisis in August of this year.

Vincent’s Last Summer – @vincentslastsummer

And finally, Vincent’s Last Summer is playing at YES, a central venue with one of the best smoking areas in the city and a firm sense of funk, on the 9th of December. The band works so effortlessly as a group that the audience naturally reciprocates the easy going confidence of their set.

Their sound is dissonant and industrial with a strong sense of atmosphere chasing the insanely catchy bass rhythms. They use the tones of the drums in a way that almost becomes melodic within the suitably hardcore cacophony of moving parts.

Lyrics are the central grounding force in this ensemble, broadly conveying a sense of emotional windmilling against a backdrop of youthful determination which is just as strong in the studio recordings as it is during the live show.