Officially sold out at Manchester’s Band on the Wall, A Certain Ratio’s highly anticipated double-album anniversary tour still has tickets available at an intimate 400-capacity venue less than an hour away

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Harriet Scrumptious

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  October 22, 2026

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Manchester has never been short of bands that push things in unexpected directions, but A Certain Ratio have been doing exactly that since the late 1970s. Emerging from the city’s post-punk scene, the group developed a distinctive sound that brought together funk, experimental electronics and Afro-Latin rhythms, helping set them apart from many of their contemporaries on Factory Records.

Now, the band are back on the road for a tour celebrating two of their most influential records, Sextet and Force. Both albums will be performed in full, with an interval between sets and a few surprises along the way. And while their Manchester show at one of the city’s best-known independent music venues, Band on the Wall, is now sold out, there’s another opportunity to see them just over an hour away in Stoke-on-Trent.

A tour celebrating two albums which helped define their sound

Released in 1982, Sextet saw A Certain Ratio take greater control of their sound, exploring a restless mix of post-punk, dance rhythms and experimental jazz. The record features ‘Lucinda’ and ‘Knife Slits Water’, the latter remaining a favourite at the band’s live shows.

Four years later came Force, their final album for Factory Records. While the two records have their own identities, both capture the band’s willingness to move beyond the usual boundaries of guitar music.

The anniversaries are especially significant for the group: 2026 marks 45 years since Sextet was recorded at Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, and 40 years since Force was released. Both records have now been accompanied by new releases, too.

The Joy of Sextet offers a fresh mix of the earlier album by Andy Meecham, aka The Emperor Machine, while Force Majeure revisits material from the Force era, including previously unreleased original versions of tracks.

The Manchester date takes place at Band on the Wall, the long-running music venue on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter. There’s a reason Band on the Wall has such an unusual name. 

The venue began life as the George and Dragon pub, where musicians performed on a stage built halfway up the back wall to leave more room for drinkers and dancers. The historic space has since hosted early gigs by Manchester icons including Joy Division, Buzzcocks and The Fall, making it a fitting venue for the home show of A Certain Ratio. 

The venue is also home to The Jazz Room, a live music experience that brings jazz-inspired performances into an intimate concert setting. From classic jazz standards to tributes celebrating some of the genre’s best-known artists like Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra, the events offer another reason to keep Band on the Wall on your radar if you’re looking for live music around the city.

A Certain Ratio’s Manchester show is officially sold out, but there are still tickets available for The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday 23 October. Around an hour or so from Manchester by car or 40 minutes by train, the independent venue is a familiar stop on the touring circuit for alternative music and live bands.

The Sugarmill is an intimate venue, with a capacity of around 400, that packs a big punch. Its stage has welcomed some seriously big names over the years. Coldplay, The 1975 and The Libertines have all played here, cementing its reputation as one of Stoke-on-Trent’s key live music spots.

Stoke-on-Trent has a musical history that goes well beyond its pottery industry. The city was once a major stop on the Northern Soul circuit, with the Golden Torch nightclub becoming a renowned gathering place for the scene in the early 1970s.

Later, Shelley’s Laserdome helped put the area on the map for rave music, hosting DJs who would go on to become major names in electronic music. It’s a lesser-known part of the region’s musical story, making a trip to see A Certain Ratio an excuse to explore a city with its own alternative credentials.

Tickets are available via the Sugarmill website.

Upcoming dates for A Certain Ratio’s Sextet & Force Anniversary Tour 

• 22 October – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
• 23 October – The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
• 24 October – Band on the Wall, Manchester
• 25 October – Band on the Wall, Manchester (additional date)
• 1 November – The Old Cold Store, Nottingham (JT Soarfest)

More music happening in Manchester this month 

The gig calendar is ramping up, with a plethora of big names coming to town. From headliners at Co-op Live to Candlelight concerts in atmospheric venues like Hallé St Peter’s and Manchester Cathedral, there’s plenty to see this autumn.

Featured upcoming concerts in Manchester

• The Mary Wallopers and The Cliffords — Friday 23 October, O2 Victoria Warehouse 
• James Blake and Monica Martin — Sunday 25 October, New Century Hall
• The Strokes — Monday 26 October, Co-op Live
• Arlo Parks — Monday 26 October, Albert Hall
• J. Cole — Wednesday 28 October, Thursday 29 , Co-op Live
• Candlelight: Tribute to Adele — Friday 30 October, Hallé St Peter’s
• Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson — Friday 30 October, Hallé St Peter’s
• Slayyyter — Friday 30 October, Albert Hall
• Overmono and Andy C. — Friday 30 October, The Warehouse Project 
• The Streets — Thursday 5 November, Depot Mayfield
• Dizzie Rascal — Thursday 5 November, Manchester Academy 
• The Jacksons — Friday 6 November, O2 Apollo 
• Bobby Shmurda — Friday 6 November, Liquid & Envy – Oldham
• Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift — Saturday 7 November, Hallé St Peter’s
• Stevie Wonder — Sunday 8 November, Co-op Live

Whether you catch them in Manchester or make the trip to Stoke, this is a rare chance to hear two defining A Certain Ratio albums played in full. If you’ve been meaning to see these Manchester music pioneers live, now’s the time.