Manchester is a city that has been shaped by music over the years. Not only is there a rich history of music in the city, but music continues to inform the routines, identities, and social groups that define the modern city.
If you’re paying a visit to the city, or staying there on a permanent basis, then you’ll be able to interact with this aspect of Manchester via the myriad of venues and festivals that you might find there.
Music in the Neighbourhoods
A number of different parts of the city are infused with live music. In the Northern Quarter, there are countless smaller venues, and it’s easy to wander between them in search of small bands and DJs. In Ancoats, we have a former centre of the textile industry that’s been reshaped, with apartments, breweries, and restaurants proliferating. Then there’s Chorlton, with its folky, bohemian culture.
If you’re living near these areas, then you might find that live music helps to shape your leisure time. Many of the best apartments to rent in Manchester are to be found here.
Venues as Community Hubs
Certain venues have an amazing ability to bring people together, and to form the hubs around which entire communities are based. It’s easy to feel at home among like-minded people when you pay a visit to Band on the Wall, or YES. The former boasts a bar and kitchen, where you can find locally roasted coffee and fresh-baked pizza. The latter is actually several different venues stacked atop one another. There’s the Basement, the Roof Terrace, and the Pink Room. Each offers something slightly different – though during festivals, you’re free to move between them.
Festivals and Shared Experiences
Every now and again, a major festival descends on the city. These landmark events help to punctuate the musical calendar. When Parklife arrives, you know that summer is in full swing. Manchester International Festival, meanwhile, arrives only once every two years – and so when you get the chance, it’s something well worth attending.
Music as Identity
We’ve already mentioned the fact that music helps to shape the identity of the city. Bands as diverse as Oasis, the Smiths, Joy Division and the Stone Roses have made their name here – and thus it’s easy to feel inspired by simply walking the street at the right time of day. Manchester’s reputation as a musical haven is well earned, and in a way, self-perpetuating. Start a musical project here, and you might instantly feel like anything is possible – and the same goes if you’re simply touring the city in search of the next big thing in the countless small bars and cafes.
