What's On in Manchester

Liana Flores | Manchester Gorilla — If you only catch one live act this week, make it Liana Flores at the Gorilla — a venue that wraps around you like a warm room on a cold night, perfectly scaled for an artist whose music feels like a secret being whispered just to you. The London-based singer-songwriter has been quietly winning hearts with her hazy, luminous folk-pop, all honeyed vocals and guitar lines that seem to float rather than land. Doors are at 6:30pm, so get there early and savour every note — check the website for ticket prices.

WOMEN IN MUSIC SHOWCASE - Presented by Outer City — Outer City's Women in Music Showcase at Off The Square is exactly the kind of grassroots night that keeps Manchester's music scene feeling alive and necessary. Celebrating female and non-binary artists across genres, it is a proper platform for voices that deserve to be heard loud, not just tolerated. At £5–£8 from 7:00pm, this is one of the best-value evenings in the city tonight — and almost certainly one of the most memorable.

A Dinner with the SL*TS | Creatures Tour Show — The Creatures Comedy Club is kicking off its evening with a bang at 7:00pm as the SL*Ts roll into town on their tour, and for just £4 you really have no excuse to stay home. Expect sharp, unfiltered, brilliantly chaotic comedy that earns its name with absolute pride — this is the kind of show where you laugh so hard you forget what day it is. Grab your ticket, grab a drink, and prepare to be a little bit changed by the end of the night.

DAHLIA Stereo Sessions: Jamz Supernova — Jamz Supernova — DJ, broadcaster, and one of the most vital tastemakers in UK music — takes over Dahlia Stereo at 7:00pm for what promises to be a masterclass in how to fill a room with exactly the right energy. Her sets move fluidly across genres, pulling from the edges of R&B, UK funky, afrobeats and beyond with the kind of confidence that only comes from someone who genuinely loves music to her core. At £10, this is a Thursday evening that punches well above its price tag.

Jungle & DnB Rave: Fixate b2b Fracture, VXRGO + more — Hidden is one of Manchester's most serious club spaces, and on Thursday night it earns that reputation all over again with a jungle and drum and bass lineup that is, frankly, stacked. Fixate b2b Fracture is the kind of pairing that gets circulated on WhatsApp before the night even starts — two artists with very different flavours whose back-to-back chemistry is unpredictable in the best possible way. Doors at 10:00pm, £10–£16, and the kind of night you will still be thinking about on Saturday.

Sea Life Manchester - Standard Entry | SEA LIFE Manchester — Before the sun goes down and the city tilts into nightlife mode, give Thursday morning or afternoon over to something altogether more serene — namely, the floor-to-ceiling ocean tanks of Sea Life Manchester, where sharks glide overhead and jellyfish pulse like living lanterns. It is an experience that works for families with young children, couples wanting something a little different, or honestly anyone who has ever stared at the sea and wondered what was underneath. Doors open at 10:00am — check the website for pricing and to book your slot.