What's On in Manchester

Sea Life Manchester — Start the day with something genuinely otherworldly — a walk-through tunnel of rays, sharks, and iridescent jellyfish right in the heart of the city. Sea Life Manchester is a brilliant shout for families, couples, or anyone who just fancies a moment of calm wonder before the week gets going. Doors open at 10:00am, and prices are worth checking on the website for the best deal.

Anastacia — One of the most distinctive voices of the early 2000s is back and bringing every last drop of that raw, belting power to the O2 Apollo Manchester at 7:00pm. Anastacia's live shows are genuinely moving — she performs with the kind of emotional intensity that fills a room and leaves you a little breathless. Tickets are available via the website, and this is one you will not want to leave until it sells out.

John Cleese and The Holy Grail — The Opera House plays host to a gloriously daft evening as John Cleese himself accompanies a screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail — expect live commentary, anecdotes, and almost certainly some audience participation in the coconut department. It is a one-of-a-kind night that sits somewhere between cinema, stand-up, and living comedy history. Kicks off at 7:00pm, and frankly, it would be an ex-evening if you missed it.

Hatched|| Creatures Comedy Club — For just £1 — yes, one single pound — you can catch a night of fresh, unpolished, genuinely exciting new comedy at Creatures Comedy Club starting at 7:00pm. Hatched is exactly what it sounds like: new material, new voices, and the thrilling unpredictability of comics trying out ideas that might just be brilliant. It is the kind of grassroots night that reminds you why live comedy exists.

Home Free — The American a cappella group Home Free take over the spectacular Albert Hall at 7:30pm, and if you have never seen them live, prepare to be quietly astonished that no instruments are involved. Their blend of country, pop, and jaw-dropping vocal harmony fills a room like a full band without a single cable on stage. Check the website for tickets — the Albert Hall's vaulted interior makes it one of the finest places in the city to hear voices doing extraordinary things.

GHOSTS OF GARAGE: A Fresh Start — When the rest of the city winds down, Hidden fires up — and GHOSTS OF GARAGE brings a night of deep, soulful UK garage to Manchester's beloved underground venue from 11:00pm. Entry starts at just £3, making this one of the most accessible late-night clubbing experiences in the city right now, with tickets rising to £13 on the door. It is a fresh start in every sense: a new Monday-night residency, a proper dancefloor, and a reminder that the weekend is only ever a state of mind.