Manchester's best live music and club venue

Weekly Club Nights

Featured Events

Thursday 17th May 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

The Temper Trap + Clock Opera

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14.50 adv + booking fee

The Temper Trap debut Need Your Love, the jaw-dropping first single and opening track from their forthcoming stunning second album, 'The Temper Trap', due for release on Infectious Music on 21 May. Need Your Love is due for release on 7 May.

Stream Need Your Love at Soundcloud

'The Temper Trap' is the band's first album as a newly-expanded five-piece outfit following the permanent addition of Joseph Greer on keyboard and guitar. The self-titled album will feature 12 new songs recorded in Los Angeles with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, M83, Phoenix).

'The Temper Trap' is the follow up to 2009's debut long-player 'Conditions'. Featuring the singles Science of Fear, Fader, Love Lost and Sweet Disposition – the latter of which spent more than six months in the UK singles chart – the album was one of the breakthrough successes of the year and has now been certified Gold two-times over in the UK, selling over 800,000 copies worldwide.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Saturday 19th May 2012, 6:00pm | 10pm curfew

The Horrors + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

Following the overwhelming success of their Top 5 album Skying, The Horrors are embarking on their biggest world tour to date. To coincide with this, the band are releasing ‘Changing the Rain’, the third single from the album on March 12th.

The tour kicks off in Sydney on February 2nd, with another five headlines shows in Australia, followed by dates in Singapore, Taiwan and Japan. They return to the UK in March to play arena shows with Florence + the Machine, before heading out to the US for key slots at Coachella Festival on April 13th and 20th. The band return in May, to play their biggest ever UK shows, starting in Glasgow O2 ABC at and culminating at O2 Brixton Academy on May 25th

Like its Radio 1 play listed predecessors, ‘Changing the Rain’ will be available to download on March 19th 2012. The video for the single is being created by illustrator/artist/musician Pete Fowler, whose work inhabits a world where character design meets music and art in a weird and wonderful way.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Wednesday 23rd May 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

White Denim + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

The mighty White Denim ("Still plausibly the world's best live band" Mojo December 2011) return to the UK for their biggest UK tour next month calling at London's Forum on May 22. Having released one of the most coveted albums of 2011 in D which hit almost everyone's end of year lists including Mojo, NME, Time Out, Uncut and The Times, the Texan foursome should receive yet another rapturous reception.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Thursday 24th May 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

TYGA

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £17 adv + booking fee

***** SOLD OUT *****

Presented by AEG Live

Friday 25th May 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

Mac Miller + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £15 adv + booking fee

The rapidly rising star in the hip hop community, Malcolm 'Mac Miller' McCormack has gone from being a local sensation in his native Pittsburgh to selling out venues all across the United States and Europe. A multitalented musician who can play numerous instruments and a young novice of the freestyle/cipher/battle circuit of his hometown, Mac has been paving his way to superstardom in his blue-collar hometown for years. He was inspired by artists such as The Beastie Boys, Outkast and Big L to develop his own art of rhyme and to deliver his jaw dropping freestyles.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Wednesday 30th May 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Miike Snow + Nikki and The Dove + Alex Metric

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

"Radiant synth-pop" – The Times
"An almighty force of archaic-futurism" – NME
"Classy electronic pop" – Q

Miike Snow have announced details of their largest UK shows to date. The band, who are set to release their second album 'Happy To You' on Monday 19th March, will play Manchester's hmv Ritz on Wednesday 30th May. Niki And The Dove + Alex Metric will be special guests of the band at this show.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Sunday 3rd June 2012, 11pm till late...

HRH Federation

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12 adv + booking fee

Presented by Club Federation

Monday 4th June 2012, 1:00pm | 3:00am curfew

Dot to Dot Festival 2012
THE DRUMS / PULLED APART BY HORSES
Willy Mason / Dog Is Dead / Summer Camp / Lucy Rose / Hooray for Earth / Pond / Wavves / Willis Earl Beal / Neon Indian

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £20 adv + booking fee

FULL LINE UP SO FAR AT VARIOUS MANCHESTER VENUES:

THE DRUMS / PULLED APART BY HORSES

Willy Mason / Dog Is Dead / Summer Camp / Lucy Rose / Hooray for Earth / Pond / Wavves / Willis Earl Beal / Neon Indian

Pearl And The Beard / Wonder Villains / Vadoinmessico / ThePetebox / Broken Hands / Deaf Club / Dirty Goods / Kyla La Grange / Ryan Keen / Jake Bugg / The Rumour Said Fire / Beth Jeans Houghton / Islet / Patterns / Peace / Rae Morris / Random Impulse / Admiral Fallow / Bastille / Bondax / Clock Opera / Eyes On Film / Lulu James / Murray James / The Night / Scoundrels / Shinies / Swiss Lips / Turbowolf

and many more to be announced...

Dot To Dot, the UK's only tri-city traveling festival returns for 2012 announcing its first salvo of must-see artists. Renowned in its seven year history for offering guaranteed crowd-pleasing bands alongside the first live glimpses of some of today's biggest acts, which have included double Brits winner Ed Sheeran, The xx, Florence & The Machine, The Naked and Famous, Friendly Fires, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons, this year's multi-venue event will take place across the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend, visiting Bristol on June 2nd, Nottingham on June 3rd, making its triumphant finale in Manchester on June 4th.

www.dottodotfestival.co.uk
www.facebook.com/dottodotfestival

PLEASE NOTE: Age Restriction over 14's only. Under 18's guaranteed to be able to see: The Drums, Pulled Apart By Horses and Dog Is Dead. Anything past 11pm is strictly over 18's only.

Presented by DHP Concerts

Wednesday 6th June 2012, 10:00pm | 3:30am curfew

The Official Exit Festival Launch Party feat: Foreign Beggars, P Money, Man Like Me & more

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

Presented by Take The Whole Cake Live

Friday 8th June 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

A$AP Rocky + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12.50 adv + booking fee

A$AP Rocky has announced details of his first ever set of UK shows. The 23 year-old Harlem born rap sensation, who released his 'Live.LoveA$AP' mixtape online last year to widespread critical-acclaim and who has subsequently become one of the most talked about artists of 2012, is set to play the exclusive show in hmv Ritz.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Monday 11th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Sunn O)))
Live in Quadraphonic surround sound
+ PHURPA

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £15 adv + booking fee

Now Wave are pleased to announce the return of Sunn O))) to Manchester this Summer, with an exclusive show at HMV Ritz. The celebrated Seattle band's live show is a notoriously deep and atmospheric one, and on 11th June an immersive quadraphonic surround sound system - with inward-facing speaker stacks on each corner of the venue's 1,250-capacity ballroom - promises to take this experience to a new level.

Known primarily as a doom metal band, Sunn O))) are in fact an inimitable mix of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise and black metal. Their sound is unapologetic and boundary-breaking.

Presented by Now Wave

Tuesday 12th June 2012, 6:30pm | 11pm curfew

NOFX + guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £18.50 adv + booking fee

NOFX was formed in L.A. back in 1983 and has released 10 studio full lengths, about 6 EPs, and a metric ton of 7”s. They’ve somehow managed to sell over 6 million records worldwide, which is an unprecedented feat for an independent band. They’re true pioneers of the genre as they’ve toured all but one continent—no Antarctica yet, sorry. No band has achieved more success independently, and no band has turned down major labels and MTV more often. Although they’re reluctant to admit it, they’re musically influenced by bands like Bad Religion, Misfits, RKL, etc. At least they were back in the day, now they do all the influencing. After years of working with megaindie Epitaph, the band switched to Fat Mike’s own imprint. Thus began 2003’s War On Errorism, one of their most successful releases yet, and a record that catapulted the band into the mainstream of political press: Newsweek, CNN, NY Times, etc.

Presented by Mean Fiddler

Sunday 17th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Best Coast + Spectrals + PINS + Fear of Men

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

Best Coast - inspired by life and love and everything else.

Presented by Now Wave

Wednesday 20th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Bloc Party - Fanclub event

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £18.50 adv + booking fee

***** SOLD OUT *****

Presented by SJM Concerts

Thursday 21st June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

BIG DADDY KANE (Live) & BIZ MARKIE (Live) + Juicy DJ's

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £18.50 adv + booking fee

TWO OF HIP-HOP'S GREATEST EVER MCS PERFORM LIVE ON STAGE.

BIG DADDY KANE has undisputedly defined the term "lyricist" in the world of hip-hop. Along with the vocal ingenuity he brought to the genre, he also introduced innovative live performances as well. Kane was not only an M.C but a full entertainer. He revolutionized hip-hop fashion and the way hip-hop shows were performed. During a career which spans nearly 25 years he's received several gold albums and endless music accolades including a Grammy award.

The diabolical BIZ MARKIE brings more than 26 years of solid hip-hop acumen and an overwhelming fan-base that stretches from New York City to Japan to Europe. Biz Markie shows no signs of stopping. He currently Djs and performs in club and concert venues all over the world. Biz's has numerous television credits include MTV2's Hip Hop Squares, Celebrity House Hunters, "Celebrity Fit Club" and recently Nick Jr's "Yo Gabba Gabba" doing the beat box of the day. Simply put, Biz Markie is one of the most sought after Entertainers/DJs in the business.

Presented by Mean Fiddler & Juicy

Monday 25th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

The Ting Tings + special guest

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

After the two million debut albums sold for ‘We Started Nothing’ in 2008, the four million singles sold via ‘Great DJ’, ‘That’s Not My Name’ and ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’, the ‘Best Album’ Ivor Novello Award in May 2009, the Grammy nomination for ‘Best New Artist’ in December 2009, their music and songs sound-tracking contemporary culture itself from ‘Gossip Girl’ to ‘One Tree Hill’ to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and the now iconic 2008 iPod commercial which saw ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ storm non stop around the planet, the Ting Tings, naturally, felt insane.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Tuesday 26th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

John Hiatt + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £27.50 adv + booking fee

The legendary rock guitarist, piano player, singer and songwriter JOHN HIATT will be bringing his seminal, highly acclaimed new album Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns with him.

That's not to say only the rock and roll generation can appreciate HIATT'S cleverness, idiomatic versatility, distinctive gruff and endearing voice, or slashing guitar skills. But when everyone from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Rodney Crowell and Willie Nelson to Buddy Guy, Flaco Jimenez and Ry Cooder have covered his tunes, it’s quite clear that those who appreciate great song writing and savor a keen wit, narrative flair and refusal to pen a sloppy or sappy line, eagerly embrace JOHN HIATT'S tunes. And we’re certain you will too.

Following the runaway success of BluesFest 2011, which saw more than 16000 music fans attend concerts by some of the biggest names in blues, jazz and soul, the festival returns to the UK this summer for a 10 day celebration of incredible music. In response to the widespread popularity of last year's event, the 2012 festival will increase in size and scale with BluesFest Manchester introduced to complement its southern counterpart.

Presented by Blues Fest

Wednesday 27th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Beth Hart

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £20 adv + booking fee

Beth Hart has been compared to Janis Joplin and Joan Armatrading, but anyone seeing her raucous and powerful live shows would do well to spot those references.

Beth Hart has always laid herself bare on record, leaving nothing in the studio. But never has she sounded like she does here. Her most recent album 'My California', moves her firmly into Melissa Etheridge territory in sound and style. Although more commercial sounding, there is still a rawness alongside some thumping tunes and moments of extreme tenderness.

Presented by DHP Concerts

Thursday 28th June 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £25 adv + booking fee

Following the runaway success of BluesFest 2011, which saw more than 16000 music fans attend concerts by some of the biggest names in blues, jazz and soul, the festival returns to the UK this summer for a 10 day celebration of incredible music. In response to the widespread popularity of last year's event, the 2012 festival will increase in size and scale with BluesFest Manchester introduced to complement its southern counterpart.

Presented by Blues Fest

Monday 2nd July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £25 adv + booking fee

Presented by SJM Concerts

Tuesday 3rd July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

An evening with Gov't Mule
+ special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £23.50 adv + booking fee

With 2 million paid song downloads through their site MuleTracks, seven critically acclaimed studio records already released, a handful of DVDs and live albums, plus an ever-expanding fanbase and sold-out coast-to-coast tours, Gov't Mule could easily rest on its laurels. Yet when you're in one of the hardest working bands in rock history, pushing yourself to greater heights always supersedes cashing in on past successes.

Following the runaway success of BluesFest 2011, which saw more than 16000 music fans attend concerts by some of the biggest names in blues, jazz and soul, the festival returns to the UK this summer for a 10 day celebration of incredible music. In response to the widespread popularity of last year's event, the 2012 festival will increase in size and scale with BluesFest Manchester introduced to complement its southern counterpart.

Presented by Blues Fest

Wednesday 4th July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Femi Kuti
(A Band on the Wall fundraiser event)

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £17.50 adv + booking fee

Presented by Band on the Wall

Saturday 7th July 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

Metric

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14.50 adv + booking fee

In the late 2000’s, when many bands were being strangled by the industry's power structure, Metric undid all their business entanglements and started their own company, Metric Music International (MMI) with the help of independent managers Mathieu Drouin and Françoise de Grandpré.

Today, they're unencumbered and directly plugged into their listeners' hearts. With single “Help I’m Alive”, they became the first band in history to have their first ever top 20 hit at US commercial radio without the backing of a traditional label (a feat they repeated with ‘Gold Guns Girls’). They’ve sold out arenas and headlined festivals.

They’ve had a hand in scoring films for everyone from Edgar Wright to David Cronenberg, and they wrote the theme song for the Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack with composer Howard Shore. They've even performed their song ‘Gimme Sympathy’ at a private event for The Queen. For a band that had always been told they were doing it wrong, the Toronto-based quartet have grown into a fresh model for making it work.

Presented by LIVE NATION

Sunday 8th July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Brian Jonestown Massacre

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £13.50 adv + booking fee

The legendary Brian Jonestown Massacre are back in the UK this summer for three special shows including Manchester HMV Ritz on July 8th.

With a brand new album, AUFHEBEN recorded in Berlin in Anton Newcombe’s studio & the infamous East German Radio Station “Studio East” Featuring Matt Hollywood an original member of the band plays on this album. It also features Will Carruthers (Spacemen 3 , Spritualized), Constatine Karlis (Dimmer), & Thibault Pesenti (Rockcandys). Plus vocal performances by Eliza Karmasalo (in Finnish).

This album brings the traditional Brian Jonestown Massacre sound mixed with eastern influences & bringing it up to date with the benefit of all the additional weirdness that's been discovered in the past 40 years.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Monday 9th July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

The View + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £14 adv + booking fee

The View issue their fourth album, entitled “Cheeky For A Reason” on July 2nd. The album is the band’s fourth after the Mercury-nominated #1 debut ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’, the Top 10 follow-up ‘Which Bitch’ and 2011’s Top 20 ‘Bread & Circuses’, and is currently being recorded at Liverpool’s Motor Museum Studios with producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, Foals). Early track titles that are vying for inclusion on the album include ’Bunker’, ‘The Clock Has No Sympathy’,’ Anfield Row’ ‘How Long’ and ‘AB’.

The Scottish quartet will preview the album’s release by embarking upon an intimate tour in June & July. The tour is their first full UK trek in over a year, having concluded 2011 with a run of dates across Scotland.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Tuesday 10th July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

BETTY WRIGHT

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £22.50 adv + booking fee

Betty Wright is a soul and R&B singer with deep gospel roots. She influenced a generation of female singer-songwriters and continues to influence the world of hip hop, who sample some of her more famous material.

Presented by Mean Fiddler & Jazz Cafe in association with Band On The Wall

Saturday 14th July 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

WU LEGENDS featuring METHOD MAN, GHOSTFACE KILLAH, RAEKWON & GZA

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £25.00 adv, £40.00 VIP (queue jump, priority seating and glass of champagne on arrival) + booking fee

Presented by Mean Fiddler

Sunday 15th July 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

CAMEO

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £22.50 adv + booking fee

CAMEO CELEBRATES! MORE THAN "33 YEARS of FUNK..."

Cameo topped the R&B charts for more than a decade, has sold more than 17 million albums; and Cameo is one of the most popular Funk / Rock and Soul bands of its era ! Line-ups change, styles evolve, and record labels merge, but Cameo has maintained its core funkiness for nearly four decades.

Now, CAMEO's creator and producer; Larry Blackmon, along with founding member Tomi Jenkins are once again ready to challenge the way the world listens to music! CAMEO is ready to introduce a new generation to their Music.

Presented by Mean Fiddler & Jazz Cafe in association with Band On The Wall

Tuesday 7th August 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Public Image LTD - PiL

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £23.50 adv + booking fee

Presented by Mean Fiddler

Wednesday 29th August 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Grandaddy

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £18 adv + booking fee

Presented by DHP Concerts

Thursday 27th September 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

W.A.S.P. – "30 Years of Thunder"

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £19.50 adv + booking fee

Twenty Nine years ago today, on September 21st 1982, W.A.S.P. played their first show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

On September 21st 2012 W.A.S.P. will begin the "30 Years of Thunder" anniversary Tour starting in the United Kingdom and continue Worldwide!!

This World Tour will be the biggest spectacle W.A.S.P. have ever created. The two hour show will consist of three parts. A one hour set contain songs from the first four albums. The second set will be a 25 minute shortened version of "The Crimson Idol" complete with the movie accompaniment. A third set will consist of material from the New Studio Album, older material and everything in between. This show will see multiple video screens, pyrotechnics, and elements from the early W.A.S.P. shows (maybe even an exploding cod piece) and Blackie’s moving microphone stand "Elvis"!

Presented by Mutiny Events

Sunday 30th September 2012, 3:00pm | 11pm curfew

The 2nd Ritz Revival Jazz Funk 'n' Soul All-Dayer

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £10.00 adv + booking fee

Presented by Soulvation & Music and Media Consultnacy

Saturday 6th October 2012, 6:00pm | 10pm curfew

John Cale

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £22.50 adv + booking fee

Legendary musician John Cale is set to delight UK fans with shows this October. The Welsh multi-instrumentalist is best known for his work as part of 60s and 70s experimental rock group The Velvet Underground, who were hailed as one of the most influential bands of the era. Cale is gearing up to release a new full-length album later this year, and will be performing at the HMV Ritz in Manchester on Saturday October 6th. Since departing from The Velvet Underground in 1968 he has released around 30 albums, taking in various genres from drone to classical.

Presented by Mean Fiddler by arrangement with Primary Talent

Friday 12th October 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

FLUX PAVILION: STANDING ON A HILL TOUR + DILLON FRANCIS

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12.50 adv + booking fee

Flux Pavilion is a one man orchestra! With the ability to Sing and play a large variety of instruments it’s obvious that music comes naturally to him. Since first sitting down at a keyboard at the age of six his dream has been to make music that he loves and perform it to people who love it just as much.

Influenced by the likes of The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx and dubstep pioneer Rusko, Flux loved the high energy madness that dance music was capable of and set about making some of his own in the form of dubstep.

Presented by LIVE NATION

Saturday 13th October 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

Vans "Off The Wall" Music Night Tour Presented by Monster feat. Young Guns
+ very special guests: We Are the In Crowd + Your demise + Marmozets

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12.50 adv + booking fee

Speaking of the tour, singer Gustav Wood, says: "We're excited to be teaming up with Vans for our October headline tour. It's a total contrast to the small club shows we did at the start of the year and we can't wait to get out there with our biggest tour production to date!!. We also have a killer line up in place and look forward to announcing that soon. It's been a great year for us so far and with this to look forward to, it's only going to get better. See you there!"

Young Guns, who released their second album, 'Bones', in February to critical acclaim (charting at 19 in the official album chart in the process), have just finished touring the UK & Europe with Enter Shikari.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Sunday 14th October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Reverend and the Makers
+ special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12.50 adv + booking fee

Reverend & The Makers has announced an extensive headline tour of the UK in October following the quick sell out of their dates in May. These shows will be in support of the band's third album, entitled '@reverend_makers', scheduled for release on 18th June 2012. It is also the first commercial album to be named after an artist's Twitter tag.

Frontman Jon McClure said "Made up to play live again with the Makers! Been way too long. And after we've been on tour with Noel we should be super on it! Dancefloor goodness! See ya there x"

Presented by SJM Concerts

Tuesday 16th October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Little Comets

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £10 adv + booking fee

Presented by SJM Concerts

Thursday 18th October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Ian Hunter + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £18.50 adv + booking fee

Presented by Mean Fiddler

Friday 19th October 2012, 7:00pm | 10pm curfew

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £22 adv + booking fee

Following a year of highly successful high profile concerts in 2011, John Lees' Barclay James Harvest have announced their most extensive series of UK dates in some years with a British tour taking place in October 2012.

2011 saw John Lees' Barclay James Harvest triumph with a series of headline festival appearances in Germany, Switzerland, France (with Status Quo) and the UK, including a headline spot at the High Voltage Festival in Victoria Park, London in July on a bill that included fellow rock legends Jethro Tull and Judas Priest. In 2012 the legacy of Barclay James Harvest is set to continue, with the band's most extensive UK tour in three years and studio recording underway.

Presented by Mean Fiddler

Monday 22nd October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Sparks - Two Hands, One Mouth Tour

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £20 adv + booking fee

Sparks announce an extraordinary tour that will see them deconstruct and reinterpret songs from their own extensive and unique catalogue. For the first time, Ron and Russell Mael will tour as a duo using just voice and keyboards, a typically bold and unexpected move from the American brothers.

Having inspired musicians and delighted fans throughout the years with their extraordinary songwriting and inimitable style, Sparks’ live shows have become increasingly spectacular - in 2008 they performed all 21 albums in 21 nights in London and in 2011 their 22nd opus The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman was performed as a live musical at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Now, forty years since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1972, they will present a selection of Sparks songs in their purest form. Stripping away the often lavish production we will rediscover the essence of Sparks, - the whipsmart, penetrating lyrics, those incomparable melodies – Russell's vocals and Ron's keyboards coming to the fore. All that's needed.

Expect the set list to include This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth, Something For The Girl With Everything, Dick Around and more!

Presented by Mean Fiddler

Thursday 25th October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Benjamin Francis Leftwich
+ special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12 adv + booking fee

Following the release of his critically acclaimed debut album 'Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm', a tenweek US tour, extensive UK and European festival run, this massive October tour precedes his debut Australian shows and festivals.

Benjamin will be hitting most towns and cities throughout the UK on this huge 29-date tour, where he'll again be bringing his band on the road. The Times commented last that, "Even with the guitars turned up, the poetic sensitivity of the man showed no signs of slacking" about his sold out show at Shepherd's Bush Empire last week.

Presented by SJM Concerts

Sunday 28th October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

The Tallest Man On Earth
+ special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £16.50 adv + booking fee

Presented by DHP Concerts

Tuesday 30th October 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

THE WALKMEN

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £15 adv + booking fee

Presented by Now Wave

Friday 9th November 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

The Wedding Present

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £16 adv + booking fee

2012 is a busy year for The Wedding Present. After a barnstorming appearance at the SXSW Music Festival [playing 10 shows in 4 days!] the band performed to adoring audiences across the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. Of course they’ve saved the best for last and are bringing the whole show back home to Europe, including the UK and Ireland. Audiences have been left stunned by the energetic shows, consisting of new songs from their critically acclaimed new album ‘Valentina’, beloved favourites and, of course... the long awaited live performance of their intense ‘Seamonsters’ album, which has been hailed as almost a piece of performance art.

Presented by The Gig Cartel

Saturday 10th November 2012, 6:00pm | 10pm curfew

Deaf Havana + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12.50 adv + booking fee

Presented by Kilimanjaro Live

Thursday 22nd November 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

First Aid Kit + special guests

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £12.50 adv + booking fee

Presented by Taylor Johnson Events

Friday 23rd November 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

Europe

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £18.50 adv + booking fee

earMUSIC is thrilled to announce the new album from Swedish rock supergroup, EUROPE. The long player, set for UK release on Monday 30th April 2012, is entitled Bag of Bones. The first single, Not Supposed To Sing The Blues, will be released digitally on Friday March 9th.

Bag of Bones is produced by Kevin Shirley. No stranger to the crème de la crème of iconic rock, Shirley has produced albums for the likes of Iron Maiden, Joe Bonamassa, Black Country Communion, Black Stone Cherry and Journey.

Contributing slide guitar to the title track Bag of Bones is blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. "We're honoured that Joe Bonamassa wanted to play some slide guitar on our record. We're all big fans of his music", says Europe front man Joey Tempest.

"Why drive a VW beetle when you can drive a Rolls Royce?" asks Europe's guitarist John Norum. "Bag of Bones is a classic rock album with lots of class."

Presented by The Gig Cartel

Saturday 24th November 2012, 6:30pm | 10pm curfew

Magnum

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £20 adv + booking fee

Magnum - guitarist / songwriter / producer Tony Clarkin, vocalist Bob Catley, keyboard player Mark Stanway, bassist Al Barrow and drummer Harry James - head out on the road.

Hugely influential British melodic hard rock group Magnum are set to release ‘Evolution’, a very special new album celebrating the last ten years since their reformation [and signing to] Steamhammer / SPV Records, on November 21st.

‘Evolution’ contains eight songs, taken from Magnum’s 5 comeback studio albums released in the last decade - all of which have been partially re-recorded and fully remixed - plus two newly recorded compositions. Two tracks are included from Magnum’s hugely acclaimed January 2011 released studio album, ‘The Visitation’, which cracked the Top 20 in Germany, breached the top 75 of the UK National album charts, plus made it to #3 in the UK rock charts. Powerplay’s Dave Cockett awarded ‘The Visitation’ 10/10 in the magazine’s February 2011 issue, stating that “To a man the band sound like they’re on fire – you know, that self-assured swagger bands only get when they just know they’ve come up with something special – and when you put all that alongside some of Tony’s best songs in what seems like forever, it’s not surprising there’s a real buzz around ‘The Visitation’...In a word...brilliant!”

Presented by The Gig Cartel

Sunday 25th November 2012, 7:00pm | 11pm curfew

Adam Ant & The Good, The Mad and The Lovely Posse The Blueblack Hussar Tour

hmv Ritz, Manchester | Tickets: £22.50 adv + booking fee

Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad and The Lovely Posse, embark on a UK tour in November in support of the forthcoming release of his new album ‘Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar In Marrying The Gunners Daughter’. Starting in Glasgow on Nov 1st and ending at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on Nov 30th, Adam’s explosive live show, will not only feature songs from his new solo album but will also include the classic hits, Antmusic, Dog Eat Dog, Goody Two Shoes, Prince Charming, Kings Of The Wild Frontier, and the Ivor Novello, award winning Stand And Deliver.

Presented by JS Promotions