What's On in Manchester

Peter Kay Live | AO Arena | 6:30pm | Check website — One of Britain's most beloved comedians returns to his home city for a night that will have the AO Arena shaking with laughter. Peter Kay at full tilt in Manchester is about as special as live entertainment gets — expect warmth, nostalgia, and jokes that somehow feel like they were written just for you. Check the website for ticket and package options before this one sells out entirely.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo | Band On The Wall | 7:00pm | £42 — The South African vocal legends bring their extraordinary, rich harmonies to Band On The Wall in what is already a near-mythic evening — the earlier listing is sold out, so snap up any remaining tickets fast. Their isicathamiya and mbube style is unlike anything else you'll hear in a Manchester venue this weekend, joyful and deeply moving in equal measure. At £42 this is one for the memory banks.

An evening w/ Jimi Goodwin (doves) hosted by Guy Garvey (Elbow) | Northenden Players Theatre | 7:00pm | £20 — Two titans of the Manchester music scene sharing a stage at the intimate Northenden Players Theatre is the kind of event that sells itself in a single sentence. Jimi Goodwin's bruised, searching songwriting paired with Guy Garvey's warmth as host promises something genuinely special and unrepeatable. At £20 in a small theatre, you'll feel close enough to count the guitar strings — do not sleep on this one.

Grand Theft Audio All Dayer w/ DJ SS, North Base, SyRan, Sola... — Kicking off at 2:00pm at Rebellion, this jungle and drum and bass all-dayer is a serious proposition for anyone who likes their Saturday long, loud, and brilliant. DJ SS is a genuine icon of the genre and hearing him alongside North Base and the rest of the crew in a proper venue setting is the kind of afternoon that reminds you why Manchester club culture is so revered. Prices start at just £3, making this the best value ticket of the whole weekend.

Nico Harmony: 'Civilisation of Love' EP Launch + Guest DJs | Eagle Inn | 7:00pm | £5–£12 — EP launches at the Eagle Inn always feel like a genuine occasion — intimate, buzzy, and full of people who actually care about the music. Nico Harmony's 'Civilisation of Love' sounds like exactly the kind of project you want to catch at its very first breath, before the word spreads and the rooms get bigger. Guest DJs keep the energy rolling well after the main set, and at £5–£12 it's a beautifully priced Saturday night out.

Jungle & DNB Rave Presents: Chimpo & Friends, Spooky + More | Hidden | 10:00pm | £3–£10 — Hidden is one of Manchester's finest rooms for underground music, and pairing it with Chimpo — a cornerstone of the city's bass scene — and the legendary Spooky makes this a late-night destination event. The bass will rattle your chest and the crowd will know every drop; this is the kind of rave that reminds you nights out can still feel genuinely alive. Tickets start at £3, which for this calibre of lineup is frankly ridiculous.