What's On in Manchester

M&P's Big Band Brunch | Matt And Phreds | 1:00pm | £5–£10 — Kick your Saturday off in the most gloriously indulgent way possible at Matt and Phred's, Manchester's beloved jazz haunt, where a full big band will be swinging through lunchtime from 1:00pm. There is something almost cinematic about hearing a brass section swell in a cosy room while the city outside is still rubbing its eyes, and at just £5–£10 a ticket this is an absolute steal. Whether you are a lifelong jazz devotee or simply someone who fancies something a little more special than a bacon butty, this is the brunch upgrade you did not know you needed.

SQUARE WILD Debut Album Launch- The Bread Shed, Manchester — There is nothing quite like being in the room the first night a debut album breathes live air, and SQUARE WILD are giving Manchester that privilege at The Bread Shed from 6:00pm. The Bread Shed has a long tradition of hosting artists on the cusp of something significant, and at £12 a ticket you are getting a front-row seat to what could be a moment people talk about for years. Come early, get close to the stage, and tell your friends you were there first.

Bright Phoebus Revisited — The Stoller Hall is one of Manchester's most acoustically stunning venues, and this 7:30pm show promises something genuinely moving — a revisiting of the legendary Lal and Mike Waterson album that quietly shaped British folk music for generations. At just £8 this is extraordinary value for a concert in a concert hall this beautiful, and the combination of intimate songwriting and magnificent surroundings is the kind of thing that stays with you long after the last note fades. If you have never heard Bright Phoebus, consider this your invitation to fall in love with it.

Nearly Dan - The Spirit & Sound of Steely Dan — Band on the Wall is the perfect home for this kind of sophisticated, groove-heavy homage, and Nearly Dan have built a serious reputation for delivering the silky jazz-rock of Steely Dan with genuine warmth and musical chops to spare. Doors from 7:00pm and tickets at £24 — yes, worth every penny for a show that will have even the uninitiated nodding along with a grin they cannot quite explain. Dress sharp, order something from the bar, and let the music do the rest.

Saturday Afternoon Showcase|| Creatures Comedy Club — Creatures Comedy Club is fast becoming one of the most talked-about comedy spots in the city, and their 5:30pm afternoon showcase is the perfect way to ease into your Saturday evening with your sides aching. At £7–£12 it is an accessible, no-excuses night out that works brilliantly as a warm-up before dinner or just as the main event in itself. Expect a mixed bill of rising local talent and seasoned circuit comics who know exactly how to work a Saturday crowd.

Don't F**k with Disco x NO HAT, NO ENTRY - Manchester — Starting at 2:00pm at Un.Titled Studio in Salford, this collaboration between the gloriously named Don't F**k with Disco and the sartorially strict NO HAT, NO ENTRY crew promises a daytime disco session with serious style credentials and a dancefloor that means business. The £32–£40 ticket price reflects a proper production, and the hat rule is not a gimmick — it sets the tone for an event where the details matter and the music is the star. Get your titfer on and get in early.