It rains, it pours, it’s grey, the takeaways are distinctly dodgy and the infrequency of public transport past midnight is a distinct planning flaw…but no one can be down on the nightlife of Manchester, because we have produced some truly great music and we have the venues to prove it.
Going out to gigs in Manchester is as much a rite of passage as those feelings in your stomach the morning after that truly suspect kebab (the meat was as grey as the sky in winter but it tasted like heaven in a greasy styrofoam box). So grab your high-enough-to-let-me-see-over-the-crowd gig shoes, gulp your pre-drinks and we'll explore Manchester’s finest, from largest to smallest.
Rob Martin
With a capacity of 1,500, the Ritz is the big bouncy heart of Manchester indie rock and pop scene (that bouncy is literal by the way – the place still has a curved springy dancefloor that harks back to the ’20s). What started out as a dance hall burst into the spotlight as Manchester’s music scene picked up momentum, hosting the likes of The Beatles, The Smiths and even Frank Sinatra. More recently the refurbished Ritz has seen (or will soon see) the Arctic Monkeys, the Weeknd and the Maccabees perform on stage, plus hosting regular student-y club nights.
Yeah yeah, say it all together now… 'It’s in Salford. Salford ISN’T MANCHESTER.' Well, maybe not, but Islington Mill isn’t exactly a cut and dried music venue either and it still deserves a place on the list. Art gallery, events venue and gig space, Islington Mill is the full package, run by people who are passionate about creating a place for creativity of all kinds to be realised. And you can really find all sorts at Islington Mill – techno, noise, disco, house, Cuban rumba parties...
The Ruby Lounge
Although it’s actually one of the biggest ones on this list, the Ruby Lounge has the kind of intimate, dark and sultry feeling that can only come from a place with ’50s wooden décor, low-hanging lamps and a logo including a skull and jazz mics. It’s a place with personality – a personality that says if you don’t like it suck it and by the way we play our music real loud. The Ruby Lounge like their hardcore rock ‘n roll, but you’ll also find some punk rock and electronic pop stuff, as well as regular club nights – like the ’90s themed Pump Up The Jam.
It’s a stalwart. A standard fixture. A landmark. A good ol’ classic Manchester classic. We all love the Deaf Institute. Anyone who doesn’t love the Deaf Institute is against everything Manchester, it’s as simple as that. An independent bar with leather booths, sweet-shop inspired cocktails, velvet curtains, craft beer, comedy gigs and an upstairs music hall that’s hosted pretty much every break-out Manchester band ever…what more could you possibly ask for
Over in the infamous Northern Quarter lies the Soup Kitchen, bustling with two floors of music, food, clubbing, film and cask ales. A ground floor kitchen and bar hosts DJ nights and a small downstairs basement mixes up bands, more DJ’s and musicians in an eclectic range of acts all depending on the night you’re going. In particular, it’s great place to discover unique and exciting electronic music and musicians. The food’s good too.
Another Manchester classic. It’s small, it’s cramped, it’s long and thin and all together the wrong size for a music space, the acoustics are pretty sucky and the chairs are kind of uncomfortable…but you don’t care because it’s Night & Day and if you want to see on-the-up talent in Manchester (and beyond) then it’s the place to go. They do regular local showcases as well as hosting established acts and covering a wide range of genres. It’s a bit battered, rough around the edges and the drinks are a tad pricey but it’s an old Mancunian favourite.
Kraak
If you’ve never been to Kraak then you have yet to experience the joys of finding the place. Giving directions would be cheating, but suffice to say it’s poorly signposted and back alleyways are involved. Inside is a single room-meets-dancefloor, with a raised stage at one end, a little bar at the other and a few sofas pushed to one side. It’s a cheap, slightly grimy repurposed old textile warehouse that hosts live bands and underground clubs nights, as well as film showings and art exhibitions. It’s tiny, it hosts an erratic collection of stuff and it’s a dead fun night out.
See more music and nightlife in Manchester from Time Out.