Welcome to our April guide of what’s on in the music scene in Manchester.
The big news last week was international superstar Whitney Houston was forced to cancel her two sell out gigs at the MEN Manchester Arena last week due after being treated in Paris for a respiratory infection. We’re pleased she’s well on the way to recovery and her concerts rescheduled for Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th June – promoter Marshall Arts has advised people to retain their tickets which will be valid for the new dates.
If you can’t wait another two months, Whitney is still set to play Birmingham tomorrow. As she was also forced to cancel her Glasgow performance, this will be her first UK concert in eleven years. There is still some availability at our Birmingham Apartments though concert tickets may be hard to come by.
Our top recommendation is up-coming singer/songwriter John Smith who’ll be in Manchester on Friday 30th April at Band on the Wall. One of the most exciting new voices on the acoustic and folk scene, John has supported the likes of David Gray and played Glastonbury and the Green Man. At this gig he’ll be supported by Dead Cities whose ethereal sounds are seducing audiences across the country.
Candi Staton
American soul and gospel diva Candi Staton has been thrilling audiences with her incredibly powerful voice for over 50 years. Most famous for her 1976 disco hit Young Hearts, Run Free and in the early 90’s a dance remix of her song You Got the Love exploded across the dance scene (Florence & The Machine released a version in 2009). You can catch Candi perform live at Band on the Wall on Monday 19th and 20th April.
Band on the Wall is a non-profit venue run by the charity Inner City Music organisation to bring music from across the world to Manchester and works closely with community groups and local schools. The venue is literally just round the corner from our building so not even 3 minutes walk.
With more great events planned over the summer, be sure to check back regularly (or subscribe to our RSS feed) for our updates and guides on the best to see and do in Manchester city centre.
