Manchester is known for its rich musical culture and still rivals most cities with its live scene. From iconic returns to the stage to rare performances in incredible venues, it’s all going on with Manchester gigs. We’ve truly got the low-down on the biggest gigs happening in Manchester in July, so allow us to get you all excited about what’s to come in live music this month.
1. Elbow – Castlefield Bowl, Wednesday 2nd July
Kicking off this year’s Sounds of the City in Manchester city centre is one other than Bury’s own Elbow. Guy and the gang are back home at the industrial heart of the city, Castlefield Bowl, performing some of their best tunes for the fine people of Manchester. The prospect of hearing the likes of One Day Like This, Grounds For Divorce and brand new banger Sober on a glorious day in Manchester is the stuff that dreams are made of… so make sure you’re there!
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR.
2. The Charlatans – Castlefield Bowl, Thursday 3rd July
Another Manchester band making its way back home is The Charlatans, complete with their incredible discography. Tim Burgess has mad a name for himself doing good deeds in the music industry, but his first love seems to be his band, and they’ll be bringing some of their biggest tunes including The Only One I Know, One To Another and North Country Boy, to the Castlefield Bowl stage, ushering in Britpop summer well and truly.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR.
3. Shed Seven – Castlefield Bowl, Friday 4th July
York indie heavyweights Shed Seven will be keeping the Sounds of the City party going, coming to Manchester on the Friday. You can expect to hear the likes of Chasing Rainbows and Going for Gold tearing the metaphorical roof off the Bowl, plus support from The Sherlocks and Lightning Seeds, no doubt playing into Euro summer.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR.
4. Stevie Wonder – Co-op Live, Saturday 5th July
Alongside huge headline shows at BST Hyde Park and and Lytham Festival, global icon Stevie Wonder is also set to treat Manchester audiences to an incredible performance this month. Best known for hits including Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours), Isn’t She Lovely, I Just Called to Say I Love You and Superstition, Stevie Wonder is undoubtedly one of the most significant and well-known musicians of all time, was the youngest recording artist to have achieved a #1 single with Fingertips Part 2 at age 12 – seriously impressive as he hit 75 this year.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍Co-op Live, Etihad Campus, 1 Sportcity Way, Manchester M11 3DL.
5. Haçienda Classiçal – Castlefield Bowl, Saturday 5th July
Instagram post via @fac51thehaciendaofficial
The iconic Haçienda Classiçal are back at Castlefield Bowl, and they’re as popular as ever. Playing the biggest tunes from the Madchester era right where it all started, Haçienda Classiçal combine huge acid house and indie bangers with the beautiful sound of the Manchester Camerata Orchestra, all brought together by legendary Manchester DJs Graeme Park and Mike Pickering. Plus, the Voice of M People Heather Small will join the show, along with house legends K-Klass, DJ Paulette and Tom Wainwright – it’s going to be a mad one.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR.
6. Haçienda Classiçal After Party – Manchester Albert Hall, Saturday 5th July
Following their show at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl, the Haçienda team are heading over to Albert Hall for the official Haçienda Classiçal After Party, on Saturday 5th July. Expect incredible sets from some of Manchester’s (and the world’s) best DJs including, of course, Graeme Park and Todd Terry with a live PA from Alison Limerick. It’s set to e a fun night, but don’t miss out, as last entry is at midnight!
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Albert Hall, 27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR.
7. Bloc Party – Castlefield Bowl, Thursday 10th July
Indie legends Bloc Party are also set to take Castlefield Bowl by storm, bringing their iconic tunes to Manchester on 10th July. Fans can have a boogie to Banquet, Helicopter and so many more bangers, in an appearance that marks an epic 20 years – and this is the perfect venue for them. Spread out, lock in and dance the night away.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR.
8. Kool & The Gang – AO Arena, Friday 11th July
Legendary Grammy Award-winning funk and soul band Kool & the Gang are set to undertake a huge headline show at Manchester’s AO Arena on Friday 11th July 2025. Kool & the Gang have performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time.
The heavily-in-demand band has continued to tour the world, appearing most recently alongside Kid Rock, Dave Matthews Band, Elton John, The Roots, and a 50-city tour with the legendary rock band, Van Halen. Groove along to the likes of Celebration, Get Down on It, Ladies Night and Jungle Boogie with your besties, family or even strangers, because it’s set to e one heck of a show.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 AO Arena, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1AR.
9. Oasis – Heaton Park, Friday 11th, Saturday 12th, Wednesday 16th, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July
Finally…. it’s happening. Legendary Manc band Oasis will return for the first time in almost 15 years for an epic string of reunion shows in 2025. You’ve probably heard enough about it, so we won’t say much more, but these five homecoming gigs are going to be incredible, and we’re not jealous of everyone going… at all.
🎟️ Original release sold out, but production tickets are set to go on sale in the coming days.
📍 Heaton Park, Middleton Rd, Manchester M9 0TZ.
10. Basement Jaxx – Castlefield Bowl, Saturday 12th July
For fans of late 90s/early 2000s electronic, look no further than Basement Jaxx at Castlefield Bowl this July. With massive tunes like Red Alert and Romeo, the duo are set to take Manchester by storm, bringing real summer vibes and nostalgic energy. What’s more, Mike Skinner, of The Streets fame, is set to support with a huge DJ set, so this one’s going to be incredible.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR.
11. Lynyrd Skynyrd – AO Arena, Tuesday 15th July
Celebrating 50 iconic years, rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd are set to make their triumphant return to the United Kingdom, and Manchester, this July. ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Lynyrd Skynyrd’ marks half a century since the release of their groundbreaking debut album Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd. Five decades in, Lynyrd Skynyrd continue to captivate audiences worldwide with their electrifying performances and timeless music.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍 AO Arena, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1AR.
12. Billie Eilish – Co-op Live, Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th, Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd July
The Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour will see Billie Eilish return to Manchester after her incredible Happier Than Ever shows in 2022. The show will of course see Billie’s newer releases from the album, including Birds Of A Feather and Lunch, which are bound to be incredible, but we do hope to hear some of the tracks that made her one of the youngest success stories of modern times, including Bad Guy, Bury A Friend and Happier Than Ever.
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍Co-op Live, Etihad Campus, 1 Sportcity Way, Manchester M11 3DL.
13. Drake – Co-op Live, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Monday 28th July & Monday 4th August
Five-time Grammy-award-winning and multi-platinum global artist Drake returns to the UK for the first time in six years, bringing the ‘$ome $pecial $hows 4 UK‘ tour to Manchester. Although he really needs no introduction, we’re going to introduce Drake anyway.
Most widely known for his early 2010s collaborations with the likes of Rihanna, including What’s My Name? and Take Care, Drake is the true meaning of ‘superstar’. Despite rifts with other rappers and musicians over the years, his stardom has never faltered, and with albums like ‘More Life’ and ‘Views’ giving us hits such as One Dance, Passionfruit and Hotline Bling, who are we to argue? Grab a ticket if you can!
🎟️ Find tickets here.
📍Co-op Live, Etihad Campus, 1 Sportcity Way, Manchester M11 3DL.