What's On in Manchester

Overmono presents Pure Devotion - World Tour, Manchester — Welsh electronic duo Overmono bring their Pure Devotion world tour to the cavernous, brutalist brilliance of Depot Mayfield at 8:00pm, and this is the kind of night that people will be talking about for years. Expect thunderous, emotionally charged club music that blurs the line between rave and something far more transcendent — the venue's sheer scale makes it feel like a religious experience. Tickets are £45–£75, and with Overmono at the height of their powers, every penny is justified.

The Bluetones 30th Anniversary of 'Expecting to Fly' — Thirty years on, 'Expecting to Fly' remains one of the great British debut albums, and tonight the Bluetones play it in full at the O2 Ritz Manchester at 7:00pm in what promises to be a wonderfully nostalgic, roof-raising celebration. If you grew up with 'Slight Return' rattling around your head in 1996, this is your night — and for anyone discovering the band fresh, prepare to wonder how you missed them. Check the website for tickets, but do not hang about.

Manchester Camerata: The Lark Ascending and The Sounds of Nature — For something altogether more serene amid all the Halloween chaos, Manchester Camerata take to the intimate and acoustically gorgeous Stoller Hall at 7:30pm for a programme centred on Vaughan Williams' timeless 'The Lark Ascending'. It is the kind of concert that slows the world down, wrapping you in sound so vivid you can almost feel the English countryside outside the window — even if it is raining sideways in Manchester. Tickets are £28, and this is the definition of an evening well spent.

One Pound Comedy: Friday — Quite possibly the best value proposition in the entire city tonight: a full comedy showcase at Creatures Comedy Club for the frankly absurd price of just £1, kicking off at 6:45pm. Emerging and established stand-ups take to the stage in what has become one of Manchester's most beloved grassroots comedy nights, and the intimate room means every punchline lands like a dart. Bring a fiver, buy a round, and prepare to laugh until your Halloween plans seem far less appealing.

Baked A La Ska Halloween Special — Band on the Wall has a well-earned reputation for doing things differently, and this Halloween ska special at 7:00pm looks set to be an absolute floor-filling, horn-blasting riot of a night. Ska and Halloween are a more natural pairing than you might think — both thrive on energy, spectacle, and a touch of the ridiculous — and this crowd will not be standing still for long. Tickets are £20, and dressing up is practically compulsory.

Rent Party - House of Horrors Special — The Nia Centre NIAMOS hosts this brilliant Halloween edition of Rent Party at 8:00pm, a night rooted in community, culture, and unapologetically good music spanning soul, funk, and beyond. With tickets starting at just £5, this is one of those events where the warmth in the room is palpable before the first record drops — inclusive, joyful, and genuinely important to Manchester's cultural fabric. Dress to impress, bring your best horror look, and settle in for a night that feeds the soul.