I’m looking at the phrase ‘Sleater Kinney’ written in an understated font on a drumhead from the front row of the Manchester Academy, and reflecting that at one point in the career of this riot grrrl behemoth, I would not have been allowed into the room.

The tour includes 55 dates between Febraury and October after the release of his ‘Heavy is the Head’ album. Stormzy will be in Manchester on Thursday 17th September 2020.

MM are blown away by the simple power of a drum and guitar as Eddie & The Hot Rods then Stiff Little Fingers bring their powerful punk rock to Manchester Academy.

Punk pioneers Stiff Little Fingers are coming back to Manchester, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album Inflammable Material.

Stepping out at Manchester Academy on Saturday evening wrapped in monochrome outfits and backlit with plush golds, you’d think Jungle are a band that don’t seem short of an ego.

Ah, February. The new-year malaise has almost all but worn off, supermarket aisles everywhere are ambushed with love hearts et al, and to top things off it’s really, really cold outside. Fear not however as MM look at five electronic scene gigs to warm your cockles.

Doug Stanhope is a fraud. Yes, he really is a revered stand-up comedian, alcoholic, provocateur, and he really was the cantankerous ‘Voice of America’ on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.

The Cribs blessed Manchester Academy with tracks from their seminal album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever on its tenth anniversary.

Indie-folk favourites Stornoway are embarking on their farewell tour, closing the book on an incredible 12 years making music together.

Never has vulnerability sounded so confident.

The Darkness deliver this wave of intoxicating exhilaration in earnest, sounding supersonic in the flesh, with frontman Justin Hawkins never being better.